Truth, Lies and Work

This week, we’re celebrating our 200th episode by asking: – Why do some leaders earn more trust by bending the rules? – What’s the right move when an employee asks to borrow money? – And is it fair to expect “diverse” employees to do extra DEI work just because of who they are? We’re also joined by Julian Hayes II for a Hot Take on why happiness might be the wrong goal for your workplace. Forget the ping-pong tables — let’s talk about what really matters. 🔥 News Roundup – Happy staff = better business: The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2025 report proves it’s not about perks, but about trust, ownership, and listening.https://www.thetimes.com/best-places-to-work/features-companies/article/best-places-work-companies-uk-2025-cpw5wnr2z – $40 for loyalty? A Boston moving company boss went viral after an employee asked for a $40 loan — some say never lend to staff, others call it a loyalty-building move.https://x.com/salvin_joseph/status/1927002447974654253?s=12&t=Nu1sn41l6BG_ubgGziYG1g – Rule-benders vs. rule-followers: A new study shows we trust rule-benders more than strict followers — and they might make the best leaders.https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/rule-benders-make-more-appealing-leaders-rule-abiders 🔥 Hot Take: Happiness Is the Wrong Goal Julian Hayes II argues that we’ve been chasing the wrong metric: happiness isn’t enough to sustain performance or engagement. Real well-being comes from meaning, challenge, and shared purpose — not just feeling good in the moment. Connect with Julian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianhayesii/ Julian's Website: https://www.executivehealth.io/ Julian's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/executive-health-and-life/id1500205650 💬 This Week’s Workplace Surgery – The DEI overload dilemma: A listener asks how to push back when they’re constantly asked to be the “diverse” voice in interviews — even at the expense of their own work. – First-time manager nerves: Another listener wonders how to become more assertive without losing their friendly style. – The “I’ve stopped caring” slump: Finally, someone asks if it’s okay to check out at work when you’re not valued — or if they’re just giving up too easily. 🔗 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/– Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 💡 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/– Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/– Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Warning: This episode contains references to discrimination, suicide, and mental health struggles. Please listen with care. Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network — hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. This week, we’re talking about one of the most misunderstood (and often avoided) topics in people management: how to support transgender colleagues in your workplace. Our guest is Sophie Wood — trainer, speaker, and trans woman with over 13 years of lived workplace experience. She’s here to answer the questions most managers have — but are too afraid to ask. This isn’t a lecture on political correctness. It’s a step-by-step, fully human guide to making your workplace psychologically safe, legally sound, and genuinely inclusive. 💡 Key Takeaways from Sophie Wood – The law gives choice, not orders: Despite media panic, no new legal requirement forces employers to exclude anyone — use your company values, not fear, to guide decisions. – Definitions made simple: “Trans” is about movement, “cis” is about congruence, and most of us live on a spectrum — not in fixed boxes. – Bathrooms aren’t the issue: Sophie’s experience shows most trans employees fear causing trouble far more than becoming it. – Mess up? It’s okay: Intent matters more than perfect wording. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, learn from it, and move on. – Rethink your training: Most DEI sessions reinforce “otherness”. Sophie’s frame-of-reference exercise helps teams connect through shared humanity instead. – Psychological safety is practical: Letting people say things out loud helps them process — and prevents negativity from spiralling. – Allyship isn’t optional anymore: Inclusion isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about seeing the human being, not just the label. 🔗 Connect with Sophie Wood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-wood-deib-mhfa/ Mental Health First Aid Training: https://belongingbase.com/mental-health-first-aid **Editor's Note** In this episode, the hosts reference Sophie Wood as a former police officer. To clarify, Sophie worked as police staff, not as a police officer. 🧠 Need More Support? Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Mental Health at Work: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ Samaritans: Call 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org 💬 Connect with Al & Leanne Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🎧 If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a colleague, leave a review, or connect with us online. It’s time we made inclusion make sense — for everyone.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network — hosted by business owner Al Elliott and Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott. This week, we’re asking: Is your company accidentally killing motivation and trust? From how we talk about success, to how we structure the workweek, to how we train our managers — the best of intentions are falling short. And according to our guest, we’re now in a full-blown trust crisis. 🗞 This Week’s News Roundup 🌟 The Reverse Bucket List Forget goals — what if reflecting on what you’ve already overcome could boost confidence and calm imposter syndrome? Read it: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/reverse-bucket-list-happiness_n_68195c92e4b09d0e11f7df5a 🇮🇸 What the UK Can Learn from Iceland Six years into a 36-hour workweek, Iceland’s workforce is less stressed, more satisfied, and still just as productive. Read it: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/21/iceland-36-hour-working-week-stress-job 🧠 Why Mental Health Training for Managers Isn’t Enough Over 7,000 UK businesses were studied — and even the ones doing the right things are hitting a wall. Read it: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/why-mental-health-starts-with-line-managers-2b2a74cebc46 🔥 Hot Take of the Week Our guest this week is Rose Soffel (Talent & Culture Consultant at SoffelHaus), and she’s not holding back. Her take? We’re in a trust crisis between employers and employees — and behavioural science might be the only way out. Rose argues that post-pandemic progress on wellbeing, autonomy and inclusion is being undone by control tactics, forced office returns, and short-term thinking. If we don’t rebuild trust, the best talent will quietly walk. Connect with Rose: LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/rose-soffel Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/microrosie?igsh=MXN0c2owdHp4ZTNqNA== 🩺 Workplace Surgery – “Do anonymous surveys actually work?” – “How do I know if I’m any good at interviewing?” – “I got the job… so why am I terrified?” 🎧 Coming up Thursday… A UK Supreme Court ruling has redefined “woman” under equality law. What does this mean for inclusion, rights, and how organisations support trans employees? We’re joined by Sophie Wood, LGBTQ+ educator and mental health trainer, to help leaders navigate this complex new landscape. 🧠 Support With Mental Health & Wellbeing Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org Mental Health at Work: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ 💬 Connect with Al & Leanne Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network — hosted by business owner Al Elliott and Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott. This week, we’re joined by Elina Teboul — executive advisor, former Wall Street lawyer, and author of Feminine Intelligence. Elina challenges our assumptions about power, leadership, and success, offering a radical reframe that might just define the future of work. Drawing on years of coaching top leaders, Elina makes the case that intuition, emotional presence, creativity, and connection aren’t leadership weaknesses — they’re leadership superpowers. And ignoring them? That’s what’s keeping so many organisations stuck in disconnected, underperforming cultures. This isn’t a conversation about gender. It’s a call to rebalance. 💡 Key takeaways from Elina Teboul – Traits like empathy, presence, and creativity aren’t soft — they’re essential for resilient leadership – Over-reliance on dominance, linear thinking, and ego is leaving leaders burnt out and cultures broken – Feminine Intelligence is about wholeness, not gender — and it’s for every leader – Psychedelics and somatic work are emerging tools in leadership coaching – Redefining power is the key to building cultures that perform and sustain 🔗 Links & Resources Elina’s website: https://www.elinateboul.com Book: Feminine Intelligence – Available wherever you get your books Follow Elina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinateboul/ 🧠 Enjoying the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review. Want to dig deeper into these ideas? Connect with us on LinkedIn and join the conversation. 🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Wellbeing Mind UK: ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/⁠ Samaritans (UK, free helpline): Call 116 123 or email ⁠jo@samaritans.org 💬 Connect with Al & Leanne Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network — hosted by business owner Al Elliott and Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott. This week, we’re asking a big question: Could well-meaning managers be bullying their teams without even realising it? New research suggests it’s not about personality clashes — but broken systems. From underperformance meetings to inconsistent shift scheduling, the way we manage people might be doing more harm than good. 🔥 This Week’s News Roundup 🧠 Touch Grass: Why getting outside is actually good for your brain A National Geographic article explores the science behind outdoor time and cognitive restoration. Read: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/touch-grass-mental-health-outdoors 👶 Toddler vs CEO: Who actually has more emotional regulation? A viral tweet draws comparisons between toddler tantrums and CEO outbursts — with hilarious (and thought-provoking) results. Tweet: https://x.com/steipete/status/1921513623668568358 🎯 Bullying at work: New research blames bad management, not bad people Leanne shares insights from her Medium article on why bullying is often a systems issue — not a personality problem. Read: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/want-to-prevent-bullying-at-work-fix-your-people-management-first-da256af80558 🔥 Hot Take of the Week This week’s guest is Stuart Mace, former recruiter and now workplace wellbeing specialist. Stuart shares why your hiring process tells candidates more about your company than your careers page ever could — and how ghosting, vague role definitions and slow comms can quietly destroy your employer brand. Connect with Stuart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmace/ 🩺 Workplace Surgery – Should freelancers ask clients to tell them when they’re sick? – How do you survive a toxic job when you can’t afford to leave? – I’m scared to manage people. Would a course help? 🧠 Enjoying the show? Subscribe, share, and leave a review. Want to help shape future episodes? Join our private WhatsApp group and be part of the creative process. 🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Wellbeing Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK, free helpline): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 💬 Connect with Al & Leanne Truth, Lies & Work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we’re thrilled to bring you a raw, unfiltered conversation with Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind — one of the UK’s leading mental health organisations. With over 35 years in mental health and social care, Sarah is a fearless advocate for change. In this episode, she shares why mental health services are still failing those with the most serious needs, why surface-level “wellness” programmes won’t fix broken workplace cultures, and how poverty, inequality, and racism drive mental health crises. Whether you’re a leader, HR professional, or someone navigating their own mental health journey, this conversation is packed with insights that challenge, inspire, and push us to think beyond box-ticking initiatives. 💥 Key Takeaways Mental health literacy has improved, but services for severe illness are lagging. Culture and leadership matter more than free yoga or mindfulness apps. Addressing poverty, racism, and inequality is essential to prevention. Leaders sharing their own struggles can transform workplace stigma. Young people need more than therapy — they need agency and action. 🔗 Links & Resources Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk Mental Health at Work Commitments: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk Sarah Hughes on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/drsarahhughes 🎧 Loved this episode? Subscribe, rate, and share the show! And don’t miss our other Unfiltered episodes with Dr Ryan Martin, Prof Sir Cary Cooper, and Bruce Daisley. 🧡 Mental Health Support Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support Samaritans (UK, free helpline): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 💬 Stay Connected Truth, Lies & Work LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. 🔥 Stories Covered This Week🔥 The Rise of Overemployment: Why Some Are Working 2 or 3 Jobs Leanne explores The Times' report on workers secretly juggling multiple full-time jobs. More: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rise-of-polygamous-workers-and-efforts-to-catch-them-out Klopp, Slot and a Masterclass in Succession Planning Leanne unpacks Liverpool’s near-perfect leadership handover and what it teaches businesses about humility, legacy, and culture. Watch Klopp’s farewell: https://youtube.com/shorts/g-H6wVK_eqE?si=_zeJNyHs1H30hsuH Thanks to NBC Sports for the clip! Spotify’s “We Hire Adults” Approach to Remote Work Al breaks down Spotify’s work-from-anywhere policy, why it’s defying the office-return trend, and how trust is paying off in retention and revenue. Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/spotify-hr-chief-says-remote-100037895.html 🔥 Hot Take: Rebecca Taylor on Gossip at Work Rebecca Taylor, co-founder of SkillCycle and host of HR Confessions, argues that gossip isn’t just inevitable—it’s essential. She explains why leaders should stop ignoring informal conversations and instead use them to strengthen culture, improve transparency, and drive change. Find Rebecca here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-taylor SkillCycle: https://skillcycle.com Podcast: HR Confessions 💬 Workplace Surgery: This Week’s Dilemmas How Do I Run a Wellness Challenge People Actually Want to Join? Is It Possible to Start Over After My Business Fails? HR Is Making Me the Bad Guy Over Return-to-Office—What Should I Do? 🎧 Coming Up Thursday We’re joined by Dr. Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, for a conversation on serious mental illness, prevention, and why real culture change—not perks—makes the difference. 🎯 Enjoyed this episode? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Come join the conversation on LinkedIn—we love hearing from you. 🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 👋 Connect with Al & Leanne Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/ Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. This week, we’re joined by Nick Huber, entrepreneur, investor, founder of Sweaty Startup, and author of the brand-new Sweaty Startup book. Nick built his empire on what most entrepreneurs overlook: boring businesses that print cash. With over 325 employees across multiple companies, Nick is shaking up how we think about leadership, scale, and simplicity. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without burning out, or if you should stop chasing the shiny stuff and focus on what actually works, this episode is for you. 💡 Key Takeaways from Nick Huber 🚀 Boring Businesses Win Nick explains why storage units, cleaning companies, and pest control are more scalable (and profitable) than flashy tech startups. 📈 Focus on Scale, Not Ego Forget personal branding. Nick reveals how he structures teams, delegates, and makes decisions that actually drive results. 💥 How to Lead Without Losing Your Mind From mental health to mindset, Nick shares how to stay sane while managing multiple companies—and why simplicity beats complexity. 📚 The Sweaty Startup Playbook Nick’s new book distills his best strategies for launching, scaling, and selling service businesses, even if you have zero experience. 🎯 Why Hiring Right Changes Everything Nick dives into why early hires are the make-or-break moment for small businesses—and how to get it right. 🔗 Resources & Links Nick Huber Online: Website: www.sweatystartup.com Personal site: www.nickhuber.com Book site: www.sweatystartupbook.com Somewhere.com: www.somewhere.com Bolt Storage: www.boltstorage.com Recost Seg: www.recostseg.com Ad Rhino: www.adrhino.com Spidexx: www.spidexx.com Bold SEO: www.boldseo.com Webrun: www.webrun.com Titan Risk: www.titanrisk.com RecruitJet: www.recruitjet.com Huber Method: www.hubermethod.com Social & Media: X/Twitter: www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram: www.instagram.com/sweatystartup LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup YouTube: www.youtube.com/sweatystartup TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sweatystartup Threads: www.threads.net/@sweatystartup.com Podcasts: The Nick Huber Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-huber-show/id1576120606 The Sweaty Startup Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sweaty-startup/id1445260221 Book Links: Buy on Amazon (US): https://amzn.to/4bLazjW Buy in the UK: https://bit.ly/422njPW 📢 Enjoyed this episode? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. And share this episode with a founder, manager, or curious friend—you’ll look smart for doing it. 🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 👋 Connect with Al & Leanne Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/ Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Sophie Wade, a work futurist and empathy advocate, discusses the likelihood of job displacement by 2030. She highlights the need for emotional intelligence and ethical practices in an AI-driven world. The concept of 'mindful maneuvering' emerges as a powerful leadership tool that fosters trust and collaboration. They also explore recognition's role in employee retention, emphasizing it's more impactful than perks. Lastly, Wade addresses the unique challenges facing Gen Z, advocating for a more human-centric approach to workplace dynamics.

🎧 Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.This week, we’re joined by Amit Kalley, former deputy headteacher turned founder of For Working Parents. Amit’s mission is simple: make workplaces genuinely parent-friendly. But his journey here wasn’t. After the traumatic birth of his daughter during lockdown and a late ADHD diagnosis, Amit reached breaking point. What followed was a powerful pivot—one that’s now helping hundreds of parents and employers build cultures where family and work don’t have to fight.💡 Key Takeaways from Amit Kalley 👶 Support for Parents Isn’t a “Nice to Have”Amit explains why parental support—especially for dads—is essential infrastructure, not a perk.🧠 ADHD Isn’t a SuperpowerHe talks candidly about late diagnosis, stigma, and the unhelpful pressure to be ‘productive’ while masking neurodivergence.🗣️ Storytelling Changes CultureAmit shares how his lived experience is shifting the conversation inside businesses—by making space for honesty, not hype.💼 No More Perfect Parent MythsWhether it’s guilt, burnout or hustle culture, Amit breaks down the invisible load working parents carry—and how to change it.📱 The Viral Emoji Table Is Real (and Slightly Terrifying)His Periodic Table of Emojis is helping parents decode what their teens are really saying online—and it’s more useful than you think.🔗 Resources & Links Website: https://forworkingparents.com/Newsletter: https://forworkingparents.com/parent-up-newsletter/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitsinghkalley/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forworkingparents/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forworkingparentsEmoji Decoder Guide: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7308760051261853696-5gmt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPpxk8B1ivB8GiszIgdppDkaIkcd6hBmOo📢 Enjoyed this episode?Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it—especially if they’re balancing parenthood, leadership and life.🧠 General Support with Mental Health and Well-being If you’ve been affected by anything in this episode or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may help:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org👋 Connect with Al & Leanne Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/Al: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/Leanne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanneEmail: hello@truthliesandwork.comBook a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat