In this episode, host Bob Fox talks with Caitlin Begg, sociologist and founder of Authentic Social, about how technology and human connection need to be integrated and how smart workplace design can optimize both.
We explore socio-technical design, how communication norms impact hybrid work, how AI is reshaping behavior, why casual “water cooler” conversations still matter, and how leaders can create more human-centric, high-performing environments. Caitlin shares actionable ideas to reset norms, encourage deeper collaboration, and rethink how we use technology without losing our humanity.
Main Takeaways
Socio-technical Design: Successful workplaces must jointly optimize technology and human behavior.
Communication Norms Matter: Balancing asynchronous (email, Slack) and synchronous (meetings, calls) interactions is critical for productivity and innovation.
Micro-Conversations Are Vital: Casual, unscheduled interactions (“watercooler moments”) drive better decision-making and team cohesion.
Notification Culture Is Toxic: Constant pings diminish collaboration and creativity; setting new norms is essential.
AI Must Be Human-Centric: Organizations should treat AI as a tool to enhance human skills, not replace them.
Analog Experiences Matter: Building habits like “no phones in the morning” can boost focus, creativity, and well-being.
Leadership Modeling: Executives must model the behaviors they want to see — like using collaborative spaces and respecting deep work time.
Slow, Iterative Innovation: Real innovation requires time, experimentation, and human connection — not just rapid output.
Meet Caitlin Begg
Caitlin Begg is a sociologist, researcher, and founder of Authentic Social, an applied research lab based in New York City and Amsterdam. Her work focuses on designing a socio-technical future by optimizing the balance between human connection and technology, with a focus on workplace communication, AI, and digital culture. A frequent speaker across Europe and the U.S., Caitlin also hosts the Progression to Analog podcast, exploring how we stay human in an increasingly digital world. Stay ahead of the seismic shifts redefining the office!
Key Moments
01:39 Analog vs. Digital: How Work Has Changed
03:00 Meet Caitlin Begg: Sociology Meets Technology
04:30 Are We Over-Relying on Tech?
05:50 Hybrid Work & the Communication Gap
07:20 Socio-Technical Design: The 4 Core Principles
09:15 Fixing Communication with Data + Norms
11:00 Asynchronous vs. Synchronous: What’s the Right Mix?
13:00 Watercooler 2.0: Why Micro-Conversations Matter
15:00 Headphones, Smartphones, and Workplace Disconnection
17:00 Setting New Workplace Communication Norms
19:30 The Hidden Cost of Notification Culture
21:00 Managing AI: Bring Your Own or Standardized Use?
23:00 How to Train Teams on Everyday AI
25:00 Prompt Engineering Is the New Literacy
27:00 Progression to Analog: Reclaiming Focus
29:00 The Power of Starting Your Day Analog
30:45 Designing Spaces for Connection and Innovation
33:00 Modeling Behavior: What Leaders Must Do
35:00 Future Outlook: Designing for Human + Tech
37:20 Why Sociotechnical Strategy Drives Business Success
39:00 Start Small: Tips for Personal Change
41:00 Redefining Work, Connection & Innovation
43:00 Slowness, Friction, and the Value of Iteration
45:00 Final Thoughts: The Case for Human-Centric Work
Credits:
- Created & Directed By Bob Fox
- Produced By Work Design Studios
