think-piece
Christina Maslach's research identified six drivers of burnout. Workload is only one. The other five (fairness, control, community, reward, values) predict it more strongly. Most organizations only address the wrong one.
think-piece
We ran a twenty-year experiment on open offices. The data is in. Face-to-face interaction dropped. Email increased. Collaboration decreased. Time to admit it didn't work.
think-piece
Most culture initiatives add programs, events, values statements. But the best cultures aren't built through addition. They emerge when you subtract the friction that prevents good behavior.
think-piece
Unlimited PTO sounds generous but often reduces time off. Without a clear number, people guess wrong. And they almost always guess low.
think-piece
Top performers don't outwork everyone else. They out-rest them. Elite violinists, writers, and scientists share one pattern: deliberate rest that lets their brains consolidate learning and solve problems unconsciously.
think-piece
Annual engagement surveys tell you what people felt six months ago. By the time you act, the disengaged have already left and the engaged have started questioning. What if the timing is the problem?
think-piece
We keep redesigning annual performance reviews hoping to find the right format. The problem isn't the format. It's the frequency.
think-piece
More options feel generous. They actually reduce satisfaction and action. The best HR programs offer less, not more.
think-piece
Your engagement survey isn't measuring engagement. It's measuring how people feel about answering engagement surveys.