Chris White shares tips on how leaders can help employees shine with TED.com

July 29, 2021


Center for Positive Organizations (CPO) faculty associate Chris White writes about “3 ways to create a work culture that brings out the best in people” on TED.com.

White suggests that by unblocking communication, becoming responsive, and aiming higher, leaders can harness all of the energy and creativity that employees have to offer.

“Leaders must proactively work to unblock the organization. They need to ask questions, invite input and foster creative conflict,” White writes. “And in that fragile moment when people have the courage to challenge us, we need to embrace them for it and be responsive. Because it’s not enough just to hear people out — words without action breed cynicism and leave seeds for future walkouts and checkouts.”

White is an Adjunct Faculty member in Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan. He is a former director of the Center for Positive Organizations.