WorkLab

The world has never before had the chance to collectively reinvent the ways we work. Leaders are taking stock of how we've always done things, then imagining a new future. In Season 2 of the WorkLab podcast from Microsoft, we're exploring that opportunity. What can we learn from leaders, thinkers, and researchers that will allow us and our teams to work smarter…and happier? We're in a learning mindset—because hybrid work is truly a work in progress. WorkLab

How did work change in 2021, and how will it continue to evolve next year? We know that the Great Reshuffle isn't over: In a Microsoft survey, 41 percent of respondents said that they may leave their employer, and resignations did in fact reach record highs. WorkLab host Elise Hu is joined by correspondents Mary Melton and Desmond Dickerson present highlights from the interviews they conducted with experts and executives this season, and discuss the year's biggest work trends. WorkLab WorkLab 2021 Year in Review

As companies move into hybrid work and embrace more flexibility, they'll need to experiment. They'll have to make space for employee feedback—and truly listen, says Anne Helen Petersen, co-author of the new book Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home. In this episode of the WorkLab podcast, Petersen talks to host Elise Hu about the opportunity to reinvent work in the shift to hybrid mode. How can we make work more meaningful—and promote wellbeing? WorkLab Out of Office: The Big Problem and Bigger Promise of Working from Home Culture Study Newsletter

Why should business leaders pay attention to the creator economy? The latest episode of the WorkLab podcast features Daniel Roth, editor in chief at LinkedIn, who's been tracking the power of creators' content on the platform. Roth explains what the creator economy is and why it's growing; CB Insights found that creator-focused companies reaped 188 percent more funding in the first half of 2021 than in all of 2020. Eyes are on creators, and Roth says that employers should embrace and encourage them. We also talk with Temi Ibisanmi, a media campaign manager at Microsoft, who shares the story of how he became a digital creator while maintaining a corporate job, and the positive effects it's had on his career. WorkLab site and transcript of this episode The Creator Economy Explained: How Companies Are Transforming The Self-Monetization Boom - CB Insights Research Finding Sparks in Darkness: Radical creativity in the COVID-19 era Want to Improve Your Performance? Start with Your Mindset Listen and follow to other Microsoft podcasts at aka.ms/microsoft/podcasts

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the hybrid era. A recent report by Microsoft found that 61% of workers identified "social interaction" as a primary benefit of coming to the office. But the same percentage said that ditching daily commutes was a top reason to work from home. In this episode of the WorkLab podcast, leadership expert Dr. David Rock explains how managers must offer flexibility and a sense of autonomy to help employees feel motivated … no matter where they prefer to work. WorkLab NeuroLeadership Institute

The shift to hybrid work is already transforming the business world. What should forward-thinking leaders watch for? The latest episode of the WorkLab podcast features Nicholas Bloom, an economics professor at Stanford University who studies remote and hybrid work. Bloom addresses emerging trends like flexibility; according to a LinkedIn survey, 81 percent of leaders are changing their workplace policies to offer more of it. And Bloom offers up data-based advice for managers facing times of change. "Don't Force People to Come Back to the Office Full Time" by Nicholas Bloom WorkLab Microsoft and LinkedIn share latest data and innovation for hybrid work

How can organizations be sure that everyone feels included in hybrid work? In the latest episode of WorkLab's new podcast, consultant, and coach Ritu Bhasin talks to host Elise Hu about how leaders can foster a sense of belonging by allowing everyone to show up as their full, authentic selves. We'll look at the business imperatives of diversity and inclusion—McKinsey research shows that big companies that are very diverse outperform those that are not by 36 percent—and share tips for inclusive leadership. We also talk with executive leader Wangui McKelvey shares her strategies for authentic leadership when working with a remote team. WorkLab Building Diverse & Inclusive Workplaces | bhasin consulting inc. Ritu Bhasin | Award-Winning Life Coach, Speaker & Author

Our ability to connect anytime, anywhere, has enabled a remarkable transformation to hybrid work. It's also driving us to distraction. As Microsoft's 2021 Work Trend Index showed, about 39 percent of people worldwide describe themselves as exhausted. In this episode of WorkLab's new podcast, Dr. Clare Purvis, senior director of behavioral neuroscience at Headspace, talks to host Elise Hu about meditation as a mechanism against stress—and why employees and companies alike must address mental health. WorkLab Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks (microsoft.com) Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace

Companies are facing yet another big test: the seismic shift to hybrid work. In the debut episode of WorkLab's new podcast, Microsoft 365 leader Jared Spataro talks to host Elise Hu about an emerging paradox. Three quarters of people worldwide—73 percent—say they want flexible remote work options to continue. But nearly the same percentage want more in-person time with colleagues, too. In short: People want it both ways. And companies have to figure out how to give it to them. WorkLab "Beyond the Binary: Solving the Hybrid Work Paradox" by Jared Spataro Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft 365 | LinkedIn | Twitter Jaime Teevan | LinkedIn | Twitter Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at aka.ms/microsoft/podcasts

Everything we thought we knew about work—where we do it, when we do it, how we do it—has been turned on its head. Where is it all going, and is there a map to get us there? WorkLab is a new podcast from Microsoft that taps into data and research to guide you on the road ahead. Leaders and scientists share the company's findings, and we'll hear stories about how people and organizations are being transformed at this radical moment. Join us as we explore the science of work and ingenuity. The first season we'll be focusing on hybrid work, and how we can ensure that workplaces aren't defined by where you gather, but by how you feel included. The show launches on September 8. Follow the show at microsoft.com/worklab.