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Welcome to a brand-new season of Fika Friday at The Office - our biweekly podcast where we sit down with workplace innovators, thinkers, and doers to unpack the evolving landscape of work. Season 2 kicks off with a conversation I’ve been excited to share for a while, with none other than Lisa Gill.
Lisa is a leadership trainer, author, and host of the long-running Leadermorphosis podcast. Her work centers around helping organizations transition toward self-management, radical transparency, and adult-to-adult relationships. She’s been a pioneer in exploring “new ways of working,” and I couldn’t think of a better voice to launch this season.
A Field in Flux: “The Best of Times and the Worst of Times”
Lisa didn’t hesitate to set the stage for where we are today: somewhere between radical change and regressive retreat. Over the past decade, we’ve seen an exciting rise in self-managing teams, flatter hierarchies, and organizations built on trust rather than control. But now, with a wave of return-to-office mandates, some companies are backpedaling.
As Lisa put it, “It’s the best of times and the worst of times in my field.” There’s growing momentum behind progressive workplace model, but at the same time, a surprising number of organizations are reverting to top-down control, ignoring what we've learned during the pandemic.
This contradiction, the push for change versus the pull of familiarity, is something many of us are grappling with right now.
Breaking the Parent-Child Dynamic
One of Lisa’s most powerful insights came in the form of a metaphor: many workplaces still operate on a parent-child model. Leaders act like caretakers, while employees are treated like dependents. That dynamic is deeply ingrained, but entirely counterproductive in today’s world of work.
"It’s very easy to end up in that like, ‘Oh, let’s create lots of lovely, fun experiences to tempt people there, but people smell that, you know. They’re like, ‘I’m an adult."
Instead of trying to coax people back with snacks or ping-pong tables, Lisa argues we should trust them. Adults want autonomy. They want to be part of the decision-making process. And they want to be respected as capable, thoughtful contributors.
Team-Led Decisions: A Smarter Way Forward
Lisa shared a brilliant example from SAP, where teams were empowered to design their own hybrid work patterns through structured workshops. Rather than enforcing rigid attendance policies, SAP handed the reins to employees.
This model is what Lisa calls “team-led decision making,” has been far more effective than executive mandates. Why? Because when people are part of the process, they buy in. As she put it, “Hearing it from colleagues is much more likely for me to be like, you know, that mutual willingness of, ‘Okay, maybe I’m willing to go in for my team.’”
In other words, organic engagement beats imposed compliance every time.
Data > Assumptions
Lisa was also clear on this point: companies need to stop guessing what their employees want and start asking. Whether it’s office attendance, engagement levels, or communication preferences, data, not assumptions, should shape the future of work.
This is where a platform like Mapiq comes in. By giving teams real-time insight into how spaces are used and what people need, we help organizations make smarter decisions based on reality, not wishful thinking.
Smaller Can Be Stronger
Another great moment in our conversation came when Lisa shared her personal preference for small teams and tight-knit environments. “I've always preferred working in smaller teams and offices where you can have relationships with people,” she said.
It’s a simple truth: human connections matter. Whether you're remote, hybrid, or in-person, building trust within teams is foundational.
Leadership is Listening
We closed our chat with a reflection on leadership in today’s world. According to Lisa, modern leaders don’t need to have all the answers. They need to create space for dialogue. Facilitate, don’t dictate.
This resonates deeply with what we believe at Mapiq. The best workplaces aren’t run like machines. They’re living systems that adapt, learn, and grow, driven by the people inside them.
Final Thoughts
This conversation with Lisa Gill was one of the most thought-provoking I’ve had in a while. She brings a clear-eyed view of where we are, where we’re going, and what it takes to truly transform how we work.
The workplace isn’t just a place anymore, it’s a reflection of our values, our leadership, and our ability to adapt. And if there’s one thing Lisa made crystal clear, it’s this: the future of work isn’t something we wait for. It’s something we build, together.
Listen to the full episode now to hear Lisa’s insights, examples, and vision for what’s next. Catch Fika Friday at The Office wherever you get your podcasts!
