077. Adam Waytz: How to Create More Human Workplaces and Avoid a Culture of Busyness

To measure the ROI of culture is like measuring the ROI of air. Culture is not optional but a fundamental part of how we operate as a group.  It influences every aspect of our organization - how we make decisions, think, communicate, collaborate, and perform.  At the heart of culture are people and relationships.  While many organizations will claim that they put people first, it’s easy to fall into cultural assumptions, drives, and beliefs that are harmful to our people and, ultimately, to the organization's mission.  Some time ago, I read a fascinating article in Harvard Business Review about the dangers of a culture that glorifies busyness.  The author, Adam Waytz, is an award-winning social psychologist and associate professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He’s the author of The Power of Human: How Our Shared Humanity Can Help Us Create a Better World.  On episode 076 of the Leading Transformational Change podcast, I interviewed Adam about: What leads to dehumanization in our organizations, and what we can do to counteract it. How AI implementation impacts how we measure the ethicality of an organization Why a culture of busyness is a problem, and what we should do about it. I believe the conversation is relevant for anyone who wants more human workplaces and desires to build healthier cultures.