This Working Life

Tim Duggan, an author focused on workplace well-being, joins Dr. Stacey Parker, an organizational psychology specialist, and Carly Hopgood, an engineer and work-life coach. They challenge the traditional idea of work-life balance, advocating for 'life-work balance' that emphasizes personal fulfillment. The discussion highlights how our work shapes leisure time and the importance of dedicating personal time for mental health. They also share effective strategies for overcoming burnout, stressing that vacations alone aren't enough for true recovery.

Karina Calder, an expert in leadership development, Dr. Stacey Ashley, a leadership coach and author, and Professor Greg Harper, a business dean, dive into the challenges first-time managers face without formal training. They discuss the importance of foundational management skills, self-awareness, and interpersonal effectiveness. The trio emphasizes creating supportive cultures for continuous learning, the necessity of peer coaching, and the pivotal role of feedback loops to enhance leadership development. Essential skills like practical experience and social learning are also key topics.

Melanie Perkins, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk all have one thing in common. They’ve leveraged the entrepreneur mindset to achieve success in business. Whether you work for yourself or within a larger organisation, what can you borrow from high achievers that’s relevant to your career? Guests:Rachael Neumann, co-founder, Flying Fox Ventures Alex Newman, Professor of Management and Associate Dean (Faculty), Melbourne Business School Eleni Dracakis, business psychologist 

Ashley Goodall, a leadership expert and co-author of "Nine Lies About Work," challenges the notion that disruption is inherently beneficial. He argues that constant change can harm employee satisfaction and performance, advocating for prioritizing genuine improvement over superficial transformations. Goodall emphasizes the need for stability and team cohesion to enhance innovation. He also redefines HR's role, advocating for it to evolve into a supportive force that enhances employee well-being amidst uncertainty.

We know that putting up slides with lots of text, and talking about them at the same time, is not a very engaging way to get your point across in a presentation or training session. So why is it still happening? And how can we all tell better stories at work?

Awareness of psychosocial safety is growing and we know how destructive bullying can be. Yet incidents continue to occur, with performance management and generational differences creating flashpoints.Despite decades of research and tighter regulations, many organisations struggle to prevent workplace bullying. We find out why, and learn about a prevention program that is making a difference. 

What if instead of adding tasks to your long to do list, you considered what you could take away? Professor Leidy Klotz has a theory that can help and he’ll teach you how to start subtracting at work. And Dom Price gives a coaching session that will help you stop, reflect and figure out what to let go of. 

You have staff who are neurodivergent, and you want to help them do their best work. What do you need to understand, and what supports should you put in place, to make that happen? We visit a neurodiverse workplace to find out, and hear from a specialist recruiter who supports neurodivergent employees in large corporate firms.

Have you ever been in a room with a leader who has you hanging on every word, and leaves you feeling inspired? Some would say that person has  ‘executive presence’.  But what do they have really?  And are the qualities that make employees willing to really listen to and follow a leader, changing?

Finding it hard to get your brain into gear? You might feel your mind wandering a bit, daydreaming of being somewhere else.To help you get you back on track, one of the world’s top experts on attention, Dr Gloria Mark from the University of California Irvine, explains how our attention spans have declined and what we can do about it. And Sydney University Associate Professor Paul Ginns provides a simple hack to keep you focused through your work day. This episode was first broadcast on Jan 28, 2024.