EP. 41 Why Work Should Feel More Human

In this episode of Thinking CAAP, Beck Moore welcomes Bree Groff back to the podcast for a conversation about work, joy, humanity, leadership, and what it means to create organizations where people can feel more like themselves. Bree, author of Today Was Fun, shares the core idea behind her book: work does not have to be something we simply endure. Instead, work can be understood as something that creates value for others and for the world, with joy and humanity built into the way we lead, communicate, and show up together. Beck and Bree discuss one of Bree's favorite team exercises: the user manual. By answering simple questions about how people work, what they value, how they process stress, and how they prefer to be supported, teams can build trust, reduce assumptions, and create stronger working relationships. The conversation also explores how leaders can adapt their communication, understand different support styles, and make work feel more human without forcing people to disclose more than they are comfortable sharing. The episode also digs into fun, vulnerability, gratitude, and the small moments that can shift workplace culture. Bree encourages leaders to be "10 to 20% more human" than they think is safe, while Beck reflects on how CAAP's team has built a culture of care through thoughtful gestures, humor, and showing up for each other during difficult moments. From pajama meetings and turkey suits to micro-confessions and gratitude messages, this conversation is a reminder that workplace culture is not only shaped by policies and surveys. It is also shaped by the small, repeated moments where people feel seen, cared for, and allowed to be human. Discover more about Bree Groff:Website: https://www.breegroff.com/home Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bree_groff/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bree-groff/ Discover more about the Thinking CAAP podcast: https://www.thecaap.org/the-thinkingcaap-podcast-blog