Despite this proliferation of perks, my research shows that entertainment alone does not really engage employees. A better approach is to target perks toward a specific purpose, such as attracting new employees, easing financial burdens, or encouraging employees to put more time into the

A large manufacturer studied the personal behavior of the most successful product teams and found that tenure, seniority, and skills had almost no real correlation to success. The most predictable driver of success was the level of collaboration and the connections between the team and the rest of the company. In other words, those teams who had

Diversity training, while interesting and useful, rarely changes behavior. Plenty of studies have shown that investment in such training does not reduce lawsuits or change the level of diversity in the company.141 A longitudinal study of 829 companies over 31 years showed that diversity training had no positive effects in the average workplace.

Profits are important to a company because they affect the company’s ability to secure financing and attract investors who can increase working capital and fund business growth. But purpose is the real fuel of a company. It gives people the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to add value in many ways.

The most important aspect of the “culture, not rules” mindset is a massive focus on employee wellbeing.

I would argue differently. While profits fuel a company’s growth, irresistible companies are essentially institutions that garner loyalty, commitment, and energy from their employees. And in today’s service-driven world, they attract the same level of energy and loyalty from customers. Profit, rather than being a goal, is an outcome.

Even the word “feedback” often carries a negative connotation. General Electric (GE) has changed its language and now calls feedback “insights” so that people feel more open to conversations.

More and more companies are starting to realize that wellbeing is also a strategy for engagement. If employees show up for on-site work or to virtual conferences not feeling well—tired, sick, or distracted by home or financial problems—their productivity suffers.

She also shared that customers today no longer want products; they want experiences. When you get on a plane, shop on Amazon, walk into a store, or go to a restaurant, you don’t just want a good seat, good electronics, and good food; you want a good experience.