83: How to future-proof your workplace with Rory Sutherland of Ogilvy & Mather

Welcome to Part 1 of our in-depth exploration into the future of work.
In this episode, we dive into the transformative strategies businesses and professionals can adopt to not just survive but thrive in the ever-evolving work landscape.
Join us as we discuss the implications of flexible work arrangements, the rise of remote work, and how to adapt your office and career for the future.
With insights from industry experts and thought leaders, this series promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to future-proof your work life.
Join us next time for Part 2 of "Future-proofing your Career," where we'll dive deeper into the individual's role in adapting to and capitalising on the changes in the work landscape with the amazing Isobel Berwick, from the FT's Working It podcast.
Until then, keep looking forward and prepare to adapt, evolve, and succeed.
We talk about:
The Future of the Workplace
Rory Sutherland: The Visionary Behind the Vision
Flexible Work: Myth or Future
Redefining Productivity in the Modern Workplace
Crafting the Ideal Office Space
A Deeper Dive: The Essence of Team Dynamics
The Way Forward
Resources:
General Support with Mental Health and Well-being
If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.
Mind website: www.mind.org.uk/information-s...
If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email [e-mail] (Rest of World)
Connect with Al and Leanne
Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: / truthlieswork
Connect with Al on LinkedIn: / thisisalelliott
Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: / meetleanne
Email: [e-mail]
Book a Call with Al & Leanne: oblonghq.com/book/
Chapters:
00:00 Opening Remarks and Podcast Introduction
00:35 The Evolution of 'Truth, Lies, and Work' Podcast
01:47 Diving Into the Future of Work: A Two-Part Series
02:09 Introducing Rory Sutherland: A Glimpse into Ogilvy & Mather
03:15 Exploring the Future Proof Workplace with Rory Sutherland
03:55 Flexible Work: The Future or a Fleeting Trend?
10:27 Rory Sutherland's Take on Reinventing the Workplace
14:36 Ogilvy's Approach to Flexible Work
16:54 Rory's Vision for a Zoom-Based Agency
24:29 The Glamorous Life of an Ad Agency Vice Chairman in the 80s
25:22 The Stark Contrast: Office Life Then and Now
26:26 The Misallocation of Corporate Resources
27:33 The Benefits and Challenges of Flexible Working
31:19 The Productivity Debate: Quality vs. Quantity
34:11 The Importance of Team Dynamics Over Individual Brilliance
37:43 The Misguided Pursuit of Efficiency Through Technology
43:43 Rethinking Retirement: A Gradual Transition
46:08 Engage with Us: Your Thoughts on Work and Productivity

[@SebAnt]

Subscribed because of this interview

[@truthliesandwork]

Amazing! Thank you so much! We do pretty well on audio platforms (about 60,000 downloads a month) but we’ve found that just posting the podcast on KZbin doesn’t seem to resonate the same way. If you were in charge of what videos we created and posted, what would you make us create? What kind of content would interest you? Please be frank - we’re really interested in genuine feedback. 🙂

[@SebAnt]

Though I don’t listen to podcasts normally, I loved this because I’m a fan of Rory and interested in behavioral science. I’m also in HR and an ex-architect, so the future of work topic and hybrid work is of great interest to me.

[@truthliesandwork]

Ahhhh! In that case then one of our favourite podcasts is Nudge by Phill Agnew. It's about behavioural science, but slightly more towards the marketing angle. You might like it, but to find out, watch a few minutes of the episode where he was a guest on our show: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHuaeIaZoa6bgZosi=LfRhcFL5X84n0dQC Also we have a full 2 hours of Rory which we plan to publish very soon. I'll let you know when it's live. If you let me know what other questions you are interested in, I'll try to recommend other episodes that might tickle your pickle! You can email us with any suggestions or feedback anytime on [e-mail].

[@samphelps856]

Thank you

[@truthliesandwork]

What did you like about this? And what did you not like? We are only 80 episodes into our pod and we don’t get feedback via the podcast channels so KZbin is our only way do finding out what listeners like and don’t like. 🙂

[@secret.mission]

Get to the guest, guys.

[@truthliesandwork]

Hey! Thanks for feedback. Genuine question - how much intro do you think is right? If you were our podcast editor where would you have started the video? Ps. We’re always looking for feedback and we genuinely appreciate all feedback even if it’s not always positive. 🙂

[@secret.mission]

@@truthliesandwork Hi again TL&W. I have no reason to believe that your pod won't gain lots of subs and popularity as you grow it, but I'd be willing to bet that even if some people know who Leanne & Al Elliott are, the average YT scroller probably doesn't (I did not, but please forgive me if you or TL&W are well-known in other channels). The reason I stopped by, of course, was to hear from the one known quantity in this equation, Rory Sutherland. So my experience went something like this: excited to hear new stuff from Rory; wait, only 15 seconds and now different people are speaking a lot about themselves and stuff I know nothing about for 5+ minutes; oh nice, finally Rory's back on; wait, he's just on intermittently, and I can't really skip to his bits because the chapters don't make that clear, and are the hosts even interviewing him or are these clips? And if I'm being honest, I'd probably suggest that the video's thumbnail stretches the truth a bit by using "featuring" in reference to Rory Sutherland. To be fair, I may have misunderstood the intent of the podcast, but then again, it's your job to make sure that doesn't happen :) So, overall, I'd have probably dispensed with 5 minute intro, made the chapters' thumbnails Rory's face starting at all the bits where he resumed speaking, and reduced the amount of commentary you made on his insights... because, besides your subs, anyone stopping by was doing so to hear from the man. Best of luck to you!

[@truthliesandwork]

Wow. This is GOLD!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write all this. It’s really really useful. Yes, you’re absolutely right. Nobody stops scrolling to learn more about us (and the embarrassingly low subscriber count on YT reinforces this.) This is actually the video version of the audio podcast that does quite well (number 11 in business charts and about 70k downloads a month). But you’ve made me realise that there is a huge difference between an audio only podcast and a KZbin video. As a way to thank you, if you email me ([e-mail]) I’ll send you the full 2 hour interview (never been published) Our aim was to bring the highlights, which seems to do well as an audio podcast, but maybe not as well as a video on Yt. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to give this feedback. I bet there are many more who would have just pressed ‘back’ and we’ll never see them again. ❤️

[@truthliesandwork]

By the way, anyone else who’s reading this and wants to roast us, we’re very, very open to all feedback (even if it’s bad!)