Reading the Air: Using Self-Awareness to Make the Workplace Work for You | Michelle King

Why is work so difficult for so many of us? Why are we not connected to the organization in ways to help us advance our careers and garner the best assignments?

Dr. Michelle P. King is a researcher and author who answers these questions and more. She joined us to discuss strategies from her book, “How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself.” 

Michelle is a globally recognized expert on inequality and organizational culture. Based on over a decade’s worth of research, She believes that we need to learn how workplaces work, so we can make them work for everyone. 

She is the host of a popular podcast called The Fix. “How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself,” is her second book and will be released internationally on October 10, 2023.

Most importantly, in this episode, we talk about the importance of self-awareness, learning how to read the air, and the creation of informal networks to positively influence your career. We also discuss ways to find a sense of belonging and inclusion that can lead to greater satisfaction at work and a better career. 

And in our grooving session, we emphasize how increasing your self-awareness can be beneficial to you at any time during your career. During our music discussion, we cover the importance of Leonard Cohen’s mastery of lyrics as a poet and the wealth of great music that comes from the jazz tradition. 

(8:39) Career advancement and informal networking in the workplace. 

(11:19) Informal networks at work and their impact on job placement. 

(17:37) Workplace dynamics and collaboration. 

(24:18) Self-awareness and informal communication in the workplace. 

(27:17) Self-awareness, ambiguity, and workplace performance. 

(33:22) Workplace communication and social skills. 

(36:42) Workplace belonging, diversity, and inclusion. 

(42:22) Workplace meaning and career advancement. 

(47:17) Setting sails for life and work.

(51:58) Reading the air in workplace communication. 

(1:00:40) The potential consequences of asking for things. 

(1:01:56) Emotional intelligence in the workplace. 

© 2023 Behavioral Grooves

Leonard Cohen “Bird on A Wire”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGvwvxA83Cs 

Oscar Peterson (1976) improvisational piano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBP3Il85bYA