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. Most leaders try to be good listeners--a foundation of being a Social Capital leader--but their teams may not see it that way. Listening to understand and validate is very different from listening to judge and argue, as Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, points out in "The Secret To Becoming A Caring Leader." If you're looking to connect on a deeper level with your team, check out the five steps to "listening like a leader" in this groundbreaking piece. 

So you think you know how to listen?

Because America and capitalism depend on the strength, health and future of families.

Empowerment: The Ultimate Social Capital
The New World of Corporate Community Engagement
A Viable Path Forward to Fix U.S. Healthcare

When Cheryl Bachelder became CEO of Popeye's in 2007, guest visits were in decline, restaurant sales and profit trends were down and the stock price had dropped to less than half of what it was five years before. Bacheleder turned things around with a conscious decision to lead in a new way, where she treated her team with respect and dignity but also challenged them to perform at their highest level. In Dare to Serve: How to Drive Superior Results by Serving Others, Bachelder shows how to apply the disciplines of servant leadership to your company so it can soar to new heights. You can get a taste of Bachelder's ideas in Is Servant Leadership Finally Catching On?

There's no better time of year to enjoy the pleasures of backyard entertaining than right now. Enjoy a relaxing glass of wine (without trying to balance it on lumpy ground) using the Outdoor Wine Table by Uncommon Goods ($60). The baltic birch plywood design--handmade in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania--is collapsible and has two handles that make it easy to move. Designers Ania and Michael Shepler embrace living a balanced lifestyle that prioritizes family, health, happiness and social responsibility.

Chris Todd, the new CEO of Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG), sits down for a one-on-one with IBT Times Social Capital. Todd is carrying on the Social Capital legacy of Aron Ain, whom we honored last year as CEO and chairman of UKG. (For more on Todd and his commitment to family, check out Family Still Matters: CEOS Who Support America's Most Important Institution"). 

The high price of healthcare is a huge source of stress for many American workers. 40% of Americans have delayed or skipped healthcare treatments, cut household spending or borrowed money to cope with rising healthcare costs, according to a study by West Health and Gallup. For companies that want their teams to come to work feeling healthy and well, emulating the practices of Social Capital companies, many of which prioritize robust healthcare benefits, is a good place to start. For ideas on how to prioritize employees' wellness, check out "The Well-Being Factor." 

The Pharma industry profits most when it sells more pharmaceuticals. But Social Capital CEO Alexander Hardy, CEO of Genentech, a major player in this industry, believes there is a greater good to society if companies like his embrace preventative care. To that end, Genentech has partnered with Stand Up to Cancer, for more than five years through its Cancer Screen Week program to raise awareness and educate people on the importance of routine cancer screenings. You can read about this and other work Hardy is doing in "How Can We Save The Private Healthcare System in America?"

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