The Great Good Place

by Tom Miller

Author Ray Oldenburg wrote the above titled book a decade ago as a “call to arms” for more holistic living. I’m a fan of his thinking and I see benefits for organizations that facilitate employees bringing their “whole self” to work. Years ago, the marketplace became enamored with creating systematic efficiencies and viewed human capital as simply another cog in the system. Allowing for unique skills, talents, thinking and interests was “designed out” in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach to work culture. “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” won the day.

Thankfully, the gray flannel suit is going out of style in most corporations. My observation is that companies are trying to figure out how to be “human friendly” places. While I think we’re headed in the right direction, I often see old thinking and fear that’s founded in the belief that, if people are enjoying themselves, then work must not be occurring. If your organization is working toward changing its culture, consider these questions from Oldenburg’s work – perhaps your answers will serve as a guide to new thinking:

  • How can we make money and enjoy life at the same time?
  • How can our company facilitate healthy living?
  • If people are missing a “great good place” in their personal lives, what role can our company play by filling that space? What is the benefit in doing this?
  • We are created to be social. Do we encourage the “social animal” at work?
  • Does our company have “human scale”? If not, what can we change to help people feel like they fit here?
  • Can our people be “human” at work?

In our work with clients and their Recognition and Reward Systems, we frequently have the chance to “humanize” a company by creating channels for communication up and down the organization where employees are lifted up for doing things that are significant – significant to the company and significant to the individual. Seeing individuals celebrated for their unique contributions is one of the coolest things The Miller Company gets to do. It makes me feel human!

Regards,

Tom

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