What does it mean to build a workplace culture that people want to join? In this episode, Kevin talks with Jennifer Moss about this important leadership question. They discuss the societal shift in how we view work, the psychological idea of mortality salience, and how these concepts are influencing employee expectations today. Jennifer also shares the basic elements of a strong work culture: inspiring hope, creating purpose, and fostering genuine community, whether your team works remotely, in a hybrid setting, or in-person. Additionally, Jennifer challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to office mandates and presents an alternative idea of the workplace as a “third place” where creativity and collaboration can flourish.

Listen For

00:00 Introduction and why culture matters more than ever 01:24 About Kevin’s book “Flexible Leadership” 01:49 Introducing guest Jennifer Moss 02:48 The new book: “Why Are We Here?” 03:05 What is a discovery writer? 04:56 Journey from burnout to culture 05:56 Career pivots and “life is short” 07:02 Mortality salience and identity at work 08:06 How the pandemic reframed our view of work 08:40 Everyone has agency in shaping culture 09:50 Managing up and generational empathy 11:18 Foundations of culture: hope, purpose, and community 13:08 Losing joy at work and the great detachment 14:16 Time poverty vs. remote work 15:06 The office as a third place 16:23 Contradictions in return-to-office policies 17:56 Productivity vs. presence and the AI contradiction 19:15 Data-driven leadership and ignoring the data 20:04 The chapter on “Freedom” 21:20 Women opting out and redefining freedom 22:41 Leadership betrayal and lack of trust 24:09 Focusing on goals, not hours 25:15 Supporting employees who finish early 25:38 AI increasing workload 26:32 Leaders need real conversations about AI’s impact 27:02 Culture can change in 20 minutes 27:56 Weekly manager-employee check-ins 28:25 Jennifer’s favorite morning ritual with her daughter 29:53 What Jennifer is reading: The Tell by Amy Griffin 31:07 Where to find Jennifer and her book 31:52 Kevin’s closing challenge: “Now What?”

Jennifer's Story: Jennifer Moss is the author of The Burnout Epidemic, which tackles employee burnout and was named one of Thinkers50's "10 Best New Management Books for 2022." Her latest book is WHY ARE WE HERE?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants. She is an international speaker, award-winning journalist and author, workplace culture strategist, and co-founder of the Work Better Institute, a global workforce policy think tank. She is a nationally syndicated radio columnist and writes for Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Fortune. Jennifer has been recognized as a Canadian Innovator of the Year and an International Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and is the recipient of a Public Service Award from the Office of President Obama.

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Book Recommendations

Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants by Jennifer Moss
The Tell: A Memoir by Amy Griffin

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Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants with Jennifer Moss