Description

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with Dr. Bobbi Wegner, the CEO of Groops, an innovative platform designed to build deeper connections within teams. Bobbi is also a respected author and lecturer of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Harvard University.

They dive into the complexities of human connection in the workplace, particularly in the post-COVID landscape. With over two years of specialized focus on helping organizations foster cohesion and teamwork, Bobbi shares her insights into the importance of building and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships at work. The conversation explores the challenges of remote work, the evolving dynamics of leadership, and how organizations can adapt to meet the changing needs of their teams.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Human Connection in the Workplace: Bobbi discusses the impact of COVID-19 on workplace relationships and the increasing sense of disconnection many employees feel today. She highlights the importance of fostering strong interpersonal relationships for better quality of life and enhanced work outcomes.
• Balancing Remote Work with Connection: The duality of the benefits and drawbacks of remote work is explored, with Bobbi providing her thoughts on how organizations can maintain connection and cohesion even when teams are not physically together.
• The Role of Leadership and Power Dynamics: A deep dive into the differences between leadership and power within organizations, and how these concepts interact and evolve as structures become more fluid and less hierarchical.
• The Groops Approach: Bobbi shares how Groops is helping teams and leaders build deeper connections and why this work needs to be done over time rather than through one-off engagements.
• Organizational Structures: Craig and Bobbi discuss how different organizational structures impact team dynamics and the importance of aligning structure with both business and cultural objectives.

Books and Resources Mentioned:

• Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini
• Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin
• Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
• The Social Brain by Robin Dunbar

Relevant Links:

Groops - Official Website

Connect with Dr. Bobbi Wegner on LinkedIn

Culture Conversations Host:

Craig Forman is an organizational psychologist and founder of CultureC Consulting, dedicated to helping companies create better workplace cultures through strategic employee listening and engagement programs.

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn or Email: Craig@culturecraig.com