The Happy Index: A People-First Approach to Leadership

Discover the key to positive workplaces and better results from one of Britain’s most successful leaders.

A Waterstones Book of the Month and Paperback of the Year 2025

’Mr Timpson is a role model as an employer. Other businesses could learn from his approach.’ The Guardian

The Happy Index: a tool designed to measure and enhance workplace satisfaction, boost morale and empower teams.

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James Timpson is renowned for leading with empathy and understanding, often by example. His acclaimed people-first approach to management empowers colleagues, putting measurable job satisfaction at the heart of corporate strategy.

The Happy Index invites readers into a world where employee happiness isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a powerful catalyst for success that should be at the core of any successful organisation. Drawing on his decades of experience leading one of Britain’s best-loved high-street brands, Timpson shares the secrets behind his unique approach to ’upside-down’ management. His infectious passion for people shines through every page and in the very real measures he has introduced - from days off for birthdays to free-to-use luxury holiday homes. And with a workforce comprised of at least 10 per cent ex-offenders at any one time, Timpson shows the value of an imaginative approach to hiring, with a staff retention rate to be proud of.

From a leader who knows what it takes to build thriving organisations, The Happy Index gives companies, start-ups and leaders the tools they need to bring Timpson’s revolutionary approach to their working lives.

James Timpson OBE is a British businessman and politician who is currently Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending. From 2002 until 2024 he was the CEO of the five-generation, family-owned company Timpson, which includes many of the UK’s best-known high street retailers. In addition to leading an organisation of 5,600 staff across 2,000 locations, James was Chair of the Prison Reform Trust and regularly advised figures across the private and public sectors. He is the father to three adult children and lives in Cheshire with his wife, Roisin. The Happy Index is his first book and all of his earnings will be given to the Prison Reform Trust.