Truth, Lies and Work

Explore the curious phenomenon of breadcrumbing at work, where managers tease promotions but fail to deliver, undermining trust. Delve into Starbucks' new scripted customer service strategy, which may create disconnected interactions. Consider a daunting job in Dubai that demands 100 calls a day for a meager salary. Unpack the controversial relevance of Maslow's hierarchy of needs in modern motivation and discuss the challenges toxic superstars pose to team morale and how to tackle them effectively.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Josh Levine, work futurist, author of "Great Mondays," and culture consultant who's helped companies like Credit Karma navigate the treacherous waters of hypergrowth. Episode Summary Picture this: You've built something special. Your team of 15 feels like family. Everyone knows everyone. The culture just works. But now you're staring down growth - maybe to 50, maybe to 100 employees. And there's this gnawing fear: what if scaling breaks everything we've built? What We Cover The 50-Employee Breaking Point Why founder's culture has an expiration date and the physics behind cultural breakdown From Implicit to Explicit How to transform unspoken behaviours into values that actually scale beyond personal influence The Three-Step Framework Identify, codify, and communicate the most important decisions that move the needle Why Most Values Fail The difference between values as wall decorations versus business tools that drive decisions Recognition Done Right How Wells Fargo's outcome-focused rewards destroyed trust and what to do instead Trust as Infrastructure Why relational infrastructure matters more than physical infrastructure in distributed work The WD-40 Case Study How Gary Ridge reframed failure as learning and invested in humans, not just outputs Measuring Culture at Scale Why Employee Net Promoter Score captures what matters as you grow Resources Connect with Josh Levine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akajoshlevine Follow Josh on Instagram: @greatmondays_culturedesign Great Mondays website: https://greatmondays.com Great Mondays Radio: https://radio.greatmondays.com Great Mondays YouTube: https://youtube.com/@GreatMondays Get the book "Great Mondays" at greatmondays.com Mental Health Support This episode discusses workplace stress, burnout, and the challenges of scaling culture. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: UK: Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/ Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/ US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/ International: Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide) International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory) Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, bringing you the latest workplace stories that actually matter. News Round Up Digital Hangover - The New Workplace Epidemic That feeling when you've been on your laptop all day, mindlessly scroll Instagram, and suddenly feel wired but weirdly drained? That's a digital hangover. Psychologies Magazine article: https://pocketmags.com/us/psychologies-magazine/oct-25/articles/the-science-of-wellbeing-how-to-shake-off-a-digital-hangover?srsltid=AfmBOorVwGPxFvEpTNB5EZru-bMQUVahEMrR_Nk5KLVp4daxRgI7CV3W Is Workplace Humour Too Risky? New research from Peter McGraw, Adam Barsky, and Caleb Warren suggests workplace humour might be too risky to attempt. Research article: https://phys.org/news/2025-09-funny.html MrBeast's Vibe Check: Smart Hiring or Commitment Avoidance? The world's biggest YouTuber has introduced 90-day trial periods for all new hires, complete with temporary housing and rental cars. The goal is testing whether someone can adapt to high-speed, high-stakes production work. Business Insider article: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-mrbeast-vibe-checks-new-hires-2025-10 Truth or Lie? Are Tall People Really More Successfully The verdict: TRUE, but with massive caveats. Research shows height correlates with career success - each inch predicts about £600 more in annual earnings. Since 1900, the taller US presidential candidate has won 81% of elections. But height explains only 7% of earning variation, leaving 93% to actual skills, education, and other factors. The effect operates through perceptual bias (we see tall people as more leader-like), modest correlations with intelligence and health, and self-fulfilling prophecies from being treated like a leader from childhood. Workplace Surgery Real listener questions this week: How do you build a reliable team when you're used to doing everything yourself without losing quality control? What do you do when you have to let someone go even though they're trying their best and improving? How do you keep great people when you can't compete on pay with bigger companies? Mental Health Support This episode discusses workplace stress, burnout, and the impact of digital overload on mental wellbeing. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: UK: Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/ Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/ US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/ International: Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide) International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory) Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell, authors of "The New Workplace" and experts who've spent years studying remote, hybrid, and in-office work arrangements. Episode Summary What if hybrid working isn't the best of both worlds, but actually the worst? Professors Ina Purvanova and Alanah Mitchell have mapped nine different work personas - from "officers" who never want to leave the office, to "avatars" who live entirely online, to "integrators" trying to bridge both worlds. Their research reveals that 65% of workers are now aligned with their company's workplace strategy, but that still leaves 35% struggling with misalignment that affects engagement, commitment, and ultimately performance. This conversation explores what happens when work personas collide, why hybrid can create more conflict than clarity, and how leaders can move their teams from misaligned to at least half-aligned without losing their best people. You'll hear heartbreaking stories of young workers describing themselves as "soulless husks" when forced to work remotely, and female executives who prefer office work for unexpected reasons. What We Cover The Nine Work Personas How people fall into categories like "officers," "avatars," and "integrators" based on their workplace preferences Why Hybrid Creates Conflict How hybrid workplaces can become battlegrounds between opposing preferences, with officers and avatars both wanting companies to go fully their way The Alignment Problem Why 65% alignment isn't enough and what happens to the misaligned 35% who stay in jobs that don't suit them Task-Location Fit Moving from "dress for your day" to "locate for your day" based on what tasks you need to accomplish Who Decides the Strategy Whether leaders should set workplace policies or listen to what teams actually want Personas Change Over Time How life stages, from early career to parenthood to late career, can shift your workplace preferences Recruitment Reality Why honest job previews about work arrangements are crucial for avoiding misalignment from day one The Future of Work Predictions for 2050 and why hybrid might win by default Resources The New Workplace book website: https://thenewworkplacebook.com/ Connect with Ina Purvanova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-purvanova/ Connect with Alanah Mitchell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanah-mitchell/ Mental Health Support The episode discusses some difficult workplace experiences, including feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: UK: Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/ Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/ US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/ NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/ International: Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ (directory of crisis helplines worldwide) International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ (global crisis center directory) Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, bringing you the latest workplace stories that actually matter. News Round Up Office Frogging - Gen Z's Job-Hopping Trend Gen Z workers are hopping from job to job like frogs on lily pads, chasing better pay and growth. But here's the thing - this isn't new. Millennials did this too, they just didn't have a catchy name for it. The real question: are you giving people a reason to stay? Forbes article on Office Frogging: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2025/09/18/office-frogging-gen-zs-career-trend-disrupts-employer-expectations/ Workslop - AI's Productivity Problem AI-generated content that looks polished but has no real substance. Research from BetterUp Labs and Stanford found 41% of workers have been on the receiving end, costing almost two hours of rework each time. AI use at work has doubled since 2023, but 95% of organizations see no measurable ROI. Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity Deloitte's £4.9m Pay Rise Problem Deloitte UK's chief executive Richard Houston received a 17% pay rise to £4.9 million while staff got 2.9% and revenues actually fell by 1%. He's now paid 65 times the median Deloitte salary. When staff see the boss's pay racing away from their own, fairness goes, then trust, then loyalty. The Times article: https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/deloitte-uks-chief-executive-receives-17-percent-pay-rise-to-49m-kshc08cqr Truth or Lie? Left-Handed People Are More Creative Because They Use the Right Side of Their Brain The verdict: LIE. While Roger Sperry's Nobel Prize-winning split-brain research showed the hemispheres have distinct strengths, creativity doesn't belong to one hemisphere. Both sides work together constantly in healthy brains. Left-handers may have language spread across both hemispheres and larger corpus callosums, but that doesn't make them automatically more creative. Workplace Surgery Real listener questions this week: Is DISC profiling actually useful for leadership or just another personality tool with slick marketing? How do senior leaders answer tough questions without actually committing to anything? (Featuring the SCARF model) What do you call the role when you're ready to step back from day-to-day running of your business? Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode celebrates friend of the show Isabel Berwick and the paperback release of her bestselling book "The Future-Proof Career." Episode Summary We're thrilled to welcome back Isabel Berwick, the Financial Times' work and careers editor and host of the "Working It" podcast. With her bestselling book "The Future-Proof Career" now available in paperback, Isabel shares her insights on making working work for you in our post-pandemic world. This conversation covers everything from the characteristics that make managers truly effective to emerging workplace trends like "greedy jobs" and workplace polarisation. Isabel also tackles some of our toughest listener questions about managing difficult relationships, career development for younger workers, and finding balance in an increasingly demanding work environment. What We Cover The Accidental Manager Crisis How people end up in management roles without proper training or preparation Social Media's Workplace Impact The way platforms like TikTok are influencing professional expectations and behaviors What Makes Managers Actually Effective Why listening, empathy, and trust matter more than traditional leadership traits 2024's Biggest Workplace Trends From workplace polarization to "greedy jobs" and the ongoing quiet quitting conversation Career Advice for Younger Workers Strategies for getting heard and developing your career in today's workplace The Power of Reverse Mentoring How cross-generational learning benefits both mentors and mentees Managing People You Don't Like Practical tips for navigating difficult professional relationships Listener Q&A Isabel tackles real questions about work-life balance and career progression Resources Follow Isabel on X: https://twitter.com/isabelberwick Connect with Isabel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-berwick-8b4922167 Listen to Working It podcast: https://www.ft.com/working-it Subscribe to Isabel's newsletter: https://ep.ft.com/newsletters/subscribe?newsletterIds=62039b7ea31d6577a31f70df Get "The Future-Proof Career" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008607729?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_75RYWXR355NMVKX71SCC Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, bringing you the latest workplace stories that actually matter. This week we explore "job hugging" - the new workplace trend where people stay in roles they don't love out of fear rather than engagement. Plus troubling reports from inside Microsoft suggest a cultural shift leaving employees feeling powerless, and we launch our new "Truth or Lie?" segment examining whether white noise actually helps concentration. News Roundup: Job Hugging - The New Workplace Trend The flip side of quiet quitting where people stay in jobs they don't love due to market uncertainty. Affects younger workers choosing security over progression. Nicole Williamson's LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nicolewilliamsorganisationalpsychology_first-we-had-quiet-quitting-now-its-activity-7373611657425559552-NZL-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPpxk8B1ivB8GiszIgdppDkaIkcd6hBmOo Microsoft Culture Crisis Reports from a 7-year employee describing managers who look "like pinballs, completely powerless" and colleagues "jumping ship." Shows how culture frays slowly before collapse. Microsoft story: https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/its-scaring-me-microsoft-employee-of-7-years-says-current-work-culture-has-changed-for-the-worse/3982230/ Arthur Brooks on Career Risk Research shows the biggest workplace risk isn't failing - it's living with regret because you never tried. Fear of regret makes us play it safe and avoid growth opportunities. Simon Sinek article: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/18/simon-sinek-backwards-career-moves-can-make-you-happier-more-successful.html Truth or Lie?! This week's question: does white noise help you concentrate? The answer: true, but only for some people. Research shows it helps those with ADHD or attention difficulties, but actually harms performance in people with strong focus. Workplace Surgery: Real listener questions this week: Dealing with unfulfilling work when your team and manager are great Managing a brilliant employee who's struggling after promotion to management Building genuine passion in your team as a young entrepreneur Get in touch: Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Like this kind of content? Click here to subscribe: /subscribe

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features one of the most brutally honest interviews we've ever had about what it really takes to lead people the right way. Episode Summary Picture this: you're in your mid-twenties, walking into a Detroit manufacturing plant for your first day as head of labor relations. Your job involves firing at least one person every single week, and you discover that you are a very different person to everyone who did this job before you - because you're the first woman in the role, and more importantly, the first one who doesn't carry a gun. Today's guest, Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly Services, shares stories from her 30-year career in HR that most C-suite executives would never dare share publicly. From devastating personal loss that changed her leadership philosophy to investigating phantom poopers and naked Barbies in compromising positions, Amy gives us an unfiltered look at the messy reality of leading people. What We Cover Transformative Career Moments Amy's early days in Detroit manufacturing plants where armed security walked her to her car Leadership Myths Busted Why the myth that "leaders are born, not made" is holding organizations back Real-World Advice for Small Businesses How to build culture when money is tight using the "Yes, And" approach Having Difficult Conversations The Content-Pattern-Relationship framework for performance issues Key Takeaways 1. Connection Beats Command Amy learned the hard way that moving fast and making decisions quickly meant nothing if her team didn't want to work for her. Slow down, invest in relationships, and yes - it matters if your team likes you. 2. Embrace the Messy Middle Sometimes you do work Sundays. No, you might not be comfortable with someone working 20 hours for 40 hours of pay. It's okay to admit the complex reality instead of pretending everything's perfect. 3. Have the Conversation Script it, practice it, breathe through it - but have the difficult conversation. Not having these conversations isn't kindness; it's disrespectful to your team who already knows who's not pulling their weight. Resources Amy Bouque on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-bouque-she-her-hers-520a855/ Kelly Services: https://www.kellyservices.com/ Connect with Your Host Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on Twitter: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Amy's confessions remind us that even C-Suite executives are learning as they go. The difference is Amy is brave enough to admit it. We all deserve leaders who see our humanity, even when they're having to make the hard decisions - even if those decisions involve investigating naked Barbies.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, we’re here to simplify the science of work. Summer is over and we're back with This Week in Work, where we bring you the latest headlines, expert hot takes and answer your questions in our world famous weekly workplace surgery. 🔥 Stories Covered 📌 Nestlé CEO Fired Over Secret Romance When the world’s largest food company sacks its global CEO after 40 years, the issue isn’t just scandal — it’s trust. We explore why hidden relationships at the top create ripples through entire organisations, eroding fairness and psychological safety. 📰 Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1mpm9ee9p9o 📌 1,000 Days of ChatGPT What has AI really changed about work since its launch? We look at productivity gains, job fears, and whether we’re truly in the middle of a white-collar industrial revolution. 📰 Read more: https://www.cityam.com/1000-days-of-chatgpt-how-has-work-changed/ 📌 19 Ways to Improve Your Life, According to Science Forget September stress — it’s the real new year. We revisit evidence-based ways to reset, refresh, and make small, meaningful changes. 📰 Read more: https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/19-ways-improve-your-life 🔥 Hot Take: Rage Baiting at Work We’re used to rage-bait headlines online, but what happens when leaders use sarcasm and provocation in the office? Guest Vanessa Judelman argues it silences teams, destroys trust, and confuses sharpness for strength. More from Vanessa: – Website: https://www.mosaicpd.com/ – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessajudelman/ – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MosaicPeopleDevelopment – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessajudelman/ – Twitter: https://twitter.com/MosaicPD 💬 Workplace Surgery ❓ Do employee engagement platforms really work — or are they just tick-box exercises? ❓ I was refused unpaid leave for health reasons, but my colleague was granted it months later. What can I do? - featuring Cat Coggins from The Curve Group: https://www.thecurvegroup.co.uk/ ❓ Are we too focused on experience — and missing out on talent? 🧠 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 behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Tony Cooke, former VP of Human Resources at Adidas, who spent decades proving that HR doesn't have to be the department everyone dreads. Episode Summary Imagine you're the head of an HR team and you get asked to present the team's vision for the future workforce of the largest sportswear company in Europe. But instead of sitting down and putting together the usual dull PowerPoint slide presentation, you instead decide to make a James Bond style movie. You have the MD kidnapped, he's tied up, he's stuffed into a chest and he does multiple takes until he is bruised and battered. That's exactly what happened at Adidas, where Tony Cooke was running HR. His approach was to make HR more human by appealing to people's sense of humor and showing genuine personality. His initiatives were so effective that HQ kept stealing them and rolling them out worldwide, earning his team the nickname "The North Mafia." What We Cover Why HR Became the Villain How HR became the convenient pantomime villain in organizations The Waggish Approach What it means to be "waggish" and take formality out of HR Maverick Initiatives The "Addie Oscars" - cost-neutral recognition that packed halls to the rafters Speed dating for talent across different markets "DIVIN" (Diversity + Inclusion) - making difficult topics fun and engaging The James Bond Movie How Tony's team created a spy movie instead of PowerPoint slides for Workforce 2020 Key Takeaways 1. Collaborate with Senior Stakeholders Early Tony's biggest learning was that even the best ideas need buy-in from decision makers. Build those relationships before you need them, not after. 2. Learn the Business Inside and Out Don't just be an HR person - be a business partner who understands revenue, competitors, and strategic priorities. Tony challenged HR professionals to know their company's turnover. 3. Show Your Human Side Stop being the aloof rule-maker and let people see that you're human with frailties, bad days, and emotions. People warm to authenticity, not perfection. The Results Adidas became known as a talent factory with a conveyor belt of leaders going to senior roles across America, Amsterdam, Germany, and beyond. That's the business impact of making HR genuinely human at one of the world's most recognizable brands. Resources Tony Cooke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-cooke-9706341b/ Tony's book "Waggish Chronicles of a Maverick in a Corporate World" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Waggish-Chronicles-Maverick-Corporate-World-ebook/dp/B0FDBL9XGS Also available on Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/877879715/Waggish-Chronicles-of-a-Maverick-in-a-Corporate-World Connect with Your Hosts Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork Chat with us on Twitter: @truthlieswork YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com