Conforming to Mediocrity
Work FORCE
Navigating Fear Within Corporate Hierarchies
This chapter examines the fear permeating corporate structures, where employees feel compelled to meet their superiors' expectations. It discusses the obstacles to psychological safety and communication in performance-driven environments, while highlighting the need for effective leadership to foster a supportive workplace culture.
Dive into the world of workplace dynamics with Dr. Grace Lordan in this eye-opening episode of Work FORCE. Grace and her guests dissect the subtle yet pervasive culture of mediocrity and conformity in the corporate landscape. With insights from behavioural scientist Teresa Almeida and distinguished guests Dr. Margaret Heffernan, Manfred Kets de Vries and Petra Velzeboer, we unravel the psychological underpinnings that push employees toward average performance and the profound impact this has on innovation and organisational success. Tune in to discover strategies for breaking the mould and fostering a culture of excellence.
Listen, learn, and let's transform the workplace together. Subscribe, rate, and review Work FORCE on your favourite podcast platform and join Dr. Grace Lordan in dismantling the "bullstuff" that holds us back. Visit www.gracelordan.com for more insights and to share your thoughts on future topics. Produced by Decimal Creatives, this is Work FORCE – where we work smarter, not harder, for a workplace that works for all.
Work FORCE is a podcast hosted by Dr Grace Lordan (www.gracelordan.com), author of Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want and professor at the London School of Economics. You can buy Think Big Here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Big-Small-Steps-Future/dp/0241420164/kacey123-21
Work FORCE unravels the behavioural science behind things that happen in the workplace that impact your success and wellbeing, blending academic evidence with real life experiences.
Follow Grace on X or Instagram @profgracelordan; on LinkedIn drgracelordan
Joining the Work FORCE discussion are:
Manfred Kets de Vries
Manfred is the co-founder of KDVI. Bringing to bear his knowledge and experience of economics, management, and psychoanalysis, he scrutinises the interface between international management, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and dynamic psychiatry. He is Professor of Leadership Development and Organisational Change at INSEAD and was the Founding Director of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre. The Financial Times, Le Capital, Wirtschaftswoche, and The Economist have judged Manfred as one of the world’s leading thinkers on leadership. Manfred is a global consultant in executive leadership development to leading US, European, African and Asian companies. As an educator and consultant, he has worked in more than forty countries. Manfred is the author, co-author or editor of more than 50 books and has published over 400 scientific papers. He is a regular writer for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Business Week, The Economist, Financial Times and International Herald Tribune.
For more information head to www.kdvi.com
Dr. Margaret Heffernan
Dr. Margaret Heffernan spent 13 years creating BBC programs before venturing to the US, where she led multimedia endeavours for Intuit, The Learning Company, and Standard&Poors. She held executive roles at InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation, and iCast Corporation, earning recognition as one of Streaming Media magazine's "Top 25" and The Hollywood Reporter's "Top 100 Media Executives." With six authored books, her work, including "Willful Blindness," hailed by the Financial Times as a pivotal business text, has garnered acclaim. Her TED talks, reaching over fifteen million viewers, and publications like "Uncharted: Hope to Navigate The Future" have solidified her as a thought leader. Margaret serves as a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, guiding the Forward Institute's Responsible Leadership Programme and mentoring CEOs worldwide. Notable for her contributions, she chairs DACS and has advised influential inquiries. In 2023, Margaret was honoured in the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame for her impactful ideas and prolific broadcasting on BBC Radio 4.
For more information head to: https://www.mheffernan.com/index.php
Petra Velzeboer
Petra Velzeboer is a renowned mental health expert, TedX speaker, author, and CEO of mental health consultancy PVL. Her passion for creating psychologically safe spaces can be traced back to her unique background, having been raised in a notorious cult and struggling to find her place in the world. A series of life-altering events led her to pursue a career as a psychotherapist so that she could help others. After working in various companies with toxic work environments, she has made it her life’s mission to reinvent the world of work and completely shift the current system, ushering in the future of work.
For more information head to: https://www.petravelzeboer.com/
For additional bonus content from all of this episode’s guest conversations visit the Work FORCE YouTube channel: @ProfGraceLordan
Dr Grace Lordan is the Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative. Find out more about The Inclusion Initiative on @LSE_TII or visit https://www.lse.ac.uk/tii
Dr Grace Lordan is leader of www.diversirtyandproductivity.com
Work FORCE is produced by Decibelle Creative: @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com
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