Ep. 390: "Critical Connections" – How Leaders Can Harness the Power of Community in the Workplace with Dr. Tracy Brower of Steelcase

Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW is a sociologist studying community, happiness, and the future of work and life. She is VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase and a Senior Contributor for Forbes and Fast Company. Mike Petrusky asks Tracy about her brand new book, "Critical Connections: Build Relationships and Harness the Power of Community in Work and Life", in which she delivers inspiration and pragmatic new insights on community and connection. They discuss how organizations can help to foster connections among employees, which can lead to higher levels of well-being and performance. Research shows that 50% of people globally are lonely with record levels of depression and anxiety, so Tracy believes the workplace can provide a sense of stability and identity for the workforce. Proximity and presence can increase performance and knowledge sharing among employees, and leaders should be intentional about creating cultures that support connections and community, so Mike and Tracy share some inspiration that will encourage you to be a Workplace Innovator in your organization! Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn: Order Tracy's new book "Critical Connections": Learn more about Steelcase: Watch the podcast on YouTube: Discover free resources and explore past interviews at: Learn more about Eptura™: Connect with Mike on LinkedIn:

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Ep. 390: "Critical Connections" – How Leaders Can Harness the Power of Community in the Workplace with Dr. Tracy Brower of Steelcase is an episode from Workplace Innovator Podcast | Enhancing Your Employee Experience | Facility Management | CRE | Digital Workplace Technology by Mike Petrusky.

This episode is 27:07 long.

This episode was published on Feb 24, 2026.

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