At Work with The Ready
Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin
Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin have helped teams around the world adopt more modern ways of working and on At Work with The Ready they’re sharing the inside scoop with you, too. Whether you’re struggling with a carousel of ineffective meetings, annual strategy sessions that go nowhere, or decision-making churn that never ceases, they’ve seen it all and are here to help. In each episode, they'll break down common workplace challenges and show you the moves—both big and small—to start making real, lasting change. (Formerly “Brave New Work” with Aaron Dignan and Rodney Evans)
Episodes
Mentioned books
13 snips
Jul 8, 2024 • 43min
14. Surviving the Summertime Slump
Exploring the challenges of organizational productivity during the summer lull, strategies for managing workloads in the absence of vacationing team members, and the importance of aligning tasks with energy levels for optimal outcomes. Discussing ways to overcome summer obstacles through rescheduling events, fostering flexibility in meetings, and promoting personal reflections on work values and behaviors.
42 snips
Jun 24, 2024 • 53min
13. Leadership Teams of the Future Act Like Org Designers
Leadership teams of the future need to evolve from traditional models to embrace adaptability and resilience. Discussions revolve around transitioning from defense to offense, setting expectations, and understanding the real work of leaders. The importance of strategic thinking, organizational design, and continuous learning for effective leadership is emphasized.
61 snips
Jun 10, 2024 • 57min
12. Breaking the Cycle of Meeting-ocrity
The hosts discuss the pitfalls of modern meetings, from status meetings to leader dominance. They offer tools to create meaningful meetings. Learn about the benefits of huddles for collaboration. Explore strategies for improving meeting participation and productivity, including 'Make Stuff Time' and experimentation.
34 snips
May 27, 2024 • 48min
11. The Ones Who Care The Most Will Leave You First
Why do the most caring individuals leave organizations? Discussing burnout in change agents, signs of progress, and when to walk away. Topics include overcoming challenges, leadership behavior, and maintaining intensity at work. References to resilience, self-care, and organizational improvement.
97 snips
May 13, 2024 • 50min
10. RACI is The Wrong Answer To The Right Question
Explore the limitations of the RACI matrix in decision-making, the evolution of roles within teams, and the complexity of decision-making. Delve into alternative solutions, organizational structures using ocean metaphors, and the importance of ongoing conversations and collaboration for effective project outcomes.
10 snips
Apr 29, 2024 • 39min
9. Ask Us Anything No. 1: You Asked, We Answered
In this podcast, the hosts tackle tough questions from their audience like providing critical feedback without being threatening, organizations eliminating excessive management layers, and the disconnect between senior leadership and employees. They hint at upcoming projects and discuss concepts like 'org debt' and 'anti-patterns'.
50 snips
Apr 15, 2024 • 51min
8. Traditional Consulting Sold You a Great Idea. Now What?
Exploring the pitfalls of traditional consulting, the importance of organizational design, and empowering organizations to challenge norms. Reflecting on transformative partnerships and understanding differences between traditional consulting and innovative approaches.
25 snips
Apr 1, 2024 • 48min
7. Sync or Swim: Riding the Waves of Async Work
Exploring the shift from synchronous to asynchronous work, the podcast discusses challenges in collaboration and productivity. They emphasize the value of invisible work, team trust, and balancing real-time and async communication. Tools like Loom and Miro are highlighted, along with strategies for breaking the addiction to synchronous meetings and optimizing work rhythms.
27 snips
Mar 18, 2024 • 48min
6. If You're Faking It, You Won't Make It
Exploring the impact of emotions in the workplace, addressing resistance to change, navigating emotional labor, fostering open communication, and the importance of transparency during organizational transformations.
43 snips
Mar 4, 2024 • 46min
5. Silos Are For Corn, Not For People
Exploring the pitfalls of organizational silos, the importance of breaking them down for effective collaboration, and the impact on productivity. Discussing the challenges of navigating disagreements at work and promoting cross-functional collaboration. Highlighting the need to align strategies and functions, dismantle silos for success, and maximize value creation through cross-functional teams and governance.
