Why “Engagement” Is Dead — and Well-Being Is the Future of Work (ft. author Mark C. Crowley)

Most companies say they care about engagement — but decades of data show those engagement scores barely move. Meanwhile, burnout has become a global epidemic.

In this episode of FUTUREPROOF., we sit down with Mark C. Crowley, bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and the new book The Power of Employee Well-Being, to explore why the billion-dollar engagement industry has failed workers — and what science says actually drives performance.

Crowley argues that engagement is a symptom, not a cause — and that well-being, not busyness, is the real engine of productivity. He shares evidence-backed ways leaders can track and improve well-being, hold managers accountable for the human side of leadership, and create workplaces where people genuinely thrive.

We discuss:

• Why engagement surveys don’t work (and what to measure instead)
• How well-being directly impacts innovation and retention
• What post-pandemic workforces really want from leadership
• The neuroscience of motivation and connection at work
• How to lead with authenticity without losing authority

If you’ve ever wondered why “perks” don’t fix burnout, or what the next era of human-centered leadership looks like, this episode will make you rethink what it means to truly lead people.