Well-Being Drives Performance: Toxic Culture, Leadership, and Events | Mark C. Crowley

Well-being is not a perk. It is a performance condition.In this in-person episode of Return On Wellness, I sit down with Mark C. Crowley, author of Lead From The Heart and The Power of Employee Well-Being, to talk about workplace well-being, toxic culture, and the leadership behaviors that actually change business outcomes.We get real about what makes workplaces toxic, why “engagement” has not delivered, and why corporate events, off sites, and SKOs can either reinforce dysfunction or become a true flashpoint for meaningful cultural change.If you lead people, plan meetings, or influence culture, this is the conversation.Guest: Mark C. CrowleyHost: David T StevensTimestamps00:00 Welcome + why this conversation matters00:41 Mark’s background and the core thesis01:45 Why 2026 is the turning point for worker well-being03:41 Well-being and performance, what leaders still misunderstand10:31 Why many corporate events are unintentionally depleting16:29 Engagement surveys vs real well-being, what is broken28:54 Early warning signs a workplace is turning toxic44:47 Friendship, belonging, and connection as business drivers55:32 Can events and offsites reset culture and drive outcomes?01:10:15 The simplest leadership move that proves you care01:14:20 Wrap upLinksMark’s articles: https://markccrowley.com/articles/Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley/TopicsWorkplace well-being, employee well-being, toxic workplaces, leadership, culture, psychological safety, burnout prevention, events as culture change, offsites, SKO, business performance