How the Pandemic Impacted the Future Of Work & What Businesses Can Do About It

A Person spelling the word “new normal” with wooden blocks, symbolizing the dramatic business transformations resulting from the pandemic.

By: Jennifer Ayres, Founding Partner Lisa Insley, Partner When the pandemic began, very few organizations had a crisis plan in place to address its magnitude. As such, business leaders scrambled to accommodate an ever-fluctuating set of safety guidelines. There were immediate non-negotiables, most notably the need to close offices and support remote workforces at unprecedented … Read more

How Leaders Can Motivate Teams Through Recognition and Purpose

A man standing on a mountain peak with the sun shining down on him, finding a sense of purpose.

Can organizational leaders support a high-performance culture by engaging their teams through recognition? According to experts, continuously recognizing your team members – and the organization’s mission – can lead to an amplified sense of purpose and emotional wellness that fuels greater productivity and achievement. On Season 5, episode 3 of the Survive and Thrive podcast, … Read more

How to Improve Work Culture During a Recession

Workers in suits with their hands stacked in a team huddle, an example of work culture.

During periods of financial instability, such as a recession, business leaders should prioritize bolstering company culture. After all, without a strong, motivated team, surviving an economic downturn is near impossible. Finding tangible solutions may seem challenging, but many cost-effective ways exist to foster a healthy work environment — no matter the circumstances. On Season 5, … Read more

How the Gig Economy is Catching On in Knowledge Work

Woman working from her planner and laptop

By: Jennifer Ayres, Founding Partner I think everyone by now has heard of the term the “gig” economy and are likely using these “gig” services every day for simple tasks like ordering food, getting from point A to point B, getting your pantry goods delivered (often same day), etc.  Well, what about for complex business … Read more

Transitioning to Remote Work Thanks to COVID-19

A remote working woman on her laptop, sitting with her two dogs.

5 Tips to Help Transition You to a Virtual Office With the onslaught of new cases and the rapid spread of the coronavirus, more companies and municipalities are taking precautions to protect their workforce. If you are used to heading into an office every day, working at home could be a nice change! However, some … Read more

Do I Have To Choose Between Passion and Purpose?

A person trying to choose between eating a donut and an apple.

Excerpt from The Search for Meaning at Work: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Purpose to Engage and Fulfill Your Workforce by Steve Van Valin, SVP of Culture Transformation I’ve seen too many people (myself included) put too much credence on doing work that we’re “passionate” about. There’s nothing wrong with that except that it sets … Read more

How a Solid Work Culture is Key to Surviving a Recession

A team huddles during a work meeting, exemplifying a solid work culture.

Economic recessions can present numerous business challenges, including declining revenue, cost-cutting measures, and layoffs.  In times of economic downturn, workforce leaders can easily overlook the importance of maintaining a strong company culture. However, company culture can be your business’s north star to survive recession chaos. On Season 5, episode 8 of the Survive and Thrive … Read more

4 Ways Business Leaders Can Support Workers in Times of Uncertainty

A man in a suit connecting a puzzle piece of one person to puzzle pieces of many people.

As much as we hate to admit it, we don’t always like change. However, the desire to run from change and uncertainty can cause extreme difficulties for leaders; especially when managing their teams through times of workforce transformation.  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizational change has been increasingly common. According to a 2021 … Read more

Finding Purpose in The Printer’s Shop

Employees conducting the most menial tasks still need purpose to motivate their work.

Excerpt from The Search for Meaning at Work: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Purpose to Engage and Fulfill Your Workforce by Steve Van Valin, SVP of Culture Transformation A watershed moment in my thinking about meaning and purpose came a number of years ago in one of my Progress Principle workshops. We were discussing how … Read more

Meaning and “Important Someones” in Employee Motivation

A birds-eye view of a dark spiral staircase

Excerpt from The Search for Meaning at Work: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Purpose to Engage and Fulfill Your Workforce by Steve Van Valin, SVP of Culture Transformation Through an innovative study, Professor Adam Grant demonstrated the motivational power of understanding how you’re adding value to people’s lives. The study involved a group of students … Read more