This Working Life

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 WorkplaceAlso 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 For more on the psychology of decluttering, check out the All In the Mind episode, Is clutter making you feel bad? 

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 anyoneJames 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 GentelligenceFlorence 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 ServicesCheck 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 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.