Fast Company Daily

Discover how the rise of remote work is blurring boundaries, leading to burnout and fragmentation of our days. Learn about Microsoft's findings on after-hours work and effective strategies to reclaim time. Hear tips on redesigning calendars and implementing meeting-free days to enhance productivity. Explore how top professionals prioritize deep work and use AI to optimize their workload. With health at risk from an infinite workday, setting boundaries has never been more crucial!

Discover the science behind employability, exploring what truly makes some jobs better than others. The discussion unveils how factors like pay, autonomy, and purpose influence job satisfaction. Learn how personality traits and family background play critical roles in career outcomes. Tomás emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and skill development in improving job prospects. The podcast also touches on the necessity for societal changes to expand access to quality jobs, advocating for education improvements and reduced inequality.

A Gen Z employee sparks a viral debate by requesting 10 days off for a breakup. The discussion centers around whether heartbreak should qualify as legitimate PTO. While U.S. workplaces typically lack formal policies for breakup leave, international examples show a more compassionate approach. Studies reveal emotional pain can affect work performance just like physical pain. As the idea of leave expands to cover various personal issues, the podcast explores the implications for empathy and support in the workplace.

Paul Taylor, a writer and researcher focused on attention and high performance, shares insights on optimizing mental energy. He explains how fixating on uncontrollable past or future events can drain focus and lead to anxiety. Highlighting a study, he notes most worries never materialize. Taylor emphasizes attentional control as a critical skill and offers practical strategies like mindful breathing and attention audits. He also discusses the importance of redirecting focus to meaningful actions, treating attention like mental currency.

Explore the intriguing reasons behind Paramount's decision to let go of Taylor Sheridan amidst leadership changes. Dive into the complexities of creative control and the personal tensions between Sheridan and the new CEO. Understand how such departures can disrupt employee trust and shake up company culture. As competitors eagerly court Sheridan, the discussion raises questions about the risk of losing talent to rivals and the cost implications that come with these high-stakes decisions.

Judith Humphrey, founder of the Humphrey Group and author on leadership communication, shares her insights on effective presentation skills. She argues that slides can dilute a speaker's presence and suggests skipping them unless absolutely necessary. Humphrey emphasizes the importance of using your voice and body language as the main visuals. Keeping slides simple and focused, she advises presenters to state their messages clearly and end with a compelling call to action. Her approach aims to inspire rather than inform through visuals.

Workers are increasingly abandoning corporate roles for solopreneurship, driven by inflexibility and job insecurity. A study shows solopreneurs can out-earn their corporate counterparts, making 25% more by year five. The pandemic reshaped priorities, with many seeking autonomy and meaningful work. Technology plays a crucial role, enabling individuals to start businesses cheaply and work independently. Solopreneurship particularly appeals to caregivers, offering the flexibility that traditional jobs often lack.

Increasingly, geopolitics is shaping who works, the location of work, and the type of work we get to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chantal Laurie, an executive coach and CEO of Redcliffe Coaching, dives into the world of receiving feedback. She highlights how feedback can trigger a threat response, encouraging listeners to embrace curiosity. Chantal suggests responding with gratitude, asking open-ended questions, and avoiding drastic behavior changes. She emphasizes the importance of incremental adjustments and shares personal anecdotes illustrating the career benefits of understanding how others perceive you. Transforming feedback into growth is not just a skill, but a pathway to professional impact.

Research on creativity shows that the people who come up with the best ideas are the ones who come up with the most ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices