When most leaders think about improving performance, they jump straight to strategy, systems, and metrics. Jackie Applegate, incoming CEO of PBI Gordon, reminds us that caring for the people leads to true success.

Jackie defines organizational health as the balance between the smart and healthy sides of a company. The smart side includes the traditional business essentials—strategy, finance, technology, and operations. The healthy side is all about the people: trust, communication, clarity and morale.

A truly healthy organization minimizes politics, fosters psychological safety and ensures every person knows how their work contributes to the company’s goals.