Good Comes First

For decades, talented people have tolerated old-school leaders that put results before respect, toxic company cultures, and workplaces-sometimes despite the best of intentions-that suck. Now is the time for leaders to create a work culture where good comes first for every employee-in every interaction. And where the doing of good leads directly to improved productivity, better customer service, increased retention rates, passionate employees, and higher profits.

Employees - your team leaders and team members - deserve a work environment that treats them, their efforts, their ideas, their contributions, and their accomplishments with respect. And yet today, despite two decades and billions of dollars spent on improving employee engagement and experience, employees tolerate far more disappointment than they experience good in today's workplaces. Pent up frustration with unjust systems and practices, demeaning treatment, self-serving decisions, unfair or unequal compensation, rare recognition, bullying, and worse have led employees to the boiling point.

In the coming years, employees will seek out and partner with organizations and leaders that validate employees' efforts, serve their communities, and make life better for their customers. Like metal to magnets, they'll seek out companies where good comes first.