237. Is hybrid the worst of all worlds? With Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell, authors of The New Workplace"

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture.

Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell, authors of "The New Workplace" and experts who've spent years studying remote, hybrid, and in-office work arrangements.

Episode Summary

What if hybrid working isn't the best of both worlds, but actually the worst? Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell have mapped nine different work personas - from "officers" who never want to leave the office, to "avatars" who live entirely online, to "integrators" trying to bridge both worlds. Their research reveals that 65% of workers are now aligned with their company's workplace strategy, but that still leaves 35% struggling with misalignment that affects engagement, commitment, and ultimately performance.

This conversation explores what happens when work personas collide, why hybrid can create more conflict than clarity, and how leaders can move their teams from misaligned to at least half-aligned without losing their best people. You'll hear heartbreaking stories of young workers describing themselves as "soulless husks" when forced to work remotely, and female executives who prefer office work for unexpected reasons.

What We Cover

The Nine Work Personas

• How people fall into categories like "officers," "avatars," and "integrators" based on their workplace preferences

Why Hybrid Creates Conflict

• How hybrid workplaces can become battlegrounds between opposing preferences, with officers and avatars both wanting companies to go fully their way

The Alignment Problem

• Why 65% alignment isn't enough and what happens to the misaligned 35% who stay in jobs that don't suit them

Task-Location Fit

• Moving from "dress for your day" to "locate for your day" based on what tasks you need to accomplish

Who Decides the Strategy

• Whether leaders should set workplace policies or listen to what teams actually want

Personas Change Over Time

• How life stages, from early career to parenthood to late career, can shift your workplace preferences

Recruitment Reality

• Why honest job previews about work arrangements are crucial for avoiding misalignment from day one

The Future of Work

• Predictions for 2050 and why hybrid might win by default

Resources

The New Workplace book website: https://thenewworkplacebook.com/

• Connect with Ina Purvanova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-purvanova/
• Connect with Alanah Mitchell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanah-mitchell/

Mental Health Support

The episode discusses some difficult workplace experiences, including feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:

UK:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/
• Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/

US:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/
• NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/

International:

• Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide)
• International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory)

Connect with Your Hosts

• Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
• Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
• Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
• Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com
• Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork
• Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork
• YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork
• Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork