This Working Life
ABC listen
You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.
Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.
Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 23, 2023 • 25min
Marcus Buckingham on how to find the love in what you do
There's the age old saying, do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life. But how easy is it to find what you love? What energies you, what fulfils you? Acclaimed author and researcher Marcus Buckingham helps us bring love into the workplace and helps us find love in what we do every day, no matter our job.
Jul 16, 2023 • 25min
Micro stress: How small stuff piles up - and how to find the antidote
Micro stressors - they’re just a normal part of the day, right? From when you wake up and check your messages, listen to the news, wrangle your kids, jostle your way to work, and then deal with that colleague…you’re stressed without anything major actually happening.Rob Cross says the people who maintain and prioritise their social connections, often through shared activities, are way less affected by these micro stressors.
Jul 9, 2023 • 25min
Meet the First Nations entrepreneurs transforming business
This week we meet some of the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs who are influencing the way we think about business and community. Drawing on the strength and resilience of their elders, these business leaders show us what makes First Nations businesses stand out and what helps them thrive.
Jul 2, 2023 • 25min
Morra Aarons-Mele on how to reclaim power over your anxiety at work
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions, but in the workplace, we don’t tend to talk openly about them. Based on her own journey, entrepreneur, podcaster and author, Morra Aarons-Mele Morra learnt that through understanding her anxiety and others’ mental health, it made her a better leader. Through empathy, vulnerability and kindness she also challenges traditional understandings of what success and leadership looks like.
Jun 25, 2023 • 25min
Seth Godin on how not to be a cog in the machine
In Seth’s latest book, The Song of Significance he gives us insight into what real leadership looks like and how it can transform the way we work.
Jun 16, 2023 • 29min
Why good people do bad things
“It just seems some of the lessons about ethical behaviour don’t appear to have really sunk in” - Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent, reflecting on the recent PwC scandal.Often when we think about ethics in business and work we focus on the wrongdoer - the bad apple. But it’s also those surrounding them that are at fault. Those who are complicit.Turns out we can all be complicit, sometimes without even realising. So how can we avoid it?
Jun 9, 2023 • 25min
“It transforms work and life outside of work.” The growth of the 4 day work week
If you could work four days instead of five, for the same pay, would you? Organisations and businesses around the world are tentatively saying 'yes' and trialling the four-day work week. Recently, Bunnings announced it will trial a version of the four-day week for tens of thousands of its full-time employees. It’s a first for the retail industry and will be watched with interest.And just last month the results of the latest 4 Day Week Global pilot were published.Starting in August last year, 26 organisations across Australia and New Zealand trialled the four-day week for six months. So how did they go and what can we learn from it?
Jun 2, 2023 • 25min
Getting Unstuck - How to have a breakthrough
What happens when we feel stuck in our job or career, and how can we get unstuck?From overcoming fear to discovering what really makes us tick, we discover the best techniques to get unstuck and have a breakthrough.We hear personal stories, famous anecdotes and practical tips to help you navigate being stuck in your work.
May 26, 2023 • 25min
Don’t want to go back to the office every day? You’re not alone. Here’s why.
On average, workers are in the office half the time. But some leaders say that’s not enough. But why?Should leaders really be worried about office culture dying, and teams suffering?We explore what’s behind these calls, what time in the office is good for, and what experts have found is more important than time in the office that leaders should really pay attention to.
May 19, 2023 • 25min
“Had I done this in my last job, I don’t know that I would have left it.” Say hello to the magic of Job Crafting
Do you feel frustrated at work? Maybe you feel like you're not playing to your strengths, or not being valued. Well, before you chuck it all in: have you heard of Job Crafting?Since this foundational work started over 20 years ago, it’s come into its own with the rise of hyper-personalisation of work through the pandemic.So how can we craft our jobs? Surprisingly, it’s much easier than you think.And managers - there’s something in the research for you too. And it even shocked Amy…Guest: Dr Amy Wrzesniewski - Michael H. Jordan Professor of Management at Yale University’s School of Management
