The Power of Employee Well-Being

The billion-dollar employee engagement industry has failed workers. This guide shows the data-driven alternative: measuring and improving employee well-being for lasting results.

For years, companies have trumpeted employee engagement as the lifeblood of success, weaving grand promises of thriving workplaces and soaring performance. Yet, Gallup's data shatters this façade: a mere 30 percent of US workers and 21 percent globally are engaged today, dismal figures essentially unchanged for over a decade. This rather damning reality exposes a commitment not just half-hearted but utterly disingenuous. Perfunctory surveys, dusted off once or twice a year, vanish into the void, sparking no meaningful change, while ineffective or toxic managers sidestep accountability with ease. The fallout is a workforce drowning in disillusionment, tethered to a metric that's broken beyond repair. In The Power of Employee Well-Being, Mark C. Crowley unveils a revolutionary vision, proving well-being ignites fierce commitment, unleashes boundless productivity, and forges workplaces where people and profits thrive.

Why Well-Being Matters
Drawing on a University of Oxford study of 17 million workers, Crowley urges leaders to abandon flawed engagement metrics and champion well-being. Far from a soft idea, it drives results. Gallup, Harvard, and London School of Economics studies show organizations prioritizing well-being gain 27 percent higher profitability, lower turnover, and better customer satisfaction. Yet, with three-quarters of US professionals facing burnout and a 74 percent surge in mental health–related leave (2023–2024), the crisis is urgent. Crowley highlights belonging-feeling valued, respected, and connected-as well-being's core, yet 94 percent of leaders overlook this vital driver.

A Practical Roadmap
Building on his trailblazing book Lead from the Heart, Crowley delivers a concise, actionable guide for busy managers to cultivate well-being and unlock team potential. Through practical strategies, he equips leaders to meet workers' core needs: caring leadership, manageable workloads, emotional support, growth opportunities, and fair treatment. Unlike hollow wellness programs, debunked by Oxford research, Crowley's methods reshape daily team experiences. His insights, forged over decades as a leader and researcher, are anchored by formidable data, including a British Telecom study linking well-being to higher sales and customer satisfaction.

A Leadership Revolution
With a foreword by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, The Power of Employee Well-Being is a clarion call to reject superficial fixes and ignite a leadership revolution. Crowley brilliantly distills complex ideas into a vital guide for busy managers. With 52 percent of workers willing to take a 20 percent pay cut for better well-being, stakes are high. This is the essential playbook for leaders to build thriving workplaces where retention soars and teams excel.

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword by Marshall Goldsmith
• Introduction
• 1. Connecting the Dots
• 2. Know Thyself
• 3. Drop a Pin
• 4. Emotions Power the Workplace
• 5. Embrace Our Shared Humanity
• 6. Curate Connection and Belonging
• 7. Be a Positive Force
• 8. Turn Over Every Stone
• 9. Step into the Fog: Accept Uncertainty and Ambiguity
• 10. Loosen Your Grip
• 11. We Instead of Me
• 12. Growth Creates Happiness: Maximize Employee Potential
• 13. Care About—Even Love—Your People
• Conclusion
• Discussion Guide
• Notes
• Acknowledgments
• Index
• About the Author

“I love this book because Crowley's warm, caring, crystal-clear writing voice fills every page. With a blend of rigorous research and touching stories, this will convince you that leaders who make their people's mental and physical well-being THE top priority spark superior organizational performance.”
-Robert I. Sutton, Stanford University Professor Emeritus and author of the New York Times bestseller The No Asshole Rule

“Prioritizing employee well-being is a business imperative, and here, Crowley provides clear and concrete steps to cultivate just that in a thriving work environment.”
-Hubert Joly, former CEO, Best Buy; Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School; and author of The Heart of Business

“This vital read eloquently argues for a paradigm shift from engagement to well-being, offering practical solutions that can be implemented immediately!”
-Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Professor of Organizational Behavior, London Business School, and author of Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader

“The brilliance of this work lies in its exceptional conciseness. It is packed with stunning information that will transform your understanding of effective leadership in just a few hours.”
-Sally Helgesen, speaker, coach, and author of How Women Rise

“The insights and invaluable tools shared in this work create a clear roadmap for business and HR leaders to foster work environments where employees can flourish, leading to better outcomes for everyone.”
-Rhonda J. Morris, former VP and Chief HR Officer, Chevron

“Crowley presents in this book the need for a shift from mere engagement to genuine well-being-taking us beyond buzzwords and offering deeply considered, practical tools for leaders seeking to build teams that thrive and excel.”
-Alison Taylor, Professor, NYU Stern School of Business, and author of Higher Ground

“Crowley provides a pioneering approach to leadership that's both deeply human and profoundly effective. His state-of-the-art strategies are essential for any leader committed to enhancing their team's well-being and achievement.”
-Dan Cable, Professor of Organizational Behavior, London Business School, and author of Alive at Work