Graham Marshall, Head of Organization Development at Shell, joins Kursty to discuss autonomy in the workplace. 

Tune in to learn: 

• How employment can be a force of good in the world (not just financially); 
• The worst thing about working from home during the pandemic;
• Why the demise of the office is completely untrue. 

Graham also describes how they developed leaders as role-models during a big HQ refurbishment and how they used the move to leverage engagement and introduce new behaviours.

Recording took place towards the end of 2020.  Apologies -  the sound quality isn't perfect, but it's full of insights, so well worth a listen!

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Timestamps

[00:30] Episode overview and who is Graham Marshall? 

[02:07] The organizational development philosophy at Shell. 

[03:37] The different types of workspaces at Shell (where do people do their best work?).

[08:22] How does autonomy in the workplace empower staff and make companies thrive?

[11:35] Training leaders to be welcoming hosts: why it matters. 

[17:44] What you had to learn and unlearn about managing the workplace when COVID hit (And what is legacy-free reinvention?). 

[22:57] What is the intimacy paradox? (working from home vs. working AT home)

[28:44] What is the BIGGEST challenge we all face at work because of the pandemic? 

[30:33] Why are the rumours around the demise of the office greatly exaggerated? 

[33:45] How can you shift mindsets about working from home and diversity and inclusion? 

4 Key Highlights 

1. The workspace matters. Space influences how people work. Space has to enable people to do their best work. Different personalities require different spaces and different types of work require different spaces. 
2. Giving people autonomy in how they organize themselves, their time, and their work creates thriving workplaces. Autonomy is inclusivity. 
3. People’s personal circumstances heavily affect their work from home experience. The work from home experience varies from country to country, it also varies by health condition and financial wellbeing. People require different types of care. 
4. The biggest challenge of working from home during the pandemic is the monotony of work. Being around people brings about spontaneity and variety. 

Links 

Connect with Graham Marshall: LinkedIn 

Connect with Kursty Groves: LinkedIn | Twitter

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Spatial Attraction is written, produced, and hosted by Kursty Groves.

Original music and sound production by Lee Golledge.

For episodes and updates, visit https://kurstygroves.com/podcast/ - and follow Spatial Attraction on LinkedIn and Instagram.

To suggest a theme or guest, email [email protected].