Magic in the Room #41: Purpose, Profit & the Role of Service

January 27, 2021

Developed in the 1990s by James Heskett, the  Service-Profit Chain  is a business management model that links employee satisfaction to customer loyalty and profitability. It is a framework that shows the interrelationships of a business ecosystem, where revenue growth is an outcome of a chain of processes that begins with a clearly articulated shared purpose.

In this episode, Chris, Hannah, and Luke discuss how this model, when applied intentionally, leads to greater outcomes in today’s business environment.

 

Hannah discusses how we care about companies that we feel care about us. When employees show that they care about their customers, we also feel like the company cares. It’s crucial to recognize that how we treat the people in our organizations is precisely how employees will treat our customers.

 

For Hannah, it’s all about living by your purpose. We are often surrounded by a collection of highly talented individuals. The magic in the room occurs when a group of people has a primary mutual focus. Not because they have to, but because they want to and because it feels meaningful. Hannah reflects on the golden moments that she has witnessed the turnaround in their client’s organizations when they have successfully helped them make that transition.

 

Luke talks about the ROI in changing the employee experience and helping them feel and perceive that internal service quality in reaching those higher levels of employee engagement. But he warns there must be a clear narrative around it. These are just a few reasons why the hosts always walk people through their service-profit chain journey. What many leaders think they should be doing is often very different from the next project that should be on their roadmap.

 

The organizational participation piece is a critical component. When we see our leaders participate in the things they say they value, we believe in them. When we see our leaders say something is important and instruct everyone to attend a training session, but don’t attend themselves, it sends out the wrong message. It must be demonstrated by all leaders and supervisors at every layer in the organization for it to work.

 

The service-profit chain establishes relationships between profitability, customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity. But it will always begin with a clearly articulated shared purpose. It’s easy to rush into solution mode and ask how long until I get results? You might see results within 60 or 90 days, but it can take up to 18 months to make a meaningful difference. Chris advises your journey’s speed will depend on the level of your intention and what goals you want to reach.

 

Cultivating a shared belief system and energizing mindset around how everyone acts in your business will take time. It’s a journey rather than a destination, and you will learn many lessons along the way. We invite you to share your stories, insights, and experiences with the  service-profit chain  by messaging Chris, Hannah, and Luke at  info@purposeandperformancegroup.com.

By Sarah Whitfield December 3, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Luke, Hannah, and Chris unpack the difference between being busy and being truly impactful, exploring why organizations often get stuck in high-activity, low-impact cycles. They identify five common contributors: compliance-heavy environments, resistance to change, disconnected decision-makers, fear-driven “CYA” cultures, and firefighting systems that reward heroics over long-term strategy. From there, they highlight what creates real impact: clarity of purpose, agency, curiosity, intentionality, and the discipline to question assumptions and align action with a meaningful “why.” The conversation encourages leaders to build awareness of their strengths, design systems that support healthy impact, maintain congruence between their public and private influence, and cultivate the kind of presence that can genuinely move a room. 
November 4, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," Chris interviews board members from the National Native American Human Resources Association (NNAHRA) discussing the power of purpose-driven leadership within tribal organizations. Recorded at the NNAHRA annual conference, they explore themes like courage, vulnerability, accountability, community service, and fostering environments where all employees feel valued and able to contribute. They share how NNAHRA builds a supportive professional network for tribal HR leaders, encourages alignment between individual roles and tribal purpose, and creates space for courageous conversations across governance and enterprise structures. They also discuss future initiatives, including new certifications and the 2026 conference at the Hilton Village in Hawaii. The overarching message: lead with purpose, support one another, and build cultures rooted in respect, courage, and shared responsibility.
Show More