Five human needs
Energy, autonomy, belonging, purpose, and clarity. The conditions that shape whether work feels sustainable or heavier than it should.
Kindle pre-order opens soon
Make work actually work.
The Functional Workplace, a new book by John Kline
Walls came down, and it was called culture. Attendance was mandated, and it was called collaboration. This book gives leaders a diagnosis instead of another fix: a way to see the workplace as a living system and change the conditions that wear people down.
Kindle
edition
edition
Systems over symptoms
You cannot fix a systemic problem with a surface solution.
Burnout. Disengagement. Empty desks. Meeting overload. They are visible, but they rarely begin where they appear. The book gives leaders a way to see the conditions producing the behavior before reaching for another policy, perk, or floor plan.
01
The visibility trapPresence gets mistaken for productivity.
02
The amenity trapComfort gets mistaken for commitment.
03
The policy trapRules get mistaken for behavior change.
Inside the book
The workplace is a living system, not a container.
The Functional Workplace connects what people need with what leaders can change. It gives you a clear lens, a practical system, and a repeatable way to act.
Seven workplace elements
Intent, choice, movement, connection, focus, environment, and adaptability. The parts leaders can align around the work.
One operating rhythm
Align. Analyze. Activate. A simple practice for seeing what is happening, making one useful move, and learning before scaling.
Written for: executives · HR · corporate real estate · design teams · workplace strategists · anyone shaping how people work
Start before the book arrives
One friction point. One tool. One small move.
The free 9-page Field Guide Starter Edition turns the book's systems lens into something you can use Monday morning.
Start with a 45-minute quick start, the Five Needs Check, a printable worksheet, and a worked example. One practical companion to the book. No purchase required.
Get your Starter Edition
Enter your email for the free 9-page companion guide. Confirm your email to open your copy. You'll also receive book news and launch updates.
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