You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.
Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.
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You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.
Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.
What are the best ways to learn at work, and how can you make that new information stick?
Understand the science of learning and how online courses and workshops can be designed to optimise motivation and opportunities to practise.
Guests:
Michelle Ockers, Founder and Chief Learning Strategist, Learning Uncut
Ryan Jesson, cognitive scientist, School of Psychology, University of Queensland
New research has uncovered early warning signs of burnout that could help you get on top of it, before it goes too far. Learn strategies to identify these signs, recover from work stress and prevent burnout.
Dr Ben Searle, organisational psychologist, consultant and researcher
Luke Martin, Senior specialist and clinical spokesperson, Beyond Blue
For more details on Ben’s Recovember Challenge follow him on LinkedIn or visit his website
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, call Beyond Blue for free 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via email or webchat at www.beyondblue.org.au/getsupport
You might like to check out our episode The Burnout Shop featuring pioneer of burnout theory, Christina Maslach.
A Westpac employee with parental responsibilities was recently awarded the right to work from home five days a week, by the Fair Work Commission.
How might this decision affect business hiring practices, and the working conditions parents are allowed by their bosses in future?
Guests:
Dr Giuseppe Carabetta, Associate Professor of workplace and business law with the UTS Business School
Emma Walsh, CEO Parents at Work
For more information and free resources for small organisations visit https://familyfriendlyworkplaces.com/
Have you ever turned up to work and thought...where is everyone?! Empty offices and flexible work is part of the reason why so many people are experiencing work loneliness, but it's not the whole picture.
We explore how organisations can diagnose work loneliness and build more connected workplaces.
Guest:
Connie Noonan Hadley, organisational psychologist, Research Associate Professor, Boston University Questrom School of Business and Founder, Institute for Life at Work.
And big thanks to "Jade" for sharing their experience of loneliness at work.
Lisa is joined by Panio Gianopolous, co-founder and editorial director of the Next Big Idea Club, as they each nominate three non-fiction books related to work that have changed the way they work and live.
Tune in to Radio National’s Top 100 Books countdown, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October from 1pm. Or catch up anytime on the ABC Listen app.
Panio’s picks:
The Work of Art: How Something Comes from Nothing by Adam Moss
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success by Angela Duckworth
Lisa’s picks:
The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman
Improv Wisdom, Patricia Ryan Madson
The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
Extra pick:
Atomic Habits, James Clear
How can reorganisations, restructures and redundancies be managed in a way that works for everyone?
With obligations to manage psychosocial hazards now front of mind, this process has never been more important.
Guests:
Melinda Bell, partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Melbourne
Leonie Green, founder and consultant, Conscious Workplace
Also check out our related episode Your role is being made redundant, now what?
There are lessons you can take from the careers of David Bowie and Oprah about identity and authenticity.
Being “authentic” in your life and career is something we’re told to aspire to. But can that be taken too far?
Dr Tomas, Chamorro- Premuzic, Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and Columbia University, author, Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is overrated and what to do instead
Julianna Pillemer, Assistant Professor of Management and Organisations, NYU Stern School of Business
Need help organising your desk or kitchen table workspace? Get decluttering tips that will help clear your mind and your home.
Guest:
Amy Revell, decluttering expert
When you validate someone, it shows that you’re there, you get it and you care, even if you don't agree with their point of view.
Learn the difference between validation and praise, and how you can use the former to strengthen relationships and build influence at work.
Guest:
Dr Caroline Fleck, licensed psychologist, corporate consultant and author, Validation: The New Psychology of Influence
Whether you approve of it or not, research shows gossip does have value within organisations, especially when it’s used positively.
Learn how you can harness gossip to improve relationships and communication with colleagues.
Guests:
Amy Gallo, workplace expert and contributing editor, Harvard Business Review. Author, Getting Along: how to work with anyone
James Greenslade-Yeats, Research Fellow in Management, Auckland University of Technology
Learn how to build co-operation rather than war, between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.
Instead of leaning on stereotypes, there are ways to work to the strengths of people in teams that include multiple generations.
Guests:
Megan Gerhardt, Professor at Farmer School of Business, Miami University and co-author of Gentelligence
Florence Potter, founding director, No umbrellas
We've reached the one year anniversary of the right to disconnect regulations, which now also apply to small businesses.
What are the challenges of managing this change to the ways we contact each other outside of work hours, and how is it impacting work life balance?
Guests:
Anna Volkova, People and Culture leader, Hi Bob
Matthew Addison, Chair, Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA)
Lisa Heap, senior researcher and labour lawyer, Centre for Future Work, Australia Insitute
And thanks to Jeromine Alpe from Corporate Diversity Pathways for sharing her tips for small businesses
More information for small businesses navigating the right to disconnect can be found at www.smallbusinesspeak.org.au
Soon more people will be leaving the workforce than joining it, but most organisations don't encourage older workers to stay on and thrive.
Experts say redesigning work to retain mature-age workers across the life cycle is part of the solution to Australia’s ageing population and productivity challenges.
We explore how planning for "longevity work" across the career cycle, can help eliminate bias and ageism well before workers hit retirement age.
Guests:
Daniela Andrei, Associate Professor in the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University, Associate Investigator with CEPAR Stream 3, Organisations and the Mature Workforce
Chris Eaton, General manager, People and Culture, Chobani
And thanks to contributors:
Julian Williams, Maturious, a talent platform for hidden mature age talent
Alison Hernandez, co-founder, Recreate100
Michele Lemmens, longevity work advocate, strategic innovation expert
Everyone at work plays a part in preventing psychosocial hazards, including you.
We ask an expert how to create a psychosocially safe workplace, and why it's important.
Guest:
Dr Laura Kirby, chief psychologist, Australian Psychological Services
Check out our companion episode: What are we getting wrong about psychosocial safety? , featuring Professor Amy Edmondson from Harvard Business School and Dr Rachael Potter, research lead and expert in psychosocial safety, Uni of South Australia.
There’s confusion about the terms psychological safety and psychosocial safety in workplaces, so what’s the difference?
Leading expert on psychological safety, Professor Amy Edmondson, and researcher Rachael Potter explain.
Plus, are Australia's regulations around psychosocial hazards making a difference to workplace safety and productivity?
Guests:
Amy C. Edmondson, Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School
Dr Rachael Potter, research lead specialising in psychosocial factors and workplace safety at the University of South Australia
It’s estimated we make up to 35,000 decisions every day so how can you make better decisions at work?
Before you start drawing up pros and cons lists, listen to this episode to hear how you can make decisions with less stress and a lot more satisfaction - from small everyday ones, to big ones like changing career.
Guests:
Dr Ellen Langer - Professor of Psychology, Harvard University. Author, The Mindful Body.
Dr Janneke Blijlevens - Senior Lecturer in Experimental Methods, RMIT University
Dr Adrian Camilleri - Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Technology Sydney Business School
Brigitte Duclos - Counsellor
This story was first broadcast on 11 February 2024
We can learn a lot about gaining influence when you don't have power, from those who work on Capitol Hill.
A leadership adviser reveals how Congressional Chiefs of Staff navigate a volatile political environment, with challenging bosses.
This is a masterclass in how to manage up and build relationships that can further your career.
Guest: Margie Warrell, Leadership advisor, author The Courage Gap
Have you ever been told that if you follow your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life? As it turns out, the research doesn’t support that narrative.
We explore what’s really going on with passion at work, and discover how to sustain and nurture it over time.
Guest:
Jon M. Jachimowicz, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
Thanks to Renata, Yin and Melissa for sharing their stories and advice.
It can be hard to know what to say when your colleague or employee is going through a difficult time.
We explore how to support someone who is dealing with grief.
Guest:
Tasha Broomhall, founder and Director of Blooming Minds
Also check out our companion episode: How to handle grief at work
The death of a loved one, a divorce, an illness, a job loss or another challenging personal issue will be experienced by just about everyone in the workplace at some point.
What are the practical, and emotional considerations that can help?
Guests:
Diane Bergeron, social psychologist and Senior research scientist at the Centre for Creative Leadership
Chris Hall, Psychologist & CEO of Grief Australia, an independent, not for profit organisation, striving to change the way Australia lives with grief
If you need support, help is available at grief.org.au
Diane is doing more research on grief at work, from the perspective of bereaved and non-bereaved employees. Click here to take the survey.
You spend so much time on work, why accept the status quo, when there are ways to do it better? Get expert advice, research and hacks that will crush your inertia.
Join Lisa Leong and other This Working Lifers as we experiment and explore the latest in the world of work.
We cover policy issues, like hybrid workplaces and remote work, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, the use of AI, employee surveillance, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion. We talk about progress on wider issues that relate to work, like work life balance, organisational change, restructures, and casualisation. On This Working Life our focus is on everything related to the people in a workplace too, including culture, individual experiences, performance management and career advice.