It Starts With You: Promoting Ownership in the Workplace with Ben Brooks

“Enterprise software at work sucks,” I’ve said too many times to count.

Here’s the crux: systems can standardize work, but not people. That’s where the frustration often sets in. Sometimes, it feels like leadership uses enterprise software to control employees rather than empower them. Seem familiar?

Yet, enacting systemic change is epic and overwhelming! “What is little ole’ me going to do about it?”

Instead of throwing our hands up because we don’t have the power to recompose our organizations’ tech stacks, we should remember that Human-Computer interaction is a two-way street. We often bemoan technology without admitting the role we play in our own negative experiences.

In today’s episode of Make Sense, guest Ben Brooks, CEO and Founder of PILOT, and I (1) acknowledge that technology at work can suck, and (2) discuss why it’s important to focus on what we can control.

Ben and I both obsess over solving a BIG problem: Too many people hate their jobs. We don’t want that for you! Life is too short to spend so much time unhappy.

Better Employee Experience Starts with You

Ben shares that we often make assumptions about what our employers, colleagues, and managers expect, without actually having the conversations needed to clarify expectations. This disconnect can lead to a general feeling of resentment towards work itself.

For example, many people assume they need to look “active” on Slack or Microsoft Teams for their managers to perceive they are working. Yet, if they are active on these collaboration tools, they probably aren’t working, or at least, being their most productive selves. A simple conversation with your manager may clear up expectations.

Not everything is out of your control.

Let’s consider another example with the case of mobile apps we use for work. Sure, they can blur the lines between work and personal life. But you choose to have them on your phone, notifications turned on, and those after-hours check-ins.

Now, before you say, “But Lindsay, everything will fall apart without me!” – Have you actually confirmed that with your team? Open communication is key.

Yes, technology can be frustrating. But let’s not make it the scapegoat for all our work woes. There’s more within our control than we might think.

Similar to the conversation with Alex Raymond of The Conscious Entrepreneur, Ben advocates for homesteading in your organization. If everyone took responsibility for their own homestead, the organization would experience a transformation.

In this week’s episode of Make Sense, Ben and I also talk about:

• The importance of company values in shaping organizational culture and decision-making
• Figuring out what technology and humans can each do well for a better employee experience
• How to get creative to drive better outcomes

Reference the full show notes below.

Choice Quote

“It’s figuring out what’s within your locus of control. So many reasons employees are dissatisfied at work are things that they can do something about. You don’t get good feedback? Solicit it. Bored? Advocate for yourself; request different resources! Unsure of priorities? Be proactive, propose them! Feeling isolated?  Start to go meet people. Sure, companies should support us, but ultimately organizations improve when individuals take ownership of their own areas.”

– Ben Brooks, Founder and CEO of PILOT

Quick Bites with Ben Brooks

Here are Ben’s takes from the segment Cynical or Sensible: Decoding the Reality of Technology Decision-Making

• “We must not accept any technology as the default solution for our problems”: Sensible fact (10:00)
• “Under the pretense of solving problems and making people’s lives easier, most of our technological innovations just get people out of the way”: Cynical fiction (11:10)
• “Enhancing one job-friendly metric with technological intervention or replacement just leaves other, likely more important values behind.”: Cynical fiction(12:30)

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction
08:41 Cynical or Sensible: Decoding the Reality of Technology Decision Making
09:59 “We must not accept any technology as the default solution for our problems”
11:10 “Under the pretense of solving problems and making people’s lives easier, most of our technological innovations just get people out of the way”
13:00 “Enhancing one job-friendly metric with technological intervention or replacement just leaves other, likely more important values behind.”
19:50 Deep Dive: Why do people hate their jobs and what does enterprise software have to do with it?
25:25 Economic indicators of productivity have been stagnant, so it can’t be that helpful
36:17 Figuring out what technology and humans can each do well for a better employee experience
44:30 How to have a transformative experience while working in an average company

Where to find Ben Brooks

Ben Brooks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbrooksny/
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbrooksny

PILOT on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/pilot-inc./
PILOT Website: https://pilot.coach/
About PILOT / Values [a.k.a. VITOS]: https://pilot.coach/about 
PILOT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilot.coach/

Where to find Lindsay Tabas

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaytabas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindsayTLadyEngineer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaytladyengineer

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