Streams

The Better Workplace Conference 2012 will have three distinct streams of presentations based on emerging organizational health challenges. If there is one stream that interests you, choose to attend all of the presentations in that one stream. Or mix and match. It is up to you.

Transforming Complex Change Stream

Maintaining a high performing workplace culture is challenging at the best of times, let alone when employee demographics are undergoing a major shift. According to the 2006 Canadian census, the first wave of baby boomers is reaching retirement age. With the average age of retirement currently at 61.2 years old, between 15-40% of the workforce is predicted to retire in the next five years. This could lead to dramatic changes in workplace culture. One of the challenges of today’s workplace managers is how to keep pace with complex changes such as the baby boomer demographic reaching retirement. In this stream you will hear about how to maintain a high performing and healthy environment through this shift.

Healthy Minds Stream

Another challenge in today’s workplace is human and organizational resilience. Tony Schwartz of the Energy Project, wrote recently in the Harvard Business Review that the modern world’s expectation of a 24/7 work schedule has a negative impact on our work performance and contributes to mental health issues such as burnout and depression (1). As well, research from the USA has shown a relationship between poor management and lower sleep levels (2). In North America we place a low priority on work-life balance even though research shows that the consequence of this imbalance (lack of sleep for example) has far-reaching negative health effects both for our physical health and, as mentioned above, our mental health. It is becoming obvious that to function productively – both personally and organizationally – we need to change the way we work. You will hear new research and concepts to promote healthy minds, resilience and emotional intelligence within the workplace in this stream.

1) http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2011/07/is-the-life-youre-living-worth.html
2) http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2010-13667-009

The Leadership Toolbox Stream

Challenges in the modern workplace include rapid change and a diverse work force leading to heightened anxiety about changing workplace norms. According to the Harvard Business Review’s Lauren Keller Johnson, forward-thinking leaders are adding new skills to their management toolbox such as rapid adaptation, strategic thinking and emotionally sensitive communication to help deal with these challenges (3). These new skills not only help employees stay well, but also create an environment where employees can excel. This stream will help you as a leader understand and develop the skills necessary to create a high-performance environment in the modern workplace.

3) http://hbr.org/product/helping-employees-cope-with-change-in-an-anxious-e/an/U0812C-PDFENG?N=4294935060&Ntt=change