Happier At Work: Leadership, Culture, Performance 248: Behaviour Science in the Workplace with Matt Shenker
How can you identify and meet your employees’ needs and improve wellbeing?
In this enlightening episode of the Happier at Work podcast, I engage in a deep conversation with Matt Shenker, a therapist, behaviour scientist, and innovative leader in workplace transformation. Matt shares his personal journey from struggling with addiction to using behaviour science to revolutionise workplace systems. He delves into how modern workplaces are out of sync with human needs and discusses practical strategies to bridge this gap by focusing on connection, purpose, and a more empowered society.
Matt emphasises the importance of restructuring workplaces to satisfy our core needs for connection and purpose while addressing the gaps in knowledge versus implementation. He explores the six intrinsic human drives and how meeting these needs at work can lead to increased motivation, reduced burnout, and a more fulfilled life. We also covered the critical role of leaders in facilitating environments where individuals can align their personal values with their work, ultimately enhancing well-being and performance.
The main points include:
- The importance of restructuring workplaces to meet the human needs of connection and purpose.
- Understanding the six intrinsic human drives and how they relate to workplace wellbeing.
- The concept of an implementation gap in workplaces, not a knowledge gap.
- The role of leaders in connecting company missions to individual values for greater impact.
- Insights on how AI can organise data to improve workplace systems and processes.
- The significance of recognition in manager-employee relationships to enhance engagement and retention.
Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!
Connect with Matt
Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:
Previous Episodes:
Episode 187: Get Ready for Happier at Work 2024 with Aoife O’Brien
Episode 203: National Workplace Wellbeing Day with Aoife O’Brien
Episode 242: Transforming Mental Health Conversations at Work with Melissa Doman