Building A Culture Where People Actually Care!

From an Email by: https://simonsinek.com

We all want to be part of teams where people genuinely care about the mission, the work, and each other. But caring isn’t something you can mandate—and it definitely isn’t something you can fake. Bob Chapman, CEO of the $3.6 billion manufacturing company Barry-Wehmiller, has figured it out: People learn to care when they feel cared for. His approach transformed not just a company, but thousands of lives.

How to Build a Culture Where People Actually Care

Many years ago, Chapman had an epiphany: “Every single person who works in my company is someone’s precious child who’s now in my care.” That shift changed everything. When leaders treat people like family, with empathy, patience, and dignity, teams rise to the occasion. Caring becomes the culture, not the exception.

Here are three lessons any current or aspiring leader can use:

*Caring Starts With How We Treat the Person, Not the Performance

*Most workplaces try to get people to care about results. Chapman flipped it: Care about the person first, and the results will follow. When people feel valued as human beings and not as  functions,  they naturally take pride in their work and support the people around them.

*Listening Is the Most Underrated Leadership Skill

Chapman learned that what people crave isn’t more direction, it’s being heard. Listening without judgment builds trust. Trust builds safety. And safety is what unlocks ownership, creativity, and genuine care. People give more when they feel safe enough to bring their whole selves. Recognize the Behavior You Want to Grow

You can’t pressure people into caring, but you can reinforce it.

• Notice small acts of kindness
• Celebrate collaboration
• Highlight moments of integrity
• Praise effort, not just achievement

When people see that care is recognized, they replicate it. Culture is shaped by what leaders choose to spotlight.

Dive Deeper Into Creating a Culture of Care at Work 👇
Read: How to Actually Teach People to Care – According to a CEO Who Figured It Out.