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
Jun 21, 2024 • 25min
Your new team member is an AI and they’re coming to your meeting
Delve into the world of artificial intelligence in meetings, its impact on efficiency and communication. Explore the benefits and risks of AI integration, privacy concerns, and the importance of human interaction for fostering trust within organizations.
Jun 14, 2024 • 25min
Uncertainty at work stressing you out? Here’s how to deal with it
Job cuts have been announced, a restructure is imminent, you've got a new boss, AI is about to change your job. These events are all part of regular working life, so what can you do?Learn why we struggle with uncertainty at work, and get some skills to help you cope.
Jun 7, 2024 • 25min
Job reference horror stories, and how to avoid them
They’re usually the last step in the process, but reference checks are an important part of a job hire. And if you get them wrong, you can have a real situation on your hands.What's best practice when it comes to reference checking: whether you’re hiring, trying to be hired, or giving a reference for someone else?
May 31, 2024 • 25min
Are you being micromanaged? Here’s how to break free
The junior person feels like they’re being micromanaged, but the manager feels like the job is not being done properly. When does good supervision tip into micromanagement?Shona Ryan had such a difficult time being micromanaged as a millennial worker, that she decided to research the topic. We hear what she learned, and get advice from an expert on how to break the pattern of micromanagement.
May 24, 2024 • 25min
How music’s secret skills can scale up your performance
You’ve probably got a focus music playlist but did you know being musically trained can help you in other jobs? And no, it’s not too late if you didn’t learn the piano when you were a child.Guest: Dr Diana Tolmie - Musician and Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice at the Queensland ConservatoriumAnd thanks to Sophie, George, Mark and Deirdre for sharing their stories.And if you liked this episode you’d enjoy our episode on the power of being a generalist at work - find it in our podcast feed from March 2023.
May 17, 2024 • 25min
What did you want to be when you grew up? Here's why it's still important.
Our childhood phantasy careers (different to fantasy with an ‘f’) help uncover our unconscious motivations and can unlock job satisfaction in our careers. Here’s how to figure out yours.Guest: Paul Harvey - Lecturer and Executive Coach at the INSEAD Business SchoolAnd thanks to Afrouz, Karen and Ryan for sharing their stories.
May 10, 2024 • 25min
What does it mean to have an ethical career? And why should you care?
"Don't we all hold many things? We all have to work jobs often we don't fully politically or ethically agree with because we have to pay our rent."When we have the privilege to choose what work we do, how do we ensure we're ethically aligned with that career choice? And once we’re working in a job, how can we ensure we’re behaving ethically day to day?Guests:Dr Tim Dean - Senior Philosopher, The Ethics CentreMaryam Kouchaki - Professor of Management & Organizations, the Kellogg School of ManagementJess Shane - radio and podcast producerIf you enjoyed this episode, you'd like our episodes about values at work (from April) and why good people do bad things (from June 2023). Find them in our podcast feed.
May 3, 2024 • 25min
How can you be a supercommunicator at work? Charles Duhigg explains...
“I can honestly say this is a question that I’ve never encountered before.”New Yorker magazine reporter and author of Supercommunicators - How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, Charles Duhigg answers your questions about how to navigate tricky conversations at work, sharing advice and skills to truly connect with colleagues.Thank you to listeners Lorissa Garcia, Louise Thomson and Tanmay Vora for your questions.
Apr 26, 2024 • 25min
Workplace romances - Why do we flirt and fall in love at work?
A new person joins the team and immediately sparks fly... or perhaps you start seeing a colleague in a different light and the friendship turns into something more... Workplace romances are common and it’s no wonder - we spend a lot of time at work, and we have a lot in common with people in the same industry as us.But what are the rules around falling in love or flirting at work? And what are the costs of dating a colleague, or even a boss? Guests:Dr Amy Nicole Baker - Professor of Psychology, New Haven UniversityMia Pantechis - Principal Lawyer, Maurice BlackburnAnd thanks to Rose and Nick for sharing their story.
Apr 19, 2024 • 24min
"Ideas are getting harder to come by" - How to strengthen your imagination muscle
Feel like you're cycling through the same old ideas? Or just tired and out of inspiration? Albert Read has some tips on how to use and strengthen your 'imagination muscle'.Guest:Albert Read is managing director of Conde Nast and author of The Imagination Muscle.During the conversation, the concept of the T-shaped worker came up - which is being both a generalist and an expert. You can listen to our episode on that topic here or find it in our podcast feed entitled 'Forget expertise. Here's why being a generalist is great for your work' from 24 March 2023.
