Wilson, a veteran leader in Ontario’s long-term care industry, shares his insights for better business management.

With 25 years of experience in the arduous field of long-term care in Canada, the author introduces his debut business guidebook stating that the “only thing…that determines the success of any business is people.” When leaders put people first and reward and acknowledge what they’re doing right, employees “quietly quitting” will be rejuvenated, improving focus and increasing energy, asserts Wilson. He outlines the “3 E’s of People First Leadership” (engage, enable, and empower), presenting an approach that emphasizes the simple practices of being present—from learning team members’ names to recognizing burnout in oneself—and encouraging face-to-face communication. Keeping workers informed stimulates their involvement while also tamping down the rumor mill, while constant advocacy—including protecting and elevating workers’ voices, maintaining friendly working relationships with unions, and supporting salary increases—leads to more engaged and energized organizations, per the author. Wilson’s debut is an accessible, no-frills model of better leadership based not on research but experience, with real-world examples from Wilson’s career in long-term care illustrating a wide range of topics including employee training in dementia strategy, food service, and the overwhelming and unexpected challenges of Covid-19. The book lays out each tenet of its people-first philosophy in easy-to-understand language with the same enthusiasm it encourages leaders to model for their teams. Ideas like “stay meetings” (regular conversations about what a business can improve) are scattered throughout the text; while not heavily detailed, they will be easy for readers to try in their own organizations. The concept of tackling apathy, from both bosses and employees, with empathy is as refreshing as it is obvious.

A straightforward, people-first guide to increasing engagement in the workplace.