Organizations have long been criticized for giving scant thought to employee well-being – but is that now changing? Linda Nazareth talks to Mark C. Crawley, author of the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being about why that seems to be the case, and why that will be good for both workers and organizations.

In this episode of Work and the Future, economist and keynote speaker Linda Nazareth talks to Mark C. Crowley, author of The Power of Employee Well-Being. They discuss:  

• Why organizations have slowly come to the realization that it is in their best interest to have happy workers
• Why it is important to check in with employees, perhaps as often as weekly
• The importance of employee engagement and employee well-being, and the differences between the two
• Why Gen Z may force companies to re-think how they manage workers

Guest:

Mark C. Crowley, a pioneering leader and bestselling author, is leading a revolution in workplace leadership. With twenty-five years in the competitive financial services industry, he rose to national roles, earning Leader of the Year for his emotionally connected, heart-centered approach that drove exceptional performance and employee growth. On the vanguard of leadership transformation, his book Lead from the Heart (2011, second edition 2023) disrupted conventional management with research proving traditional methods undermine employee achievement. Now taught in eleven universities, it ignited a global movement for humane leadership. In The Power of Employee Well-Being, he advances this vision, demonstrating that thriving teams fuel organizational success. Mark’s Lead from the Heart podcast, ranked in the top 1.5 percent globally, reaches 175+ countries. A sought-after speaker, Fast Company contributor, and organizational culture consultant, he shapes modern workplaces. A UC San Diego graduate, Mark lives in La Jolla, California.

Linda’s Take:

I first spoke to Mark on this podcast in 2020, at a time when Covid was changing the way that people worked. At the time, Mark was optimistic about the ways that the disruption might improve the ways that organizations treated workers and he believes that in the years since things have changed for the better. We talked about why some organizations realize the importance of managing well, and what that means in practical terms.

I enjoyed speaking with Mark and hearing his upbeat take on the state of the workplace. My own vantage point is that of an economist, and as I watch the job market tightening I worry that a lot of the progress we have made over the past few years will be dialled back. Time will tell, but in the meantime any organization that sees the value of employee engagement would be well-served to listen to Mark’s points.

Book Linda as your Keynote Speaker:

Linda Nazareth is an economist, futurist and expert on the future of work. The author of five books including her most recent Working it Out: Getting Ready for the Redefined World of Work (2023), she is also a regular columnist for the Globe and Mail and the Host of podcast ‘Work and the Future’. As a sought-after keynote speaker, Linda’s audiences have spanned a range of audiences and have included clients such as The Economist Magazine, LVMH, American Express, and the Bank of Montreal all of whom have benefitted from the way that she can take huge ideas and distill them into information that organizations can use for their own strategic planning purposes.

Ready to navigate the future of work at your next event? Linda Nazareth helps organizations understand and prepare for workplace transformation. Visit lindanazareth.com to learn more about booking Linda for your conference or corporate event.

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