Better Together: A Transformative Journey in Workplace Improvement

Symposium Story Arc

The Future of People at Work Symposium takes participants on a purposeful journey from connection to commitment, allowing you to experience the power of collaborative improvement firsthand. Rather than simply discussing theories, we'll demonstrate practical approaches to creating better workplaces through immersive experiences, application, and meaningful relationship building.

Day 0: Arrival & Connection

Participants begin their journey with an opportunity to connect early with other participants at an informal gathering spot, creating an easy on-ramp to the symposium experience. This informal setting allows early connections to form naturally, setting the stage for deeper collaboration.

Day 1: Exploration & Discovery

Morning: Setting the Context

We begin by acknowledging both the challenges and successes each participant brings, creating immediate connections through shared experiences.
The symposium's purpose and historical context are established, framing the "Better Together" theme that will guide our work.
Through a facilitated fishbowl experience, we'll hear multiple perspectives on current workplace challenges and opportunities, establishing a shared understanding of our starting point.

Mid-day: Immersive Workplace Tour

Gary Peterson introduces OC Tanner as a living example of workplace improvement in action.
Participants embark on a structured tour in small groups, experiencing eight distinct stations showcasing different approaches to creating better work environments.
You'll learn from OC Tanner employees about challenges they've faced, solutions they've implemented, and their unique approaches to improvement.
Throughout the tour, participants will have opportunities for reflection and discussion, building a collective understanding of what makes workplaces better.
The tour incorporates lunch seamlessly, allowing conversations to continue organically.

Afternoon: Applying Improvement Principles

Participants collaborate in teams to explore potential improvements at OC Tanner based on what they've observed, applying diverse perspectives and approaches.
This hands-on experience demonstrates the potential value of combining different viewpoints when approaching workplace challenges.
The day concludes with an ideation exercise, encouraging participants to think beyond conventional boundaries about what might be possible in their own contexts.

Evening: Community Building

A reception provides space for relationships to deepen as participants reflect on the day's experiences and begin forming lasting connections.

Day 2: Application & Commitment

Morning: Focusing Insights

The day begins with reflection on key learnings and relationships formed, reinforcing both the content insights and the valuable connections made with fellow participants.
Two focused learning sessions explore critical dimensions of the future of work: the impact of technology and the importance of human-centered approaches.
These sessions build upon Day 1's experiences, adding depth to participants' understanding of how to create better workplaces across various contexts.

Afternoon: Moving to Action

Using Open Space and structured reflection methods, participants self-organize around areas of shared interest, including both established working groups from previous events and new topics that emerge.
Groups develop action plans with specific mechanisms for implementation—including goals, timelines, communication channels, and follow-up meetings—making the symposium's impact extend far beyond the event itself.
This self-directed approach honors participants' agency while providing enough structure to ensure tangible outcomes that lead to real workplace improvements.

Closing: Commitment to Change

The symposium concludes with personal commitments to specific actions, focusing on areas where participants have freedom to act immediately.
These commitments, along with established follow-up mechanisms and scheduled future connections, create accountability and momentum, transforming learning into lasting change.

The Transformative Journey

This carefully structured arc transforms participants from curious attendees to committed change agents, moving through phases of:

Connection - Building relationships and establishing trust
Exploration - Experiencing improvement approaches in action at OC Tanner
Application - Practicing collaborative improvement in real contexts
Commitment - Establishing specific actions and mechanisms to extend the impact

Throughout this journey, participants don't just learn about working "Better Together" - they experience it directly, developing the relationships, insights, and practical skills needed to implement effective approaches in their own environments.

The Symposium in the FPW Movement

The symposium represents a cornerstone event in the Future of People at Work movement. While monthly community gatherings and ongoing working groups form the continuous foundation of our efforts, this annual symposium serves as a catalyst for deeper connection, accelerated learning, and committed action.

This symposium embodies the FPW movement's core principles:

You are part of the Future of People at Work
We're better together as people collaborating across boundaries
Our purpose is to solve problems, improve workplaces, and make work better for everyone
This is the most collaborative gathering of academics, practitioners, and learners in the improvement community
We're building a movement, not just hosting an event

The symposium design follows our commitment to continuous improvement (PDCA), building on what we learned from our first gathering in Detroit (July 2024) and creating the foundation for future evolution.

Day 1 positions you as the observer and expert, examining specific, real-world challenges at OC Tanner. Day 2 elevates your role to thought leader, joining a unique think tank that is creating the movement for the future of people at work.

The symposium design balances structure with emergence, providing clear direction while allowing space for discovery and co-creation. Each element builds on previous experiences, creating momentum toward meaningful, lasting change in how we approach improvement across industries and roles.