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
Mar 14, 2025 • 25min
Job Sharing 101
Job sharing could soon be back in vogue as some businesses and governments push for return to office policies. What are the pros and cons of job sharing and could it be the answer to work life balance? Guests:Rosalind Dixon, Professor of Law at the School of Global & Public Law, UNSW Mariebelle Malo, job sharing consultant Angela Dally and Kath Slack, job sharing lawyers for a large corporate retailer
Mar 7, 2025 • 25min
Are we giving kids the wrong career advice?
In helping young people prepare for a life of work, asking them what they want to do for a job, or what they’re good at may limit their options. Learn a different way of thinking about careers that focuses on challenges, rather than job titles. Learn a different way of thinking about careers that focuses on challenges, rather than job titles. Guests:JP Michel, organisational psychologist and author, The World Needs You: A New Mindset for Career ExplorationKate McBeath, who works with career advisors in schools in Australia and New Zealand
Feb 28, 2025 • 25min
Learn to adapt
Most of us are faced with managing multiple changes in our work lives, sometimes all at once. Learn how to anticipate, accept and grow with change, and be the "pilot" of your own career. Guest: Andrea Clarke, futurist and author of Adapt
Feb 21, 2025 • 25min
Succession planning: build it into your DNA
The CEO is retiring, your team leader is moving interstate, your key IT architect has been poached by a competitor. How do you keep an organisation running smoothly without people who can step up into key roles? The answer lies in careful succession planning. Here's how it works.The answer lies in careful succession planning. Here's how it works.Guests:Donald (DJ) Schepker, Associate Professor, Research Director at Centre for Executive Succession, Darla Moore School of Business, University of Southern Carolina Melissa MacGowan, Strategic People and Culture leader, executive coach
17 snips
Feb 14, 2025 • 26min
How to nail a job interview
Join career coach Dave Wolovsky, a neuroscience expert, and Melbourne-based career counsellor Annique Teycheney as they share their secrets to acing job interviews. They tackle common pitfalls like sweaty palms and talking too much, offering amusing anecdotes and insightful strategies for effective preparation. Learn about the importance of self-awareness, personal branding, and how AI can enhance your interview readiness. Plus, discover practical techniques to manage anxiety and ensure your responses are clear and impactful.
Feb 7, 2025 • 25min
Does DEI need a reset?
In this thought-provoking discussion, Michelle Lim, an expert in organizational culture and DEI ethics, and Lily Zheng, a workplace strategist and author, tackle the rising skepticism towards DEI initiatives. They explore the delicate landscape of diversity and inclusion in Australia, emphasizing the need for cultural literacy and effective communication. The duo introduces the FAIR framework to reframe DEI as a vital component of business success, not just a moral obligation, urging companies to create equitable environments for all.
Jan 31, 2025 • 25min
Tuning into signals at work
In this discussion, Ben Hamer, Chief Futurist at Thinkertank and a pro at spotting future trends, dives into the nuances of weak signals shaping the workplace. He highlights how shifts in DEI efforts can be influenced by subtle indicators and societal reactions. Hamer also explores the generational changes in work management, with younger employees favoring purpose over traditional roles. Furthermore, he shares practical advice for cultivating productive habits to improve work-life balance, making the future of work both promising and challenging.
Jan 24, 2025 • 25min
Want to do things differently this year?
Dr. BJ Fogg, behavior scientist and creator of the Tiny Habits method, shares insights on how to effectively implement changes at work. He discusses the psychological discomfort of transitioning back to work and highlights the importance of setting achievable goals that align with personal values. The podcast introduces practical strategies for building lasting habits through the Tiny Habits Method, focusing on small actions that lead to significant changes. Listeners learn about the emotional aspects of habit formation and how to cultivate a fulfilling work life.
Jan 19, 2025 • 25min
Feeling meh? How to get your work mojo back
Jennifer Moss, a workplace culture strategist and award-winning journalist, dives into the epidemic of workplace disengagement. She discusses the rise of 'quiet quitting' and 'rage applying', revealing how many feel disconnected and uninspired. Moss critiques toxic productivity and stresses the importance of purpose and social connections for job satisfaction. She also emphasizes the need for empathy in workplace relationships and offers practical strategies to regain motivation and achieve a better work-life balance.
14 snips
Jan 19, 2025 • 25min
How to be a friction fixer
Robert Sutton, a Professor at Stanford Business School and co-author of The Friction Project, dives into the nuances of workplace friction. He explains that not all friction is negative and shares strategies for becoming a 'friction fixer.' Sutton discusses practical methods like 'sludge audits' to enhance efficiency in tech and the significance of clear communication to eliminate jargon. Personal stories from Hamish Thompson, Kate McCallum, and Yashika Nayyar reveal real-life applications of these concepts in tackling friction.
