1148: How to Build Cultures Where Everyone Knows They Matter with Barry-Wehmiller’s Bob Chapman

How to Be Awesome at Your Job

How to be Awesome at Your Job

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4.5 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2026

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The late Bob Chapman reveals the foundational leadership principles behind Barry-Wehmiller’s stunning success.

— YOU’LL LEARN —

1) The case for caring as a business strategy

2) The one skill to transform your relationships

3) How to dramatically boost team morale with one simple practice

Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep1148 for clickable versions of the links below.

— ABOUT BOB —

BOB CHAPMAN is the chairman of Barry-Wehmiller, a $3.6 billion global manufacturing company. Under his leadership, the company grew from $20 million in revenue to over $3.5 billion while pioneering "Truly Human Leadership"—refusing to lay off employees during the 2008 recession and instead implementing shared sacrifice that saved $20 million while protecting everyone's livelihood.

Featured in a Harvard Business School case study taught at 70+ business schools worldwide, Chapman has addressed the United Nations, Congress, and leading academic institutions on human-centered leadership. His approach has been validated by research showing that workplace stress is the fifth leading cause of death in America, and that good bosses create more wellness than wellness programs do.

• Book: Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family--Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition, with Raj Sisodia

• Website: Barry-Wehmiller Outreach

— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW —

• Study: “Truly Human Leadership at Barry-Wehmiller” by Dylan Minor and Jan Rivkin

• Book: "The New One Minute Manager: A Timeless Guide to Effective Leadership, Stress Reduction, and Success in a Rapidly Changing Workplace" by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

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Transcript

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0:00.0	People don't feel they matter.
0:12.1	And when people don't feel they matter, you get this poverty of dignity.
0:17.1	Leaders weren't taught to care for people.
0:19.5	They were taught and rewarded to use people.
0:22.9	So it's just a totally different mindset.
0:25.4	When you invite somebody in there, you can look at them in the eye and say,
0:28.1	you are safe in my care.
0:35.9	That's Bob Chapman.
0:37.1	He's the chairman of Barry Waymiller and the pioneer of truly human
0:40.1	leadership. Under Bob's leadership, Barry Waymiller successfully navigated the 2008 recession
0:44.4	without resorting to layoffs while growing its revenue from $20 million to $3.5 billion.
0:51.5	Bob shares this story and more in the latest edition of his book,
0:54.5	Everybody Matters, the extraordinary power of caring for your people like family.
0:59.2	So you'll learn one, the case for caring as a business strategy, two, the one skill to
1:04.1	transform your relationships, and three, how to dramatically boost team morale with one simple
1:09.4	practice. And if you want a quick summary write up with the actionable wisdom that Bob shares,
1:13.5	you can sign up for the free golden email and get email newsletter found at awesomeatyourjob.com.
1:17.7	I'm Pete McItis.
1:18.6	This is How to Be Awesome at Your Job.
1:20.0	And now here's Bob.
1:26.1	Bob, welcome.
1:27.3	It's good to be here. Good to have this exchange. Well, I am excited for this
	...

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