Welcome to the latest edition of the Social Capital Newsletter. Social Capital is an intangible asset at the heart of a new and dynamic view of success, one that is changing business and the world as we know it during one of the most difficult and turbulent times in recent history. If you've bought a plane ticket recently or read the headlines, you know that a rash of flight cancellations and delays have been wreaking havoc on many people's travel plans. And even Social Capital companies were taken by surprise by the sudden surge in travel plans. But the true test of a company isn't its skill in avoiding challenges--it's how leaders resolve problems with the best interests of customers, employee and the community in mind. Delta CEO Ed Bastian (whom you read about in our story "Ed Bastian Raises the Bar on People-to-People Connections") got candid with IBT Editor-at-Large Chris Benguhe in this week's feature and video interview, Delta CEO: What Went Wrong and How We're Fixing It.

Compassionate leader Ed Bastian doubles down on his commitment to employees and customers.

Marshall Goldsmith shares compelling insights from his new book, 'An Earned Life.'

The Well-Being Factor
Relevance Brings Growth
Is Servant Leadership Finally Catching On

We rarely mention books twice in this newsletter, but The Heart of Business -- written by former Best Buy CEO and senior lecturer at Harvard Business School Hubert Joly --is so important to the Social Capital movement that we're calling it to your attention again in this edition. Many leaders have told us they have read this book from cover to cover, highlighting the salient points they plan to incorporate into their own conscious companies. Joly, as you'll recall, turned around Best Buy when the giant chain was in trouble, and he provides detailed insights into exactly what he did to pull it off. Along the way, he infused Best Buy with the ideals of the Social Capital movement, always putting people before profits. And if you'd like to know more about Joly, check out "Antidote to the Great Resignation: Finding and Putting Meaning in Work." 

Home cooking has made a big comeback, and if you've been reconnecting with your inner chef, you know how important it is to have the right knives. Artisan Revere's knives, built in the U.S., will take the cooking experience to a whole new level and may even inspire the rest of your family to join you in the kitchen. They truly are a splurge but the paring knives ($195) and chef's knife ($445) are guaranteed for life. 

These Companies Put Family First. We honor the Social Capital companies that are paving the way when it comes to supporting their employees' commitments to their loved ones. (If you're interested in how your company can express its family values, check out Penny Pennington is Committed to Growth by Social Capital CEO Penny Pennington at Edward Jones. 

As more companies put their employees' wellbeing first, worker pay rose 1.3% in the second quarter, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. We're glad to see that more employers are helping their teams keep up with the cost of living, which keeps climbing higher due to inflation. As we found in reporting "CEOs Who Share The Wealth," giving employees a bigger pieces of the profits is not only the right thing to do but it also pays off in a better business culture. 

Many companies set key performance indicators (KPIs) to track everything from revenue to employees turnover. In keeping with a trend toward measuring employee wellbeing, Bain & Co. has created the Bain Inspirational Leadership System, made up of the 33 elements the company identified as statistically significant traits for inspiring others. They started with centeredness. To learn how Bain has ensured empowerment extends throughout the whole company, check out our story "The Well-Being Factor."

If you know someone who would like to receive this newsletter

click here