Adam Smiley Poswolsky

In the wake of the pandemic, the vast majority of employees prefer hybrid work and say they would leave a job that doesn’t offer a hybrid policy. However, too much of the conversation on hybrid focuses on what days employees are working in the office and what days they are working from home. Workplace belonging expert Smiley Poswolsky believes that the more important question is why; why are people coming together in the first place? Smiley Argues that hybrid isn’t where we work, it’s how we connect in the future of work. All too often employees are being dragged into the office at 8 am on a Monday morning, only to find that the rest of their team (and their manager!) Decided to work from home. Or, they come into the office and find everyone on their team on Zoom calls all day long, with noise-canceling headphones on, leaving them to wonder, “Why did I just sit in traffic for 45 minutes?!” — Learn 5 ways to build a high-performing hybrid workplace. — Understand how to foster higher levels of psychological safety for hybrid teams, and how to build trust in a hybrid environment. — A concrete example of how one company’s hybrid policy was used to create more human connection and belonging among their employees. — Simple actions to make hybrid meetings more inclusive, enjoyable, and effective.

In a lonely, nonstop, overwhelmed workplace; as time spent face-to-face has been replaced with wall-to-wall Zoom meetings, 24/7 Slack messages, and the rapid rise of AI and chatgpt; workplace connection has withered. 43% employees don’t feel a sense of connection to their coworkers, 38% don’t trust their coworkers, and 22% don’t even have one friend at work. 70% of employees are disengaged from their jobs—with disengagement at a record high. Lonely employees are less productive and cost U.S. Employers $4000 per employee and $406 billion a year. Meanwhile, high levels of belonging can save a company $52 million a year and provide employees with greater resilience, well-being, personal and professional growth. — Learn 5 ways to increase workplace belonging and lead The Great Reconnection. — Understand the definition of psychological safety and how to foster higher levels of psychological safety on your team, including a simple exercise to try at your next team meeting. — The key to avoiding proximity bias and making the workplace work for all teams, whether in-person, hybrid, or remote. — Actionable (and no-cost!) Team habits and rituals to best support your teams with the challenges of burnout, disconnection, low morale, and overwhelm.

As the war for talent grows more competitive and the labor market tightens, five generations are meeting together in an ever-evolving hybrid workplace for the first time in history. To move past intergenerational tension and common misunderstandings, leaders must empower talent across generations by creating a culture of trust and belonging for all. In this timely, entertaining, and highly actionable presentation, workplace belonging expert Smiley Poswolsky will help you attract, retain, and engage the talent of the future by leading with purpose, flexibility, well-being, and human connection. — Learn 5 keys to engaging the multigenerational workforce. — Understand what Gen-Z wants in the workplace, common stereotypes about next-gen talent, and the similarities between what Gen-Z, Millennials, Gen-X, and Baby Boomers want in the workplace. — A simple exercise any leader or manager can use to foster collaboration and trust across generations. — Insights on the future of work, recruitment and retention strategies that appeal to both Gen-Z and Gen-X, tools to engage hybrid teams, create a culture of learning and personal growth, and prioritize wellbeing and mental health in the era of burnout.

In this timely, interactive, and highly actionable presentation, Smiley makes the case that the future of work is human connection. In the wake of the pandemic, 70% of employees feel disconnected from their coworkers, and workforce disengagement is at a record high. Employee disconnection leads to lower productivity and lower rates of retention. Meanwhile, creating high levels of workplace belonging is good for your people and good for your business. Employees who experience high levels of belonging at work have greater resilience, well-being, personal and professional growth. They experience a 56% increase in job performance and 170% increase in employer promotor score, and better-connected employees save large organizations up to $52 million a year. — Learn 5 ways to increase human connection at work. — Understand the definition of psychological safety and how to foster higher levels of psychological safety on your team, including a simple exercise to try at your next team meeting. — How to make employee onboarding and training more effective and engaging for new employees. — A concrete example of how one company built higher levels of human connection among their employees.

Loneliness pervades society today, with half of Americans feeling isolated and disconnected, especially in the workplace where team cohesion falters. Yet, research underscores the profound impact of workplace friendships on engagement. Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky, in his recent book "Friendship in the Age of Loneliness," advocates prioritizing friendships as a solution to modern pressures. He offers strategies for leaders to foster connections, boost team performance, and enhance well-being. Through practical habits and playful exercises, Smiley emphasizes the importance of nurturing relationships both within and beyond work. Attendees will gain insights into creating a culture of connection, fostering psychological safety, and deepening meaningful bonds, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.