Everybody Matters

The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family

“Bob and Raj beautifully illustrate the important intersection of business and the true essence of the human spirit. One company, one employee at a time, Barry-Wehmiller is changing the world—and the world of business. If this model can be successful in manufacturing, it can be successful anywhere!”

“Is it possible to run a successful business without treating people like numbers? Can a corporate culture of mistrust and insecurity be transformed into one of caring and fulfillment? Everybody Matters answers these questions with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’…”

Starting in 1997, Bob Chapman and Barry-Wehmiller have pioneered a dramatically different approach to leadership that creates off-the-charts morale, loyalty, creativity, and business performance. The company utterly rejects the idea that employees are simply functions to be moved around, “managed” with carrots and sticks or discarded at will. Instead, Barry-Wehmiller manifests the reality that every single person matters, just like in a family. That’s not a cliché on a mission statement; it’s the bedrock of the company’s success.

Everybody Matters, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, chronicles Chapman’s journey to find his true calling, going behind the scenes as his team tackles real-world challenges with care, empathy, and inspiration. It also provides clear steps to transform your own workplace, whether you lead two people or two hundred thousand.

All Barry-Wehmiller proceeds from Everybody Matters are donated to the Chapman Foundation for Caring Communities, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing BW’s powerful listening and communication skills training to communities throughout the United States.

Authors

Bob Chapman

Bob Chapman became chairman and CEO of the then-struggling Barry-Wehmiller in 1975. Despite obstacles, Chapman applied a unique blend of strategy and culture in leading Barry-Wehmiller through more than 120+ successful acquisitions and the transformation of the company’s traditional culture to a people-centric one where his team members feel valued, cared for, and an integral part of the company’s purpose. Chapman’s experiences and the transformation he championed were the inspiration behind Everybody Matters. Today, the Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute works to bring Barry-Wehmiller’s trademark leadership and culture transformation training to for-profit organizations.

Raj Sisodia

Raj Sisodia is an international speaker on organizational philosophy and an award-winning author. A founding member of the Conscious Capitalism movement, Raj Sisodia is FW Olin Distinguished Professor of Global Business and Whole Foods Market Research Scholar in Conscious Capitalism at Babson College. He is also the Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Conscious Capitalism Inc. He has published ten books and over 100 academic articles.

Praise & Reviews

Wall Street Journal Best Seller

“For too long, the primary value exchange between employees and their employers has been time for money, and not much more. Bob Chapman is suggesting a deeper, richer value exchange…”

“If you are looking to find a balance between business and people demands, Chapman is your guide.”

Forbes 15 Best Business Books of 2015

“Certainly an eye-opener for many leaders and managers.”

“At a time when so many business leaders have been trying to shrink their way to success — Bob Chapman has been listening his way to success.”

“…Bob Chapman, and the Gallup data illustrate the principle that caring for people is compatible with being successful in competitive business environments.”

Our Documentary

We are committed to spreading our message of Truly Human Leadership as far and wide as possible. It is one of the reasons we wrote Everybody Matters. But people learn and absorb information in different ways. We decided to produce a documentary about our journey, along the lines of the story told in our book.

Everybody Matters, the documentary, features interviews with Bob Chapman and a number of Barry-Wehmiller team members throughout our organization, interweaving the story of the ups and downs of our business with the transformation of our culture.

We premiered the documentary at Conscious Capitalism 2016 in Chicago and it was met with rave reviews — called “funny,” “heartwarming” and “inspirational” by those who attended.