This Working Life

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 And check out our companion episode for practical tips Try This: psychosocial safety tips edition

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 UniversityDr Adrian Camilleri - Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Technology Sydney Business SchoolBrigitte 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 SchoolThanks 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 griefCheck out our bonus episode Try This: grief at work edition for tips on how to talk to someone experiencing grief at workIf you need support, help is available at grief.org.auDiane is doing more research on grief at work, from the perspective of bereaved and non-bereaved employees. Click here to take the survey.

Videos of job applicants being interviewed by artificial intelligence avatars are being posted on social media.How can job seekers and recruiters navigate the AI-powered recruitment process in a way that keeps things human?  Guests: Dr Natalie Sheard, lawyer and McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne with expertise in discrimination by AI systems   Daryl Keeley, Managing Director, Macro Recruitment Emily B. DeJeu, Assistant Teaching Professor of Business Management Communication at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business For more information about cases of discrimination relating to the use of AI in hiring, check out the Law Report 

It's mid way through the year and many of us are still asking ourselves, ‘ Why are we here’ ? What is it about the culture of work that’s leading to that feeling? And what can we do about it?  Guest:Jennifer Moss, workplace culture strategist, author, Why Are We Here: Creating a Work Culture Everyone WantsThis story was first broadcast on 20th January, 2025

It's an important part of monitoring and improving performance, but when feedback is given or received in the “wrong” way, it can damage relationships and affect work. Here’s a masterclass to help you get better at giving and receiving feedback. Guests: Roisin McCann, facilitator who works with organisations to build leadership capacity and develop a better culture of feedback and strategic communication James Donald, senior lecturer, University of Sydney Business School

When you’re under the pump, it can feel like taking a break at work is impossible. But that can be habit forming, and bad for your physical and mental health. Learn the benefits of building breaks into your workday, and how to do it in a way that feels manageable. Guests:Kira Schabram, Assistant Professor of Management & Organisation at Smeal College of Business, The Pennsylvania State University Vanessa Miles, organisational psychologist, Transitioning Well

If you have trouble sleeping, work may be part of the equation. Here’s some expert tips on what works best to get a good night’s sleep, and advice some of you shared about your sleep hacks. Guest:Alex Sweetman, Senior Program Manager, Australasian Sleep Association You can apply to access Bedtime Window here.

Four in ten Australians are not getting enough sleep, and work could be a part of the problem.  Whether you work 9 – 5 or irregular hours, lack of sleep impacts performance, safety and can compound work stress. So how can you balance work responsibilities and sleep? Guests:Dr Moira Junge, CEO Sleep Health Foundation, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Monash UniversityDr Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, CQ University 

AI tools are making it easier for employers to gather data on where, when and how you're working. But when it comes to workplace surveillance, how do you find the balance between an employer’s need to know and protect staff, and their privacy?  Guests: Associate Professor Penny Williams, Director of the Centre for Decent Work and Industry and Senior Research Fellow in School of Management, QUT  Dr Dale Tweedie, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting & Corporate Governance, Macquarie University  Aaron McEwan, vice-president of research and advisory in HR at Gartner 

Being in charge means making decisions, and whether they’re right or wrong, managers often feel they need to make them in order to display leadership.  But in an uncertain world, the most successful leaders are recognising their blind spots before they act. We'll teach you how. Guest: Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM, author, columnist and expert in leadership and culture 

Career regret is a common phenomenon, so what practical advice is there for people who are at a career crossroads? Guests:  Leah Lambart, Career and Interview Coach, resident career expert for SEEK  Annie Louey, celebrant, comedian and writer who has experienced and interviewed others about career breaks