Have you ever felt like you are working in a complex, yet primitive place?

You are not alone. Drew Jones is a cultural anthropologist and workplace strategy consultant who studies workplaces through the lens of anthropology.

In this episode we explore the overlap between business and cultural anthropology and the importance of understanding and influencing organizational culture.

Drew emphasizes the need for creating conditions for culture to develop organically, and provides examples of companies with successful organic cultures.

In the latest episode of the People Impact podcast, Lisa Dempsey explores with Drew Jones the primitive yet complex space of the modern day workplace.

⚒️The Power of Intentionality and Autonomy

Jones emphasizes the importance of intentionality across an organization, highlighting how empowering individuals to manage their own energy and output can lead to greater effectiveness. He stresses the need for intentionality from the top down to the shop floor, with everyone taking responsibility for their own actions.

⚒️ Balancing Autonomy and Community

Addressing the challenge of balancing conflicting human needs for autonomy and community, Jones points out that giving employees choice over when and where they work is crucial. He advocates for a commitment to start with choice and build workplaces and teams around peer-to-peer self-organization and radical accountability.

⚒️ Encouraging Innovation and Experimentation

Jones suggests implementing an innovation program that allows employees to dedicate time to coming up with new ideas for internal processes, products, or services. He believes that providing time for innovation teams to use their creative brains can lead to valuable contributions to the business. This approach also aligns with the idea of fostering autonomy and experimentation in the workplace.

⚒️ The Importance of Choice and Collaboration

By fostering a culture that values choice, collaboration, and experimentation, leaders can create environments where employees can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the organization. There is genuine value and potential for employees to flourish when given the opportunity to contribute to the organization in meaningful ways.

For more insights on empowering organizational culture through intentionality and autonomy, be sure to tune in to the People Impact podcast and explore Drew Jones's work in workplace design and cultural anthropology.

More about Drew Jones:

Website ⁠⁠https://www.drewjones.co

LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjonesphd/

Order “The “Open Culture Handbook ⁠⁠https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/leadership-and-management/the-open-culture-handbook/

More about People Impact:

Lisa Dempsey – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakdempsey/⁠ - ⁠https://www.leadershiplabs.eu⁠

And a new Co-host TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Reach us at ⁠PeopleImpactPodcast@gmail.com⁠