The #1 Driver of Employee Wellbeing | Mark Crowley — Behavioral Grooves Podcast

Employee engagement scores have been stuck for decades—but belonging and wellbeing might be the missing pieces. We talk with Mark Crowley about why emotions drive behavior, how rituals create culture, and why leading with heart is actually the smartest path to performance.

Topics

[0:00] Intro and speed round with Mark Crowley

[9:05] Why leaders dismiss engagement scores

[11:28] The power of asking “How do you feel?”

[16:50] Reciprocity and authentic care

[20:08] Belonging as the greatest driver of wellbeing

[24:55] Why old leadership myths persist

[28:20] Positive emotions as “emotional currency”

[31:51] Balancing care with accountability

[35:05] Rituals that build culture (and candy stories)

[42:11] Advice for new managers

[46:24] Mark’s desert island music picks