Bruce Daisley, former VP at Twitter, discusses workplace culture and the secret to loving your work. Topics include the impact of remote work on community and employee value, the relationship between work environments and creativity, knowing when to quit a job, the impact of childhood trauma on success and happiness, and the debate over a social media ban.
Feeling a shared sense of accomplishment and pride in a small-team environment promotes engagement and creativity.
Meaningful progress and the opportunity to make impactful contributions contribute to job satisfaction.
Finding the right balance between stability and chaos is crucial for personal growth and happiness.
Deep dives
Importance of Feeling Connected and Part of Something
Feeling connected and part of something bigger than oneself is essential for job satisfaction and engagement. Research shows that when people feel a sense of belonging and have a say in their work, they are more motivated and productive. Organizations should foster a small-team environment where individuals feel a shared sense of accomplishment and pride. This promotes a sense of agency and control, boosting engagement and creativity.
Recognizing the Value of Meaningful Progress
Meaningful progress is a key factor in job satisfaction. Feeling a sense of pride in one's work and making tangible progress on meaningful projects contributes to a positive work experience. Organizations should prioritize providing opportunities for employees to make meaningful contributions and have an impact. This can enhance engagement and motivation, leading to greater job satisfaction.
Navigating the Decision to Quit
Deciding when to quit a job is a personal and nuanced decision. Individuals should evaluate their level of satisfaction, sense of reward, and professional growth opportunities in their current role. If a job consistently feels miserable or unfulfilling, it may be worth considering other options. However, external factors such as economic stability should also be taken into account to ensure a responsible decision.
The Link Between Stability and Chaos
Finding the right balance between stability and chaos is crucial for personal growth and happiness. While stability is important, too much can lead to feelings of stagnation and lack of purpose. Embracing some level of chaos and forward motion in life, setting ambitious goals, and seeking new challenges can provide a sense of meaning and prevent a decline into a state of stagnation.
Childhood trauma and elite accomplishment
Many successful individuals, such as athletes and musicians, have experienced significant childhood trauma. This trauma often leads to obsessive behavior and a drive to fill the void created by their past. They are fortunate enough to have exceptional talent which allows them to channel their energy into striving for greatness.
The future of social media and regulation
Regulation is likely to come for social media platforms, with the possibility of breaking up big organizations like Facebook and Google. The idea behind regulation is to encourage innovation and prevent monopolies. The focus is on creating a safer online environment and holding platforms accountable for their content. The aim is to have rules agreed upon by an independent authority, benefiting both users and employees.
Bruce Daisley is one of the world’s most influential voices on fixing workplace culture and a former VP at Twitter. Bruce Daisley spent over a decade as a top executive at Twitter, YouTube and Google for Europe, leaving Twitter as its most senior leader outside of the US.
Bruce’s highly acclaimed book, The Joy of Work: 30 Ways to Fix Your Work Culture and Fall in Love with Your Job Again, offers a fascinating and data-tested insight into what ‘work’ and ‘office culture’ now looks-like in the 21st century, as well as advising how all levels of staff within organisations can build a more motivating and productive workplace culture. The book went on to become the UK’s bestselling business hardback of 2019, being translated into 13 languages and long-listed for Business Book of the Year 2020 and CMI Management Book of the Year 2020. His literary and business successes have culminated in Bruce being named one of the Evening Standard’s 1000 Most Influential Londoners and one of Debrett’s 500 Most Influential People in Britain.
At the CBI Annual Conference, he was voted the top-rated speaker, having shared the stage with the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn. Alongside his literary pursuits, Bruce hosts and runs the ‘Eat Sleep Work Repeat’ podcast on workplace culture which has reached #1 spot on the Apple Business Podcast Chart. He now devotes his time to championing reforms to culture in the workplace.
He is also a published writer in the Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal & The Guardian.