In episode 345, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Lisa Mitchell-Kastner, Head of People & Culture and Chief Human Resources Officer at ISS Americas. They discuss her career journey from operations to human resources (HR), and she shares her perspectives on current workplace trends. They look at the evolving talent landscape, where employees expect flexible working arrangements and want to align with organizational values. Mitchell-Kastner explains how she promotes the power of storytelling and the development of a strong employee value proposition to attract and retain talent. The discussion also includes practical advice on how to deliver workplace technologies that match the frictionless and intuitive experiences people enjoy outside the office.
Agenda
- Evolution of the workplace and new expectations for employee experience
- Trends of talent attraction, workplace culture, and technology integration
- Advice for creating a better workplace experience and fostering innovation
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: Adapt to the unique needs and preferences of a diverse workforce and integrate technology to enhance both efficiency and human interaction
The transformation of the workplace has led to a shift in how employees think about their work environment. They’re more focused on flexibility and personalized experiences.
Companies must adapt their workplace strategies to align with the individual aspirations of their employees, making it crucial to tell a compelling story about the organization’s culture and purpose, Mitchell-Kastner explains.
Part of the process is recognizing the importance of merging different workplace cultures, especially for a company like ISS, which operates within the facility management space.
“… oftentimes for our employees it means they are working in two cultures. They are working with an ISS, but then they may go to work every day and sit in an environment that is a client or a partner of ours, and so you’re looking to merge the cultures in a way that fits the individual’s aspirations as well,” she said.
Connecting cultures is also important for creating a cohesive and inclusive work environment that fits a multigenerational workforce because employees now bring expectations of seamless and frictionless experiences into the workplace.
“If I can order DoorDash or Uber Eats on my personal device, do I have that same ability in the workplace when I bring my computer from home? We all love the flexibility of working wherever and whenever?”
Takeaway 2: Build a strong organizational culture by fostering open communication and aligning with a shared purpose
Corporate values play a key role in shaping culture.
“… there’re values that really govern and drive the experiences that happen in the workplace. So, a corporate value or set of values can really drive people to identify with the ways of work, and those ways of work become the habit and the culture that’s in the company,” Mitchell-Kastner explains.
Aligning employees around a shared purpose is crucial for creating a meaningful workplace experience, and a key ingredient is physical space.
“The purpose of the building, sometimes buildings have multiple functions, but they are there to drive a purpose and a result, and people can get aligned around that mission, and that purpose, and all of that creates the culture, the ways of work,” she says.
Takeaway 3: Embrace employees’ collective genius to shape the future of work and the workplace
Collaboration and a collective contribution of ideas will shape the future of work.
“My advice would be to bring all your ideas and suggestions. I think this new future of work and new workplace of the future will require all our great ideas coming together because we all come to work, we all want great workplaces,” says Mitchell-Kastner.
“It’s fun to do the impossible. It really is fun to get in and make the impossible happen, whether it’s in a person’s life, whether it’s in a workplace environment, whether it’s a challenge that was caused by an external force. It’s fun to prove to yourself and others you can do the impossible,” she explains, quoting Walt Disney.
Workplace management insights
- Storytelling and a strong employee value proposition are important in attracting and retaining talent.
- The integration of technology, especially artificial intelligence and smart devices, is essential for meeting the high expectations of employees for ease and efficiency in the workplace.
- Creating a culture of psychological safety and inclusivity helps foster a positive workplace environment.
- Technology can enable a seamless and efficient workplace experience, allowing employees to focus on human-centric tasks and interactions.
Do a deep dive into more workplace insights by exploring all Workplace Innovator podcast episodes.
