Truth, Lies and Work

This week delves into the Post Office scandal, highlighting a catastrophic failure of trust and the human impact of organizational neglect. The discussion reveals how systemic flaws can lead to injustices and emphasizes the need for accountability. They also explore rising economic inactivity in the UK due to long-term sickness, urging a coordinated approach between health and work systems. Finally, the episode tackles the intriguing question of whether time speeds up as we age, examining perceptions and suggesting ways to create more memorable moments.

Join Nick Power, a senior marketing leader at The Noun Project and LinkedIn creator, as he dives deep into the complexities of authenticity in the corporate world. He discusses how candid content fosters connection, especially in a time of social stress. Nick challenges the notion of professionalism, emphasizing honesty and integrity over mere polish. Expect insights on the balance between vulnerability and oversharing, and hear about the hilarious yet pointed critiques from online communities like LinkedIn Lunatics. Get ready for an eye-opening look at LinkedIn culture!

This episode dives into the political landscape of workplace culture with the appointment of a DEI critic leading the EEOC. Discover the surprising success of a quiet-quitting manager who set firm boundaries and skyrocketed in their career. They also explore the effects of mismatched background music on employee morale and productivity. Plus, there’s a fascinating discussion on the myths of spotting a liar just by watching body language, challenging common assumptions. Tune in for insights that could transform your work life!

Dr. Ryan Martin, a psychologist known as The Anger Professor and author of "Emotion Hacks," discusses practical strategies for emotional regulation. He highlights that emotions are signals, not emergencies, and shares insights from his Why We Feel model. Ryan emphasizes the importance of upstream decisions—like sleep and hydration—in managing emotions effectively. He provides in-the-moment tools such as deep breathing and grounding techniques to help leaders support their teams better. Additionally, he challenges listeners to examine their worldviews to enhance resilience.

It’s time for another This Week in Work — your Tuesday round-up of workplace news, research and real-world dilemmas. Hosted by Leanne Elliott, Chartered Occupational Psychologist, and Al Elliott, business owner. This week: fake job ads, clever interview hacks, the power of recognition, and whether it really takes 10 000 hours to master anything. 🔥 Stories Covered Career Catfishing Nearly 80 percent of workers say they’ve been misled during hiring. The job they took wasn’t the job they got. Broken promises break trust fast. Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-80-us-workers-victims-183000581.html Why People Keep Giving MSc researcher Mary Luu found volunteers who give the most often feel happiest — because meaning and recognition matter more than reward.Source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trambaoluu/ Interview Hack or Workplace Deception?A Reddit user says calling employers and claiming “I was told to schedule my interview” landed five callbacks. Smart or dishonest? It’s forcing everyone to rethink how hiring really works. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/InterviewCoderPro/comments/1ohsuq9/i_started_calling_companies_and_saying_i_was_told 🧠 Truth or Lie — The 10 000-Hour Rule Does it truly take 10 000 hours to master something? Psychologist K. Anders Ericsson’s research showed practice matters — but not that hours alone guarantee mastery. Quality, feedback and context count more than time. Verdict: mastery takes effort and structure, not a stopwatch. 💬 Workplace Surgery • Should you give a Christmas bonus or gift? • How do you present a strategy you don’t believe in? • What do you do when a new hire is 40 minutes late on day one? 🎧 Coming Up Thursday Dr Ryan Martin — better known as The Anger Professor — joins Leanne and Al to explore how we can hack our emotions to perform better in life and work. 🧠 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 Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

In today’s episode, Leanne and Al are joined by Angela Foster, an expert in the fashion and beauty industry with over 20 years of executive experience.Angela empowers high-achieving women to craft wardrobes that radiate confidence and align with their professional and personal goals. Through her SPARK method, Angela has transformed how her clients think about fashion, helping them dress for success and feel their best every day. In this episode, we explore: Do first impressions really count? The science of enclothed cognition and how clothing influences confidence, cognition, and perceptions. Why what we wear at work matters: How professional attire affects leadership perceptions and workplace dynamics Crafting your signature look: From tailored staples to bold accessories, Angela shares tips to define a personal brand that’s unforgettable. Navigating modern dress codes: Striking the balance between inclusivity, professionalism, and personal style in today’s workplaces. Angela’s SPARK method: A five-step guide to understanding your body shape, building versatile wardrobes, and curating a style that works for you. Key Takeaways: Dress for Success: First impressions are formed in seconds, and attire plays a huge role in shaping them. Create a Signature Look: Stand out with a style that reflects your personality and professional brand. It’s Not About Buying More Clothes: Angela emphasizes starting with a strategy before shopping. Professionalism and Confidence: Learn how the right wardrobe can boost your workplace confidence and enhance others' perceptions. Inclusivity in Dress Codes: Angela shares practical advice for employers crafting dress codes that are fair, clear, and aligned with organizational values. Angela’s Free Gift: Take Angela’s Body Shape Quiz to discover the styles and silhouettes that suit you best. Visit ⁠AngelaFoster.co/Leanne⁠ to get started! Connect with Angela: Website: ⁠Angela Style Coach⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Angela Foster⁠ Instagram: ⁠@AngelaStyleCoach⁠  Support with Mental Health and Well-being If any of the topics in this episode have affected you, or if you need mental health support, please reach out to one of the following resources: UK: ⁠Mind⁠ offers mental health support and information. For those in distress, call Samaritans at 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. US: Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Rest of the World: Visit ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠ to find a helpline in your country. Connect with Truth, Lies & Work YouTube: ⁠Truth, Lies & Work YouTube Channel⁠ TikTok: ⁠Truth, Lies & Work TikTok⁠ Instagram: ⁠Truth, Lies & Work Instagram⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Truth, Lies & Work LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Al Elliott: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Leanne Elliott: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Email: Reach out at hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a Meeting: Schedule a meeting with Al & Leanne ⁠here⁠.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this week’s stories dig into workplace trust, exploitation, and the psychology of staying too long. 🔥 This Week’s Stories 🛒 Waitrose Under Fire for Axing Autistic VolunteerA 27-year-old man with severe autism was reportedly “sacked” after his family asked if he could be paid for some of his work. After volunteering at Waitrose for four years and clocking up more than 600 hours unpaid, his placement was suddenly suspended. We explore the line between inclusion and exploitation — and what true inclusive employment should look like. Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15211181/Autistic-volunteer-sacked-Waitrose-family-asked-start-paid-years-stocking-shelves-free.html 🧠 AI Clones Are Coming for Your CoworkersTwo co-founders from the $2.1B AI recruiting startup Eightfold just raised $35M for a new company, Viven — an AI “digital twin” of every employee that lets coworkers message your clone when you’re offline. We unpack the privacy risks, ethical dilemmas, and whether this is innovation or invasion. Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/15/eightfold-co-founders-raise-35m-for-viven-an-ai-digital-twin-startup-for-querying-unavailable-coworkers/ 📅 The 3-Month Notice Period ProblemThree-month notice periods used to be for senior executives. Now they’re everywhere — from middle management to entry-level jobs. We ask whether forcing people to stay longer is about succession planning or control — and what it’s doing to motivation and trust. Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/career-advice/working-three-months-notice-period-drain/ 🧩 Truth or Lie: Are Firstborn Children Natural Leaders? Firstborns dominate CEO lists and political leadership — but is it nature or nurture? We explore decades of research showing that while firstborns do have a statistical advantage, it’s more about parental attention and early responsibility than genetic destiny. 💬 Workplace Surgery “How do I manage chaos when hiring without spending a fortune?” “My manager invited me to lunch — do I have to go?” “Can I opt out of birthday collections at work without looking antisocial?” 🧠 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 Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠– Leanne Elliott: ⁠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 podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. This week, Al and Leanne talk to Danny Wareham, organisational psychologist and author of Constellation Leadership: Reimagined for a Connected Age, about why leadership might not need a single leader at all. From Navy SEALs to small business teams, Danny’s research explores what happens when you remove the leader from the room — and discover that, in the right conditions, performance can actually increase. 🔥 What We Cover 📘 What is Constellation Leadership?Danny introduces his model — a flexible, culture-driven approach where leadership shifts based on context and capability, not hierarchy or titles. 🧭 Why culture can replace hierarchyLearn why clear purpose, shared trust and behavioural norms can guide teams more effectively than top-down control. 💡 The North Star principleBefore defining roles, policies or perks, Danny says every organisation must answer one question: why do we exist? That North Star then becomes the anchor for every decision. ⚙️ How small organisations have a natural edgeDanny’s research shows that companies under 150 people — below Dunbar’s number — perform best when they keep teams small, autonomous and purpose-led. 💬 The Navy SEAL mindsetWe unpack “mission command” — how elite teams rotate leadership fluidly, with the person best equipped for each situation taking charge in real time. 🧠 The psychology of trust and autonomyFrom imposter syndrome to cultural alignment, Danny explains what it really takes to create teams that lead themselves. 🎧 Want more from Danny Wareham? – Website: dannywareham.co.uk– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-wareham/– Constellation Leadership: https://dannywareham.co.uk/constellation-leadership/ 🧠 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 Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Dive into the clash between Gen Z and their older counterparts, where workplace boundaries and phone dodging spark heated debates. Explore the alarming potential of AI to reshape job landscapes, with roles like translators and coders on the chopping block. Amazon's significant HR layoffs raise questions about the human cost of tech investment. Finally, ponder the saying 'Your vibe attracts your tribe,' as research reveals the nuances of social attraction and the dangers of mimicking harmful behaviors.

Mamie Kanfer Stewart, a meeting transformation expert and host of The Modern Manager podcast, shares invaluable insights on making meetings enjoyable and effective. She explains why most meetings fail and offers frameworks for giving feedback, even upwards. Mamie reveals her 'zero to five' strategy for quick consensus and how to handle dominant voices in discussions. Plus, she emphasizes the importance of emotional management in meetings and when it’s better to send an email instead. Get ready to rethink your approach to meetings!