We dive into quality time as a workplace appreciation language, exploring how it manifests differently from personal relationships and impacts team dynamics. • Survey results from our Discord show Acts of Service (7 votes) and Words of Affirmation (2 votes) leading workplace appreciation languages • Quality Time breaks down into five distinct "dialects": focused attention, quality conversation, shared experiences, working together on tasks, and small group dialogue • Understanding which dial...

Understanding how people feel appreciated varies significantly between individuals, with five distinct appreciation languages determining what makes team members feel truly valued. • Words of affirmation can be delivered through praise for accomplishments, character affirmations, or personality trait recognition • Recognition delivery matters significantly – some prefer public praise while others find it mortifying • Understanding if someone prefers one-on-one, small group, or large group re...

We introduce our new miniseries on the five languages of appreciation in the workplace, exploring how concepts similar to love languages can be adapted to professional settings to help people feel valued. • The five languages of appreciation: words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, tangible gifts, and appropriate physical touch • Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White's book translates love languages to workplace settings • Understanding appreciation languages can help boost morale...

Bruce and Clark explore the psychological toll of work invading our dreams, sharing personal experiences with night terrors about professional stress and the death spiral that follows when we can't escape thoughts of work. • Work-related nightmares indicate dangerous blurring of work-life boundaries • The "death spiral" where work stress impacts sleep, preventing proper restoration • AI anxiety creating additional pressure about job security • Bruce's Newark Airport travel horror story invol...

We tackle the workplace dilemma of being asked to do work outside your job description and why saying "not my job" can damage your career. • Three key reasons behind "not my job" situations: resource gaps, skill mismatches, and prioritization issues • Why successful professionals avoid saying "not my job" even when tasks fall outside their responsibilities • Strategies for addressing work overload without damaging professional relationships • The importance of having honest conversations wit...

Bruce and Clark explore the delicate challenge of addressing personal issues like hygiene and verbal habits in professional settings while maintaining respect and professional boundaries. • A Reddit post about a manager telling an intern they smell bad while simultaneously offering them a permanent position • How managers can deliver difficult personal feedback constructively and with appropriate timing • The importance of directness when addressing personal issues that affect workplace dyna...

Bruce and Clark explore career development and the physical toll of work while dealing with their own injuries—Bruce recovering from toenail surgery and Clark nursing a broken toe. • Career advice for a 22-year-old uncertain about pursuing entrepreneurship or college • Testing business ideas through small, time-boxed experiments instead of all-or-nothing approaches • Whether career passion is achievable for everyone or just a luxury for the privileged • Finding satisfaction in work that migh...

Corporate training events seldom hit the mark, but through our collective experiences, we've identified what separates valuable learning from time-wasting theater. We explore the critical elements necessary to create impactful professional development experiences that respect participants' time and intelligence. • Different perspectives from outside your organization enhance learning even when covering familiar material • Keep sessions under two hours with adequate breaks to maintain engagem...

Understanding your workplace priorities through the CACC framework helps you evaluate potential employers and find the right fit for your career goals. • Culture assessment requires asking direct questions like "What kind of culture can I expect on your team?" • Follow up by asking if that culture is unique to the team or reflects the broader organization • Honest answers about organizational challenges often signal transparency and integrity • Challenge evaluation should be tailored to your...

We revisit our CACC framework for measuring workplace happiness, breaking down how Culture, Autonomy, Challenge, and Compensation create a personalized score to evaluate job satisfaction. • CACC stands for Culture, Autonomy, Challenge, with Compensation as an offset factor • Each person weighs these factors differently based on their individual priorities • Two years after introducing CACC, we've seen our scores improve through role evolution • Culture becomes more important when you can han...

We explore survival strategies for uncomfortable workplace situations that everyone faces but no one enjoys discussing. From overcrowded parties to endless meetings, we share practical tips for maintaining your sanity while still appearing engaged and professional. • Why hiding in the bathroom or retreating into your phone makes things worse • How to strategically position yourself at networking events by volunteering for useful tasks • The art of gamification: turning boring meetings into m...

Navigating the delicate balance of when to share sensitive information with your team is one of leadership's greatest challenges. We explore the ethics of transparency and how to determine when to tell your team the truth about difficult organizational changes. • Leaders must evaluate whether information directly impacts team members' personal lives • Return-to-office mandates warrant immediate disclosure so people can make necessary arrangements • Organizational changes not affecting your t...

The job market has dramatically shifted from the employee-friendly Great Resignation era to a period of "frozen" and "ghost" jobs that waste applicants' time. Our expert panel explores this pendulum swing and provides strategies for navigating today's challenging employment landscape. • Understanding the difference between frozen jobs (real positions not being filled) and ghost jobs (positions that don't actually exist) • How corporations are reclaiming power in the hiring process after post...

High performers often face pushback when they step outside their lane, despite consistently exceeding expectations in their core responsibilities. Management's response to ambition and initiative can make or break employee satisfaction and retention. • Managing perception as a high achiever requires understanding both organizational politics and your manager's motivations • Bad managers feel threatened by exceptional employees and restrict their growth without clear reasoning • Startup cultu...

Bruce and Clark explore embarrassing workplace moments and reminisce about social media evolution, from MySpace's customization to Facebook's strategic growth, while discussing cringe-worthy corporate experiences. • Reflecting on the rise and fall of various social media platforms • Bruce shares his transformative experience at a Panchakarma wellness retreat • The hosts catalog workplace embarrassments like camera mishaps on virtual calls • Stories about notorious office characters including...

Succession planning creates a complex challenge when you discover a talented team member lacks the critical skills needed to advance despite their strong desire to move up. • Valuable team members may excel in many areas but struggle with core competencies needed for advancement • Breaking problems into smaller components can help develop skills, but some abilities like creative thinking are difficult to train • Lateral moves can sometimes provide faster advancement opportunities than ...

LinkedIn has transformed from a professional networking platform into something resembling a bizarre hybrid of Facebook and Twitter where oversharing personal details has become disturbingly common. The platform now functions as a digital first impression for hiring managers who often check candidates' profiles before even reading their resumes. • LinkedIn posts range from wholesome professional updates to cringeworthy personal overshares • Successful professionals typically focus on promoti...

Social coach Sarah joins us to discuss the art of effective workplace communication and building confidence in professional interactions. We explore how making others feel valued is more important than what you actually say, and why being yourself beats trying to emulate "LinkedIn bros." • The true secret to successful conversations is focusing on how others feel, not on having perfect responses • Charisma is different from social skills – you don't need the former to excel at the latter • S...

Severance delves into the blurred lines between work and personal identity, engaging with the idea of separating these worlds. Through lively discussions, we explore the implications of current political climates at work, navigating conversations with openness and curiosity. • Dissecting the premise of Severance and its critique of corporate culture • Personal reflections on the potential decision to sever from work • Sharing recent personal updates about organizational succ...

Life’s chaos can often spark creativity and reflection, as evidenced by humorous anecdotes about workplace dynamics and personal experiences. This episode traverses topics like the genius behind grocery store marketing, the push for efficiency in team settings, and the whimsical narrative of the sad Pepsi Man. • Exploring personal chaos in everyday life • Humorous reflections on a foot injury and workplace absurdities • The art of grocery store Super Bowl displays • Balanci...