Work For Humans cover image

Work For Humans

Ashley Goodall: Life in the Blender, Surviving the Chaos of Modern Workplaces

Jul 30, 2024
Ashley Goodall, a leadership expert and former SVP at Cisco, dives into the chaotic world of modern workplaces. He challenges the myth that constant change equals effective leadership, advocating for stability instead. They discuss the psychological toll of layoffs and the human resistance to change, emphasizing the critical role of HR in bridging gaps between leaders and employees. Goodall also critiques outdated performance management practices, arguing for a more meaningful, human-centered approach to improve workplace dynamics.
01:07:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Constant workplace change can lead to cognitive and emotional burdens on employees, fostering feelings of uncertainty and learned helplessness.
  • The cultural norm of relentless disruption is often a misconception, with leaders misunderstanding the original intent of fostering innovation through stability.

Deep dives

Life in the Blender

The concept of 'Life in the Blender' describes the overwhelming state of constant change and disruption that many organizations face today. Changes in strategies, team structures, leadership, and technology occur almost simultaneously, leading to employee fatigue and frustration. This constant upheaval hampers people's ability to perform effectively, as they often feel unprepared for the myriad of transformations they did not request or consent to. Understanding and naming this phenomenon is crucial, as it helps leaders recognize the detrimental effects of incessant change on their workforce.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode