Getting real with Employee Experience

Emma Bridger's first book, referred to in the episode, examines the concept of employee engagement from both practitioner and academic perspectives. Bridger discusses how multiple definitions exist and how ambiguity has shaped measurement-focused practices in organisations. The book emphasizes understanding what organisations mean by engagement and aligning measurement and interventions to those goals. It aims to bring practical guidance to HR and people professionals on designing meaningful engagement approaches. The episode references the book primarily to highlight the historical focus on measurement over action in engagement work.

Emma Bridger's 'EX by Design' (second edition) provides a practical framework for deliberately designing employee experiences grounded in psychological and research-based principles. The book aims to be accessible to practitioners, translating scientific rigor into usable tools, methods, and case examples for HR and EX professionals. Bridger emphasizes human-centered approaches such as best-experience conversations, moving from transactional to transformational practices, and using research strategically rather than reactively. The book also covers measurement, design thinking, and how to create interventions that genuinely improve people’s day-to-day working lives. Ultimately, it seeks to shift organizations away from survey fixation toward purposeful experience design that drives engagement outcomes.

Gary Stevenson's "The Trading Game" offers a firsthand account of his high-stakes career as a trader for Citibank. The book details his unconventional path to success, winning a job through a card game and eventually becoming one of the bank's most profitable traders. Stevenson's narrative explores the unique culture of the trading floor, the intense pressure, and the ethical dilemmas faced by those operating within the financial system. He also sheds light on the lifestyles of his colleagues and the high-risk, high-reward nature of the profession. The book provides a compelling insight into the world of high-finance and the human cost of success.