284 - Reimagining Company Culture with Play and Connection with Emily Hinks
Aug 27, 2024
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Emily Hinks, a passionate mischief maker, advocates for joy and human connection in the workplace. She shares insights on enhancing company culture through playful engagement and effective facilitation. Discover the ROI of authentic connections and why team values matter. Learn how to improve meeting dynamics and ensure every voice is heard. Hinks emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships like gardens, and how embracing mischief can elevate workplace morale and creativity.
Company culture thrives on nurturing relationships among employees, requiring ongoing attention and care just like a well-tended garden.
Facilitation has emerged as a critical skill for enhancing team communication and collaboration, especially in the evolving remote work landscape.
Establishing open communication about boundaries and feedback is essential for promoting psychological safety and overall employee well-being in the workplace.
Deep dives
The Importance of Facilitating Company Culture
Company culture is more than just the set of values displayed on walls; it involves the everyday interactions and relationships between employees. It is the underlying dynamics that contribute to how effectively teams collaborate and communicate. By fostering a human-centered culture, organizations can ensure that their employees feel valued and heard, leading to higher engagement and productivity. Investing in facilitation within the company offers a way to not only uphold these values but to actively embody them in daily practices.
The Rise of Facilitation in the Workplace
Facilitation has gained recognition as a crucial competency in modern workplaces, particularly following the shift to remote work during the pandemic. Initially seen as a niche skill, it has evolved into an essential practice for managing meetings and discussions effectively. Organizations have come to realize that hiring skilled facilitators, whether internally or externally, can significantly enhance collaboration and creativity. This shift acknowledges the need for intentional engagement in virtual environments, transforming facilitation from a luxury into a necessity.
Human Connection Drives Organizational Success
Establishing strong human connections within a workforce is vital for fostering collaboration and enhancing overall productivity. Research indicates that employees who connect on a personal level are more engaged and likely to contribute positively to team dynamics. Onboarding practices and regular check-ins can strengthen these connections, helping team members feel supported and valued. As such, organizations must prioritize creating opportunities for interpersonal interactions, enabling employees to develop trust and rapport with one another.
Feedback and Boundaries in the Workplace
Creating a healthy workplace culture involves not just fostering connections but also encouraging open communication around boundaries and feedback. It is crucial for employees to feel empowered to express their needs and limitations without fear of backlash. Organizations that provide a safe environment for candid conversations promote psychological safety, which leads to improved job satisfaction and performance. By integrating feedback mechanisms and respecting boundaries, companies can create a balanced work atmosphere that nurtures employee well-being.
The Role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) play a significant role in fostering inclusivity and representing diverse perspectives within an organization. These groups, led by employees who share similar backgrounds or interests, provide support, advocacy, and a sense of community. They can serve as a crucial feedback loop to organizational leadership, guiding policies and initiatives. By empowering ERGs, organizations can capitalize on the diverse experiences of their workforce and create a more equitable workplace culture.
The relationships in our life are a lot like gardens: they need watering, a little pruning here and there, some de-weeding, and a whole lot of love! But what about the people we spend most of our time with?
Our co-workers are often overlooked in the garden of relationships, but it’s one that requires just as much time, care and attention as any other. Enter: the biggest mischief maker, Emily Hinks!
Firm in the belief that the world of work could do with more joy, she helps people to connect, collaborate and create company cultures to be proud of, in playful and energising ways. She generously shares her mischievous ways with us, her experience with the likes of Netflix, and how she facilitates richer human connection in the new era of work.
Press play and spend a joyful hour with Emily!
Find out about:
The ROI of human connection at work and its role in building company culture
The importance of connecting teams to company values in contextual ways
Why the post-pandemic workplace needs facilitation to nurture digital connections
How to host meetings more effectively as a non-facilitator
Emily’s small but mighty hacks for elevating every voice in a meeting
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more: https://workshops.work/podcast
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