Blog post

Shaping the future of the human experience

4
min read

Looking ahead

Almost every facet of our daily lives has evolved over the past year in the face of unprecedented challenges, yet the core drivers of human behavior remain constant. Looking through the lens of loyalty and engagement at this critical juncture, you might wonder: What's next for the human experience? Augeo CEO David Kristal hosted a virtual Fireside Chat to discuss this fascinating topic with other industry experts. Read on to catch up on the conversation.

"I watch the ripples change their size but never leave the stream of warm impermanence." –David Bowie

Putting your people first

David opens with the iconic lyrics above to reinforce his admiration for the resilience of the human spirit during times of great change. From clients and customers to employees, he's passionate about putting people first—one of Augeo's three pillars of engagement. As the world around us continues to shift at a remarkable pace, David believes it is essential to prioritize people and their newfound needs. "You drive the best outcomes when you focus on the individual," he explains, underlining the need to humanize and personalize interactions, transactions and experiences. This is especially true for employees as organizations embrace an evolving future.

Throughout the conversation, this viewpoint is amplified by esteemed guests Erica Keswin and Dan Riley. Erica is a Best-Selling Author and Workplace Strategist whose insight into the value of workplace rituals has fueled lasting impact for high-growth organizations. Dan is the Co-Founder of RADICL, a human resources advisory and technology firm whose authority in the Whole Person Experience inspires enterprises to reimagine people strategies.

Practicing workplace rituals

So where should organizations start when seeking to put people first and elevate their approach to engagement? Erica views workplace rituals as an accessible, cost-effective tool to help businesses bring the focus back to the human experience. "The pandemic shined a light on the importance of rituals," she says. Citing their ability to provide psychological safety through meaningful connection and urging organizations to lead with humility and compassion, Erica highlights three key rituals:

  1. Check in with your people regularly
    It's important to understand where they are, what they need and where they want to be.
  2. Show gratitude and express thanks
    Meaningful acts of recognition are critical to boosting morale during challenging times.
  3. Celebrate both big and small wins
    Celebrating accomplishments motivates people and reinforces sense of purpose.

Sharing meaningful connections

Drawing on his work around the Whole Person Experience, Dan underscores the difference between people who are connected and people who share a connection—the latter being the more desirable outcome of group dynamics. "Profitability is an outcome of connecting with your clients and taking care of your people," he says. "If you want to be profitable, you must start with people and purpose."

In Dan's view, society and work have changed forever, and he notes the need for organizations to take a holistic approach to defining and elevating the employee experience. "While human beings under pressure can do extraordinary things, focus on empathy and humility," he says, a running theme echoed by all three thought leaders throughout the conversation, "and create an environment and culture that attract employees."

Leading with intentionality and inclusivity

The conversation turns to the importance of being intentional, now more than ever. "We can't leave things to chance," says Erica. "We need to be intentional about where, when and how we connect—and which technologies we leverage." Dan agrees, noting it would be a mistake to jump back to pre-pandemic expectations without a well-defined plan in place. To David, intentionality is key for large organizations and should inform our efforts to continuously challenge ourselves. It also means doing what it takes to ensure all people feel connected to the culture and values of their organization, made possible by diversity, equity and inclusion. "We must allow employees to express their authentic selves," says David. "Providing meaningful opportunity for growth and learning is critical."

Taking the next steps

Overall, our panelists are aligned on key considerations for the future of the human experience—which include prioritizing people and purpose, embracing humility and empathy, and leading with intentionality to promote inclusivity. In addition to the three workplace rituals above, consider focusing your employee experience efforts in these four ways:

  1. Embrace empathy
    Take care of your people by prioritizing mental health, wellbeing, stress levels and work-life blend.
  2. Elevate understanding
    Meet each person where they are today by understanding the behaviors that drive your workforce.
  3. Expect change
    Embrace a constant change mentality to help your organization adapt to an ever-evolving world.
  4. Express purpose
    Double-down on communicating your organizational vision, values and purpose to advance culture.

A special thank you to Erica Keswin and Dan Riley for participating in our latest virtual Fireside Chat—as well as all those who attended. We hope you gained some valuable insights that help you on your journey to advancing the human experience for an evolving future.

Workplace Engagement
Engagement
Employee Recognition
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