Truth, Lies and Work

Truth, Lies & Work is 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 tackling the dreaded summer slowdown. You know the one: client comms go quiet, team motivation nosedives, and you start to wonder if it’s just your business that's hit a wall. It’s not. But it can cost you — if you’re not prepared. In this episode, we answer the eight biggest questions leaders face every June, including how to keep people engaged, prevent burnout, support working parents, and still get things done when half the team is on holiday. This one’s for every founder, manager or team lead who’s ever felt like summer is quietly wrecking their roadmap. It doesn’t have to. 💡 Key Takeaways – The slowdown is real — and measurable: Harvard and HBR both confirm that heat, holidays and longer daylight hours all reduce focus, energy and output. Some businesses see up to a 20% productivity dip. – Engagement problems start long before July: Summer exposes issues, it doesn’t cause them. If people feel disconnected, holidays give them time to reflect — and potentially resign. – Burnout risk spikes for those left behind: If workloads go up but support doesn’t, motivation and wellbeing will crash. Plan handovers and give people fewer balls to juggle. – Support working parents like adults: Flexibility, open comms, and trust go further than token gestures. The mental load is real — and if you don’t acknowledge it, they’ll take it elsewhere. – Remote workers need context and connection: Summer’s a great time to build async rituals, reset norms, and prevent ‘out of sight, out of mind’ thinking. – Positive psychology works in summer too: Recognition, flow, learning and micro-wins boost motivation and protect energy — even during quieter weeks. – Now is the time for strategy: Summer can be your planning superpower. But only if you block the time and protect the space. 🔗 Resources & Links Harvard Study: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/heat-impairs-student-learning/ HBR: https://hbr.org/2022/07/make-the-most-of-the-summer-slowdown Xero Insights: https://www.xero.com/blog/2023/06/summer-slowdown-small-business/ Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk Working Families: https://workingfamilies.org.uk 📲 Connect with Us Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Show page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Book a chat with Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🔗 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 – Mental Health at Work: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/

Truth, Lies, and Work is 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. This week: random chats, rogue employees, and resilience in the job market. We’re digging into what really builds strong cultures – and where we might be fooling ourselves. 🔥 Stories Covered 🦆 What’s a Duck Shuffler — and Why You Might Need One Leanne introduces a new workplace archetype: the duck shuffler. This is the person who disrupts your perfectly aligned “ducks in a row” — but not for chaos. They’re often the ones who save you from bad decisions and groupthink. Are you building a culture where they can thrive? 📊 The Economy Isn’t Crashing — It’s Changing Al breaks down the latest job data from the US. Despite media panic, sectors like health care, logistics, and finance are adding jobs fast. So is it resilience or a false sense of security? Link: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/ranked-the-fastest-growing-jobs-in-the-u-s-2023-2033/ 🚰 The Small-World Illusion: Why Watercooler Moments Don’t Matter as Much as You Think Are we overhyping chance encounters at work? A new study shows people dramatically overestimate how often they bump into colleagues — and how much support they actually get. The lesson? If we want real connection, we need to build it intentionally. Summary: https://medium.com/@truthlieswork/how-we-fool-ourselves-about-bumping-into-colleagues-the-small-world-illusion-eafd12c7cc1f Study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2024.104387 💬 Workplace Surgery “She was a star — until she betrayed our trust.” What do you do when a high-performing employee crosses the line? This week’s dilemma: family problems, medical leave, and moonlighting for a competitor. Al and Leanne explore the legal, cultural, and ethical angles of letting a star go. 🎙️ Hot Take Divorce is a workplace issue. Kristyna Hawkett from MinusOne.club joins us to explain why supporting employees through family changes isn’t just compassionate — it’s smart business. You’ll learn how to help without prying, reduce gossip, and build loyalty through life’s messiest moments. Website: https://minusone.club LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyna-hawkett-96b9a963/ 💡 Enjoyed This Episode? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review on your podcast platform of choice. And connect with us on LinkedIn — we love hearing your thoughts. General Support with Mental Health and Well-being If you’ve been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful: Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Free on 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org (for those outside the UK) Connect with Al and Leanne LinkedIn (Al): https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ LinkedIn (Leanne): https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne LinkedIn (Podcast): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ 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, Al and Leanne open up about their recent experience of having to leave Bosnia & Herzegovina within 48 hours — an abrupt move that turned their lives, business, and plans upside down. From that real-life test of resilience, they share eight tips (plus a bonus) that helped them stay calm, adapt fast, and keep moving forward. No theory here — just honest insights and practical advice for anyone dealing with unexpected change. 🗝️ What We’re Talking About Today – How to navigate those gut-punch moments when plans fall apart – Why flexibility and small wins are your best friends in a crisis – The surprising upside of letting go of “perfect plans” – The power of leaning on your network and asking for help – How self-compassion isn’t fluffy — it’s essential – One bonus tip to help you prepare for the unexpected 💡 Key Tips From the Episode Acknowledge the shock — Accept it, don’t bury it. Prioritise immediate actions — What must be done today? Stay flexible — Let go of perfect plans, adapt fast. Lean on your support network — Don’t try to do it alone. Focus on what you can control — Stay steady by narrowing your focus. Don’t be afraid to break commitments — Boundaries over burnout. Self-compassion matters — Stress is real and human. Look for silver linings — Find growth in the chaos.Bonus: Small habits now can make the big shocks easier later. 🔗 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 – 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 🎧 Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear these reminders. Everyone hits roadblocks — what matters is how we rise.

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