Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives

by Patricia Grabarek, Katina Sawyer

Exclusive research-backed insights into the secrets to employee wellness and performance in today's world of work

Through a straightforward, science-based approach, Leading for How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives explains the steps to become a Generator—the type of leader who people want to work for and organizations want to hire—by leading in a way that fosters trust and positive connections with employees. This book is based on two in-depth studies conducted by the authors, where they found that the keys to employee satisfaction, wellbeing, retention, and productivity were found in the behavior of leaders and the environment those leaders cultivated.

Written by experienced industrial/organizational psychologists Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer and packed with real-life stories to add context, this book explores topics

Addressing the mismatch in the definition of wellness between employees and employers Focusing on the tone leaders set at work, as opposed to time they spend at work Crafting work to support life, instead of the other way around, to support and respond to employees' unique needs. At a time when employee morale has never been lower, Leading for Wellness is an essential read for current and aspiring business leaders and managers seeking exclusive data-based insights on how to solve one of the most pressing problems in business today.

Genres: Management

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever worked somewhere that claimed to care about wellness but still burned everyone out, this book is for you. Leading for Wellness breaks down how to actually create a work culture where people don’t just survive—they thrive.

It's refreshing to FINALLY hear someone address the disconnect between what employees need and what companies think they need. (Hint: Free snacks don’t fix burnout.) Instead, they give real, practical ways to build a workplace that’s flexible, supportive, and actually good for mental health. It’s an easy, insightful read that makes you rethink what “wellness” at work should look like. Whether you’re a manager or just someone tired of toxic workplaces, this book is a game-changer!

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

📕 Why (Not) to read this book (Target Audience)

When you want to invest in people then this is a good read.

👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)

Lean organization = understaffed & overworked

⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)

Are you a generator?

Pro-Social Conformity: helping behavior being copied

SWIFT become a confident, life continues after work hours
1. Set time aside for relationship sprints
2. Welcoming others more warmly
3. Intentionally inquire about life
4. Following up with probing questions
5. Taking time for self improvement

Segmenters VS Integrators
• Segmenters - Compartmize work and life separating worth clear time separation
• Integrators - Time flows between life and work

Person centred planning
1. Provoking honest and transparent responses
2. Suspending judgement
Showing empathy

[Steve Granger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone familiar with wellness programs offered by organizations likely appreciates their limitations: few employees use them, and those who do are often the least likely to need them. This is why Grabarek and Sawyer make the case for a leader-centric approach, as leaders are best positioned to influence employee well-being (for better or worse). Specifically, they draw on their research to provide strategies and guidance on how to enhance wellness through the critical touchpoint of the supervisor-employee relationship. I imagine this book would be most beneficial for leaders who are sincerely interested in actionable steps to improve their employees' wellness, or for those thrust into leadership positions without formal training and seeking thoughtful approaches to develop into effective leaders.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Leading for Wellness to be a transformative guide that clearly demonstrates how supportive leadership fosters healthier, more engaged, and innovative teams. The book compellingly argues that when leaders invest in employee well-being, employees not only perform better and achieve their goals but also contribute to greater organizational profitability and societal impact. It's an essential, actionable blueprint for any forward-thinking leader committed to nurturing both team success and community well-being.

[Jane Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leading for Wellness is essential for today’s leaders. The authors provide a comprehensive and actionable set of recommendations for how to address employee burnout but also how to make aspirations about well-being an organizational reality. The book is chock-full of examples and research that translate into valuable insights for how to make well-being a sustainable state for individuals and for whole systems.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for leaders at every level. It offers practical, impactful guidance on becoming a more effective leader, supporting team wellbeing, and strengthening workplace culture—while clearly showing how these efforts drive productivity. The advice is straightforward and actionable, making it easy to turn insights into a concrete action plan. Highly recommend!

[Barbara Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read and tips to create or re-create an engaged culture. This book breaks down key behaviors to immediately impact your team in a positive way. Highly recommend as a book study for leaders!

[Lauren Boesch]

Great information for leaders and anyone interested in improving how to interact and improve relationships. The use of real participants in studies is really helpful. The "homework" and worksheets at the end of each chapter are very fhelpful for driving home what you just read.

[Paul Boatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy I read this book! As I leader, I found it challenging in the best way. The straightforward and research-backed advice made me question my leadership approach in a number of different ways. But better yet, the action planning and workbook-style exercises made me feel equipped and confident in my ability to be a better Generator in the future.

I would recommend this book to any leader -- or any employee -- interested in creating a workplace where people can thrive.