DeepSummary
In this episode, Brené Brown and Barrett Gein reflect on their company's first in-person gathering after over two years of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the emotional and logistical challenges of the three-day all-hands meeting, including the anxiety and joy felt by employees, navigating COVID protocols, and facilitating their "Dare to Lead" program with the entire team.
Brené shares that she underestimated the level of anxiety people felt about returning to the office, but found the "Dare to Lead" coursework helped ground employees in their shared purpose and re-establish connections. She also announces her plans for an extended summer sabbatical to focus on rest and restoration for herself and her team.
The episode highlights the messy reality of transitioning to a hybrid work model, with Brené and Barrett openly discussing the tensions, uncertainties, and need for flexibility as they redefine their workplace norms. They emphasize the importance of centering employee wellbeing while still accomplishing key goals.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Returning to in-person work after an extended period of remote work can bring up significant anxiety and emotional challenges for employees.
- Companies need to prioritize employee wellbeing and build in opportunities for rest and renewal amidst challenging workplace transitions.
- Implementing a sustainable hybrid work model requires flexibility, regular reassessment, and centering employee needs around fairness and belonging.
- Open communication and allowing space for employees to authentically share their experiences can help rebuild connections in the workplace.
- Group work and activities centered on an organization's core values and purpose can help ground employees during periods of change.
- Leaders must embrace uncertainty and the messiness of workplace transformations rather than strive for rigid control.
- Offering sabbaticals, flexible scheduling, and designated company-wide downtime can promote mental health and work-life balance.
- Modeling vulnerability as a leader and normalizing uncomfortable emotions helps create a supportive workplace culture.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And it's not because I'm not a fan of remote work. Jesus. Oh yeah.“ by Renee Brown
- “We need to create here in our organization and possibly the world, a critical mass of restoration. It's not enough for me to go off. Everyone needs to take some time.“ by Renee Brown
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Episode Information
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown
Vox Media Podcast Network
5/9/22