Build it: the rebel playbook for world-class employee engagement by Glenn Elliott and Debra Corey Summary

1. The Engagement Bridge™ transforms workplaces by linking leadership, communication, and job design.
2. Rebel Playbook principle: Replace outdated HR policies with autonomy-driven role customization.
3. Money motivates retention but recognition and growth drive sustained employee engagement.
4. Effective leadership requires inspirational vision-setting paired with daily supportive management actions.
5. Workspace design impacts engagement more than perks through collaboration-enabling layouts.
6. Job satisfaction soars when roles blend skill-stretching tasks and real-time feedback.
7. Elliott and Corey prove disengagement stems from control-centric management, not laziness.
8. Build trust faster by replacing annual surveys with continuous peer recognition systems.
9. Sustain engagement through transparent OKRs instead of rigid top-down performance metrics.
10. Wellbeing programs fail without psychological safety and manager-led mental health advocacy.
11. The "10-Beam Rule": Engagement plateaus until 8+ cultural components operate cohesively.
12. Future-proof teams by embedding learning loops into daily workflows, not separate trainings.

About the Author of Build it

Glenn Elliott and Debra Corey, co-authors of Build It: The Rebel Playbook for World-Class Employee Engagement, are pioneering voices in organizational culture and employee engagement. Elliott, a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Reward Gateway (a $300M employee engagement platform), combines his startup-to-scaleup expertise with Corey’s 30-year HR leadership background at global firms like Gap, Honeywell, and Merlin Entertainments.

Their book merges entrepreneurial grit with proven HR strategies, challenging traditional practices to foster innovative workplace cultures. Corey, author of Effective HR Communication and a frequent contributor to Forbes and HR publications, pairs practical frameworks with Elliott’s disruptive "Engagement Bridge™" model.

Their insights have been featured in Harvard Business Review, TEDx talks, and industry conferences, emphasizing measurable outcomes like reduced turnover and boosted innovation. Build It is used by companies like Unilever and IBM, translated into six languages, and required reading in MBA programs globally. The book has sold over 100,000 copies, cementing its status as a modern guide for rebel leaders shaping tomorrow’s workplaces.

FAQs About Build it

What is Build It by Glenn Elliott and Debra Corey about?

Build It provides a blueprint for creating high employee engagement through its Engagement Bridge™ framework, focusing on leadership, communication, job design, and recognition. It argues against outdated management models, emphasizing autonomy, purpose, and trust to build thriving workplaces.

Who should read Build It?

HR professionals, business leaders, and managers seeking actionable strategies to boost team morale and productivity. Entrepreneurs building company cultures from scratch will also benefit from its rebel-minded approach to employee empowerment.

Is Build It worth reading?

Yes. The book combines evidence-based insights with practical tools like the Engagement Bridge™ and real-world examples. It’s praised for redefining workplace dynamics beyond薪酬福利, making it valuable for modern organizational challenges.

What is the Engagement Bridge™ in Build It?

The framework identifies six pillars for engagement:

• Purpose and leadership (foundations)
• Communication, job design, learning, and recognition (bridge components)
• Pay, workspace, and wellbeing (supporting “boulders”)

How does Build It differentiate leadership from management?

Leadership involves setting vision and inspiring teams (what you say), while management focuses on execution and processes (what you do). The book stresses aligning both to sustain engagement.

What role does job design play in employee engagement according to Build It?

Jobs should integrate autonomy, skill variety, and clear impact. The authors argue that well-designed roles foster intrinsic motivation, reducing reliance on external rewards.

Does Build It criticize traditional HR practices?

Yes. Elliott and Corey condemn outdated “factory model” tactics, advocating for transparency, continuous feedback, and treating employees as partners rather than adversaries.

How does Build It address pay and benefits?

While acknowledging their necessity, the book argues money alone can’t drive engagement. It prioritizes equitable pay structures but emphasizes non-monetary factors like recognition and growth.

What real-world examples does Build It use?

Case studies include companies that redesigned workspaces for collaboration, implemented peer-to-peer recognition programs, and adopted flat hierarchies to empower teams.

What critiques exist about Build It?

Some argue its ideals may be challenging for large, traditional organizations to adopt. Critics note it focuses more on culture than量化 metrics for measuring engagement.

How does Build It apply to remote/hybrid work environments in 2025?

The principles—clear communication, trust-based leadership, and purposeful job design—align with modern demands for flexibility. The book’s focus on wellbeing resonates amid burnout concerns.

Are Glenn Elliott and Debra Corey credible on this topic?

Yes. Elliott founded Reward Gateway (employee engagement软件), and Corey is an award-winning HR leader. Their combined 50+ years of experience underpin the book’s actionable advice.

How does Build It compare to similar books like Atomic Habits?

While Atomic Habits focuses on personal behavior change, Build It targets organizational systems. Both emphasize small, consistent actions but apply them to different contexts.

What’s a key quote from Build It?

“Engagement isn’t a program—it’s a daily practice.” This underscores the book’s thesis that sustaining engagement requires ongoing effort, not one-off initiatives.

Where can I find a summary of Build It?

Concise summaries highlighting its frameworks are available on platforms like LifeClub and Curium Solutions, which break down the Engagement Bridge™ and key takeaways.