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Join Dr. Janel Anderson for actionable insights on leadership, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. Rooted in UX Thinking, these episodes help you lead by design—not default—with practical strategies to boost your clarity, effectiveness, and influence in today’s fast-changing, tech-driven workplace. Tune in for practical strategies, cutting-edge trends, and fresh perspectives that help you lead better, work smarter, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.
263 Episodes
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You are doing all the right things at work, but somehow your name never comes up when promotion decisions are made. The problem is not your performance. It is the gap between the quality of your work and the breadth of your reputation. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares five strategies for building professional visibility without feeling like you are bragging. She covers how to identify the decision-makers above your direct manager, narrate your accomplishments using a simple story arc, take up space in meetings with senior leaders, pursue internal mobility, and turn your track record into a reputation that travels. If you have ever felt invisible despite delivering great results, this episode gives you a clear, actionable path forward.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/262
If you struggle to speak up in meetings, silence feels safe. But it isn't neutral. When you consistently hold back, people fill that quiet with their own assumptions about what you know and how much you have to contribute. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson reframes the real reason most people stay quiet at work: it isn't introversion, it's fear of judgment. She shares four concrete techniques to help you get out of your head and into the conversation, starting with your very next meeting. If you're tired of leaving meetings with your best ideas still unsaid, this episode is for you.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/261
Getting passed over for a promotion is one of the hardest career moments to sit with, especially when you were certain you were the obvious choice. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson walks you through exactly what to do next. She shares a framework for processing the disappointment without stewing in it, and then gets tactical: she identifies five specific gaps to diagnose (visibility, skills, advocacy, timing, and what she calls the invisible ceiling) and walks through how to seek honest feedback from the people who made the decision. She also breaks down the stay-or-go question with clear criteria for both paths. If you have been passed over and are not sure what to do with that, this episode gives you a plan.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/260
Episode 259: You’re Probably Doing 1:1 Meetings Wrong In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explains the true purpose and importance of one-on-one meetings with employees. She introduces the “Focus, Friction, Forward Motion” framework, offering managers strategies to ensure these meetings foster alignment, psychological safety, and trust, rather than devolving into status updates or being canceled when things get busy. Through practical questions and actionable advice, Dr. Janel Anderson shows how well-designed one-on-ones detect problems early, increase engagement, and support career development. Whether you’re a manager or an individual contributor, you’ll find useful guidance for structuring meaningful conversations that drive productivity and strengthen workplace relationships.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/259
Episode 258: How to Onboard a New Employee In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson dives into the art of effective onboarding for new employees. Drawing from personal experience and practical strategies, she explains how a thoughtful onboarding process shapes psychological safety, sets clear expectations, and leaves a lasting impression. From building relationships and limiting cognitive overload to establishing feedback loops and avoiding common mistakes, Dr. Janel Anderson offers actionable advice to help managers design a seamless, intentional, and supportive experience for their newest team members. Whether you’re a new manager or seasoned leader, you’ll find valuable insights for creating a strong foundation for your direct reports.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/258
Episode 257: I Just Got Promoted. What Should I Do in My First 30 Days? In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down exactly what new engineering managers should focus on during their first 30 days. She offers a practical, phased approach: first observing and learning the team’s culture, then stabilizing through clarifying expectations and scoring quick wins, and finally aligning with both the team and leadership to prevent common missteps. With actionable tips such as running listening sessions, mapping work realities, and setting thoughtful norms, she guides new managers to succeed by design, not by default. Whether you’re newly promoted or stepping in from the outside, this episode is full of smart strategies for a strong start.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/257
Episode 256: When Everything Feels Urgent: A Smarter Way to Prioritize In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson tackles the challenge of prioritizing work when everything feels urgent, especially for new technical managers. She explains how sudden increases in cognitive load can lead to overwhelm and reactivity, rather than true prioritization. Drawing on user experience thinking and executive coaching frameworks, she introduces the Eisenhower Matrix as a practical tool for managing workload, distinguishing urgency from importance, and reducing mental clutter. Listeners will find actionable strategies to move beyond constant firefighting, focus on high-impact tasks, and create the “white space” essential for effective leadership and proactive management.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/256
Episode 255: Before Your Next Hard Conversation, Do ThisIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares her updated seven-step methodology for navigating difficult conversations at work. She breaks down the essentials, from naming the real issue and separating facts from assumptions to pressure testing your opening language and anticipating responses. With practical examples and guidance, Dr. Janel offers a high-level overview of her Hard Conversation Checklist, designed primarily for technical managers but valuable for anyone facing challenging discussions. Whether you’re preparing for a planned conversation or responding in the moment, this episode gives you actionable strategies to handle tough workplace conversations with clarity and confidence.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/255
Episode 254: Why Smart People Struggle with Change at WorkIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson uses her own office relocation as a case study for understanding why organizational change is so challenging. She explores the emotional impacts of not having control, the meaning of resistance as feedback, and how shifting situations can disrupt our professional identities. Drawing from both her recent experience and earlier career examples, Dr. Janel offers insight into why even smart, capable people struggle with change at work. Whether you’re leading change or living through it, this episode will help you find empathy and practical guidance for navigating transitions in any workplace environment.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/254
Episode 253: Hybrid Work Isn’t Broken. The Infrastructure Is.In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson examines the true barriers to successful remote and hybrid work. Drawing on an opinion piece by Justin Harlan of Tulsa Remote, she argues that productivity and career stagnation aren’t failures of remote work itself, but rather the result of not intentionally designing for human connection. Dr. Janel explains how programs like Tulsa Remote succeed by treating community as infrastructure, not a perk. She encourages listeners to identify and redesign structural gaps in their own organizations, inspiring a more deliberate approach to connection, collaboration, and career growth in the modern workplace.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/253
Episode 252: What a Coffee Spill Taught Me About LeadershipIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores how everyday mistakes, like forgetting a coffee cup under the Keurig, reveal deeper leadership lessons. She explains the difference between slips and mistakes, and why it’s important to design systems that can anticipate our human errors. Using relatable stories, Dr. Janel makes the case for building “reservoirs” in organizational life, like buffers and recovery systems that prevent small human errors from turning into disasters. With practical examples and a human-centered lens, this episode empowers listeners to rethink accountability and design workplaces where being human and making mistakes are expected and gracefully managed for better outcomes.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/252
Episode 251: What Your Calendar Says About Your ValuesIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the connection between how we spend our time and what we truly value. She reveals that our calendars, as well as the daily routines outside of scheduled events, offer the clearest insight into our real priorities, often more so than mission statements or lists of stated values. Through personal stories and practical examples, she guides listeners in interpreting their calendars as “treasure maps” to their core values and offers gentle suggestions for recalibrating priorities. Whether in work or personal life, you’ll discover actionable ways to align your time with what matters most to you.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/251
Episode 250: Make it Obvious: The Leadership Cost of Being UnclearIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the concept of affordances and how it applies to leadership. Affordances make the next action or purpose of something obvious. Through everyday examples like doors, curb cuts, captions, and kitchen tools, she highlights the power of affordances. Dr. Janel shares three key ways leaders can maximize affordances: through visibility, clear priorities, and structured one-on-one meetings to remove guesswork and boost team effectiveness. Listeners will discover how intentional clarity helps reduce confusion, speed up decision-making, and foster engagement. Regardless of your role, this episode offers practical advice for making your leadership style unmistakably clear and impactful.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/250
Episode 249: Better Leadership by DesignIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the parallels between great user experience design and effective leadership. Drawing on principles from UX and situational leadership, she explains how leaders can optimize their approach by considering the specific context, task, and developmental stage of each employee. Rather than relying on a fixed leadership style, she advocates making intentional leadership choices that respond to individual needs. With practical questions and real-world examples, Dr. Janel offers listeners a fresh perspective on adaptability and responsiveness in leadership, encouraging them to fine-tune their approach for maximum impact and minimal friction in any situation. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/249
Episode 248: Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Bold Predictions for 2026In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares her three bold predictions for 2026, focusing on the evolving landscape of leadership under uncertainty. She anticipates more frequent system outages in large cloud infrastructures, a greater need for partnerships with HR and legal teams as AI blurs the line between real and synthetic evidence, and a shift toward valuing slow, deliberate decision-making in leadership. Dr. Janel also recaps her accurate predictions for 2025 and offers practical advice for leaders who want to navigate complexity thoughtfully. This episode provides timely insights for anyone guiding teams through rapid change.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/248
Episode 247: Unleashing Your Creativity with The Artist’s WayIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the transformative power of Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way. She walks listeners through its process aimed at unlocking creativity and designing a more intentional life and work experience. From the discipline of daily morning pages to the joy of weekly artist dates, she shares practical ways the book fosters creative breakthroughs, whether you’re an artist, leader, or simply seeking new ideas. Drawing on decades of personal experience, Dr. Janel Anderson illustrates how embracing creative maintenance can lead to greater fulfillment and innovation, both personally and professionally.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/247
Episode 246: Culture Redesign: Instagram Eliminates Meetings and PowerPointIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson unpacks Instagram’s bold organizational redesign. Moving far beyond a simple return-to-office mandate, Instagram is canceling most meetings, ditching habitual PowerPoint use, and ramping up prototyping as a core driver of collaboration. Dr. Janel Anderson explores how these changes are designed not just to foster productivity but to create a truly engaging in-person work culture. Listeners will gain fresh insights into reimagining company culture, reclaiming creative time, and encouraging psychological safety, ideas leaders in any industry can use to build teams that thrive on collaboration and innovation in today’s evolving workplace. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/246
Episode 245: The Best Email I Ever Wrote (Just Three Sentences)In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson unpacks the art of crafting ultra-effective, ultra-brief emails that get rapid, thoughtful responses, even from the busiest executives. Sharing a real-life example from her executive coaching practice, she breaks down why her three-option, 10-second check-in email worked so well and how you can apply user experience principles to internal communication. Listeners will discover actionable strategies for reducing cognitive load, preserving politeness, creating psychological safety, and strengthening professional relationships. Whether you manage teams or communicate with overloaded colleagues, this episode offers practical tips to transform your emails into tools for clarity, kindness, and faster replies.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/245
Episode 244: Late, Over-Budget, and Totally Worth It: Behind the Scenes on a Big ProjectIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson takes listeners behind the scenes of her recent website and demo reel project, sharing three powerful lessons learned along the way. From scrapping an entire first draft to making tough choices for the sake of clarity and working with exceptional partners, she outlines how pursuing excellence often means embracing the messy middle. Dr. Janel applies her experience in user experience and design thinking, offering practical insights for anyone undertaking a major project. No matter your role or industry, this episode provides hard-earned wisdom to help you navigate challenges, make bold decisions, and create outstanding results.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/244
Episode 243: Embracing Healthy Disagreement for Stronger Teams and Sharper DecisionsIn this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the strategic benefits of healthy disagreement in teams. Drawing on research and real-world examples from leaders like Jeff Bezos and experts in psychological safety, she highlights how thoughtfully managed disagreement leads to better decisions, sharper thinking, and stronger collaboration. Dr. Janel shares practical approaches for designing disagreement into team culture, from establishing norms to structuring debate and modeling calm dissent. Whether you’re a manager or a team member, you’ll learn actionable principles for turning conflict into a catalyst for innovation and building high-performing teams that thrive on constructive debate and diverse perspectives.Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/243
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