Sessions

Call it the paradox of the connected workforce: If it is easier than ever to connect with our colleagues, customers and collaborators, then why do we still find it so challenging to actually work together and get things done? Many of us spend the majority of our working hours in meetings, on the phone or responding to emails, yet if we crunch the numbers, we often have little return to show for that substantial time investment. That’s because collaboration is inefficient and culture is hard to get right. Data shows that in many organizations, the most helpful employees are suffering from collaborative overload, and so-called “star performers” often do little to help their colleagues. At the same time, despite leadership’s best efforts to be mission-driven and values-focused, developing a strong workplace culture is still more of a mystery than an established practice supported by analysis and insights. “Collaboration” and “culture” are big buzzwords for a reason—when done right, they can make work more productive and more meaningful.