Bring Your Human to Work

About the Author

Erica Keswin is an expert in helping businesses, organizations, and individuals improve their performance through honoring relationships. She was previously a consultant at the Hay Group and Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., and worked as an executive director at Russell Reynolds Associates. Keswin contributes regularly to Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, and Quartz at Work.

Main Idea

Bring Your Human to Work emphasizes the importance of creating a workplace that prioritizes human relationships. By honoring fundamental human traits like authenticity, openness, and politeness, companies can foster a culture where employees perform at their best. Keswin provides ten practical ways to build a "human workplace," ultimately improving business outcomes and employee satisfaction.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Be Real
3. Play the Long Game
4. The Sweet Spot
5. Mind Your Meetings
6. Well-Being at Work
7. Give Back
8. Disconnect to Reconnect
9. Space Matters
10. Take Professional Development Personally
11. Say Thank You

Introduction

The modern workplace demands a more human approach, especially in an age dominated by technology. Keswin highlights the need for workplaces that prioritize relationships, values, and genuine human interaction. The book outlines ten surefire ways to achieve this, making workplaces more engaging and productive.

"By working human, we can begin to literally cut our losses and cultivate a more human world." - Erica Keswin

Be Real

Authenticity is the cornerstone of a human workplace. Companies must be true to their values and ensure that their brand reflects these values consistently. Keswin illustrates this with the example of Lyft, whose mission to "reconnect people through transportation" is evident in its core values: Be yourself, Create fearlessly, Uplift others, Make it happen.

• Know your brand's values: Lyft emphasizes human connections, which is reflected in their mission and values.
• Speak in an authentic voice: Sharing true stories helps build a genuine connection with employees and customers.
• Empower employees: Encouraging employees to act according to the company's values fosters a supportive and authentic environment.

Play the Long Game

Sustainability is essential for creating a lasting impact. This involves not only environmental responsibility but also creating sustainable work practices that honor the complexities of employees' lives. Companies like Raytheon and EY demonstrate this by implementing flexible work schedules and fostering diversity and inclusion.

"Playing the long game requires changing the way we think about everything." - Erica Keswin

• Make work practices intentional: Raytheon's 9/80 program allows employees to work nine-hour days and get every other Friday off.
• Diversify and include: EY's commitment to diversity enhances team performance and innovation.
• Enlighten your supply chain: Companies are increasingly transparent about their supply chains, which builds trust with consumers.

The Sweet Spot

Finding the balance between technology and human connection is crucial. Technology should enhance, not replace, human interactions. JetBlue, for example, uses self-serve kiosks for check-ins, freeing up crew members to provide personalized assistance where it's most needed.

"Match the medium to the message. The higher the stakes, the more we should invest." - Erica Keswin

• High-tech for human touch: JetBlue's approach allows crew members to focus on passengers needing personal assistance.
• Digital discipline: Being mindful of how and when to use technology ensures it supports rather than hinders human connections.

Mind Your Meetings

Meetings should be purposeful and respect attendees' time. Keswin suggests strategies to make meetings more effective and engaging, such as having a clear purpose, ensuring presence, and creating protocols. Centro's round-robin check-ins are an example of how to start meetings on a positive note.