Leaning Into Yes: Creating Vibrant Workplaces

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Andrea Kehoe, Director of Operations Administration at Kettering University, shares how she's led efforts to transform the university's workplace culture following what their president called a "cultural meh" after the pandemic. Through cross-collaborative working groups, employee surveys, and responsive action, Kettering has revitalized their campus community by implementing simple yet effective strategies that prioritize employee satisfaction.

• Asking employees directly what would improve their work satisfaction resulted in actionable feedback
• Implementing tangible changes like fresh office paint showed employees they were truly being heard
• Creating more campus events helped rebuild relationships and community connections post-pandemic
• Finding "champions" for new initiatives ensures ideas have the necessary support to succeed
• Leaning into a "yes first" approach encourages innovation and engagement across campus
• Investing in internal mobility helps retain institutional knowledge and creates career growth opportunities
• Positive workplace culture directly impacts student experience and satisfaction
• Small, consistent improvements lead to significant cultural transformation over time

If you're interested in learning more about creating a positive workplace culture, check out the Optimizing Workplace Engagement course that both Michael and Tessa teach at Harvard's Professional Development Program.

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And don't forget to check out our previous episodes for more tips and strategies to boost your workplace happiness. You can find them on your favorite podcast platform or on our website.

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Stay inspired, stay motivated, and stay happy at work!