Is joy too much to ask of work? Viral trends like the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting have made it seem like work and life are at odds. Having studied the sociology of work for over two decades, Dr. Tracy Brower believes employees can find agency and happiness in the workplace – especially when employers create the right conditions.

Dr. Tracy Brower is an author, award-winning speaker, and Ph.D. sociologist with over 25 years of experience studying work and fulfillment. She is the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work. Her work has been translated into 16 languages and is featured in Forbes, Fast Company, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune.com, among others.

In this episode, Dart and Tracy discuss:
- The importance of agency in the workplace
- Common myths about work and organizations
- Valuing all types of work, and recognizing unique contributions
- Creating intentional relationships at work
- How employees can find purpose in their work
- Creating the right growth opportunities for employees
- The challenges of middle management
- Employees as a Market of One
- Assertive agency vs. aggressive agency in competitive markets
- And other topics…

Dr. Tracy Brower is an author, award-winning speaker, and Ph.D. sociologist dedicated to studying work-life fulfillment and happiness. She is the Vice President of Workplace Insights and has over 25 years of experience helping global clients reach their business goals. She is also the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work.

Tracy holds a Ph.D. in sociology, a Master of Management in Organizational Culture, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a workplace specialization. Her work has been translated into 16 languages and featured in Forbes, Fast Company, TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune.com, among others.

Resources Mentioned:
The Secrets to Happiness at Work, by Tracy Brower: https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Happiness-Work-Purpose-Fulfillment/dp/1728230896
“Middle Managers Have It Bad,” by Tracy Brower: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2023/03/26/middle-managers-have-it-bad-5-things-they-need-most/?sh=1d577c89617d
Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947

Connect with Tracy:
www.TracyBrower.com
Steelcase.com: https://www.steelcase.com/research/articles/topics/wellbeing/happiness-work-lessons-home/
Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/?sh=7ea5a9c35185 

Work with Dart:
Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.