Today’s letter writers are facing different challenges, but both are looking for the same thing: a way to anchor themselves when things are feeling stormy. One has reached a huge moment in their career—but stress in their personal life is threatening to derail them. The other has been looking for work so long they’re starting to forget who they are and what they care about. Listen in as Jen and Sara help these letter writers recenter themselves, build and lean on their communities, and find a path forward.Links:Sign up for Power Shift, our 9-week deep-dive into discovering who you really are as a leader. Sessions start February 6. Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

Today’s episode is all about ineffective leadership, and these letterwriters have a lot to say. One is fed up with their VP’s pattern of not advocating for their team…a pattern which seems to have cost their team tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses. The second writer is stuck in a culture of backbiting, fingerpointing, and a leadership team that even takes credit for other people’s work. Join Jen and Sara as they use insights from their latest research report to help these letterwriters get their power back at work—or decide when it’s time to exit gracefully.Links:Get your copy of the Managing this Moment research reportRead You Deserve a Tech UnionRead The Tech Worker’s Guide to UnionsCheck out the Tech Workers CoalitionJoin the Manager’s PlaybookGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

This week, we hear from letter-writers who are up for promotions at their workplaces—but are having some mixed feelings about accepting them. One is less than thrilled at the increased scope of operation tasks, but is scared to reject a sure thing and look for other opportunities.  Another has been promoted four times in the last eight years and wants a chance to settle in and grow their team. Join Jen and Sara as they help these letter-writers make sense of where and how they want to grow right now—with or without a title change.Links:Sign up for 1:1 coaching with Sara and Jen!Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

It’s a Very Special Episode of Per My Last Email! This week, Sara and Jen share updates from four previous letter writers. One was upset by their company’s unfair hiring practices. Another felt they had outgrown their current role, but was scared of moving on. Yet another was contemplating burning it all down and opening a juice bar far, far away. And our last writer was processing being ghosted after a layoff.So, what’s changed for these letter writers? Did they quit their jobs, get the closure they wanted, or otherwise change their work lives? And most importantly: how have they changed in the process? Join Sara and Jen as they find out!Links:Register now for Power Shift! Sessions start September 11thRead Work Won’t Love You BackGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

This week, we hear from letter-writers who are feeling trapped by their workplace relationships. One has a colleague who constantly escalates problems to management without talking to them first. Another quit their job a month ago, but is still being asked for free labor from their old workplace. Join Jen and Sara as they help these letter-writers prepare to have some difficult conversations, reset their barometers of what’s “normal” in the workplace, and decide what behavior they’re willing to accept from their coworkers moving forward.Links:Join us for Flip the Script on August 2!Got a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com

Today, Jen and special guest host Roberta Dombrowski tackle letters from “onlys”: folks who are the only woman, person of color, adoptee, etc. in their workplace. One writer is the only Black leader in their org navigating a disgruntled coworker who wants to take their job (and hands-off management to boot). Another is feeling frozen out by their former boss after a particularly personal-feeling layoff. Listen in as Jen and Roberta lend their coaching skills (and plenty of resources!) to help these listeners combat their “only loneliness.” Links:Join the Manager’s Playbook this AugustSay hi to Roberta and check out more of her workRead the latest Gallup report on loneliness at workCheck out Self-Compassion by Kristin NeffHere are 70+ questions to make sure your next role meets your needsRead Heal to Lead by Kelly CampbellGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.comCorrections:Internal Family Systems was developed by Richard Schwartz. Family systems theory was developed by Murray Bowen.

Explore challenges with workplace reputations, feedback, and corporate structures in this engaging podcast. Learn how to navigate biases, secret equity, and missed opportunities, while gaining insight on rebuilding self-esteem and embracing individual strengths in the workplace.

Managers share feedback struggles with underperforming employees. Discussions on balancing workload, providing constructive feedback, and nurturing team dynamics. Explore strategies for enhancing collaboration, navigating workplace conflicts, and resolving relationship issues.

This week’s letter writers are looking to change their relationships to work. One is wondering if it’s time to leave UX all together and monetize a hobby instead. The other is a budding thought leader…who gets the ick whenever they say “thought leader.” Sara and Jen have brought out all their best questions and resources to help these folks get unstuck and plan their next career move—without ignoring the human being at the center.Links:Don’t feel like an expert? Share anyway.Check out the new book Present Yourself from Women Talk DesignHone your Spiky Point of ViewJoin the Manager’s Playbook May cohortGot a work situation eating away at you? Send it to us! Submit your dilemma at PMLEshow.com.

Learn how to address challenging manager relationships and push back against oppression and gaslighting in the workplace. Explore effective communication strategies, setting personal boundaries, and finding joy outside of toxic environments.