Discover
WorkLife with Adam Grant

WorkLife with Adam Grant
Author: TED
Subscribed: 68,189Played: 675,804Subscribe
Share
© TED: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-com-terms-of-use#h2--copyright-issues-and-licenses
Description
You spend a quarter of your life at work. You should enjoy it! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. From learning how to love your rivals to harnessing the power of frustration, one thing’s for sure: You’ll never see your job the same way again.
34 Episodes
Reverse
We usually wear our thickest armor at work, and Brené Brown has blazed the trail of teaching us why—and how to shed it. In this conversation, Adam and Brené unpack the power of showing vulnerability at work—and explore how much is too much. Learn when and where to set boundaries, find out how to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and hear Brené rethink a key assumption that she took for granted in her own work.
JJ Abrams joins as the interviewer for an exclusive first look at Adam's forthcoming book: “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know.” Together, they illuminate strategies for maintaining humility, curiosity, and mental flexibility in a world that rewards confidence, conviction, and foolish consistency. Plus, JJ shares some of his favorite rethinking moments from writing “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” producing “Lost,” and directing an episode of “The Office.”
Burnout seems to be everywhere. But it’s not inevitable. Come inside some high-pressure workplaces that have figured out how to fight exhaustion by redesigning jobs—and changing cultures.
Many workplaces have become increasingly lonely, even before the coronavirus pandemic made more of us literally remote. It’s not just an unpleasant feeling—loneliness can hurt our health and our job performance. Find out why it's time for happy hours to finally die—and how it might take less than a minute to start building real connections.
Most of us negotiate in one of two ways: either you roll right over the other party, or you just roll over. But great negotiators refuse to believe that we have to choose between results and relationships. Sharpen your negotiation skills for both business and life with evidence and insights from a trio of negotiators who transformed their styles—and one who pulled off one of the most consequential agreements in human history.
To find transcripts for WorkLife, head to TED.com/series/worklifewithadam_grant
As we age, we often feel like the clock starts ticking on our careers. But there are ways to sustain—and even gain—excellence over time. Meet a musician whose career ended too soon, and an entrepreneur and a social media star who defied the stereotypes on professional decline. They illuminate steps that fuel great second and third acts.
Exclusive: In his first public interview since WeWork’s collapse, former Chief Growth Officer David Fano opens up about the company’s leadership and culture. We go deep on the rewards and risks of charismatic leadership and bold visions, the differences between strong cultures and cults, and how a meteoric rise can come crashing down.
"We’ve all answered our share of cringeworthy interview questions—and watched managers pick the wrong person while rejecting the right one. Is it time to delegate hiring decisions to algorithms? Find out what the experts recommend, and meet a pair of leaders who have reimagined the interview process by ignoring credentials and refusing to look at resumes.
"Just be yourself." That's popular work advice these days, with more and more companies encouraging people to “be authentic” and bring their whole selves to work. But when we get real at the wrong time or in the wrong way, it can backfire. What does effective authenticity look like, and how can we learn to strike the right balance?
Work relationships are complicated. Who holds the power and why? What are effective ways to solve conflict? And how do you know when it’s time to walk away? Adam gets personal with therapist Esther Perel to explore the dynamics of trust, power, and people pleasing.
WorkLife listeners—we're running a survey and we'd love to hear what you think of the show. Please give us some feedback at surveynerds.com/worklife. It only takes a few minutes, and it really helps us improve the podcast. Thanks!
Remote work was a trend that some companies and gig workers were trying out, even as others resisted. Then the pandemic made it an overnight reality for many of us. This feels like uncharted territory, but there’s already plenty of knowledge on how to do it well. Learn from someone who has done more remote work than almost anyone on the planet—and find out what science says about how to keep your teams cohesive, fight screenout, and build resilience by mentally traveling in time.
You procrastinate because you're lazy, right? Wrong. The truth is more complex—and far more interesting. Learn how to stop putting off important tasks ... with a little help from master procrastinator Margaret Atwood.
WorkLife listeners—we're running a survey and we'd love to hear what you think of the show. Please give us some feedback at surveynerds.com/worklife. It only takes a few minutes, and it really helps us improve the podcast. Thanks!
We’re constantly seeking advice about our work lives. Which job offer to take. When to quit. Whether to blow the whistle on a bad boss. But so much of the advice we get—and give—turns out to be bad. For some sage advice, Adam sought out master advice-giver Cheryl Strayed, the author of Wild.
WorkLife listeners—we're running a survey and we'd love to hear what you think of the show. Please give us some feedback at surveynerds.com/worklife. It only takes a few minutes, and it really helps us improve the podcast. Thanks!
Open office plans. Learning styles. 10,000 hours of practice. Freakonomics host Stephen Dubner joins Adam for a live conversation to reveal why some popular workplace fads might be bogus—and what to do instead. This episode is made possible with the support of Accenture, Bonobos, Hilton, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Excellence comes from doing what you do best—but you need to make sure you’re doing it at the right times. This episode is made possible with the support of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Accenture, Bonobos, and Hilton.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/worklifeweakness
Learn how to face rejection—and even come out stronger because of it. This episode is made possible with the support of Hilton, Accenture, Bonobos, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/workliferejection
Memory is a skill you can learn -- and a powerful strategy every workplace can harness. This episode is made possible with the support of Accenture, Bonobos, Hilton, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/worklifememory
How do you deal with jerks at work? And is it possible to eliminate them altogether? This episode is made possible with the support of Bonobos, Accenture, Hilton, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/worklifeaholes
“Do what you love” is often terrible advice. Instead of taking the job that will make you happiest, look for the one where you’ll learn the most. This episode is made possible with the support of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Accenture, Bonobos, and Hilton.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/worklifepassion
Ditch your business cards. There are more effective, less awkward strategies for building your connections. This episode is made possible with the support of Bonobos, Accenture, Hilton, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Find the transcript at: go.ted.com/worklifenetworking
Absolute pleasure listening to Esther Perell. Also, in the first half, one could notice the stark differences in thinking between Esther and Adam, which led to a bit of a discomfort in the conversation. He is goal oriented (as he admitted) in his conversations while she is exploratory. This made him seem impatient and dismissive of her for just a bit.
I'm failing to find the negotiation course. Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
is this podcast over?
Hello ooooo.. Adam... Where r u?
Great content. I'd really love to transcribe your podcast. Transcription helps to reach a wider audience. The deaf would also be able to consume and enjoy your content. My email is vickies2cents@gmail.com. Thank you.
This episode misconstrues being “highly sensitive” as introversion.
I don't buy it. Nope. to simplistic.
That was awesome!
💯💕
kE-mail: mike.mccrack9inmike@gmanilLoum8is m k7a Pleis here!9mklmn 3015 Bear Riodge Drive Wentzville Located in Bear Creek Thank you! See u shortly...
Great episode Adam👍. Challenge network, improving attitude (as opposed to proving), & radical transparency struck me. Ray's humility in asking you to criticise him & your boldness in doing so with a spot on quip was very reassuring!
Yes & No! A head of a organization is not powerful because of their access to resources but in the identification of their position. The reason why there is was show called Undercover Boss is to subvert their identification, making the idea of their power seem limited to how unknown their are among their peers. Going back to the thing about giving resources to predictable ideas of a person for tangible &/or intangible assets*. (*self-affirmation of personal ideals is also an asset)
with checking out
Thank you for a very well-rounded piece on the various aspects of being authentic in a professional setting and in life.
At 41:00 Adam describing how he shows tough love because he cared about his students future success brought me to tears because I do this often with friends and others and often get misunderstood.
11 hours on one phone call, and she wasn't fired?
Just before minute 37 best part of this whole talk. I agree the rule should be how you treat others matters. You can have difficult conversations and tell the truth while still considering how you treat others.
Fun fun. This is great- Thanks, Adam!
I listened to this 3 times in row! wow wow wow!
I'm a student and I always had troubles trusting people when we put into groups for projects and this really helped open my eyes on trusting those who are in my team, loved it