The Make Work More Human Blog
Read. Be inspired. Lead with Love.
Is it really possible to create a way of working based on love not fear? Yes. It’s not only possible. It’s essential. Learn more from this collection of more than 100 posts to inspire and guide you.
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Everywhere I go: in a hotel shuttle in Kentucky.
Everywhere I go people tell me stories about their workplaces. Some are full of fear, missed opportunities, bad business, and outright harm. Others are full of love, respect, kindness and the benefits that come to customers, employees, and organizations when these human values are embraced.
It’s been a month: How’s your one thing going?
I asked you what One Thing you would do to Make 2020 More Human, and so many of you answered with emails and messages describing your intentions and resolve. Thank you for sharing these with me.
Everywhere I go: across the puget sound
My work sometimes takes me around the world and other times it takes me right across the Puget Sound. Everywhere I go, I find people who are doing difficult work thoughtfully, brilliantly, kindly, taking care of each other too, in simple yet meaningful ways.
What one thing?
We met twelve times in 2019 in Olympia, nine times in Seattle, twice in Copenhagen, once each in San Diego, Barcelona, and Reykjavik with related workshops in Houston, Ottawa, Lisbon and Doha! In Olympia we are primarily a gathering of public employees and leaders, with many private sector guests too.
Elemental pause
I work with many public employees whose work is caring for those who are traumatized, marginalized, suffering, abused, neglected and deemed less valuable. They do this caring work every day sometimes at great cost to themselves. Maybe this is the nature of your work too.
Everywhere I go: in a workshop in Barcelona.
Amor.” This word surprised the group of 30 people from the Lean construction community gathered for a workshop at the Catalonia Institute for Construction Technology (iTeC) in Barcelona where I was on holiday. “Amor.” A ripple of smiles and happy murmurs moved through the room when I said the answer to fear at work is love.
Diversity and inclusion in what we do
Immigration was the focus of A Human Workplace Olympia on September 27 and included this story by Kim Sauer who works for Washington State’s Liquor and Cannabis Board. Approximately one in seven Washingtonians are immigrants, and there is no dispute that they are an integral part of our communities and workforce.
Arbejdsglæde: Happiness at work in Copenhagen
It had been a bit of a journey getting there. Not so much because of work priorities and life obligations. More because of the endless opportunities to choose from. The abundance of creativity and inspiration out there. And the joy of being absolutely free to pick just what we wanted a group of keen human beings invest two hours of time gathering about.
Emotions at work
When we experience an action, words, or event, it can bring on bio-chemical and physiological responses that are universal to humans. When we experience a stimulus that is threatening, exciting, hopeful, surprising, worrying, angering, envious, or joyful, our human bodies react consistently.
Tell me your story
We focus on stories because they bring to life the ever-growing body of scientific research supporting a more human-centered way of working. A multitude of studies demonstrate that fear is harmful to people and organizational performance, while love in all its forms is beneficial to people and necessary for sustained results.
The future of work is human
Hanna sat cross legged in her hospital room surrounded by her mom, a handful of friends, and “her team” that included her OT therapist, music therapist, and child life specialist. Upbeat music played in the background as 18-year-old Hanna connected with her friend Malissa in Colorado using FaceTime. They were ready. It was time.
Come as you are
Scott is convinced that Kaleen is the reason that their people are treated so well when they go out into the world. “She really builds the relationships out in the community to make that happen.” Kaleen pushes back and says, “Or…maybe I’m treated so well because they are doing such an amazing job out there.”
Right now
Right now, as I survey all my other Things again after writing this, as I look at my calendar, it all looks different. I am more grounded, more present to all the rest. I feel more myself, more ready for everything else. I feel better already. Today, take a few minutes to do your Thing. You’ll feel better, ready, glad.
Make meetings more human: the check-in
You’ve seen this happen, probably multiple times each day. A group of people come into a room and sit down around a table just before a meeting. Barely looking at each other, they might mumble a greeting but give their devices their full attention. When the appointed time arrives, they launch in to the agenda items and get to work.
Everywhere I go: people want to be human.
We want more from our work than just a paycheck. We want to be valued. We want to contribute. We want healthy relationships with our colleagues. We want to be ourselves. We want to find meaning. It doesn’t seem like too much to ask. But apparently, it’s hard to come by.
Make meetings more human, please!
We don’t know who they are, what they care about, what they’ve experienced, what they value, what their talents are. We don’t know what they’ve just come from or what they are carrying. We don’t know if they are distracted or worried. But never mind all that. It’s time to be a professional and get to work.
People are kind
Almost six months ago, I broke my ankle. It was a serious injury, and I was told that I should not expect to return to normal for at least six months. As I approach this healing milestone, I have been reflecting on my broken ankle experience.
Sheroes: Walker, Chisolm, Colvin, Jones
To honor the legacy of Dr. King, many people use time off to volunteer. Other people spend time going to parades or other community events. Even though the weather may be bleak and the allure of lights and tinsel may be gone from the December holidays, there is plenty to get excited about when you think about MLK Day as a chance to continue the spirit of giving.
It starts as children
I love poetry. I love it when a handful of words chosen and assembled “just so” say what it might take pages or hours to say otherwise, if ever. A few lines of poetry can make all things clear in an instant, or can join us as humans around universal understanding, or can challenge all that I thought was real, in moments. I love that.
Bring your real, whole self to work
We may be sensitive to the risks of welcoming real and whole people in all their messy variation and uncertainty, but the greater risk is NOT welcoming real and whole people to work, and losing their important contributions and engagement. We can’t afford that. We’ve got too many problems to solve.
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