136: Redesigning the Future of Work

Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

Episode 136: Redesigning the Future of Work

How do you build a people-first workplace environment that is both innovative and supportive?

On this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Brian Elliott, a leading expert on workplace flexibility and co-author of How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives who spent two decades building companies and leading teams as a startup CEO and leader at Google and Slack. Brian co-founded Future Forum to help decision-makers tackle real-world challenges, including hybrid work and building for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

First, we hear about Future Forum as an extension of and in support of Slack, which changed the way we work together. Since Future Forum has ended, Brian shares where to look for insight and data about the workplace to keep topics top of mind and weighs in on the debate between office and work-from-home culture and the opinions about different generations’ approaches to work. Brian also illustrates the need for intentionality if/when people come together and the effect it specifically has on marginalized communities.

At the end of the day, people are people. And what we're talking about here is actually a really core element, which is, ‘How do you drive engagement of employees in the mission and purpose of your business?’ That engagement is what gets them to go the extra mile to try harder to work harder for your customers. It shows up in things like trust and transparency, and how that actually impacts people's work ethic, much more so than anything else. - Brian Elliott

Then, Brian illustrates the overarching element of a flexible, innovative workplace: emphasizing a people-first approach. We learn of a few companies implementing innovative strategies and tactics to their support teams, and Brian provides recommendations for starting those conversations, including creating boundaries for the communication tools put into place.

To wrap up the episode, Brian gives his perspective on whether architecture should pivot its business model in regard to output, quality, and productivity and gives recommendations for leaders to implement change within their organization. Plus, we learn what the changing economy can mean for the future of workplace culture, and Brian shares how the next steps in his career are still in support of making work life better for people.

Tune in two weeks from now for an episode with MASS Design about how and why structuring an award-winning architecture as a nonprofit maximizes industry reach.

Guests:

Brian Elliott is a leading expert on workplace flexibility. After two decades building companies and leading teams as a startup CEO at Google and Slack, Brian co-founded Future Forum, a leading think-tank on the future of work. He’s also the co-author of “How the Future Works: Leading Flexible Teams to Do the Best Work of Their Lives.” Brian has shared his insights and best practices on how to create more effective, connected, and diverse organizations in various publications and media outlets including Axios, Bloomberg, the Economist, Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, Time and the Wall Street Journal.

His mission is to build a future of work that's better for everyone and believe that in doing so, we can dramatically improve organizational outcomes. Brian is also a proud father, happy spouse, and frequent dog walker.

📍 Show Links:

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

Learn more about Future Forum

Access Future Forum Pulse

Read How the Future Works

📚 Past Episodes Referenced:

PD #91: How the Future Works

PD #22: Reimaging Work in the New Digital-First Workplace

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