237. Is hybrid the worst of all worlds? With Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell, authors of The New Workplace"
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell, authors of "The New Workplace" and experts who've spent years studying remote, hybrid, and in-office work arrangements.
Episode Summary
What if hybrid working isn't the best of both worlds, but actually the worst? Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell have mapped nine different work personas - from "officers" who never want to leave the office, to "avatars" who live entirely online, to "integrators" trying to bridge both worlds. Their research reveals that 65% of workers are now aligned with their company's workplace strategy, but that still leaves 35% struggling with misalignment that affects engagement, commitment, and ultimately performance.
This conversation explores what happens when work personas collide, why hybrid can create more conflict than clarity, and how leaders can move their teams from misaligned to at least half-aligned without losing their best people. You'll hear heartbreaking stories of young workers describing themselves as "soulless husks" when forced to work remotely, and female executives who prefer office work for unexpected reasons.
What We Cover
The Nine Work Personas
How people fall into categories like "officers," "avatars," and "integrators" based on their workplace preferences
Why Hybrid Creates Conflict
How hybrid workplaces can become battlegrounds between opposing preferences, with officers and avatars both wanting companies to go fully their way
The Alignment Problem
Why 65% alignment isn't enough and what happens to the misaligned 35% who stay in jobs that don't suit them
Task-Location Fit
Moving from "dress for your day" to "locate for your day" based on what tasks you need to accomplish
Who Decides the Strategy
Whether leaders should set workplace policies or listen to what teams actually want
Personas Change Over Time
How life stages, from early career to parenthood to late career, can shift your workplace preferences
Recruitment Reality
Why honest job previews about work arrangements are crucial for avoiding misalignment from day one
The Future of Work
Predictions for 2050 and why hybrid might win by default
Resources
The New Workplace book website: https://thenewworkplacebook.com/
Connect with Ina Purvanova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-purvanova/
Connect with Alanah Mitchell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanah-mitchell/
Mental Health Support
The episode discusses some difficult workplace experiences, including feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health:
UK:
Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/
Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/
US:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/
NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/
International:
Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide)
International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory)
Connect with Your Hosts
Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
Email:
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YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork
Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork
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