Michael Lee Stallard - Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CONNECTION CULTURE

Connection Culture lays out a compelling case for a culture of connection in every organization, and provides a framework for leaders who want to apply positive personal values in practice in their organizations and teams.

John Young

Group President, Global Established Pharma Businesses, Pfizer

Engaging, while offering real solutions to human challenges that occur in the workplace! As someone who has researched and published in the field of organizational psychology, I can honestly say that Connection Culture is right on target and a book that every leader should race to get his or her hands on.

Karla R. Peters-Van Havel

Chief Operating Officer, The Institute for Management Studies

Listening to and engaging staffers in the right way at all levels is the key to driving business forward and is at the heart of Michaels book. Running an organization of some 8,000 people, I have found Michaels experience, guidance, and philosophy helpful in understanding and improving our companys performance on multiple metrics. I hope others find the inspiration in this book that has helped FCB be better at what we do.

Carter Murray

Worldwide CEO, Foote, Cone & Belding

Connection Culture offers a wealth of information, insights, and counsel that can help any organization develop a connection culture.

Robert Morris

Business Book Reviewer, BobMorris.biz and Amazon.com

Connection Culture grabbed my attention from the beginning and had me jumping on the phone to share its ideas with friends and colleagues. We have to do better as leaders and as teachers of leadership development to be intentional in creating and sustaining connection cultures. Even when you think youve got it all in place (the surveys, training, recognition awards, and celebrations), disconnection creeps in. You must read this book.

Janis Apted

Associate Vice President, Faculty and Academic Development
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Much has been written about the impact of culture on organizational performance. Connection Culture digs deeper, putting the spotlight on the fundamental role that emotional connections play in fueling engagement, collaboration, and productivity. The ideas set out in this book will help you bring your people together to focus on collective success that results in a significant shift in your organizations performance.

Bryan Crawford

Global Vice Chairman, Foote Cone & Belding

Our organization has benefited greatly from the principles in Connection Culture . The book creates an engaging framework for leaders who want more for their businesses and employees. It is a must read for anyone leading an organization.

Mike Cunnion

Chief Executive Officer, Remedy Health Media

Once again Michael Lee Stallard has mastered a rich description of the connection culture. He narrates a very concise and powerful road map to guide you as a leader and manager. Want to get strong results and fully develop your colleagues? Stallards ideas are compelling and abundant, providing practical actions to develop and refine your connection culture. Dont wait another moment. Get a copy for yourself. And for your colleagues. They will thank you.

Tom Jansen

Team Leader, Strategy, Strategic Performance Office, Boy Scouts of America

Too many leadership books focus on developing work experience without acknowledging the rest of our lives. Connection Culture demonstrates how the positive habits, relationships, and character weve developed in the workplace can serve us well at home and in our communities. Not only does this deep exploration of connection culture explain the positive effects of using these skills, it also offers ways to get started on the journey.

James DaSilva

Senior Editor, SmartBrief on Leadership

Thank you, Michael, for reminding us again that peoplecustomers and employeesare the most important ingredient of any business. Leaders place so much emphasis on the operations and financials, but people connecting and working together is the key to success.

Jay Morris

Vice President, Leadership Development and Education
Executive Director, Institute for Excellence
Yale New Haven Health System

The message of Connection Culture is profoundly personal yet ultimately universal. If you think you know what connection really means, youll come away with a whole new perspective after reading this gracefully written book.

Bruce Rosenstein

Managing Editor, Leader to Leader
Author, Create Your Future the Peter Drucker Way

Connection Culture has everything you need in a leadership book: it inspires, its backed by solid research, and it has practical, proven ideas and action steps. If you are looking for ways to motivate, engage, foster innovation, or perhaps simply striving for a richer life for yourself and others, read and re-read Connection Culture.

Dan McCarthy

Leadership author, consultant, and executive coach

Connection works when we work on connection. Michael Stallard draws us in with his stories, convinces us with his evidence, and guides us with his recommendations. He concludes by inviting us to mark the day we finish the book as the start of a new outlook, focused on establishing a thriving work culture through freshly enlivened, engaged, and enriched connections.

David Zinger

Employee Engagement Global Expert
Founder, Employee Engagement Network

2015 ASTD DBA the Association for Talent Development (ATD)

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

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Parts of this book are adapted from articles in Leader to Leader from the Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2015932216

ISBN-10: 1-56286-927-2

ISBN-13: 978-1-56286-927-4

e-ISBN: 978-1-60728-499-4

ATD Press Editorial Staff

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Manager: Christian Green

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Associate Editor: Melissa Jones

Cover Design: Emily Weigel, Faceout Studio

Text Design: Lon Levy, Marisa Fritz, and Maggie Hyde

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD

BY VICTOR J. BOSCHINI JR.

Connection Culture presents a new way of thinking about leadership, employee engagement, and organizational health. It shares the stories of many different organizations that found tremendous success by nurturing connectionsfrom Pixar to the U.S. Navy to the Duke University mens basketball team. Combined with an array of data and research findings, as well as examples from real-life experiences, Michael Lee Stallard makes the compelling case that a culture of connection provides a clear competitive advantage for organizations and individuals. Connection Culture provides powerful tools for enriching and transforming organizations, continuing and deepening the conversation begun in Stallards highly acclaimed book Fired Up or Burned Out .