The hottest Workplace culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

😎 Developer’s Private Spot: “Harmlessly-Interruptible” vs. “Do Not Disturb”

ppdispatch • 5 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Software Development AI Tools Workplace culture Data Management Productivity
  1. Hiring a separate Scrum Master can create unnecessary overhead, and teams might manage the process better on their own.
  2. AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot can actually increase bugs and may not reduce developer burnout as expected.
  3. Creating a work environment that supports both deep focus and collaboration can boost productivity for programmers.

Can Anyone Multi-Task?

Tribal Knowledge • 19 implied HN points • 18 Sep 22
💼 Business Productivity Leadership Management Startups Workplace culture
  1. Context switching is a focus killer, it interrupts deep work and takes time to get back into the right mindset.
  2. Multi-tasking is often just quick context switching between tasks, leading to partial effort on each. Focusing on one task at a time can improve efficiency.
  3. Transitioning between different levels of thinking - task, project, and owner level - is essential in startup environments, requiring adaptability and focus.
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Will Generation Z usher in the next corporate renaissance?

Upon Reflection • 2 HN points • 08 Mar 24
💼 Business Generations Leadership Workplace culture Innovation
  1. Generation Z challenges stereotypes and is reshaping corporate culture by offering fresh perspectives and sparking a shift in how we work.
  2. The corporate world faces the unique challenge of blending the work ethics and expectations of multiple generations, leading to both enrichment and tension.
  3. Organizations must embrace change, listen to diverse perspectives including Gen Z's, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous evolution to thrive in the evolving corporate landscape.

So you want to be a Manager - Part 1: Are you sure?

The Caring Techie Newsletter • 9 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Management Career development Leadership Tech industry Workplace culture
  1. Transitioning from individual contributor to engineering manager requires deep reflection and research.
  2. Engineering management involves leading and coordinating engineering activities, but it's not as easy as it may seem on paper.
  3. Successful engineering managers need a different skill set than individual contributors, including strong people skills and patience.

WONDERING: When Strengths are Overused and Fun is Overdone

Granted • 0 implied HN points • 31 Aug 18
💼 Business Management Decision-making Workplace culture
  1. The best advice highlights blind spots in our thinking and helps us clarify priorities, rather than specifying what to do.
  2. When seeking advice, people often want guidance on how to approach a decision, instead of being told which option to choose.
  3. Colleagues should be informed when mandatory fun isn't enjoyable, especially in a work environment where the focus is on work.

Bolder experiments for return to the office

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
💼 Business Management Workplace culture Productivity Employee engagement
  1. Organizations are struggling to get employees back into the office after working from home during the pandemic.
  2. Various strategies have been attempted, from forcing employees back to offering office perks, but the desired changes have not been achieved.
  3. A hypothesis suggests that forcing employees back to the office for a sustained period may help establish new routines and show the benefits of in-office work, potentially increasing office attendance in the long run.

Embrace The Journey 🏔

PeopleStorming • 0 implied HN points • 29 Mar 22
💼 Business Management Goals Workplace culture Motivation Value Creation
  1. Successful companies are mission-oriented with a relentless focus on ultimate goals, leading to higher alignment and scalability.
  2. Individuals, like organizations, are goal-seeking, and goals require deliberate action for achievement. Goals can demonstrate ability and provide a measure of success.
  3. Balancing goal-orientation and journey-orientation is crucial. While goals are essential for producing value, valuing the journey and inclusivity can lead to meaningful experiences and attract like-minded individuals.

Festival Of Failure

PeopleStorming • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 20
💼 Business Workplace culture Team Building Psychological safety
  1. Teams need psychological safety to thrive, where members can be open, vulnerable, and embrace failure as part of learning.
  2. The Festival of Failure is a ritual that helps teams create closeness and trust by sharing past mistakes, normalizing failure as a learning opportunity.
  3. Acknowledging and discussing failure openly in a team can boost resilience, courage, humility, and empathy among team members.

Charles

Venture Prose • 0 implied HN points • 02 Nov 17
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Career Startups Innovation Workplace culture
  1. Charles has always been determined and persuasive, creating convincing cases from a young age to get what he wants from his parents.
  2. Charles recognized the need for a change in the work paradigm and decided to act on it by starting his own venture, Comet, with a focus on transparency and simplicity.
  3. At 22, Charles witnessed unethical practices in the consultancy industry, leading him to make a drastic career shift towards a more meaningful and ethical path.

Workplace Culture & AI: It Gets Complicated Fast

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Workplace culture Machine Learning Data Management Automation
  1. Introducing AI agents in the workplace can lead to complex cultural impacts and challenges that traditional AI tools don't pose.
  2. AI agents, with agency and social interactions, can become social actors and adopt traits of their workplace environment, which includes toxic or empowering cultures.
  3. The use of AI agents in the workplace brings forth unique complications such as knowledge management risks, governance challenges, and the need to redefine productivity metrics beyond traditional approaches.

What Gratitude At Work Looks Like

Better Engineers • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
💼 Business Workplace culture Employee engagement Recognition Mindfulness Leadership
  1. Celebrating both big and small successes in the workplace makes employees feel valued and appreciated. It’s a great way to boost morale.
  2. Encouraging mindfulness can help employees notice and appreciate the little things around them. Being present improves overall workplace happiness.
  3. Fostering kindness and peer recognition is important. When employees feel appreciated by their peers, it creates a positive work environment.

The Surprising Ways Employees React to Advice

Voohy Leadership Insights • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
💼 Business Management Human Resources Organizational Behavior Employee engagement Workplace culture
  1. Unsolicited advice is often seen negatively because people might think the giver is showing off. It's better to wait for someone to ask before sharing your thoughts.
  2. When people ask for advice, they view it more positively. They believe the advisor really wants to help, which makes them more likely to use the advice effectively.
  3. Creating a trusting environment where it's okay to ask for help is important. Managers should encourage open communication to ensure people feel safe seeking advice.

Ever feel like a team's mood is contagious? You're not imagining it.

Voohy Leadership Insights • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jul 24
💼 Business Leadership Team Dynamics Emotional Intelligence Workplace culture Employee performance
  1. Emotions can spread in a team, just like a cold. If one person is happy or upset, it can affect how everyone else feels.
  2. Positive moods help teams work better together. When everyone is feeling good, there are fewer fights and more teamwork.
  3. Leaders should pay attention to their own emotions. How they feel can set the tone for the whole team, so being calm and positive can help everyone stay focused.

Protecting your team from layoffs

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Human Resources Workplace culture Employee Relations
  1. Focus on what's important for the company. Always align your team's work with company priorities to stay relevant.
  2. Make sure your top performers get recognized. Highlight their achievements to boost visibility and keep your team strong.
  3. Don't hesitate to let go of low performers. It benefits both the team and the individual, and helps to maintain a positive environment.

Delivering Performance Reviews

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Human Resources Workplace culture
  1. Performance reviews are crucial conversations in a person's career, so it's important to deliver them effectively. The way feedback is given can deeply affect how the employee feels and reacts.
  2. Prepare for the review by having all relevant data and allowing the employee time to read their review beforehand. This helps reduce stress and makes the conversation more meaningful.
  3. After the review, follow up with a note summarizing key points and agreed-upon growth plans. Regular check-ins can help maintain focus on goals and improvements.

Your Employees Are Mercenaries, But They Should Be Cultists

Adventures in Leadership Land • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership Management Consulting Workplace culture
  1. Assess if employees are loyal or opportunistic by questioning their commitment to work, potential job offers, and sacrificing personal time.
  2. Be cautious when using consultants or contractors as they may not have your best interests in mind, leading to ongoing dependence and potential conflicts of interest.
  3. Create a loyal workforce by fostering loyalty to the organizational mission, building trust among employees, and cultivating a culture that values both the purpose and the people.