Cultivating "Unbreakable" Teams in a Volatile World

For too long, the business world has been shouting, "The customer is king!" But what if the real power players are much closer to home? Professor Stephan Meier of Columbia Business School, in his groundbreaking book The Employee Advantage: How Putting Workers First Helps Business Thrive, suggests it's time to crown a new monarch: your employees. 

Forget the old playbook where employees were just a line item. Meier argues that in today's dynamic landscape, your people are, in essence, "the new customer." And frankly, we haven't been treating them like royalty. With alarming rates of disengagement (a whopping 65% in the U.S.!), it's clear our traditional approaches are falling flat.  

So, what truly motivates your team beyond a paycheck or that lonely foosball table in the breakroom? Drawing from behavioral science, Professor Meier reveals four profound motivators: 

Meier champions a "win-win" mindset, demonstrating that investing in your employees isn't a drain on profits, but a powerful catalyst for them. Think of companies like Costco, whose commitment to their people translates directly into higher productivity, lower turnover, and fiercely loyal customers. It's not altruism; it's smart business strategy. 

Ready to unlock this hidden advantage? The first step, according to Meier, is surprisingly simple, yet often overlooked: listening to your employees. Not with a once-a-year survey, but with genuine, continuous engagement, just as you would with your most valued customers. 

The Employee Advantage challenges common misconceptions, proving that putting your people first isn't about always saying "yes”, but about fostering transparency, dialogue, and mutual trust. 

In a world constantly battling for top talent and sustainable growth, Professor Meier offers a compelling, evidence-based roadmap to building a thriving organization from the inside out. Dive into The Employee Advantage to discover how investing in your people can transform your business.