Sally Thornton

The Future of Work requires new frameworks in how we work and live, and this talk will go beyond how to adapt, but to actually thrive in the future work. Sally draws on the science behind work (both behavioral science and neuroscience) to tease out what will always be true so we can focus on what is, and will remain, important. She also reveals the shifts that are happening in work so we can more easily identify the disruptions and reduce the friction in work dynamics. Finally, Sally shares insights and strategies on the multi-generational workforce, the inclusion and belonging required in diverse work cultures, and how to manage the collaborative overwork that currently exists so we can do our best work.

Learn what behavioral science and neuroscience shows and the steps you can take to achieve a blended “full” life of meaningful work, connections with loved ones, sleep/exercise, and ongoing learning that keeps you inspired. We make tradeoffs on how we spend our time and energy every week, and suddenly (it may feel) a year goes by. How we make decisions of where to spend our time and energy is literally making decisions of what is our life. Rather than feeling zero-sum, this talk reveals what’s possible by applying the latest neuroscience and behavioral science. Using data-driven insights, this talk is grounded in practical strategies for having the impact that matters to you on terms that work for your full life.

The science is clear that collaborative working relationships with diverse teams propel innovative, impactful work where all employees thrive and drive the bottom line. Sally will share the scientific research on the variety of unconscious bias based on both neuroscience and social science, practical strategies for how to mitigate bias, and stories of her experience working with big companies like Airbnb to small startups in optimizing teams to do their best work.

The word “Millennial” can create a reaction in each of us that is quite different, and is often based on more media impressions than science. In this talk (or workshop if desired), Sally separates the fiction from the science on generational differences, as well as human-centered truths that bind all generations. Mostly importantly, once we know the science, how do we apply it with smart strategies, language, and tactics that work to build more effective teams?

1) How Teams + You Do Your Best Work The “Future of Work” is already here, and requires fluid ways of working across multiple teams, inside and outside of organizations.

Sally draws on the science of work (both behavioral science and neuroscience) to tease out what will remain true and important on how you do your best work on a team including:

• Science of how to regulate our stress in uncertain times
• Actions to energize yourself + your team members without burnout
• Science-based tips on how to reduce the friction of fast-moving teams
• Practical insights on building towards a meritocracy (and understanding our blind spots in inclusion & diversity)
• How to leverage the positive dynamics of a multi-generational workforce

2) The Science of Building + Unleashing Your Team

• Building high-performing teams
• The science & practical insights on how to hire for the skills + cultural add with inclusion and diversity
• How to leverage the multi-generational workforce
• Unleashing your team o How to energize yourself + your team members without burnout
• Harnessing the power of fluid, constantly changing teams (and reduce the friction)
• Building towards meritocracy: strategies + practical insights from science