#3 Sunday Studio: A Weekly Retreat
books/ideas/things to try/exploring/research insights
FIRST LIVE CHAT COMING SOON
It’s back to semester for my MBA students and I loved spending time with them all on our welcome retreat in the mountains behind the Gold Coast. With students from Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Cambodia, Norway, the UK, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Niger, Germany, France, Fiji, PNG, Tonga, and Australia, the conversations were amazing.
Being part of interesting conversations is the thing I love most in my work. I’ll be holding my first live chat on Substack soon for paid subscribers. Over a coffee, I’ll explore what’s been emerging in my research, uncover what’s behind new trends, and answer your questions. If you can’t (or prefer not) to attend live, you’ll be able to submit your questions before for me to answer.
If you would like to join the chat, consider subscribing for only $A8 a month, about $ 5 USD a month, ($A2 a week!).
NEW RESEARCH
A new survey by Gallup shows that managers’ intent to leave is on the rise as their perceptions that their employers care about their well-being declines.
EXPERIENCE
Try a walking meeting this week. The outcomes are far beyond just enjoying the relaxing effects of nature and movement. A Stanford study showed that creativity increased by 60% when walking. I talked about why we should get out of the meeting room more in this article for Australian Financial Review. Read it here.
LISTEN
The Dark Side of Organizations - a new episode of The Floorplan is out now.
Work is meant to be fun, right?
But often it's not.
Matt and I look into the uglier side of organizational behavior in this week's episode when we delve into narcissistic, Machiavellian, and sociopathic management - the so-called 'dark triad'. We look into the research on how organizations can avoid hiring or promoting destructive leaders, how to spot if your boss is one of these, and what you should do about it.
Joining us is organizational psychologist, Dr Vicki Webster who shares insights from her extensive 20-year career.
READ
From a foremost expert on the science of emotions and consultant to Pixar’s Inside Out, a groundbreaking and essential exploration into the history, science, and greater understanding of awe.
In Awe, Dacher Keltner presents a radical investigation and deeply personal inquiry into this elusive emotion. Revealing new research into how awe transforms our brains and bodies, Keltner shows us how cultivating awe in our everyday lives leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature.
Why are CEOS still so intent on taking worker attendance?
When we should be focussed on outcomes, not face-time, I’m curious as a researcher in organizational behavior to see this continue to make headlines.
“Employers have dangled all sorts of perks – free food, concerts, and on-site yoga – to entice employees back to the office, with varying degrees of success. Now, some are taking a more drastic approach: tying in-person office attendance to employee performance reviews. Google and JPMorgan have each told staff that office attendance will be factored into performance evaluations.”
Read the article from the BBC here.
And it definitely feels like back to school for TikTok’s 7000 US employees.
TikTok Rankles Employees With Return-to-Office Tracking Tools
The company is requiring many employees to use an app that tracks their in-person attendance. Read it here.
INSPIRATION & IDEAS TO TRY
The new offices of the Finnish company Fiskars Group have given me another reason to want to visit Finland.
Established in 1649, it is the oldest company in Finland and among the oldest in the world. Fiskars have put life at the centre of the work experience, the top floor, which affords magnificent views over the Baltic, is dedicated to well-being, with a large terrace, yoga studio, massage room, and café.
Along with well-designed work areas, lots of natural light, and a healthy-food-serving staff cafeteria, attracting and retaining talent is a key focus. And I love the words of creative content manager Vesa Kemppainen, “We don’t need offices to feel cosy and homelike; we just sat at home for two years. Offices need to be much more. They need to feel uplifting and make you say, ‘Wow.’”
And it’s another example that size and scale are not the only keys to business success and longevity.
Have a great Sunday everyone.
Libby x