Building Healthy Workplace Cultures in Challenging Times

To be well at work, especially in stressful and uncertain environments, it is important to understand basic brain concepts and embrace practices that enhance its functioning. Stress, distress, and trauma can trigger a “fight or flight” response, which makes it difficult to think and problem solve. However, brain science offers tools for managing this response.

The first part of this workshop focuses on the importance of embracing brain science awareness at work. We explore the neurobiology of stress, distress and trauma; the arousal continuum; and daily regulation activities to practice at work.

Learning Objectives

• Brain science concepts and strategies to increase resilience in the workplace
• State dependent functioning and the arousal continuum, and their application to daily work
• Practical tools and strategies for increasing regulation
• Strategies for building a brain friendly culture that enhances our optimal functioning at work

Direct service staff face pressure from many different people and are often afraid of making a mistake that might harm those they serve, negatively impact others’ perception of them, or disappoint their supervisors or colleagues.

Prioritizing psychological safety is essential to reduce this worry and allow staff to speak and act freely. It involves creating an environment where staff feel safe to take risks and speak candidly without the fear of retribution. When we foster psychological safety, It leads to authentic conversations, trust, and innovation.

The second part of this workshop explores how to foster psychological safety in the workplace to support courage and vulnerability. It discusses strategies for leaders to respond to staff challenges by modeling authenticity, accountability, and compassion, all which promote safe risk taking and trust.

Learning Objectives

• Components of psychological safety and the critical need to build it at work
• The impact of courage and vulnerability in the workplace
• Leadership strategies for increasing psychological safety in the workplace
• Strategies for having crucial conversations

You’ve heard the adage, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” It’s true. If our organizational culture is unhealthy, we will struggle to get our work done. So, we must intentionally build a positive staff culture that reflects our organization’s stated values and beliefs and aligns with our strategy.

The third part of this workshop explores the ingredients of a positive staff culture and the steps needed to achieve it. Learn strategies for bringing your organizational values into daily interactions, set clear and realistic boundaries and expectations and align culture and strategy to build resilience and success.

Learning Objectives

• Define organizational culture
• How to realize organizational values in daily interactions
• How to promote boundaries and expectations that support the organization’s mission and staff well-being
• Steps for aligning organizational culture and strategy

Now, more than ever, employees are looking for a sense of community at work. Our brains are hardwired for connection, and we crave belonging. When we build healthy connections with people at work, we are more equipped to tolerate differing perspectives, actively listen, demonstrate empathy, and have difficult conversations. In essence, a strong work community can hold an organization together, especially during challenging and uncertain times.

The fourth part of this workshop explores the components of healthy connections in the workplace and strategies for intentionally integrating connection and community across the range of employee experiences.

Learning Objectives

• How connection is critical to feeling calm and regulated
• Strategies for increasing connection in the virtual and hybrid workplace
• Strategies for building community among employees with a range of experiences and preferences for ways to connect