Episode 128

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Published on:

5th Aug 2025

Finding More Joy at Work

"Work is greedy. It will spread over your calendar wherever you don’t stop it."

In this episode of Lead with Culture, Kate Volman sits down with Bree Groff, workplace culture expert and author of Today Was Fun, to explore what it really takes to make work more joyful, without relying on happy hours or ping pong tables.

Drawing from her years of experience advising leaders at companies like Microsoft, Google, and Target, Bree breaks down why we’ve been sold the wrong narrative about work, and how to rewrite it for ourselves. From redefining productivity to embracing humanity at the office, this conversation offers a refreshing lens for anyone who’s ever counted down to Friday.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How to rethink “fun” at work (hint: it’s not mini-golf)
  • The simple mindset shift that helps you reclaim Mondays
  • Why thin-slicing your day can help you spot joy in tough roles

Invest in a coach to achieve your dreams: https://www.floydcoaching.com/

Discover how to implement The Dream Manager Program:

https://www.thedreammanager.com/

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(00:28) Can work actually be fun?

(01:56) Why Bree wrote Today Was Fun

(03:11) Reframing the role of work in our lives

(06:08) Fun as a function of value creation

(08:56) What makes work “fun-able”

(13:20) The leader’s role in shaping joy

(17:44) The consulting story that changed everything

(24:14) Generational differences at work

(30:58) The danger of equating work with worth

(34:45) Rethinking remote culture and always-on schedules

(38:11) Leading with humanity

Resources:


Connect with the guest:


Connect with the Host & Floyd Coaching:

Transcript
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About the Podcast

Lead with Culture
A company can only become the best version of itself to the extent that its people are becoming better versions of themselves. What’s the key to making that happen? Building dynamic cultures so people love coming to work and accomplishing great things together.

Hosted by Kate Volman, CEO of Floyd Coaching, Lead with Culture is a show dedicated to exploring how great leaders create workplaces where people can thrive both personally and professionally.

Conversations are inspired by Matthew Kelly's bestselling books The Dream Manager, The Culture Solution, and Off Balance. Guests include incredible leaders as well as Floyd executive coaches sharing stories and providing insights into real strategies used to attract and retain great talent, execute effectively, become better coaches, build teams and grow businesses.

Whether you're a CEO, HR executive, manager, or simply part of a team, this show will help you become a better leader.

About your host

Profile picture for Kate Volman

Kate Volman

Your dreams are yours for a reason. What are you doing about them?

Our vision at Floyd is to make work fun and engaging for as many people as possible, by delivering world-class training and creating cultures that lead to thriving businesses that are profitable, scalable, and sustainable. My team and I show up every day excited to make this happen.

My team and I can help you build a dynamic culture so people love coming to work and accomplishing great things together.
➡️ Coaching. Everyone needs a coach. We have a coach for everyone.
➡️ Training.
➡️ Speaking.

I love my career and the journey it took to get here.
⭐️ I led the sales team, improved company processes, and created programs, workshops, and initiatives to help business owners build better relationships and execute results-driven marketing strategies during my eight years at the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.
⭐️ I initiated content marketing strategies that drove more traffic and increased brand awareness while in my role as Marketing Director for the City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
⭐️ I started a boutique marketing agency and helped business owners leverage digital marketing and video.
⭐️ I founded and facilitate Inspired Action, a goal-setting workshop specifically designed to help women achieve their goals.
⭐️ At Floyd, I lead a team of incredible people dedicated to helping people and organizations become the best version of themselves.

My mission is to help as many people as possible live a more joyful life doing more of what they love.
🎤 Check out my podcast Create for No Reason, a show about making something for the pure joy of it.
https://anchor.fm/createfornoreason

I love to network, collaborate, and help people achieve their dreams. The best way to connect with me is at kvolman@floydconsulting.com