The New Way We Work
Fast Company
Fast Company deputy editor Kathleen Davis takes listeners on a journey through the changing landscape of our work lives. Each episode explores the future of work, including the state of remote and hybrid work amid the return-to-office battle; how AI will change the way we do our jobs; the status of gender equity and DEI efforts; rethinking career ladders and ambition; motivation and what makes work meaningful; and the progress on mental health and disability issues at work. And as if all that isn’t enough, she also shares practical advice for interviews, résumés, and salary negotiations, as well as the latest office jargon, just how useful personality tests really are, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 10, 2019 • 30min
Myths About Introverts and Extroverts
There are many misconceptions about introverts and extroverts--introverts are shy, extroverts are not. The reality is that shyness has nothing to do with introversion or extraversion. Whether you're one or the other depends on how you draw your energy source. Do you recharge by being alone, or would you prefer to be surrounded with people? This week, Kate Davis and Anisa Purbasari Horton spoke to bestselling author and award-winning speaker Susan Cain about how to determine whether you're one or the other, why a lot of people fall somewhere in-between, and why the workplace is often designed in favor of extroverts.
Mar 27, 2019 • 28min
Is Creativity the Enemy of Productivity?
The creative process is long and messy. When you need to come up with a novel solution to a thorny problem is precisely when your brain seems to shut down. As Anisa Purbasari Horton and Kate Davis found out on this week’s episode of Secrets Of The Most Productive People, often our journey to creativity involves a lot of activity that seems “unproductive.” As psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman said, we need to change how we think about productivity when it comes to creativity—and embrace the non-linear path that comes with it.
Mar 13, 2019 • 27min
Is Mind Over Matter a Real Thing?
We spend most of our lives “in our heads,” processing the world and other people though our own beliefs and biases. Yet, most of us understand very little about how our brains really work, and what they are actually capable of. On this week’s episode of Secrets of the Most Productive People, We spoke to Tara Swart to understand exactly what our brains are capable of and how to build new neuro-pathways in our brain.
Feb 27, 2019 • 24min
How do you know if you're about to burn out?
Chronic stress and burnout are common occurrences in today’s workplace. About one in five “highly-engaged” U.S. workers reported experiencing some sort of burnout, according to a 2018 study conducted at the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence. This week, we spoke to former lawyer turned burnout and resilience expert Paula Davis-Laack about why our work and achievement-centric culture might be to blame, what signs we should look out for, and how we can prevent it from taking over our lives.
Feb 13, 2019 • 29min
How can we disconnect and manage digital distraction?
In today's modern environment, it's impractical to live a completely digital-free life. But as Newport points out, you can keep your smartphone and stay sane at the same time. The key is to practice digital minimalism, and spend your online time "on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else."
Jan 30, 2019 • 29min
How do you make a to-do list that works?
When it comes to one of productivity's most basic elements, the to-do list, everyone has their own approach. So in this episode of "Secrets of the Most Productive People" we talked to the creator of the popular bullet journal about how to figure out what system works for you.
Jan 16, 2019 • 29min
Four Day Work Week: Impossible Dream or Plausible Plan?
Shorter workweeks can improve productivity and boost morale. But while a 3-day weekend sounds great, American work culture and expectations aren't there yet. We talk to CEO and founder of FlexJobs, Sara Sutton, about the pros and cons of a 4 day workweek.
Jan 2, 2019 • 31min
How Can You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions?
So many of us (close to half of all Americans) make New Year's resolutions. The bad news is that just 8% of us will actually keep them all year.
Dec 19, 2018 • 3min
What Should You Expect in Season Two?
New Episodes of Secrets of the Most Productive People start January 2nd with "How Can You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions?" Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Oct 31, 2018 • 40min
Productivity Myths Busted! - Live from the Fast Company Innovation Festival
Are morning people more productive than night owls? Do successful people have to give up work-life balance? Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman and time management expert Laura Vanderkam busted some of the biggest productivity myths at the Fast Company Innovation Festival.
