Brian Elliott
@elliottsf.com
Advisor, speaker and writer on people, tech and future of work. Co-founded Future Forum, ex-Slack, Google and many others. Dad, dog walker and slow runner. Often wrong.
Giving someone a meditation app to help with burnout is like treating a third-degree burn with a bandaid.
What works? Learn to recognize the signs, clear priorities, and opportunities to grow -- not just taking breaks.
👉 sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-...
Image credit @omarwhatworks.bsky.social
What works? Learn to recognize the signs, clear priorities, and opportunities to grow -- not just taking breaks.
👉 sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-...
Image credit @omarwhatworks.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Giving someone a meditation app to help with burnout is like treating a third-degree burn with a bandaid.
What works? Learn to recognize the signs, clear priorities, and opportunities to grow -- not just taking breaks.
👉 sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-...
Image credit @omarwhatworks.bsky.social
What works? Learn to recognize the signs, clear priorities, and opportunities to grow -- not just taking breaks.
👉 sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-...
Image credit @omarwhatworks.bsky.social
Just a reminder of how hard Trump had to work to mess up this economy.
September 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Just a reminder of how hard Trump had to work to mess up this economy.
Stack ranking and removing the bottom XX% is back in vogue, esp in Big Tech.
As a reminder, here's the org chart that resulted in at Microsoft in the 2000's: internal competition.
Research on why it backfires long term, and alternative paths:
theworkforward.substack.com/p/stop-ranki...
As a reminder, here's the org chart that resulted in at Microsoft in the 2000's: internal competition.
Research on why it backfires long term, and alternative paths:
theworkforward.substack.com/p/stop-ranki...
July 31, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Stack ranking and removing the bottom XX% is back in vogue, esp in Big Tech.
As a reminder, here's the org chart that resulted in at Microsoft in the 2000's: internal competition.
Research on why it backfires long term, and alternative paths:
theworkforward.substack.com/p/stop-ranki...
As a reminder, here's the org chart that resulted in at Microsoft in the 2000's: internal competition.
Research on why it backfires long term, and alternative paths:
theworkforward.substack.com/p/stop-ranki...
Those perceptions of productivity gains might not be real: recent research found developers estimated they were 20% more productive using AI tools, when they were actually 19% slower.
July 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Those perceptions of productivity gains might not be real: recent research found developers estimated they were 20% more productive using AI tools, when they were actually 19% slower.
Five major studies on AI adoption recently dropped. The findings are insightful & alarming.
The employees getting the biggest productivity gains are also 2X more likely to quit, with 88% higher burnout rates.
Even scarier? Heavy AI users say they'd rather chat with ChatGPT than their colleagues.
The employees getting the biggest productivity gains are also 2X more likely to quit, with 88% higher burnout rates.
Even scarier? Heavy AI users say they'd rather chat with ChatGPT than their colleagues.
July 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Five major studies on AI adoption recently dropped. The findings are insightful & alarming.
The employees getting the biggest productivity gains are also 2X more likely to quit, with 88% higher burnout rates.
Even scarier? Heavy AI users say they'd rather chat with ChatGPT than their colleagues.
The employees getting the biggest productivity gains are also 2X more likely to quit, with 88% higher burnout rates.
Even scarier? Heavy AI users say they'd rather chat with ChatGPT than their colleagues.
“He thought he was the King of America…
Now he’s a brilliant mistake.”
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Now he’s a brilliant mistake.”
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
June 18, 2025 at 5:56 AM
“He thought he was the King of America…
Now he’s a brilliant mistake.”
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Now he’s a brilliant mistake.”
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Poulsbo WA, pop 12k, organizers expected a few hundred and had several thousand folks show up.
June 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Poulsbo WA, pop 12k, organizers expected a few hundred and had several thousand folks show up.
That’s one heck of a map. Over 2,000 locations. Hope you will join me out there Saturday.
www.nokings.org
www.nokings.org
June 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
That’s one heck of a map. Over 2,000 locations. Hope you will join me out there Saturday.
www.nokings.org
www.nokings.org
Every org I work with these days has a big "director slump", especially in tech.
Overloaded, no time to put hands on craft, all the responsibility & no authority.
Bosses make decisions, send the memo so you can pass it to your already burned-out team.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/techs-lead...
Overloaded, no time to put hands on craft, all the responsibility & no authority.
Bosses make decisions, send the memo so you can pass it to your already burned-out team.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/techs-lead...
June 6, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Every org I work with these days has a big "director slump", especially in tech.
Overloaded, no time to put hands on craft, all the responsibility & no authority.
Bosses make decisions, send the memo so you can pass it to your already burned-out team.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/techs-lead...
Overloaded, no time to put hands on craft, all the responsibility & no authority.
Bosses make decisions, send the memo so you can pass it to your already burned-out team.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/techs-lead...
Good way to remember your mortality: set up a Google alert on your name.
May 22, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Good way to remember your mortality: set up a Google alert on your name.
Fortune 500 CEOs might be cranking up return-to-office demands, but employees aren't obeying.
Policies aren't reality, commands don't breed compliance.
New data from the Flex Index by Work Forward digs into workplace flexibility policies in over 8,500 US-based companies: www.flexindex.com/stats
Policies aren't reality, commands don't breed compliance.
New data from the Flex Index by Work Forward digs into workplace flexibility policies in over 8,500 US-based companies: www.flexindex.com/stats
May 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Fortune 500 CEOs might be cranking up return-to-office demands, but employees aren't obeying.
Policies aren't reality, commands don't breed compliance.
New data from the Flex Index by Work Forward digs into workplace flexibility policies in over 8,500 US-based companies: www.flexindex.com/stats
Policies aren't reality, commands don't breed compliance.
New data from the Flex Index by Work Forward digs into workplace flexibility policies in over 8,500 US-based companies: www.flexindex.com/stats
Having watched 3 SNL skits last night about Newark, I’ll take a delay to relieve congestion over something worse.
Still a pain getting this when I’m in the car 5 minutes from the airport.
Still a pain getting this when I’m in the car 5 minutes from the airport.
May 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Having watched 3 SNL skits last night about Newark, I’ll take a delay to relieve congestion over something worse.
Still a pain getting this when I’m in the car 5 minutes from the airport.
Still a pain getting this when I’m in the car 5 minutes from the airport.
Need a mood booster? Go see @theymightbegiants.bsky.social
Two days later and I’m still walking around singing “Birdhouse in your soul”
Two days later and I’m still walking around singing “Birdhouse in your soul”
May 13, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Need a mood booster? Go see @theymightbegiants.bsky.social
Two days later and I’m still walking around singing “Birdhouse in your soul”
Two days later and I’m still walking around singing “Birdhouse in your soul”
Congrats to all my friends and family in Chicago
May 9, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Congrats to all my friends and family in Chicago
Me, still wanting smart, insightful, and diverse leaders on event panels.
May 1, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Me, still wanting smart, insightful, and diverse leaders on event panels.
The Dow headed back to “Liberation Day” low point.
“No way to run a country…” still applies:
open.substack.com/pub/theworkf...
“No way to run a country…” still applies:
open.substack.com/pub/theworkf...
April 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Dow headed back to “Liberation Day” low point.
“No way to run a country…” still applies:
open.substack.com/pub/theworkf...
“No way to run a country…” still applies:
open.substack.com/pub/theworkf...
How massive will the disruption of jobs by generative AI be? I don't know.
There will be displacement. Pretending that there will be no impact or that we can map it all is misleading.
The bigger question? Will firms re-skill workers or "rip and replace", losing know-how, engagement & trust.
There will be displacement. Pretending that there will be no impact or that we can map it all is misleading.
The bigger question? Will firms re-skill workers or "rip and replace", losing know-how, engagement & trust.
April 15, 2025 at 4:03 PM
How massive will the disruption of jobs by generative AI be? I don't know.
There will be displacement. Pretending that there will be no impact or that we can map it all is misleading.
The bigger question? Will firms re-skill workers or "rip and replace", losing know-how, engagement & trust.
There will be displacement. Pretending that there will be no impact or that we can map it all is misleading.
The bigger question? Will firms re-skill workers or "rip and replace", losing know-how, engagement & trust.
Happy, motivated employees create great customer experiences, driving shareholder value
Today, leaders are falling back on short term thinking: cut heads, command-and-control.
Debbie Lovich has the alternative: radical employee-centricity.
Full chat: theworkforward.substack.com/p/joy-in-thi...
Today, leaders are falling back on short term thinking: cut heads, command-and-control.
Debbie Lovich has the alternative: radical employee-centricity.
Full chat: theworkforward.substack.com/p/joy-in-thi...
April 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Happy, motivated employees create great customer experiences, driving shareholder value
Today, leaders are falling back on short term thinking: cut heads, command-and-control.
Debbie Lovich has the alternative: radical employee-centricity.
Full chat: theworkforward.substack.com/p/joy-in-thi...
Today, leaders are falling back on short term thinking: cut heads, command-and-control.
Debbie Lovich has the alternative: radical employee-centricity.
Full chat: theworkforward.substack.com/p/joy-in-thi...
It's 2001, and I've laid off more people than I ever hired.
It's 2013, I'm being laid off.
It's 1990, I'm afraid I'll be laid off.
It's 2008, I'm making sure we avoid layoffs.
It's 2023, my friends in tech are being laid off.
It's 2025, I'm financially stable, and still worried...
It's 2013, I'm being laid off.
It's 1990, I'm afraid I'll be laid off.
It's 2008, I'm making sure we avoid layoffs.
It's 2023, my friends in tech are being laid off.
It's 2025, I'm financially stable, and still worried...
April 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
It's 2001, and I've laid off more people than I ever hired.
It's 2013, I'm being laid off.
It's 1990, I'm afraid I'll be laid off.
It's 2008, I'm making sure we avoid layoffs.
It's 2023, my friends in tech are being laid off.
It's 2025, I'm financially stable, and still worried...
It's 2013, I'm being laid off.
It's 1990, I'm afraid I'll be laid off.
It's 2008, I'm making sure we avoid layoffs.
It's 2023, my friends in tech are being laid off.
It's 2025, I'm financially stable, and still worried...
"This one size fits all RTO mandate makes no sense."
That's HBS Professor Raj Choudhury talking about the importance of teams coming together -- but that the solution has to fit your talent strategy and the needs of the team. Not just a CEO's preference.
Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPj...
That's HBS Professor Raj Choudhury talking about the importance of teams coming together -- but that the solution has to fit your talent strategy and the needs of the team. Not just a CEO's preference.
Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPj...
April 2, 2025 at 9:14 PM
"This one size fits all RTO mandate makes no sense."
That's HBS Professor Raj Choudhury talking about the importance of teams coming together -- but that the solution has to fit your talent strategy and the needs of the team. Not just a CEO's preference.
Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPj...
That's HBS Professor Raj Choudhury talking about the importance of teams coming together -- but that the solution has to fit your talent strategy and the needs of the team. Not just a CEO's preference.
Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPj...
Nobody "likes" the IRS. But slashing $20b in spend and half the workforce will result in a $45b net loss.
7 former IRS commissioners: this "shifts the burden from tax evaders to honest taxpayers." The current tax gap from underpayment? $700B annually.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/no-way-to-...
7 former IRS commissioners: this "shifts the burden from tax evaders to honest taxpayers." The current tax gap from underpayment? $700B annually.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/no-way-to-...
March 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Nobody "likes" the IRS. But slashing $20b in spend and half the workforce will result in a $45b net loss.
7 former IRS commissioners: this "shifts the burden from tax evaders to honest taxpayers." The current tax gap from underpayment? $700B annually.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/no-way-to-...
7 former IRS commissioners: this "shifts the burden from tax evaders to honest taxpayers." The current tax gap from underpayment? $700B annually.
theworkforward.substack.com/p/no-way-to-...
Luckily the stain didn't distract too much. Here's a sketch from an attendee...
March 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Luckily the stain didn't distract too much. Here's a sketch from an attendee...
About to go on stage and spill half a cup of coffee down my shirt.
Good morning all….
Good morning all….
March 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
About to go on stage and spill half a cup of coffee down my shirt.
Good morning all….
Good morning all….
Corrected it for you, Senior Administration Official.
You're only off by a factor of 9X. Federal workers are actually in the office more than the private sector -- many of them because the job requires it.
@axios.com you need to fact-check these folks...
You're only off by a factor of 9X. Federal workers are actually in the office more than the private sector -- many of them because the job requires it.
@axios.com you need to fact-check these folks...
January 29, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Corrected it for you, Senior Administration Official.
You're only off by a factor of 9X. Federal workers are actually in the office more than the private sector -- many of them because the job requires it.
@axios.com you need to fact-check these folks...
You're only off by a factor of 9X. Federal workers are actually in the office more than the private sector -- many of them because the job requires it.
@axios.com you need to fact-check these folks...
Related, office vacancy rates and office mortgage delinquencies hit an all-time high at the end of '24.
Still wondering if Big Bank return-to-office demands are related to real estate? Wonder no more...
/4
Still wondering if Big Bank return-to-office demands are related to real estate? Wonder no more...
/4
January 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Related, office vacancy rates and office mortgage delinquencies hit an all-time high at the end of '24.
Still wondering if Big Bank return-to-office demands are related to real estate? Wonder no more...
/4
Still wondering if Big Bank return-to-office demands are related to real estate? Wonder no more...
/4