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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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.
New movements
We make work more human, when we are human and loving. For those of us who are public servants, we make government more human, and we know THAT is sorely needed. You already are doing this. You are already feeling the impact. Keep going. Keep loving. And let me know how it’s going, won’t you?
The fabric of Washington
Kim Sauer was inspired to share this post after reading Ayanna Coleman’s post a few weeks ago. I’m so glad to bring more voices forward whose experiences and contributions are what make Washington a strong and beautiful place to live and work. -Renée
Everywhere I go: I rideshare
In my research interviews on fear and love in the workplace, people often said their fear experience increased their commitment to NOT leading with fear but instead leading with care, respect, trust, empathy and so on. In other words, their fear experience increased their commitment to never doing that to anyone else and instead leading with love.
The ripple effects of kindness at work
In this post, Denise Matayoshi Miño shares how the kindness of her team members during a difficult transition impacted her family and the children they fostered forever.
Through the eyes of Washingtonians
Perhaps other customers in these scenarios might have been annoyed to waste time hearing about these experiences, but their stories inspired me. I listened with empathy and humility, and thanked them both for their help and time.
I am a public servant
Sometimes the truth is that we are thrilled. We are delighted by our work and grateful for the privilege of contributing. We can’t wait to get to work each day. We love the challenges we face, the service we offer, the skills we learn, the way we express ourselves to the world in our work.
Do I have to say “love”?
Organizations and teams choose the words that resonate for them. Sometimes that word is “love” and sometimes it is a synonym like care, trust, respect, belonging, inclusion, empathy, compassion, or forgiveness, but always it is more human.
Everywhere I go: on a train from Nice to Ventimiglia
The 2nd class train from Nice, France, to Ventimiglia, Italy, is overflowing on this sunny weekday morning in September. Commuters heading to work mix with tourists like me on holiday. Luggage fills the aisles. Children sit on laps. Passengers stand in the vestibule between cars, sweaty and crowded.
Everywhere I go: in a café at work
When I was consulting to the US Army, I worked under a wonderful General. He was a humble, wise leader who treated people well. Even though I was just a contractor, he demonstrated that he valued me and my work. He gave me support, opportunities to grow, and recognition when I did well. Shortly after I left, he deployed to Afghanistan.
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