I Wish They Knew

IN THIS EPISODE: 

Chances are you've dealt with a jerk at work. But there's an even stronger likelihood that you've handled it the wrong way -- and possibly made a bad situation worse. In Episode 87, Tessa West deconstructs jerky behavior and helps us place it into a larger context. You'll learn how to identify different jerk profiles (they come in different shapes and sizes), how to gather helpful intel and allies, and how to resolve problems with losing your standing or sanity. This is a great conversation for anyone dealing with those tricky interpersonal dynamics at work and may even shed some light on our own subtle tendencies to play the part of the jerk without realizing it. After listening to Tessa, you'll have the smarts and savvy to detox the work relationships you love to hate.

ABOUT TESSA WEST: 

IN EPISODE 150: To say "no" to life's distractions and frustrations, we need to first know ourselves. IN Episode 150, Vanessa Patrick shows us how to make an "empowered refusal" based on our values, beliefs and identity. You'll learn how to set and adjust rules to protect your time and priorities, why the best no's are formed around personal policies, not excuses, what to do when someone won't take no for an answer, and how to say no to ourselves when temptations arise. There's an art and science to saying no -- and after listening to Vanessa, you'll learn how to say no without hurting your relationships and reputation.

IN EPISODE 147:

We've all been the target of a scam, fraud, or con - but we also allow ourselves to become the source. In Episode 147, Dan Simons and Christopher Chabris teach us the habits and hooks that make us more susceptible to bad actors and information. You'll learn why people spread misinformation without even realizing it, how our memories play a role in self-deception, the words and phrases that signal potential fraud, and the questions we can ask others and ourselves to stay alert. Even the best of us can fall for frauds - but after listening to Dan and Christopher, you'll be prepared to fight back.

ABOUT DAN SIMONS & CHRISTOPHER CHABRIS:

IN EPISODE 145:

It's one thing to resolve conflicts with people who are reasonable. But what can we do with those who aren't? The best way to gain power over a conflict is to give power away -- and in episode 145, Hesha Abrams shows us how to "hold the calm." You'll learn:

• Why it's more effective to name emotions than to blame actions

• How the brain receives and responds to information willingly

• Why you should use plural pronouns to activate reciprocity

• Ways to create space for listening

• Why it's better to focus on what others think and not what they say

We gain what we give…and after listening to Hesha, you'll gain the tools you need to "hold the calm" and get the outcomes you want!

ABOUT HESHA ABRAMS:

IN EPISODE 141:

Life would be so much easier if it weren't for other people, right? Learning how to deal with difficult people - especially when they're your boss - can be a gut-wrenching, angst-ridden experience, but it doesn't have to be a career killer. In Episode 141, Mary Abbajay shows us how to manage up without falling down. You'll learn how to identify and work alongside two distinct workplace personas, how to spot and maneuver around three dominant personality types, and why you shouldn't leave your success to someone else. Whether your boss is a micromanager, ghost or flat-out narcissist, Mary has practical tips to help you become a career victor, not victim.

ABOUT MARY ABBAJAY:

Mary Abbajay is president of Careerstone Group, which provides talent and organizational development solutions for business and government. She's also the author of the best-selling, award winning book, Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets, and she's the co-host of the weekly workplace advice podcast, "Cubicle Confidential."

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Twitter: @maryabbajay

IN EPISODE 139:

Confident presenters don't just prepare -- they follow a process. In Episode 139, Andrea Pacini shares the steps that lead to powerful presentations. You'll learn how to S.C.OR.E. a memorable message, how to put the audience at the center of your story, and why three is the luckiest number for every presenter. No matter your role, presentations are a part of life -- and after listening to Andrea, you'll develop the confidence to deliver a message that informs and transforms audiences every time.

ABOUT ANDREA PACINI:

Part 3 in a special series: "Things I Know" // Feedback has a negativity problem - it's so closely associated with criticism and correction that we forget it can be positive, too. Positive feedback improves individual performance and team effectiveness. And the best part? It's the surest, simplest way to make people feel better and do better work. From getting hospital staff to wash their hands more thoroughly to delivering happiness for 1/10 the cost, I explore how positive feedback is positively amazing.

Part 2 in a special series: "Things I Know" // Feedback tells a story. And while we don't get to write the script, we always get to choose the ending. With the right mix of intention and attention, we can flip the feedback script and take charge of how others see us...and how we see ourselves. In this solo episode, I explore five ways to write a better ending to the feedback we didn’t want from the beginning.  

Part 1 in a special series: "Things I Know" // There's no feedback without failure. The first step in righting a wrong is to recognize that something is wrong: Unless we bring ourselves to acknowledge a mistake or misstep, feedback hits a wall. Failing to admit failure cost doctors their careers...and maybe even cost patients their lives. In this solo episode, I explore why failure is the best teacher and offer some ideas on how to absorb its lessons for success.

IN EPISODE 133:

It pays to work smarter, not harder -- but the biggest time savers may come through small shifts. In Episode 133, Amantha Imber shares smart tips for saving time. Drawing from the practices of top producers, Amantha explores how to conduct a "frustration audit"; why batching conserves time and focus; the time-saving benefits of seeking early-stage feedback; and why you should occasionally "kill zombies" in the workplace. We're all given the same amount of time in a day, but after listening to Amantha, you'll make the most of your time.

ABOUT AMANTHA IMBER:

IN EPISODE 132:

You can't reach the consumer unless you understand the culture. In Episode 132, Marcus Collins shows us how effective marketing stays close to the culture by embracing the stories, values and beliefs of the people inside it. Marcus explains why it's better for products and ideas to be "culturally contagious," not viral; why marketing to specific demographics misses the point; and how to infuse marketing with ethical purpose. Regardless of your job, persuasion and marketing is everyone's business -- and after listening to Marcus, you'll know how make your message land and last.

ABOUT MARCUS COLLINS:

IN EPISODE 131:

When it comes to conflict, avoidance is worse than aggression. We tip toe around the elephant in the room -- even as we continue to feed it with beliefs and behaviors that make conflict worse. In Episode 131, Sarah Noll Wilson explores the cost of conflict and why it pays to be curious  - first with ourselves (our feelings and expectations), then with others (their motives and behaviors). She shares specific strategies for engaging others in hard conversations, describes the importance of recovery, and highlights ways to frame the exchange. After listening to Sarah, you'll find the words and will to stay curious -- and make difficult conversations just a bit easier.

ABOUT SARAH NOLL WILSON:

Sarah Noll Wilson is an executive coach, speaker and researcher who helps leaders manage real-world conflict, have more meaningful conversations, and create purposeful relationships. Her work has appeared in major outlets like Harvard Business Review and she hosts a great podcast, "Conversations on Conversations." Sarah's most recent book is "Don't Feed the Elephants: Overcoming the art of avoidance to build powerful partnerships

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IN EPISODE 130:

We imagine that success will feel exhilarating, liberating and fulfilling. So why do so many people experience the exact opposite when they finally achieve it? In Episode 130, Laura Gassner Otting explores the rollercoaster ride of success - an increased desire to do more, achieve more, and the swirling mix of uncertainty, self-doubt, anxiety and stress that follows. Laura shares practical tips for staying grounded and clear-eyed in the pursuit of our goals, offers suggestions for maintaining focus and clarity, and reveals the people in her inner circle who keep her hungry and humble. Success is a waypoint, not an endpoint - and after listening to Laura, you'll find your way to more success and satisfaction.

ABOUT LAURA GASSNER OTTING:

IN EPISODE 129: To build a business or an organization, you need an ensemble. And the best way to do that is to find your watering holes. In Episode 129, Pamela Slim helps us identify our ideal customers and partners through a systematic approach. By creating the "widest net," we can operate within the right ecosystems, forge strategic partnerships with the right people, and nurture relationships the right way. 

IN EPISODE 128:

Innovation isn't about producing more ideas. It's about focusing more on the right ideas. In Episode 95, innovation expert Stephen Shapiro provides a roadmap for achieving breakthrough innovation by revealing the invisible solutions that are hiding in plain sight. He outlines a four-part process to create new ideas ("FAST") and how organizations can become future-ready innovators by reframing problems, asking the right questions and broadening their range of expertise. From baggage carousels to cardiology breakthroughs, Stephen explains how the biggest innovations are right in front of us - if we're willing to reveal them. 

ABOUT STEPHEN SHAPIRO:

IN EPISODE 127: 

Why do we do what we do? It turns out the traditional view of motivation - a system of rewards and repercussions - doesn't account for the highly nuanced, deeply ingrained factors that drive our behaviors and beliefs. To understand motivation, we need to crack the code - and that's exactly what Todd Henry does for us in Episode 127. Drawing on decades of research and interviews with over 100,000 people, Henry shows that motivation is hardly one size fits all: Some people are energized by a race against the clock while others put in extra effort only when they feel part of a team. For still others, nothing is as motivating as the possibility of public recognition. Henry shows, in fact, that there are twenty-seven “motivational themes,” each with its own unique DNA. After hearing this episode, you'll have a better understanding of what makes people tick - including yourself.

ABOUT TODD HENRY:

IN EPISODE 126:

We spend most of our day communicating, but spend far less time thinking about the significance of our words. In Episode 126, Jonah Berger returns to the show to share the power of "magic words" - how small shifts in everyday language can help us get the outcomes we want, from boosting voter turnout to increased helpfulness and around the house and stronger customer service. By appreciating how language works and how we can use it, and understanding the power of magic words, we can increase our impact in every aspect of our lives.

ABOUT JONAH BERGER:

Jonah Berger is a Marketing Professor at Wharton, an internationally bestselling author, and a world‐renowned expert on change, word of mouth, social influence, consumer behavior, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. Jonah's work has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review and he's consulted for  organizations like Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, GE, 3M, and The Gates Foundation. Jonah's most recent book is Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way.

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IN EPISODE 124: 

Some of our best relationships begin with a good disagreement. In Episode 124, Kim Scott offers fresh takes on radical candor and shares why we don't need to choose between love and truth. We explore how radical candor should look and feel (and debunk myths about how to use it); discuss how candor can be used, no matter your personality type; highlight techniques to seek authentic feedback; and identify the surprising ways radical candor has been applied in the field. The only way out of discomfort is through...and after listening to Kim, you'll be ready to bring more candor and caring to life's most important conversations. 

ABOUT KIM SCOTT:

IN EPISODE 120:

Chances are you work with someone a generation above or below you. And chances are you find that person irritating, bewildering, or just utterly different. Generational friction causes all sorts of workplace headaches: team dysfunction, productivity drags and the occasional culture war. In Episode 120, Chris DeSantis offers sound and straightforward advice on managing across the generational divide.  From mentorship and sharing feedback to recognizing and amplifying talent, Chris will help you see generational differences as a strength, not a liability  -- and use those insights to create a healthier, more engaged workplace.

ABOUT CHRIS DESANTIS:

IN EPISODE 119:

Collaboration is an essential part of work, but whether it leads to breakthroughs or breakdowns depends on our approach. In Episode 119, Deb Mashek explores ways to drive stronger relationships that push people together, not apart. We discuss the importance of shared purpose, how to build viewpoint diversity, ways organizations can foster collaboration and the behaviors that forge tighter workplace bonds. After listening to Deb, you'll stop the collaboration hate...and might even celebrate!

ABOUT DEB MASHEK:

IN EPIS0DE 118:

Virtual presentations aren't going away anytime soon. In order to connect and communicate with online audiences, we need a plan and a process. As Chief Strategy Officer at Duarte, a leading communications firm, Patti Sanchez knows a thing or two about making powerful presentations. In today's episode, we explore ways to communicate online with impact, including:

• Make the audience the hero with your "sparkline"
• Grab and keep the audience's attention and keep them distraction-free
• Maximize your message with "human tech" - your voice, pitch and expression

ABOUT PATTI SANCHEZ:

IN EPISODE 117:

Listening is a skill, a strategy and a practice -- and it's something we often get wrong. In Episode 117, Oscar Trimboli teaches us how to listen deeply for what is unsaid. We explore five levels of listening, identify four listener behaviors that interfere with understanding, and lay out specific techniques to improve our listening superpowers. Oscar presses Joe on his own listening habits and hang-ups, and they discuss the surprising discoveries that Oscar has made after studying listening for almost three decades. After listening to Oscar, you'll never listen quite the same again.

ABOUT OSCAR TRIMBOLI:

IN EPISODE 116:

You've worked with all sorts of personality types. Get ready to get reacquainted with the "cactus" and the "snowflake" -- thinkers and feelers whose opposing styles often collide.  In Episode 116, Devora Zack shows us how the rationale and sensitive can get along and even thrive side by side. We debunk popular myths and misconceptions about personality types, highlight useful ways to identify these styles in your workforce, explore ways to deal with team friction, and talk tips on giving effective feedback to others, regardless of their style.

ABOUT DEVORA ZACK:

IN EPISODE 114:

Stress is a constant, but burnout is a choice -- and if we tap our emotional intelligence, we can stop burnout before it sets in. In Episode 114, Dr. Kandi Wiens shares her research and strategies for achieving burnout immunity. She explores the concept and causes of burnout; shares the tools that leaders across all industries can use to keep burnout rates low among their teams; and offers three questions people can ask themselves to recover and heal from burnout. After listening to Kandi, you'll learn how to get out of burnout and restore a sense of wholeness in your personal and professional life! 

ABOUT KANDI WIENS:

Dr. Kandi Wiens is a Senior Fellow at The University of Pennsylvania where she's taught at the Wharton Executive Education program and Graduate School of Education. Kandi is also an executive coach and speaker, a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, and is the author of the forthcoming book, Burnout Immunity: How to Use Your Emotional Intelligence to Develop Resilience and Heal from Work.

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