Work Then Place: Redefining How (and Where) Work Happens

On What’s Your Work Fit?, Dan Smolen, Mark Gilbreath, and Fran Saele are joined by workplace strategists and authors Sara Escobar and Corinne Murray to unpack their influential book, WORK Then PLACE: Navigating Modern Work & Where It Happens. At a time when organizations are wrestling with return-to-office mandates, AI disruption, and shifting employee expectations, this conversation challenges a deeply ingrained assumption: Should we design the workplace first—or the work itself? Sara and Corinne argue convincingly that work must come first—and that everything else, including place, should follow. Key Themes & Insights 1. Work Then Place—Not the Other Way Around Many organizations still default to designing offices first and forcing work into them. The authors advocate for a flipped model: Define the what and why of work Understand how work actually happens Then design places (physical, digital, experiential) to support it “If you build it, they will come” no longer applies in modern work. 2. The “Place-First” Trap and Return-to-Office (RTO) Tension Companies are reverting to rigid office mandates driven largely by fear: Financial pressure Leadership uncertainty AI anxiety This has created a “we built it, now you must come” dynamic. The hosts and guests explore whether this is a temporary pendulum swing or a lasting shift. 3. AI as the Next Great Disruptor of Work Unlike the pandemic (which changed where work happened), AI is transforming what work is. Key implications: Compression of tasks → increased cognitive load Potential rise in burnout despite “efficiency gains” Redefinition of roles toward strategy, storytelling, and human connection AI may not eliminate work—but it will reshape it profoundly. 4. Human Skills Become the Differentiator As automation expands, uniquely human capabilities gain value: Socialization and connection Cross-functional storytelling Nonlinear thinking Rather than diminishing, human interaction may become more critical in AI-enabled workplaces. 5. Behavior Change Is the Hardest Challenge Organizations struggle not from lack of knowledge—but from resistance to change. Leaders often default to familiar models that made them successful. The book provides a repeatable framework to guide better decision-making at scale. 6. Employee Experience = Operational Advantage Workplace experience has long been dismissed as “nice to have” or “cultural confetti.” Escobar and Murray reframe it as: A core operational driver Directly tied to productivity, engagement, and business outcomes Better work design = better organizational performance. The Big Idea We’ve never truly designed work—only where it happens.This episode challenges leaders to rethink everything: Work is not a place Work is a system And it must be designed intentionally Memorable Moments “Place is the low-hanging fruit—but not the starting point.” “Return-to-office is being driven by fear—not necessarily what works best.” “AI isn’t just changing work—it’s compressing it.” “Socialization may be our greatest human superpower in an AI-driven world.” Who Should Listen Business leaders navigating hybrid and return-to-office strategies HR and workplace experience professionals Anyone concerned about AI’s impact on jobs and teams Professionals seeking better alignment between work, life, and purpose Learn More Follow What’s Your Work Fit? on LinkedIn and YouTube Explore the What’s Your Work Fit? Substack for deeper insights and episode extensions Follow our guests Sara Escobar and Corinne Murray Follow our Executive Producer and Host Dan Smolen Follow our Co-Hosts LiquidSpace CEO Mark Gilbreath and MorteVita Managing Principal Fran Saele Pick up a copy of WORK Then PLACE: Navigating Modern Work & Where It Happens. Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, share it with five colleagues or friends who are rethinking their own work fit.