People Matter at Work - by Josh Block (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From Me to We: Fostering a Culture Where Everyone Wins

When people feel safe, seen, and successful, trust takes root, ownership grows, and generosity flows.

When Josh Block left the office on Friday, he was a regional sales representative. By Monday morning, he was president of the company. His unexpected promotion threw him into the deep end of leadership--facing the same challenges many leaders encounter daily: reengaging a disheartened team, restoring trust, and creating a culture where people love to work.

In People Matter at Work, Block shares his story of navigating crisis leadership by shifting the focus from individual survival to collective success. He exposes the toxic grip of the Me-Cycle--a self-preserving mindset in which bosses and employees operate in silos and primarily look out for themselves. It's a surefire recipe for disengagement and dysfunction.

The antidote? The We-Cycle--a transformational approach powered by leaders who work together, make thoughtful decisions, and lead with transparency. These leaders create cultures where people feel safe, seen, and successful. When leaders embody this mindset and put people first, team members respond in kind--carrying trust, ownership, and generosity. This deepens commitment and fuels a culture where performance shines and everyone wins.

With empathy and hard-won insight, Block offers real-world, practical tools for leaders at any level to turn workplaces into communities of shared purpose, growth and belonging. Because leadership isn't just about confidence and competence--it's about cultivating a culture where people thrive.

Whether you're an aspiring leader or leading from the top, People Matter at Work shows how the most successful companies build from the inside out--by choosing we over me.

Review Quotes

People Matter at Work is a testament to the human spirit. It's a positive, credible, and relatable story that offers hope and evidence that focusing on people is the winning strategy. Revealing, accessible, and refreshing, People Matter at Work is packed with relatable examples, practical applications, and all the validation you need to prove the power of a culture where people matter.

--JIM KOUZES, coauthor of the bestselling book The Leadership Challenge

If you're serious about building a team that actually performs and sticks around, this book is your blueprint. People Matter at Work gives you the playbook to create a culture where people show up with their heads, hands, and hearts. Through powerful lessons and real-life leadership moments, Josh Block shows you exactly how to build trust, spark ownership, and lead a team that runs on clarity, care, and purpose.

--MARCUS SHERIDAN, bestselling author of They Ask, You Answer and Endless Customers

In People Matter at Work, Josh shares his journey with refreshing honesty and practical wisdom showing how humility, transparency, and care create cultures where people don't just show up, they thrive. This isn't another leadership theory book--it's a lived playbook. If you want to be the kind of leader people want to follow, read this book and put it into practice.
--GARRY RIDGE, chairman emeritus of WD-40 Company, The Culture Coach, and USA Today bestselling author of Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It


In People Matter at Work, Josh Block gives us a powerful narrative of what life in our places of work look like when leadership's commitment to developing securely attached relationships are the leading edge of the organization. This book teaches us how to use comfort and confidence in leadership and how to use the most important resource we have--our relationships--to transform who we are.

--CURT THOMPSON, MD, psychiatrist and author of The Soul of Desire and The Deepest Place

Josh Block reminds us that leadership is, first and foremost, about people. People Matter at Work is a powerful call to lead with heart, courage, and connection--and a timely guide for building workplaces where everyone can thrive.

--NABEELA ELSAYED, former COO of Walmart Canada and CHRO of IKEA

We all want to feel like we matter--and if you want to build an organization where your people know the difference they make, let Josh's story and journey be your guide.

--BOBBY HERRERA, bestselling author, speaker, and cofounder of Populus Group

About the Author

Josh Block is a seasoned business leader and entrepreneur passionate about building cultures where people thrive--at work and in life. A graduate of Taylor University, Josh began his career by founding a service company in Muncie, Indiana, focused on creating employment opportunities within the city's urban core. That early experience cemented his belief in the power of people-first, purpose-driven work.

In 2011, Josh and his wife, Lacey, moved to Lansing, Michigan, where he assumed the role of president at Block Imaging, a family-owned company at the time and now an affiliate of Siemens Healthineers and CommonSpirit Health. Block Imaging provides refurbished imaging systems, parts, and service to healthcare providers worldwide, empowering them to provide a second chance at life for imaging equipment and patients. Under Josh's leadership, Block Imaging has grown from fifty to more than four hundred team members globally, becoming a model for trust-driven culture and people-powered performance.

In 2018, Josh launched Cube Mobile Imaging to offer mobile imaging solutions across the United States, helping to expand access and reduce patient backlogs. He also speaks and coaches on leadership, organizational culture, and identity.

Outside the office, Josh brings the same energy to his personal life. He enjoys wakesurfing, paddleboarding, and golf, and has competed in triathlons ranging from sprint to 70.3 distances. A few of his favorite indulgences include Cheetos, Cherry Coke, and Cap'n Crunch--and he is known for a legendary waffle recipe.

He and Lacey have been married for twenty-three years and live in Lansing with their two children.