360 Real Time: Recent Episodes
Steelcase
What Workers Want, presented by Steelcase 360, explores the intersection of business and design by bringing together leaders, innovators and risk takers for behind-the-scenes conversations on how the places we work, learn and heal are changing to help people thrive and ideas flourish. Meet the people shaping the future of design and business, and discover how place can shape behavior.
Design can unintentionally create friction – or even harm – when it’s built from a narrow set of lived experiences. In this conversation, Omari Souza shares striking examples of how everyday artifacts fail people in ways most of us never see, from automatic faucets that “don’t always function adequately if you have darker skin tones” to bathroom experiences where women navigate 8 to 34 steps compared to men’s 3 to 5. Without frameworks to measure harm and understand out‑group experiences, designers risk reinforcing inequities. One answer is restorative design, which is a practice focused on healing past harms, restoring trust, and returning dignity to the people who interact with the things we create.Omari Souza is a designer, educator and author whose work challenges the field to confront how design can unintentionally create harm. His latest book, Design Against Racism, introduces the concept of restorative design – a framework that urges designers to move beyond “designing for” people and instead design with them to restore dignity, trust and equity in everyday experiences.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Sean McManaman provides technical support. Areli Arellano publishes digitally.
“If you know, you know” culture isn’t just a meme; it’s a hidden system that determines who gets access, opportunity and advancement. Dr. Ella Washington breaks down the unspoken rules shaping today’s workplaces and how leaders can make expectations clearer and more equitable. It’s a conversation that reframes what inclusion really requires.Dr. Ella Washington is an organizational psychologist, professor and author whose work focuses on workplace culture, inclusion and the hidden norms that shape careers. She’s the author of Unspoken and a leading voice helping organizations make expectations visible and create more equitable paths to advancement.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Sean McManaman and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano publishes digitally.
It takes about 60 hours to make a friend, and work is one of the few places where that time naturally accumulates. In this episode, Dr. Tracy Brower reveals why those hours matter more than ever, sharing research on how connection reshapes the brain, reduces loneliness, and drives performance, creativity, and wellbeing. She also unpacks how hybrid work, place, and leadership can either accelerate or erode the relationships people need to thrive.Dr. Tracy Brower is a sociologist and workplace expert focused on the intersection of connection, culture, and the future of work. She is the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Critical Connections, and her insights regularly appear in major media outlets. Tracy serves as Vice President of Workplace Insights at Steelcase, where she helps organizations create thriving, human‑centered workplaces.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Jose Jimenez and Sean McManaman provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Most organizations still haven’t cracked hybrid work — not in a way that truly supports performance, development, or culture. As Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh put it, “the issue is not whether the office is good or bad,” but that companies haven’t designed hybrid intentionally enough to make it work. Drawing on new research and their book In Praise of the Office, they unpack why culture is weakening, why relationships and learning are eroding, and how leaders can rebuild connection through clearer expectations, smarter design, and more intentional management.Peter Cappelli is a professor of management and director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A leading voice on work, talent, and organizational performance, he brings decades of research on how workplaces function and why management practices succeed or fail.Ranya Nehmeh is a senior HR strategist, author, and executive advisor focused on organizational culture, leadership, and the future of work. She helps global companies navigate complex people challenges with evidence‑based practices and practical frameworks. Together, they co-authored In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work. The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Dr. Laura Jana explains that the human abilities we develop earliest—curiosity, self‑management, empathy, adaptability, and creative thinking—are the same ones adults need to navigate today’s fast‑changing, AI‑shaped workplace. She draws on neuroscience and early‑childhood research to show how these capacities are built through environments and interactions, and why they’re becoming even more valuable than technical expertise. Her framework helps leaders see these so‑called “soft skills” as concrete, developable strengths that directly improve collaboration, innovation, and performance.Dr. Laura Jana is a pediatrician, early‑childhood expert, and author who has spent more than 25 years translating developmental science into practical guidance for educators, parents, and business leaders. Her work bridges neuroscience, early learning, and workforce development, showing how foundational human abilities—like curiosity, self‑regulation, empathy, and adaptability—shape success across the lifespan.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Jose Jimenez and Sean McManaman provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
AI is advancing so quickly that schools are struggling to keep pace, and learning‑innovation researcher Mario Chiasson argues that this gap is reshaping what students actually need from education. Instead of focusing on memorization, he says the priority should shift toward critical thinking, reflection, and problem‑solving — the human skills that become more valuable as AI takes on routine knowledge work. That shift requires rethinking teacher preparation, redesigning learning environments, and helping students use AI in ways that strengthen their thinking rather than replace it. The big challenge ahead is aligning how students learn with how the world now works.Mario Chiasson is a Canadian researcher and thought leader focused on learning innovation, system transformation, and future‑ready skills. He serves as Director of Research, Innovations and Change Management for District scolaire francophone Sud and is an associate researcher at the Université de Moncton.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Sean McManaman and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful, argues it’s possible to find joy in our physical environment even if we’re not feeling happy. She’s the founder of The Aesthetics of Joy, a website that empowers people to find more joy in life and work through design. Ingrid helps us understand how even small changes to our workplace can make a significant difference in how we feel.
Self‑Control Laboratory, and he’s best known for his bestselling books Chatter and Shift. His work focuses on why we feel what we feel and how people can use practical tools to better regulate their emotions.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Meetings offer one of the clearest windows into an organization — who speaks, how decisions are made, and whether people feel included all reveal the real state of culture and performance. Our latest research shows that when leaders pay attention to these everyday dynamics, culture shifts from something abstract to a measurable driver of alignment, fairness, and better work. Hear more on the Work Better podcast, where Khalil Smith, Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity, and Engagement at Akamai Technologies, unpacks the gap between what leaders think people need at work and what employees actually say they need.
Leadership matters because it shapes daily experience, and that consistency is built by small, cumulative actions – the lighting, the layout, the moments we create – that add up over time. Research shows people don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. So leaders who practice mentorship, notice moments, and make predictable, human‑centered choices keep teams engaged. Clint Pulver’s undercover work reminds us that practical, everyday gestures and thoughtfully designed workplaces are what make people say, “I love it here.”Clint Pulver is an Emmy Award–winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and workforce expert best known as the “Undercover Millennial.” A Speaker Hall of Fame inductee and professional drummer, Pulver blends research‑driven insights with high‑energy storytelling and live performance, inspiring organizations to build workplaces people never want to leave.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Recent McKinsey research describes today’s workplace as a “perma‑crisis,” demanding new levels of emotional stamina from leaders. In this Work Better episode, leadership expert Shannon Cohen explains why thriving now requires more than skill; it requires care, community, and the right “spotters” to support leaders as they take on heavier lifts. Shannon and host Chris Congdon explore the emotional cost of new opportunities, why victories carry weight, and how leaders can build resilience without burning out.Shannon Cohen is an award‑winning author, speaker, and leadership strategist known for her work in emotional intelligence, wellbeing, and leader sustainability. She is the founder of the Rockstar Woman Movement, a national community dedicated to empowering women leaders and changemakers. Through her writing, training, and keynote work, Shannon equips organizations and individuals with the tools to thrive in high‑pressure, high‑impact environments.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Innovation and is recognized for her research on how social networks shape creativity and innovation. With a background in civil engineering and organizational behavior, she bridges technical problem‑solving with insights into human relationships and workplace design. The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Job postings that include the word “curiosity” have grown by 90% year over year. But curiosity isn’t just a personal trait -- it’s becoming a business imperative. As Stefaan van Hooydonk shared on the Steelcase Work Better podcast, organizations that embrace curiosity empower people to learn faster, foster psychological safety, and spark innovation. This episode explores how leaders can create space for curiosity and why it’s the key to building stronger cultures and better business results.Stefaan van Hooydonk is the founder of the Global Curiosity Institute and author of The Workplace Curiosity Manifesto. He is a seasoned former Chief Learning Officer for Fortune 200 companies, including Nokia, Philips, Cognizant, and Saudi Aramco. Today, he consults and speaks globally, helping leaders and organizations build cultures of curiosity to drive growth and innovation.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
We think we know what our coworkers want – but we’re often wrong. In this episode of Work Better, behavioral scientist Nick Epley reveals why we misread even those closest to us, and how asking deeper questions can unlock trust, connection, and better collaboration. Epley challenges us to rethink small talk, lean into hard conversations, and design spaces that make connection the default – not the exception.Nick Epley is a leading behavioral scientist known for his work on social cognition and human connection. He is the John Templeton Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research. His research explores how people perceive and misunderstand each other, with notable contributions to the understanding of egocentrism, miscommunication, and anthropomorphism.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Listening is hardest when it matters most – and many of us are doing it wrong. In this Work Better episode, researcher Jeff Yip reveals the five mistakes that sabotage our ability to truly hear others. Find out what they are, and learn why listening is the key to connection, engagement, and leadership – and how to start doing it better.Jeffrey Yip, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Management at Simon Fraser University and the founder of ListeningWorks. His research focuses on leadership, mentoring, and career development, with a special emphasis on interpersonal dynamics and organizational psychology. A Fulbright scholar, Yip earned his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Boston University and a master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
94% of people say they’re more productive when they feel connected. In this episode of Work Better, Erica Keswin explains why great leaders act more like cruise directors -- curating connection, not just managing tasks. Tune in for insights on building human workplaces that boost engagement, retention, and the bottom line.Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist, speaker, and bestselling author dedicated to helping organizations build more human-centered cultures. Her books – “Bring Your Human to Work,” “Rituals Roadmap,” and “The Retention Revolution—explore the power of connection, intentional leadership, and meaningful rituals in driving engagement and performance.” She’s also a passionate advocate for finding the sweet spot between tech and connect – especially in the age of AI – and a proud dog mom to Cruiser, her very human pup.The Work Better podcast is produced by Katie Pace, with assistance from Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison provides creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Most people want to feel like what they do matters -- but too often, they’re expected to care without being shown that they’re cared for. In this episode of Work Better, host Chris Congdon continues her conversation with researcher and author Zach Mercurio about the power of mattering. Discover how leaders can build cultures of significance by noticing, affirming, and showing people they’re needed. It’s not just about soft skills -- it’s about unlocking real performance and helping people thrive.Zach Mercurio, Ph.D., is a researcher and advisor on purposeful leadership and the science of mattering. He helps organizations build cultures of meaning and motivation, and teaches at Colorado State University’s Center for Meaning and Purpose. His clients include the U.S. Army, Marriott, and Simon Sinek’s Optimist community.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Most people want to feel like what they do matters – but too often, they’re expected to care without being shown that they’re cared for. In this episode of Work Better, host Chris Congdon talks with Zach Mercurio, researcher and author of The Power of Mattering, about why feeling valued is essential to adding value. Learn how leaders can build cultures of significance that reduce loneliness, boost engagement, and help people thrive.Zach Mercurio, Ph.D., is a researcher and advisor on purposeful leadership and the science of mattering. He helps organizations build cultures of meaning and motivation, and teaches at Colorado State University’s Center for Meaning and Purpose. His clients include the U.S. Army, Marriott, and Simon Sinek’s Optimist community.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Most people want more from their work than just a paycheck. They want to feel like what they do matters. And that shift isn’t just a trend — it’s a call to action for today’s leaders. This special episode of the Work Better podcast (Recorded live at the American Society of Interior Designers National Conference in Atlanta) features Wes Adams, a positive psychology researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee. He shares practical insights and powerful research on what drives meaningful work and how leaders can help people feel more connected to their work, colleagues, and organization by creating community.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Are you ‘indistractable?’ Probably not. Distractions constantly barrage us. How we choose to focus can profoundly impact our mental health, physical wellbeing and our closest relationships. As author Nir Eyal says, “Choosing your attention is truly how we choose our lives.” On this episode, Eyal sheds light on the root causes of distraction and shares actionable tips to make being ‘indistractable’ your superpower.Nir Eyal is a bestselling author and behavioral design expert known for Hooked and Indistractable, which explore habit formation and focus in the digital age. He’s taught at Stanford, founded and sold tech startups, and consults on creating products that positively shape user behavior.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Sustainability isn’t relegated to just one team anymore. For many organizations, it's becoming intertwined with everything they do – and this elevated focus on sustainability is changing how many people work. In this episode of the Work Better podcast, workplace transformation and real estate experts Joaquina Garrido and Susana Quintas discuss the impact of workplace culture on sustainability and how creating sustainable office environments can boost productivity and employee wellbeing.Joaquina Garrido is a member of the Board of Directors at IFMA España and sponsor of its Workplace and People Commission. She is a leading advocate for sustainable, human-centered office design that supports collaboration and well-being in hybrid work environments. Susana Quintás is the Director of the Sustainability Commission at IFMA España. With a background in finance and corporate strategy, she champions ESG-driven workplace transformation and co-leads initiatives like the “Playbook de la Oficina Sostenible.”The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Could this meeting have been an email? We ask it every week. Employees have long held a love-hate relationship with the traditional office meet-up. However, Dr. Steven Rogelberg, an expert in organizational psychology, believes meetings can go from mundane to magnificent. He joins host Chris Congdon on the Work Better podcast to share insights and practical tips on overcoming common challenges, the impact of virtual and hybrid meetings, and the importance of face-to-face interactions.Rogelberg is Chancellor’s Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he teaches Organizational Science, Management, and Psychology. Widely recognized for his groundbreaking research on workplace meetings, team effectiveness, and employee well-being, Rogelberg has authored over 100 publications and delivered more than 50 invited talks around the world. His work has been featured in major media outlets including NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and Scientific American Mind. The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
AI is revolutionizing productivity in the workplace. Economist Chad Syverson joins the Work Better podcast to share fascinating insights on AI's transformative potential and explain how this technology can enhance efficiency and drive innovation across business functions. Tune in to the Work Better podcast to learn how embracing AI could unlock unprecedented productivity.Chad Syverson is the George C. Tiao Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His research focuses on productivity, firm structure, and market dynamics, and he has coauthored the textbook Microeconomics. Before academia, he worked as a mechanical engineer and holds degrees in both engineering and economics.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
In today's fast-paced world, balancing work and life can seem daunting. But building a life outside of work — establishing hobbies, cultivating a positive family life and engaging in community activities — can help create full, meaningful lives that translate to the workplace. On this episode of the Work Better podcast, host Chris Congdon and guest Danna Greenberg, an organizational psychologist and professor at Babson College, explore how elements of personal wellbeing can help us thrive professionally.Danna Greenberg is a professor of organizational behavior at Babson College, a published author of several books including Maternal Optimism: Forging Positive Paths Through Work and Motherhood, is the Associate Editor for the Academy of Management Learning and Education, and has published in over 30 articles in leading journals. The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
In today's demanding work environment, understanding the impact of languishing at work – and how to overcome it – is vital. On the Work Better podcast, host Chris Congdon and guest Corey Keyes, a renowned author and sociologist, delve into how languishing at work affects our lives and how fostering a sense of belonging, community, purpose and meaning can significantly enhance our mental health.Corey Keyes is a bestselling author, sociologist, professor at Emory University, and a member of an advisory board for the World Happiness Forum. He has written several books, including Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down. Keyes is a member of the Positive Psychology Network and has worked for the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
In an era where trust is increasingly scarce, redefining it within the workplace can be a cultural game-changer. On the Work Better podcast, host Chris Congdon and guest Minda Harts, a bestselling author and workplace consultant, explore innovative strategies to rebuild trust. Learn how to cultivate trust, even in remote work settings, and address trust issues with colleagues and managers.Minda Harts is a bestselling author, workplace consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker known for her work on addressing workplace inequities and advocating for women of color. She is the founder of The Memo LLC and the author of "The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table," "Right Within," and "You Are More Than Magic." Harts is also recognized for her Seven Trust Languages® framework, which helps organizations build high-trust cultures.The Work Better podcast is produced with assistance from Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, Brandon Lacic, and Celeste Johnson. Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey provide creative art direction. Soundpost Studios edits and mixes the podcast. Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez provide technical support. Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks publish digitally.
Many people say they feel ‘burned out’ at work, but how do they really know? How is ‘burnout defined? Or measured? And could other factors be at play? McKinsey researcher Jacqui Brassey joins the Work Better podcast to dive deeper into feeling ‘burned out’ and gives perspective on how our work can influence and even improve our holistic health in new ways.Jacqui Brassey is a Senior Fellow and Director of Research Science at the McKinsey Health Institute, where she co-leads the Healthy Workforces initiative. With over 25 years of experience, she promotes mental health, wellbeing, agility, and resilience in organizations. Brassey is also a fellow researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and an adjunct professor at IE University in Madrid. She holds multiple degrees, including a PhD in economics and business from Groningen University and a joint master's in affective neuroscience from Maastricht University and the University of Florence.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
Seven in 10 employees have experienced disruptive change in the past year. Gallup’s Ben Wigert joins the Work Better podcast to identify three challenging trends happening at work and why ‘people-first’ change is urgently needed. Wigert is the Lead Researcher for Gallup’s workplace management practice, specializing in human capital management and performance optimization. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Wigert has authored numerous publications on performance management and employee engagement. He also leads a cross-functional team focused on evolving workplace strategies for the future.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
It’s no longer a question – AI is changing how we work, and it’s happening rapidly. A technical renaissance of sorts, AI is mainly driven by employees. But as Humanova founder Sean Gallagher tells us, leaders should act now – even if all the kinks haven’t been worked out – before their organizations are left behind.Gallagher is the founder of Humanova and a leading expert on the future of work in Australia. He focuses on how technology, especially AI, transforms work and accelerates human capability. Dr. Gallagher led the Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University for six years and has conducted pioneering research on generative AI. He holds a PhD in chemistry and has been recognized for his contributions to academia and industry.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
Mental and neurological disorders are costing world economies trillions of dollars every year – something physician and neuroscientist Dr. Harris Eyre calls a “decline in global brain capital.” In this edition of the Work Better podcast, Eyre talks about healthy brain practices and the steps we can take to address this global challenge.Eyre is an Australian neuroscientist and entrepreneur known for his pioneering work in the brain economy, which focuses on enhancing brain health and skills to drive innovation. He is a Senior Fellow in Brain Health at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, where he leads the Neuro-Policy Program. Eyre’s career spans medicine, neuroscience, and economic strategy, with a commitment to promoting brain health on a global scale.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
What would make you feel less stressed at your office? Researcher Libby Sander joins the Work Better podcast to discuss her groundbreaking research on how work environments can impact your stress levels in the office. She’ll share the three most important things you need in the office now for better physical and mental wellbeing, and how adopting more beautiful spaces can encourage better collaboration, creativity and growth.Dr. Libby Sander is an internationally renowned expert on the future of work and workplace design. She is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Bond University and the founder of the Future of Work Project. Dr. Sander holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior, a Master’s in Human Resource Management, and degrees in Arts and Business. She has spoken at TEDx and contributes to the World Economic Forum. Her research has been featured in prominent publications like the Harvard Business Review and The Guardian.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
New research suggests you’ll barely have the attention span to finish reading this paragraph. We shift our attention faster and more often than ever before, impacting our work and health. So, what can we do to increase our attention? Slow down, set the audio speed to 1X, and listen to author Gloria Mark explain why this is happening and how small changes to our behavior and work environments can help -- on the latest edition of the Work Better podcast.Gloria Mark is an American psychologist and Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. She earned her PhD in psychology from Columbia University and has published over 200 scientific research articles. Her work primarily focuses on human-computer interaction, social computing, and the social impacts of digital media. Mark is the author of the 2023 book “Attention Span,” which explores how digital media affects our attention spans and offers strategies for improving focus and productivity.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
You may think that if you don’t hear much from your employees, everything’s going pretty well. But that may not be the case. In fact, organizational psychologist Connie Noonan Hadley believes when employees don’t feel like they can speak up, that can spell trouble for businesses. In this edition of the Work Better podcast, Dr. Hadley identifies the root causes of this silence and offers actionable ideas on how leaders can help employees feel safe to speak up. Drawing on her extensive research and experience, she provides insights into fostering a culture of psychological safety and well-being in the workplace.Dr. Hadley is the Founder and Chief Scientist of the Institute for Life at Work. Dr. Hadley is also a Research Associate Professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, where she conducts research and serves as Co-Director of the Human Resources Policy Institute (HRPI). In addition, Dr. Hadley serves as a regular consulting researcher at Microsoft on future-of-work projects and the Microsoft Work Trend Index. Dr. Hadley holds a PhD in organizational behavior as well as an MA in social psychology from Harvard University, an MBA in strategic and human resource management from The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), and a BA in psychology from Princeton University.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
Microsoft research shows 3 out of 4 global knowledge workers use AI in their jobs. But how are we preparing students for an AI-future at work? Educator, scholar and author José Antonio Bowen joins the Work Better podcast to talk about why becoming an ‘expert’ is so important to maximize the benefits of AI – and avoid being replaced by it.Bowen has held significant academic and administrative roles, including serving as the 11th President of Goucher College. Bowen began his teaching career at Stanford University in 1982 and has also been a dean at Southern Methodist University and Miami University. He is known for his innovative approaches to education, particularly in active learning and the use of technology in the classroom. Additionally, Bowen is a prolific jazz performer and composer.The Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Contributing producers are Katie Pace, Rebecca Charbauski, Stav Kontis, Chiara Licari, and Brandon Lacic. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison. Editing and sound mixing is by Sound Post studios. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks.
What’s so funny? Turns out humor at work is for more than just a good laugh. It can help us influence people and be more creative. Authors Naomi Bagdonas and Dr. Jennifer Aaker join the Work Better podcast to share how our brains change when we laugh, why humor isn’t just for extroverts and how more laughter can make a big impact on business.Naomi Bagdonas is a Lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an Executive Coach. She helps leaders be more creative, flexible and resilient in the face of change by facilitating interactive sessions for Fortune 100 companies and coaching executives and celebrities for appearances ranging from Saturday Night Live to the Today Show. Formally trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre, Bagdonas performs at comedy venues and teaches improv in San Francisco’s county jail. Dr. Jennifer Aaker is the General Atlantic Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a leading expert on how purpose and meaning shape individual choices and how technology can positively impact both human well-being and company growth. Her work has been widely published in leading scientific journals and featured in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and Science. Together Naomi and Jennifer teach the wildly popular class “Humor: Serious Business,” the inspiration for the bestselling book “Humor, Seriously.”Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Have you ever held back on something because it just wasn’t “age appropriate?” Or evaluated someone based on if they’re a Millennial or Gen Z? Are generational differences preventing people from reaching their full potential in life and at work? And could we be thinking differently about generations in the workplace?Mauro Guillen is a sociologist and is currently the William H. Wurster Professor and a Vice Dean at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School and was also a Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellow. He is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything. His latest book is The Perennials: The Megatrends Creating a Postgenerational Society. Guillén argues that outmoded terms like Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z have long been used to pigeonhole us into rigid categories and life stages, artificially preventing people from reaching their full potential. A new post generational workforce known as “perennials” – individuals who are not pitted against each other either by their age or experience – makes it possible to liberate scores of people from the constraints of the sequential model of life and level the playing field so that everyone has a chance at living a rewarding life. Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
We all know the workplace has to support a lot of diverse needs and it could probably do a much better job than it does today. But that can be really hard because there’s a gravitational pull toward sameness. It’s just easier to establish a pattern and stick to it. So how can we embrace how different our brains are when we are designing the workplace?Elena Sabinson (she/they) is a neurodivergent researcher passionate about the role design can play to help all people flourish. She is an assistant professor of environmental design at the University of Colorado Boulder and received her PhD in human behavior and design from Cornell University. Elena was diagnosed later in life with autism and ADHD. Elena’s personal experience and research on neurodiversity along with their expertise in architecture and design gives us ideas for how the workplace can do more to support all of our different brains.Additional resources: Learn more about Elena Sabinson’s work and research https://elenasabinson.com/Read insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Why is it some teams at work struggle and others seem to just click? Anita Woolley studies the science of teamwork and she’s sharing what research says about how to create great teams. And it’s not about having a lot of brainy people on your team. Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory at Carnegie Mellon Anita Woolley holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Harvard and her research on teams has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. Her studies explore how teams problem-solve, collaborate and she’s developed an rich understanding of a concept called collective intelligence. Collective intelligence is the idea that when you put some people together, the team is able to do better work just because of the group. In this episode, learn what factors create great teams and why having women on teams appears to be an essential component of success. Additional resources: Learn more about Anita Woolley and her work on collective intelligence https://scholars.cmu.edu/418-anita-woolleyRead insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
We’ve all been told at some point in our lives that hard work is the key to success. But author Alex Soojung-Kim Pang is out to dispel this myth. He says you can actually get more done and experience more “Aha!” moments if you rest and relax more often. Alex has spent the past 20 years studying people, the future of technology and its impact on work. He is a former Microsoft research fellow and professional futurist with a PhD in the history of science as well as a visiting scholar at Stanford and Oxford.He’s the author of four books including; The Distraction Addiction, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, Shorter: How Working Less Will Revolutionize the Way Your Company Gets Things Done and, most recently, Work Less Do More: Designing the Four Day Week. When Alex talks about rest, he isn’t just focusing on sleep. He defines rest more broadly and is championing the idea that we can actually be more productive by doing less. He offers some advice for those of us addicted to the badge of busyness.Additional resources: Learn more about Alex and his books including Work Less Do More, Rest, Shorter and The Distraction Addiction https://www.4dayweek.com/alex-pangWatch Alex’s Ted Talk: How Rest Can Make You Better at Your Job https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_soojung_kim_pang_how_rest_can_make_you_better_at_your_jobRead insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Spaces communicate a lot about how you are supposed to behave. In a library, everything about the lighting and the furniture tells you to be quiet and contemplative. Or a conference room indicates where to sit and where to look. Dr. Upali Nanda has done a lot of work around the intersection of architecture and neuroscience. And she’s figuring out how to create workplaces designed to make our brains healthier. We first caught up with Upali in New York where she presented her team’s work at the United Nations General Assembly's "Brain Capital Alliance" summit hosted in the Steelcase New York City WorkLife. She is Global Practice Director of Research and a Partner at HKS, and executive director of the Center for Advanced Design Research and Evaluation which is a non-profit founded by HKS. She also teaches at the University Michigan in the school of architecture and urban planning. She has extensive experience leading research projects in design practice, focusing on the impact of design on human health and perception. She was awarded the Women in Architecture Innovator Award and sits on the board of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture. In this episode, learn about a living lab in Atlanta that’s creating a workplace designed for brain health and helping people learn how to make the most of it to create joy and happiness at work. Additional resources: Read Getting to a Brain Healthy Workplace to download the full report Upali Nanda talks about https://www.hksinc.com/how-we-think/reports/getting-to-a-brain-healthy-workplace/Read insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Why do we work? It’s a simple enough question but the answer might surprise you. According to professor Barry Schwartz, it’s not just about a paycheck — which is what we’ve all been long led to believe. The fact is many people with good incomes are disengaged and unhappy at work. So what’s the problem? Barry’s research uncovers why people are unsatisfied and what factors can make us happier at work.Barry Schwartz is an Emeritus Professor at Swarthmore and a Visiting Professor at the Haas School of Business, U.C. Berkeley. He’s the author of several books including Why We Work, The Paradox of Choice and Practical Wisdom. He has also given four TED TALKS - seen by more than 25 million people.Barry’s research in his book Why We Work gets at the heart of why so many people are dissatisfied with their work today. He lays out a passionate argument about why the way society thinks about work is broken. And he has some ideas about what we can do differently to fix our approach to work and the workplace. Additional resources: Learn more about Barry Schwartz and his books Why We Work and The Paradox of Choice as well as others https://www.ted.com/speakers/barry_schwartzWatch Barry Schwartz’s TED Talk on The Paradox of Choice: https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choiceRead insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Look around you. Is there anything nearby that makes you smile? Our guest today argues there is a distinct connection between our surroundings, our wellbeing and our mental health. She even suggests there is time we can find joy in our physical environment even if we’re not feeling happy. Ingrid Fetell Lee is the author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, and the founder of the website The Aesthetics of Joy. She empowers people to find more joy in life and work through design. Her popular TED talk “Where Joy Hides and How to Find it” has been viewed more than 17 million times. During our conversation, Ingrid explains the difference between joy and happiness which includes why moments of joy are actually more attainable than you may think. She also helps us understand how even small changes to our workplace can make a significant difference in how we feel. Additional resources:- Learn more about Ingrid Fetell Lee’s research and books at https://aestheticsofjoy.com/- Enroll: Design a Home You Love with Ingrid Fetell Lee https://shop.aestheticsofjoy.com/products/design-a-home-you-love- Ingrid Fetell Lee’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/ingrid_fetell_lee_where_joy_hides_and_how_to_find_it- Read insights about how to design moments of joy at work www.steelcase.com/WBnew- Get the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Have you ever been in a job that just sucks the joy out of your work? On the flip side, have you had a job that leaves you feeling energized and full of life? Or more likely — it’s a mix. The concept of joy and work can feel like an oxymoron sometimes — but does it have to? Adding joy into work is more important than ever because research shows the lack of joy is literally making people sick. Scott Sonenshein co-wrote Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life alongside organization queen Marie Kondo. You may remember her from her Netflix show Sparking Joy. Scott is a Professor of Management at Rice University. He also wrote Stretch: Unlock the Power of Less -and Achieve More Than You Ever Imagined. During our conversation, Scott helps us apply lessons around joy to our work such as how we need to purge things from our lives that don’t spark joy. He explains why we need to tap into intrinsic motivators instead of free snacks or ping-pong tables. And he shares why leaders play a critical role creating joy at work. Additional resources: Learn more about Scott’s research and books at https://www.scottsonenshein.com/Read insights about how to create spaces to build community at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
More than 65% of people feel no sense of community at work — and that was before the pandemic. Christine Porath studied data from 20,000 employees and after discovering the lack of community, she set out to change it.Christine wrote “Mastering Community: The Surprising ways coming together moves us from surviving to thriving.” She also wrote "Mastering Civility”. She’s a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, and has written for New York Times, Wall Street Journal and McKinsey Quarterly. She’s worked with organizations like Google, the United Nations, Microsoft, and Ford. Right now, she is a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Business School. She makes a compelling argument with data and powerful stories for creating community in the workplace. She has connected the concept of community to engagement, retention and whether someone feels like they are thriving in their job. She also shares how her work on civility led to her most recent research on community. And she gives us a sneak peek into what she’s exploring now that might be a book someday down the road. Additional resources: Learn more about Christine’s research and her books at http://www.christineporath.com/Read insights about how to create spaces to build community at work www.steelcase.com/WBnewGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English speaking world. It opened in 1451 and parts of campus might remind you of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. Yet, in many ways, it is leading the way in higher education. In 2014, the university became the first academic institution in Europe to divest from the fossil fuel industry. And its strategy to create more accessible and inclusive education is changing lives. So how is this university that’s more than 500 years old leading the way in higher learning? Moira Fischbacher-Smith is Vice Principal of Learning and Teaching at the University of Glasgow. Her focus is on transforming how learning happens. She’s been at the university since 1995 and took the vice principal role in 2019. She is also an LGBTQ+ champion at the university and she thinks really deeply about the impact higher education can make in people’s lives and in our global community.. She’s also pretty pragmatic and has some good advice for how to bring pedagogy, technology and the physical environment together to create really good learning experiences. Additional resources: Explore the University of Glasgow https://www.gla.ac.uk/Read insights about how to create more inclusive learning spaces www.steelcase.com/WBLearningGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Do you hate meetings? Those 30 or 60 minute blocks of time that chew up your day can be frustrating. Some companies have gone so far as to try eliminating meetings completely. But sometimes those meetings make a valuable impact on your work. So we’re asking: When do meetings do more harm than good? Benjamin Laker is a Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School and since the pandemic has led research around the effectiveness of meetings and meeting-free work days. Benjamin studies the societal impact of leadership and is the author of Too Proud to Lead and Closing the Service Gap. We talked to Benjamin about his research on meetings, the four-day work week and his ideas about how to reframe the way we think about the workplace when most meetings are now hybrid.Additional resources: Learn more about Benjamin Laker’s research at Henley Business School https://www.henley.ac.uk/people/professor-benjamin-lakerRead Benjamin Laker’s articles in Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminlaker/?sh=69e287233352Get Benjamin Laker’s most recent book Closing the Service Gap https://www.amazon.com/Closing-Service-Gap-customers-organisations/dp/1292444355Read insights about how to create more inclusive workplaces www.steelcase.com/WBmagazineGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
What does it mean when you buy a carbon neutral product? Sheri Hickok, CEO of Climate Impact Partners, helps us understand what makes something carbon neutral and, in the process, busts some myths about carbon offsets. She simplifies complicated concepts like how to measure carbon and why supporting projects that slow climate change is a necessary part of an organization’s overall carbon strategy. Sheri is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and joined Climate Impact Partners from GE Renewable Energy, where she was VP and CEO of the international onshore wind business. She brings lessons from the automotive industry and energy sector to her team’s work helping organizations around the world slow climate change and deliver social impact. We asked Sheri questions a lot of people are asking: Does this work really make a difference? Why should organizations support projects like this instead of going all in on reducing their own carbon emissions? Sheri shares how her team’s work fits into bigger picture efforts to drive global transformation to a low-carbon economy and address climate change.Additional resources: Learn more about Climate Impact Partners https://www.climateimpact.com/Explore how Steelcase is supporting the wellbeing of people and the planet www.steelcase.com/people-planetRead insights about how to create more inclusive workplaces www.steelcase.com/WBmagazineGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Many MBA students are taught that businesses should be created to fill a market gap. Poonam Bir Kasturi, founder of the home composting company the Daily Dump, believes in the power of business as a force for good. And she says the MBA-way is not the only way. A diversity of business models is important. She even calls her own style a little foolish.The Daily Dump designs, makes and distributes beautiful home composting products in India. Daily Dump’s purpose is to reduce waste and reduce the pressure on public waste management systems. Poonam was a TED fellow at TED India. She received the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Schwab Foundation of the World Economic Forum and a Smart Cities India Award. Her outlook on business opens up a new way to think about work and the role our companies play in doing more for the wellbeing of people and our planet. Additional resources: Learn more about the Daily Dump at https://www.dailydump.org/Read insights about how to create more inclusive workplaces www.steelcase.com/WBmagazineGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Lots of organizations make commitments around sustainability today — which is a good thing. But some are making more progress, much faster than others. So what separates the leaders from the laggards? Kara Pecknold has some ideas. She is Vice President of Regenerative Design at frog. She consults with organizations around the world to help them develop circular products, services and business models. Some people refer to her as a Swiss army knife because of how she must tap into so many skills as a designer, researcher and leader in sustainability.She explains how work she did in Rwanda led her down this path of regenerative design. She helps us understand the meaning of regenerative design and she gives us real-life examples of how companies are making an impact right now by redesigning how they do business. Additional resources: Learn more about Kara Pecknold https://www.frog.co/authors/kara-pecknoldA game to apply play for solving tough sustainability challenges: http://cardsforsustainability.frog.coLearn more about frog’s approach to sustainability: https://www.frog.co/insights/chief-challenges/sustainable-businessLearn more about designing sustainable products: https://www.frog.co/designmind/sustainable-product-design-is-our-futureVoices from Cannes: https://www.frog.co/designmind/design-mind-frogcast-bonus-episode-voices-from-cannes-day-4Discover how biodiversity is key to bringing nature to the business: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/biodiversity/Watch a video to learn more about Kara’s views on the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLqIS24yMRwRead about how Steelcase is supporting the wellbeing of people and the planet www.steelcase.com/people-planetGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Over the past 100 years, the office has been integral to how work gets done. It has shaped cities, cultures and how many of us, individually, behave. But the pandemic triggered a complete re-evaluation of the workplace. Jeremy Myerson says it’s time to relearn old habits and rituals and start thinking a little more like Walt Disney when we design offices in the future. Jeremy is a researcher, author and activist in workplace design and innovation. He is a director at WORKTECH Academy. If you aren’t familiar with WORKTECH, it is a global, online knowledge platform and member network that explores the future of work and workplace. He is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford and Professor Emeritus in design at the Royal College of Art. He’s also published several books on workplace design including his latest, “Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office.” When we think about the impact the workplace has on people, we have to consider how to create better experiences for workers. Modern office design has to integrate hybrid work spaces, biophilia, social spaces, and contemplation spaces to improve workplace experiences and productivity. As a collector of knowledge, Jeremy shares four specific new ways to think about designing offices for experiences in today’s era. Additional resources: Learn more about WORKTECH Academy https://www.worktechacademy.com/Read Unworking: The Reinvention of the Modern Office Read insights about how to create more inclusive workplaces www.steelcase.com/WBmagazineGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Caroline Casey spent a good part of her life hiding her true self. When she finally opened up to the world, amazing things happened. Her story starts when she was inspired by the Disney movie The Jungle Book. Later, she found herself on elephant-back in India which helped her kickstart an inclusion revolution in the workplace. Caroline is an Irish activist and management consultant that just so happens to be legally blind. She leads the Valuable 500 — which Steelcase is proud to be a part of. The Valuable 500 is a partnership of 500 of the most influential organizations in the world that have made a commitment to work to end disability exclusion.Caroline is bringing disability inclusion to the forefront of the diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace initiative. Learn how Caroline’s commitment to audacious inclusion is changing the ways people work. And hear her insights into what to do to design more inclusive workplaces (https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/topics/design/ideas-designing-inclusive-workplaces/) even when everyone’s needs are so different.Additional resources: Learn more about The Valuable 500 https://www.thevaluable500.com/Read insights about how to create more inclusive workplaces www.steelcase.com/WBmagazineGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Leadership is complicated today. Managers are under pressure to deliver business results and create relationships with employees guided by empathy. This episode, we’re learning lessons from Google’s former head of People Operations about how the relationships between leaders and employees can improve one nudge at a time.
Laszlo Bock is co-founder and on the Board of Directors at Humu, a company designed to help managers create better routines and habits at scale. He previously led Google’s People Operations where he was responsible for attracting, developing and retaining “Googlers.” He’s the author of “Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead”. Laszlo gives us the inside track on Humu’s research into hybrid work and helps us with tips on how to go from insight to action.
After hearing from Laszlo, we’ll be joined by Isabel Medellin who focuses on talent attraction and retention, along with leading DEI efforts at Steelcase. She also works with Humu to develop leaders within Steelcase around the world.
Description: Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript) - Learn more about Humu by visiting https://www.humu.com/ - Learn more about Laszlo Bock’s book, Work Rules! https://www.workrules.net/
Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Gen Z is on the cusp of being nearly 30% of the workforce. Today we’re talking about the power and possibility of the youngest generation at work. This is not a conversation about what’s right and what’s wrong with Gen Z. It’s about understanding – so we can all work better together.We are joined by Dr. Jean Twenge. Jean has spent her entire academic career – 30 years – studying generational differences. She is professor of psychology at San Diego State University and has authored more than 180 scientific publications and books. Her most recent book which just came out is called “generations.” In many ways, this book is her magnum opus. Its analysis is derived from 21 huge datasets that go back to the 1940s and are as recent as this year, spanning some 38 million people. Jean is also the author of iGen and Generation Me. After we hear from Jean, we’ll be joined by Keith Bujak who is a researcher at Steelcase and recently led work on Gen Z in the workplace. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Dr. Jean Twenge and her books: http://www.jeantwenge.com/Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
When the pandemic sent everyone home, many teachers and students struggled. And according to Anya Kamenetz, one of the biggest reasons is because learning is a social event. This episode of Work Better, we’re focused on the work happening in our classrooms. We’ll talk about how online and hybrid learning are impacting kids and teachers. Plus, share some inspiring success stories. Anya speaks, writes, and thinks about how children learn, grow and thrive on a changing planet. She covered education for many years including for NPR, where she co-created the podcast Life Kit: Parenting. Her newest book is The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now. Before the pandemic, she wrote the book DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education. She also is currently an advisor to the Aspen Institute and a Co:Generate fellow working on a new initiative to end climate silence in children’s media.Stick around after we hear from Anya because Andrew Kim, director of global research at Steelcase, will join us. Andrew will share why the physical environment makes such a difference to how we learn.Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Anya Kamenetz and her book The Stolen Year: http://www.anyakamenetz.net/Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
We’re all trying to influence how people behave, according to Dr. Marcus Collins, whether it’s what people buy, how they interact with one another or how they work. Marcus calls culture the biggest cheat code ever to influence human behavior. His work as an engineer, music maker and advertising guru with cultural influencers like Beyonce and Apple have put him on a path to become a leader in understanding how to harness the power of culture within organizations. His stories from the world of pop and tech will change how you see culture in the workplace.Marcus now works as head of strategy at Wieden+Kennedy in New York and teaches at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He’s also the author of the new book For the Culture. After our interview with Marcus, Robin Rosebrugh will join us. Robin is a workplace researcher who works with Steelcase as an architecture and design manager. She’s also one of the most well-read people you’ll ever meet. Robin will talk to us about how the places we work can help influence behavior and, ultimately, culture. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Marcus Collins and his book For the Culture at http://marctothec.com/Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Who doesn’t want to be happier at work? Jenn Lim has dedicated her life to bringing more joy into the workplace.Jenn is founder and author of Beyond Happiness. She is also CEO of Delivering Happiness which is a company she founded with Tony Hsieh, the late CEO of Zappos. In her book, she shares her “Greenhouse Model” for the workplace – it’s an idea she says leads to growth, purpose and business success. After our conversation with Jenn, hear from Cherie Johnson – director of global design at Steelcase about how design can help us create happier places at work. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Jenn Lim and her book Beyond Happiness at https://jennlim.com/- Learn more about Jenn’s company Delivering Happiness at https://www.deliveringhappiness.com/Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
You are more likely to stay at your job if you have a best friend at work. You are also more likely to learn from a peer at work than your boss. Relationships in the workplace are really important. But as work changes, our relationships are changing too. Robin Dunbar, one of the world’s leading experts on friendship, will help us explore how relationships are changing in the era of hybrid work and what we need to know to make work more enjoyable. Robin is an anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist who specializes in human behavior at the University of Oxford. His most recent book is called Friends: Understanding the Power of Our Most Important Relationships. He’s famous for something called the Dunbar Number – which is how many relationships our brains can manage. After our conversation with Robin, hear from Dr. Tracy Brower, vice president of workplace insights at Steelcase. She will help us understand how the workplace can help support some of the ideas Robin has about building and maintaining relationships. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Robin Dunbar: https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/people/robin-dunbar - - Robin Dunbar’s book, Friends: Understanding the Power of Our Most Important Relationships (https://www.amazon.com/Friends-Understanding-Power-Important-Relationships-ebook/dp/B08W4XPK7G)- Robin Dubar Article, You Can Only Have So Many Close Friends (https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/05/robin-dunbar-explains-circles-friendship-dunbars-number/618931/)- Dr. Tracy Brower’s article, Making Friends Is Hard But Work Can Help (https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2022/10/05/new-study-making-friends-is-hard-but-work-can-help/)Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
If you’re like most of us these days, a pension is not in the cards. Today’s guest says not to worry – Heather McGowan has a different idea about how to have a great future at work. Heather is a future-of-work strategist and author. Her new book called “The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce” was just released. Heather says there are five elements that make up what she calls the “Great Reset”. She shares those with us – along with why she says “learning is the new pension.” After our conversation with Heather, Noga Lasser will join us. Noga is director of design at Steelcase and will help us connect Heather’s ideas to designing a better workplace. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript) - Learn more about Heather McGowan and her new book https://heathermcgowan.com/ Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
The adoption of hybrid work has changed a lot of things – not just where and when you work, but also our relationships at work. How we build them. How we nurture them. And how we sustain them. Those relationships at work are really important to how we feel about our overall experience.Amy Gallo is joining us to give us tips on how to rebuild our relationships at work – even the most difficult ones. She’s the author of Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People). Amy also co-hosts a podcast for the Harvard Business Review called Women at Work. And she is contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, where she writes about workplace dynamics. After our conversation with Amy, hear from Jessie Storey – director of design at Steelcase about how design can help with the things Amy talks about – like conflict, communication and discomfort. Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript)- Learn more about Amy Gallo and her book: (http://www.amyegallo.com/)Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Thinking about our communities outside of our office walls can actually strengthen our communities inside the workplace. In this episode, we talk to Kenny Clewett, a leader with Ashoka based in Spain. Ashoka is a global organization with a mission to mobilize a movement where everyone is a changemaker in the world. Kenny shares how organizations can find changemakers. What makes them so special and valuable to companies? And why being a changemaker can help people and organizations have a better experience at work. After hearing from Kenny, Kinga Pakucs, Steelcase learning consultant, joins us from Munich. She has led community projects through the Steelcase Changemakers global program and provides us with a valuable perspective on how to apply these ideas to the workplace. Additional resources: Find out more about Ashoka (https://www.ashoka.org/en-us) Learn more and be a part of the Steelcase Better Futures Community (https://www.steelcase.com/press-releases/steelcase-launches-better-futures-community/) Article: How Partners Unlock Potential and Ignite Impact (https://fellowship-europe.ashoka.org/interview-partnerships-for-impact-new) Steelcase Impact Report 2022 (https://www.steelcase.com/discover/steelcase/esg-overview/#impact-report-2022): Read more about our commitment to people + planetGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Lt. Col. Adria Horn shares a unique perspective on talent and turnover, and draws interesting parallels between returning to the office and returning from deployment. She serves in the U.S. Army Reserve and is executive vice president of workforce for Tilson Technology Management. She contributed to a McKinsey article called “A Military Veteran Knows Why Your Employees Are Leaving” after disagreeing with a widely-shared theory that employers just didn’t know what employees want. She’ll explain what she thinks is really going on and how she coaches her leaders to think about what people are experiencing at work right now. Lt. Col. Horn has been in the military for 21 years after graduating from West Point in June 2001. After September 11, 2001, she was commissioned as a military police officer, deployed three times and then switched to psychological operations while in Afghanistan. She’s stayed on active duty for about 11 years and has had five total deployments in that time frame. To conclude our conversation, we will be joined by Nadia Johnson, director of leadership and adaptive teams at Steelcase. Nadia will help us think through how Lt. Col. Horn’s ideas can be applied to our day-to-day work. Additional resources: A Military Veteran Knows Why Your Employees Are Leaving, (https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/a-military-veteran-knows-why-your-employees-are-leaving) McKinseyGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Business leaders have been trying to crack the code on innovation since the beginning of time. But, Dr. Simone Ahuja has a new take on innovation. She says it’s not just about filling an unmet need in the market or solving a previously unsolvable problem. She says innovation is a recipe for engaging and retaining talent. Plus, she shares strategies for building microcultures of innovation in every organization. Simone is CEO of global innovation strategy firm Blood Orange. She’s a best-selling author. Her latest book is Disrupt-It-Yourself. She’s also the co-developer of Jugaad Innovation, a frugal and flexible innovation strategy. She’ll share the research she conducted in India that inspired Jugaad Innovation. After we talk to Simone, we will be joined by Amber Mathews, Steelcase director of Workspace Futures research in Asia and Europe. She’s spent a lot of time studying innovation within companies and how to support innovative teams. Additional resources: Connect with Simone Ahuja on her website (https://simoneahuja.com/action-plan/) and receive her worksheetGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Can a robot take your job? Kevin Roose, New York Times technology writer and author of Futureproof, shares his take on how we can bring more of our humanity to work to avoid being replaced by AI. Plus, he lets us in on how a small bookstore in Oakland, California managed to thrive despite all the market forces working against it. It’s a story with a valuable lesson in why creating community at work can benefit people and business. Kevin writes and speaks regularly on many topics including automation and AI, social media, disinformation and digital wellness. His book Futureproof shines a light on how humanity is connected to the workplace. In addition to Kevin, Michael Held, Steelcase vice president of global design joins us. He wrote Will Creative AI Make Designers Redundant? He is the perfect person to help us connect Kevin’s ideas to a better workplace. Additional resources: Learn more about Kevin Roose and his book Futureproof at https://www.kevinroose.com/Sorry, But Working From Home Is Overrated by Kevin Roose (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/technology/working-from-home.html) Welcome to the Yolo Economy by Kevin Roose (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/technology/welcome-to-the-yolo-economy.html) TED Talk with Kevin Roose, The Value of Humanity in an Automated Future (https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_roose_the_value_of_your_humanity_in_an_automated_future?language=en) Will Creative AI Make Designers Redundant? By Michael Held (https://www.steelcase.com/asia-en/research/articles/topics/creativity/will-creative-ai-make-designers-redundant/) Get the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
What’s the real impact of community? NYU professor and author Eric Klinenberg’s research about a deadly heat wave in Chicago is a powerful example of just how important community is to humanity’s resilience. Eric joins us to share what he’s identified about the importance of “social infrastructure” like libraries and parks — something he says is just as important as physical infrastructure like roads and bridges. His work is foundational to how we have been re-envisioning the workplace to be more like some of the best neighborhoods and communities where we live. Eric helps us connect what he’s learned about great communities to ideas for a better workplace. Eric is a professor of social science and director of the institute for public knowledge at NYU. He’s the author of Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life. He’s written a number of other books as well including Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone and Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. He’s been published in scholarly journals and contributed to The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and This American Life.Following our conversation with Eric, we’re joined by Susana Cantu, architect and designer at Steelcase who focuses on reimagining spaces to support how work is changing. She helps connect Eric’s research and insights to the way workplaces need to be designed differently.Additional resources: Eric Klinenberg’s website and books: https://www.ericklinenberg.com/The Atlantic: Worry Less About Crumbling Roads and More About Crumbling Libraries (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/09/worry-less-about-crumbling-roads-more-about-crumbling-libraries/570721/) NYU Keynote Address by Eric Klinenberg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzJd0HKKTsM&t=102s Work Better Article: The New Hybrid Neighborhood https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/topics/culture-talent/new-hybrid-neighborhood/ Get the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
We’re busting myths about how the brain works with guest Annie Murphy Paul, author of The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain. Annie shares her research into how “context sensitive” our brain actually is and why our environment matters so much when it comes to how we think and work. Plus, she shares how we need to rethink the way we create groupiness (a real scientific term) at work in the hybrid era. Annie is an acclaimed science writer who's also had work in The New York Times Magazine and Scientific American, among other publications.Her TED talk about how we learn before we're even born has been viewed nearly 3 million times. But in this episode, we’re talking about thinking and learning as grown ups at work. Following our conversation with Annie, we’re joined by Steelcase workplace researchers Patricia Kammer and Patricia Wang to connect Annie’s scientific study of the brain with the workplace today and work they’ve done this year to study hybrid workers. Additional resources:Annie Murphy Paul’s work and book The Extended Mind (https://anniemurphypaul.com/)Annie’s TED Talk, What We Learn Before We Are Born (https://www.ted.com/talks/annie_murphy_paul_what_we_learn_before_we_re_born?language=en) Hybrid worker research https://www.steelcase.com/NewHybridNeedsGet the latest workplace design, insights and research: www.steelcase.com/subscribeWork Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Welcome to Work Better, the podcast where we think about work and ways to make it better. The rules of work are being rewritten and we’re all trying to figure it out. Host and editor in chief of Work Better magazine, Chris Congdon, introduces our first series, setting up seven weekly conversations with leading thinkers, authors, designers, and researchers whose ideas and insights can help us make sense of what’s happening and navigate the massive change around us. We’re going to talk about returning to the office, hybrid work, quiet quitting, the “Great Resignation” and so much more. Everything we’re learning points us to the need for a new vision for work and the workplace. We’re exploring how our workplaces can be more like a great community. (Read transcript: https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/a-new-vision-for-the-workplace-transcript/)We hope you’ll join us and be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
How does a sense of community impact the brain? David Rock, CEO and co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute, explains that when we don’t feel part of a group, our brains actually perceive that as danger. He joins us to talk about leadership and how we can create a greater sense of community in today’s era of hybrid work. We’ll cover return to office, quiet quitting and new skills hybrid leaders need to be successful. David coined the term “neuroleadership” nearly 25 years ago. He’s spent a lot of time studying Your Brain at Work, which is also the name of one of four books he’s written. The NeuroLeadership Institute brings neuroscientists and leadership experts together using a science-based approach to advise organizations on how to build new leadership skills and capabilities. At the end of the conversation with David, sociologist and Steelcase vice president workplace insights, Dr. Tracy Brower, joins us to talk about the insights David shared and connect them back to ways to make work better.Additional resources: - Be part of our community at steelcase.com/subscribe. Get the latest workplace design, insights and research sent to your inbox. - You can find transcripts at www.steelcase.com/podcasts (Read today’s transcript: https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/neuroscience-of-community-with-david-rock-transcript/)- Connect to the NeuroLeadership Institute (https://neuroleadership.com/)- Your Brain at Work book (https://neuroleadership.com/your-brain-at-work/) - The Secrets to Happiness at Work by Dr. Tracy Brower (https://tracybrower.com/bring-work-to-life/)Work Better podcast is hosted by Chris Congdon. Produced by Rebecca Charbauski. Creative art direction by Erin Ellison and Emily Cowdrey. Technical support by Mark Caswell and Jose Jimenez. Digital publishing by Areli Arellano and Jordan Marks. Editing and sound mixing by SoundPost Studios.
Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, says it’s a huge misconception that joy and work are separate. She shares her radical theory — that a few simple changes to the work environment can make a dramatic difference in how people feel and perform.
The future of work is mobile. Yet, plugs and cords have kept people tethered to the wall or floor — until now. Steven Yang, Anker Innovations CEO, and James Ludwig, Steelcase v.p. of global design & engineering, tell us how these two unlikely collaborators created the first-of-its-kind enterprise-level mobile power solution for the office.
The open office is reality for the majority of workers, and there’s no shortage of complaints about it. So how did we get here? And what does our past mean for the future of the open office?
This episode features: Journalist Rob Kirkbride, retired industry consultant Dave Lathrop and O+A design studio co-founder Verda Alexander.
Go inside all 5 episodes at steelcase.com/openofficetruth
A chief open office complaint is a lack of privacy. Yet, few studies test how to help people focus in the open plan. Until now.
This episode features: WorkSpace Futures researchers Donna Flynn, Melanie Redman, Caroline Kelly and Steelcase EMEA workplace consultant Hania Arafat.
Go inside all 5 episodes at steelcase.com/openofficetruth
Privacy – on demand! Pods are the new office hot spot. Learn how to ask the right questions about designing productive places away from the desk when you need four walls and a door.
This episode features: 360 Magazine Editor Chris Congdon, Orangebox Creative Director Gerry Taylor and Steelcase pod portfolio expert Niki Watt.
Go inside all 5 episodes at steelcase.com/openofficetruth
With more office space devoted to shared spaces, they shouldn’t sit empty. There’s an art & science to creating spaces that help people feel good and be productive.
This episode features: Steelcase applications marketing designer Mary Elaine Rousch, Steelcase General Manager of Ancillary Partnerships Brian Shapland, Moooi Carpets CEO Martien Valentijn, Bolia CEO Lars Lyse Hansen, Extremis CEO Dirk Wynants, West Elm Vice President of Work and Contract Design Paulo Kos.
Go inside all 5 episodes at steelcase.com/openofficetruth
If the original intent of the open office was better collaboration, communication and trust, then what’s getting in the way? And what can we do about it?
This episode features: Steelcase CEO Jim Keane and Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay.
Go inside all 5 episodes at steelcase.com/openofficetruth
The digital revolution, new learning styles and new generations are redefining today’s libraries. Library leaders and Steelcase Education researchers share new insights into how the heart of campus can adapt to be future-ready.
Dr. Jack Lewis, brain scientist and author of Sort Your Brain Out, translates neuroscience for everyday people. He spoke with 360’s Serena Borghero in Munich about powerful tips he’s collected over the course of 20 years to help our brains perform at their best.
A new report on flexibility in healthcare spaces changes the conversation about how the environment can adapt. Dr. Upali Nanda, HKS dir. of research, & Dr. Michelle Ossmann, Steelcase Health dir. of healthcare environments, test the FleXX report.
Simon Sinek, bestselling author of “Start with Why,” challenges conventional business norms in his new book “The Infinite Game.” Hear why he says we’re all unwitting players, we shouldn’t focus on our competition and what so many leaders get wrong.
Kim Erwin and Jerry Krishnan, co-directors for the Institute for Healthcare Delivery Design at the University of Illinois Chicago, share how design is returning healthcare to its roots—helping patients, families and clinicians do the right thing.
Modern teams—tasked with solving complex problems and helping organizations innovate—work less like a relay team, handing off work from one to another, and more like a hockey team, fast-paced and interconnected. They are hyper-collaborative. Chris Congdon, Editor of 360 Magazine, and Julie Barnhart-Hoffman, Steelcase researcher, explore what barriers these teams face and how to give them the control they need to succeed. Deep dive into this topic by reading New Work. New Rules.
Micro schools, team taught classes, design thinking practices. In this episode, why it’s so crucial for educators to learn from each other. Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart and author of Better Together, joins Steelcase WorkSpace Futures researchers Aileen Strickland-McGee and Gabby Scarritt for a discussion centered around the power of networking in education.
In this episode, we diagnose what goes into creating a good workspace away from the traditional desk. Hear interviews with experts from iconic brands West Elm, Blu Dot and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Plus, Brian Shapland, Steelcase GM of ancillary partnerships, shares some tips on how to design a great informal space.
What if instead of paying every time you had a medical service, you only paid if you had a positive result? Listen in on a thought-provoking conversation between Stacey Chang, exec. dir., Design Institute for Health at Dell Medical School and Michelle Ossmann, PhD, director of health environments at Steelcase. They explore new ways to deliver healthcare centered around people.
FLOS lighting gives people around the world a reason to look up, creating beautiful spaces with forms that inspire. Jack Schreur, CEO of FLOS USA, shares the inside stories about how FLOS partners with the world’s best designers to create iconic pieces. Plus, learn why some designs were impossible just a few years ago and how FLOS gives people the ability to control the lighting around them.
Steelcase Education just launched the fifth cycle of its Active Learning Center Grant. Each year, up to 16 schools receive new furniture and teacher training. The schools also commit to doing research they share with the growing active learning community. In this podcast, hear real stories about changes happening in classrooms that serve very different student populations.
Beth Comstock, former GE Vice Chair and CMO, tells us how to thrive in the midst of failure, the “F” word in business. The self-described “changemaker in chief” shares stories from her book Imagine It Forward, how she gets her crazy ideas and what trends she’s watching right now.
Who do you serve and what does delight look like for them? Listen in to Menlo Innovations CEO and co-founder, Richard Sheridan, as he explains how these questions have helped his team create an agile work environment filled with joy.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Coalesse, General Manager Lew Epstein, explores the company’s history creating furnishings for the modern workplace.
As personalized learning gains more momentum thanks to new technologies and the needs of today’s workforce, Steelcase researchers, Gaby Scarritt and Aileen Strickland McGee, interviewed dozens of educators to learn how personalized learning helps students and educators and how the physical environment can help.
The office you remember is gone. Fast Forward tells the story of a workplace created in harmony with the new ways in which you work. Enjoy the reading of this 360 Magazine article.
Fast Forward.mp3
As the classroom of tomorrow continues to paint a very different picture than what you see today, author, professor and visiting scholar, Jeff Selingo, shares his vision for the future of learning and how job and technology trends will make place more important than ever.
As 360 Magazine Editor Chris Congdon hosts a revealing conversation on how to build trust and the ongoing search for purpose at work, organizational psychologist Adam Grant shares why team building activities don’t work, why the corner office sends a bad signal and why procrastination can be a key ingredient to creativity.
With Blu Dot recently winning the prestigious Cooper Hewitt national Award for Product Design, co-founders CEO John Christakos and COO Maurice Blanks share how a mission to bring good design to everyone continues to create new opportunities for the company.
With Steelcase’s constant focus on innovating to solve problems, Chris Congdon, editor of 360 Magazine, explores the newest issue of 360 Magazine: Fast Forward that showcases the future of how people work, new ideas and a drive to solve problems and reimagining the places people work.
Hear a story about how empowering people to change their workplace can accelerate the adoption of agile. Enjoy the reading of this 360 Magazine article.
Driven by a strong sense of purpose, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams share how they grew a successful furniture business into an iconic brand and why it’s time for your office to feel like it’s giving you a big hug.
With the goal to evolve modern craft and quality, Coalesse general manager Lew Epstein and global design director John Hamilton discusses how a new approach to quality and modern craft is influencing design at Coalesse.
With the goal to invent the office chair of the future, Part I of our podcast shares how three of the designers and engineers behind SILQ created a chair that removes the mechanisms found in typical office chairs and replaces them with a simple system that responds uniquely to each person.
With the SILQ chair marking the beginning for new breakthrough seating solutions, Part II of our podcast uncovers how the team learned about innovation, how it will change the future of product development and share random acts of innovation that made it into the final design.
Is the success of co-working spaces throwing into question the traditional corporate offices as destination for work? Listen to Gemma John, anthropologist and founder of Human City, a spatial strategy consultancy based in London, about what corporate offices can learn from co-working spaces.
String Theory Schools, a nonprofit in Philadelphia, is on a mission to grow the world’s next creative leaders. Jason Corosanite, co-founder and chief innovation officer, shares how their pedagogies challenge conventional assumptions and help kids discover what they love at an early age.
Chris Congdon, 360 editor and director of global research at Steelcase, takes us inside the newest Innovation and Learning Center in Munich, gives us a peek into how to support Agile teams and describes a materials science breakthrough in seating design.
David Kidder, CEO of consultancy Bionic as well as a serial entrepreneur, teaches large enterprises how to operationalize a growth mindset, talks about his “army of entrepreneurs” at Bionic and the five lenses he uses to spot great ideas.
Dr. Jeff Sutherland, an original signatory of the Agile Manifesto and inventor and co-creator for Scrum, explains why he bans emails, why his team had to change its space and why Agile and Scrum are so popular today.
With Jefferson University being committed to innovative teaching methods, listen to Jeff Ashley, director of the Center for Teaching Innovation and Nexus Learning at Jefferson University, talk about his team’s methods for building a bigger and stronger active learning community on campus.
With more organization everywhere trying to figure out the secret to innovation and growth, Steelcase is launching a new Learning and Innovation Center in Munich. President and CEO Jim Keane explains why they picked Munich and how this new environment will impact strategy and culture for Steelcase employees and business results for customers.
How do you bring back the “buzz” in our schools? Dan Behm, superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wanted to banish boring and reinvigorate students, teachers and staff at all levels. Steelcase’s Applied Research + Consulting team worked with his district to rethink curiosity, collaboration and communication.
Johanna Frelin on Leading Tengbom, the most innovative architecture firm in Scandinavia
Two educators passionate about active learning share their strategies and techniques for engaging students. Dr. Julie Marshall, teacher from South Carolina’s Saluda Trail Middle School, and Randy Hall, an educational technology facilitator at the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center in New York, discuss how to reimagine and reinvent classrooms to break down barriers, develop trust and prepare students for the future.
IDEO, a global design and consulting firm, is now helping organizations identify and measure workplace innovation with a tool called Creative Difference. 360 Real Time spoke with IDEO products managing director, David Aycan, about how the tool can help teams discover surprising new data and how the work environment plays a role.
Big data, the cloud and advanced computing are some of the forces pulling information technology professionals out of the basement and into every aspect of business today. Listen as Terry Lenhardt, vice president and chief information officer for Steelcase, reveals how the evolution of IT is impacting employees, positioning companies for growth and changing the workplace.
As the office continues to evolve into something fundamentally different, Steelcase Dir. of Research Communications and 360 Magazine Editor Chris Congdon, reports on the renaissance the office is experiencing. Listen as we discuss redefining what the office means and creating workplaces that inspire how people work and where people love to work.
Listen as 360 editor Chris Congdon talks to Ralf Groene, general manager for Device Design for Microsoft, and James Ludwig, vice president of Global Design at Steelcase about their collaboration to create technology-enabled spaces that drive creativity at work.
The demand and desire for creativity at work has never been stronger. The newest issue of 360 Magazine explores why and how workplaces should support this creative shift. Chris Congdon, 360 editor and director of global research at Steelcase, joins 360 Real Time to discuss why the latest issue is focusing on creativity and to tell us about new ways you can enjoy 360.
Founder of MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, partnered with Steelcase to explore the future of furniture personalization. His creative, innovative team helped break 3D printing barriers.
IDEO’s Tim Brown talks about the three roles leaders have in creatively-competitive organizations and how to assess the creativity of a company.
Progressive leaders are reshaping their organizations to be more agile, innovate and grow. Sara Armbruster, Steelcase VP Strategy, Research and New Business Innovation, explains how a leadership space can empower executives to lead in fundamentally better ways.
With more people seeking a more authentic, inspiring place to work, listen to a typical day at work for one busy manager to understand the story behind the Office Renaissance and how it’s creating a more human-centered experience at work.
Microsoft and Steelcase are coming together for the first time to help boost creativity at work. Sara Armbruster, vice president of strategy, research and new business innovation for Steelcase, talks about this new partnership and why the two companies are starting by tackling creativity. Plus, hear how technology and place enhance creative behaviors.
In Part 2, of a two-part conversation, listen to how organizations can use technology to improve people’s experience at work. James Ludwig, Steelcase vice president of global design and product engineering, gives us a peek into the future of technology at work and how it’s already changing the way workplaces are designed for people.
In Part 1, of a two-part conversation, learn how Smart and Connected Spaces can improve people’s experiences at work. James Ludwig, Steelcase vice president of global design and product engineering, discusses the impact technology is making in the workplace, the kinds of tensions it’s creating for people, how workplace design can help and what we may see in the future of work.
The work environment can make a difference when it comes to employee engagement. Dr. Craig Knight, psychologist and honorary fellow from the University of Exeter in England, describes how office design can help improve employee engagement.
How can you work better with distributed teams? Whether your colleagues are across the world or just in a nearby building, how do you collaborate and innovate successfully? Steelcase WorkSpace Futures researcher Patricia Kammer reveals her team’s discoveries and how you can help boost communication.
It’s the number one workplace issue: workers can’t find places to work without distractions. Vanessa Bradley, Steelcase manager of Advanced Applications Design, explains key design concepts organizations can use to help workers find the privacy they seek.
Jason Vanderground is brand manager for PolyVision, a Steelcase brand. His team worked with partners to outfit 200 classrooms in seven cities in India with new whiteboards or chalkboards.
What’s driving the privacy crisis? Donna Flynn, director of WorkSpace Futures for Steelcase, explains why privacy and collaboration can get along. Plus, what neuroscience tells us about our need for privacy.
An exam room should promote communication between the healthcare provider, patient and caregiver. Michelle Ossmann, MSN, PhD, Steelcase’s Director of Healthcare Environments, explains how the environment can play a key role in facilitating the use of technology and allowing for productive visits.
Five personal privacy strategies we can all use at work. Melanie Redman, a senior design researcher for WorkSpace Futures at Steelcase, describes these five strategies derived from her team’s research project.
How can the work environment support individuality, expression and empowerment? Brian Shapland, general manager of turnstone, and Mark McKenna, director of design for turnstone and Steelcase Education, relay research about entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. Plus, they explain how these insights help them understand customers and develop new products.
In this episode of 360 Real Time, Scott Sadler, manager of integrated technologies discusses the future of smart + connected spaces and how thoughtfully integrated technologies can use data to improve the experience people have at work.
A cultural movement is redefining how and where work is done. Chris Congdon, director of global research communications for Steelcase, discusses how standardizing workplaces for efficiency with a uniform approach limits the worker’s potential for inspiration, creativity, and social connections.
Is it possible to ignite an entrepreneurial spirit—or reclaim—a sense of “startup culture” no matter what size the company? Brian Shapland, general manager for turnstone, is connected to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He explains how leveraging space can influence culture and accelerate business results.
Can the office be used as a strategic lever to impact engagement? For the first time, new research shows a correlation between employee engagement and the workplace. Chris Congdon, director of global research communications for Steelcase, discusses key findings and what kinds of changes to the work environment will have the biggest impact for people.
Work shorter hours. That’s part of the message from Steelcase senior design researcher and environmental psychology Beatriz Arantes. She discusses how to maintain attention at work and why working shorter hours is key to keeping pace with work demands today.
In workplaces throughout the world, there’s awareness that we’re not performing to full potential and too many distractions are to blame. Chris Congdon, Steelcase director of global research communications, explains we can still salvage our ability to think better at work by leveraging the full capacity of our brains and our environments. She discusses the ‘Think Better’ issue of 360 Magazine.