In episode 30, we chat with Carol Kauffman about being the best version of yourself in the toughest moments at work and in life. Whether you’re making a split-second decision when your business is hit sideways or finding the ways to stay calm when someone shouts you down in a meeting, how can you be at your best in the most crucial moments?

Carol Kauffman is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and is ranked number one by leadership coach Marshall Goldsmith. Her book Real Time Leadership: Find Your Winning Moves When The Stakes Are High, was co-written with David Noble and shows you how to navigate crucial leadership moments successfully using their innovative MOVE framework.

Carol and I discuss:

1. The super question to ask yourself dozens of times a day. 
2. How to overcome your reflexes using the MOVE Framework 
3. Her top advice for future aspiring leaders

Annette Sloan and I sum-up the three biggest takeaways from my conversation with Carol and we answer a listener's question about what to do when your boss doesn’t like you.

Tune in to gain insights on rising above our reflexes and being the best version of ourselves whether we’re leading, reaching for patience, or giving feedback. 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Carol is known globally as one of the top leaders in the field of coaching. She has been named the #1 Leadership coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith group. Thinkers 50 shortlisted her as one of the top 8 coaches for her contribution as a thought leader and coach. She is on the faculty at Harvard where she is the Founder of the Institute of Coaching. In addition, she supervises an international fleet of leadership coaches and has created a Coach Approach training program with a global footprint. Her book Real Time Leaders: Find Your Winning Moves When The Stakes Are High, was co-written with David Noble.

If you want to learn more about Carol and her work, visit carolkauffman.com/ 

Plus, we talk about Carol’s new book carolkauffman.com/rtl-draft/ 

Timestamps

1.30 Top of Mind - A current leadership crisis

5.00 Carol Kauffman Interview

7.00 Don’t hold back

11.00 The MOVE Framework

19.24 The three dimensions of great leaders

39:56 Annette’s Sum-Up

45.33 Listener’s Question: Matt’s boss doesn’t like him but he loves his job - what should he do?

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In episode 29, we chat with Tessa West about finding work that works for you, and applying relationship therapy tools to our careers. 

Dr. Tessa West is a professor of psychology at New York University and expert in the science of social relationships. Tessa's extensive research and publications in top psychology journals have gained her recognition in media outlets like The New York Times and CNN. She is the author of "Jerks at Work" and upcoming book "Job Therapy." 

Tessa and I discuss:

1. How to find your most fulfilling job  
2. The complicated role identity plays in why we stay in jobs or roles we do not like
3. The five common sources of career frustration.

Annette Sloan and I sum-up the three biggest takeaways from my conversation with Tessa and we answer a listener's question about what to do when you're given an impossible task at work.

Tune in to gain insights on moving through periods of transition and finding roles and jobs in which we’ll thrive. 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

About Guest

Dr Tessa West is Professor of Psychology at New York University, where she is a leading expert on the science of social relationships. She has over 100 academic publications and is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Her first book Jerks at Work: Toxic coworkers and what to do about them is now followed by Job Therapy: Finding work that works for you. 

If you want to learn more about Dr. Tessa West and her work, visit https://www.tessawestauthor.com/ 

Plus, we talk about Tessa’s new book https://www.tessawestauthor.com/book/job-therapy 

Timestamps

1.18 Top of Mind.

5.03 Tessa West Interview.

8.30 Personal identity vs professional identity. 

12.31 Why we can’t walk away: The sunk cost fallacy, intermittent reinforcement and the hedonic treadmill.

17.00 Five common causes of career frustration.

22.00 Leaving your job and the power of the full stop. Why less is more and we need to stop prioritising action over reflection.

30.00 Why there aren't 'soft skills', there are just skills!

36.54 Tessa’s lesson from work that’s made her whole life better.

38.40 Tessa’s favourite piece of advice.

41:30 Annette’s Episode Sum Up.

46.45 Listener’s Question.

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Welcome back to ‘part-two’ of our mini-series ‘How to be Better at Work’ where we delve into the essentials of improving ourselves and our relationships.

In this three-part mini-series, Cathal Quinlan and Annette Sloan share 9 brain-friendly, bite-sized insights from world experts in workplace relationships, behavioural science and performance.

In this episode we delve into ‘Better We’, focusing on three key areas: trust, feedback, and conflict management.

We discuss:

• How trust is the bedrock of effective teamwork and a lack of trust can lead to reduced effort, productivity and higher turnover rates!
• Actions to build trust - because when employees feel trusted, they perform better and exceed expectations!
• How feedback can trigger a fight-or-flight response and how to hijack the brains inbuilt responses to stay in ‘discovery mode’ and avoid shutting down. 
• Why we love the ‘WRAP’ approach (instead of the sh** sandwich!) 
• Strategies for navigating conflict by understanding the other person’s perspective and finding common ground.
• Annette’s step-by-step approach to managing conflict. 

We hope these insights empower you to foster a better work environment! 

Listeners can access and download sum ups for free to dive deeper and take actionable steps: www.betteratwork.net/newsletter

Let’s find out how to be better at work, together!

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

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In the final episode of our mini-series, we're wrapping up with key takeaways and actionable strategies for better workplace practices.

‘Better Ways’ is all about setting priorities, running effective meetings, and fostering an environment where employees can care and thrive.

We discuss:

• Setting an intentional direction for your day.
• Tricks to avoid overwhelming your brain and stay positive. 
• How to set-up meetings for success.
• Strategies for fostering inclusivity and ensuring your employees experience of meetings align with your organisational values.
• How to make wrap ups meaningful and motivational.
• Why there’s a cultural problem with the term ‘engagement’ and our favourite alternatives.
• How to focus on development and growth opportunities for your team or organisation.

As we conclude this series, we hope you've gained insights into how to have better days at work, improve team interactions, and create a thriving organisational culture. 

Thank you for tuning in, and here's to better days ahead!

Listeners can access and download sum ups for free to dive deeper and take actionable steps: www.betteratwork.net/newsletter

Let’s find out how to be better at work, together!

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

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In episode 26, we go deep on what makes a better day at work based on what we have learnt so far across two seasons of inspiring interviews with incredible people, plus our own lived experiences across global workplaces.

When we’re so busy ‘doing’ work, how can we learn to be better at it? 

In this three-part mini-series, Cathal Quinlan and Annette Sloan share 9 brain-friendly, bite-sized insights from world experts in workplace relationships, behavioural science and performance.

In part one, ‘Better Me’, Cathal and Annette delve into the significance of self-awareness, confidence, and purpose in personal and professional development. They stress that self-awareness serves as the foundation for growth and improvement, helping people to identify areas to improve and how to go about it.

We discuss:

• Personal experiences and insights on how taking the time to reflect and understand our own role in a crisis or challenging situation can be transformative.
• The importance of understanding our values as a starting point for self-awareness. Values act as a compass, guiding us in our decision-making and goal-setting, aligning them with our core beliefs.
• Simple, small steps to managing anxiety and growing our confidence. When we have confidence in ourselves and our abilities, we can inspire and motivate our teams to achieve greatness. It's not just about leading, but also about living a more fulfilled life.
• The significance of paying attention to our feelings and thoughts as a guide for future decisions and goals. 

Listeners can access and download sum ups for free to dive deeper and take actionable steps: www.betteratwork.net/newsletter 

Let’s find out how to be better at work, together!

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

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In episode 25, we chat with Dr. Jim Harter about how developing the right habits in organisations can lead to increased productivity and better work environments. We go deep on what the latest research from Gallup is revealing about engaging and retaining employees.

Jim is the Chief Workplace Scientist at Gallup and has been studying human behaviour in organisations for 37 years. Jim has led more than 1,000 studies of workplace effectiveness, including the largest ongoing meta-analysis of human potential and business unit performance. His work has also appeared in many publications, including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and in many prominent academic journals.

He shared some invaluable insights on how to improve your work life and those of others. 

We discuss:

1. Why engagement is crucial to success 
2. Research-supported principles for shaping work conditions and autonomy in hybrid work
3. The unique position of managers to cultivate employee satisfaction
4. How to revive mentoring in the workplace
5. The five elements of wellbeing and why careers are critical to our wellbeing

Don’t miss this insightful conversation with Jim! His expertise, backed by research and science, is presented in super digestible and easy-to-understand manner. 

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus provide some exciting news on new Better@Work content dropping soon – you don’t want to miss it. 

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Dr Jim Harter is the chief workplace scientist of at Gallup’s workplace management and wellbeing at Gallup. Jim is the primary researcher and author of the first large-scale, multi-organization study to investigate the relationship between work-unit employee engagement and business results, including profitability, productivity, turnover, customer engagement, safety and health. He is the author of Wall Street Journal bestsellers Culture Shock, released in 2023, and Wellbeing at Work, released in 2021. He is also the author of No. 1 Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestseller It's the Manager, released in 2019.

If you want to learn more about Dr. Harter and his work, visit gallop.com. 

Plus, we talked about the Gallup Q12 survey in this episode, do check it out.

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In episode 24, we chat with Jonathan Black about soft skills being the employability skills, how the hiring process is not all about qualifications and achievements, and how hiring for attitude is so important.

Jonathan shares his insights and practical tips for improving career prospects. From working in small businesses to large corporations, Jonathan's diverse background makes him the perfect person to guide students and professionals alike. With a career that has spanned continents and a proficiency in multiple languages, Jonathan offers a truly global perspective on career development. He also shares his insights on how to transition into a new career field and the delicate balance between career goals and personal aspirations, providing a nuanced view on the evolving nature of work. Jonathan offers so much advice, presenting fresh perspectives on early and later career development.

We discuss:

• Why transactional analysis as a psychoanalytic theory is so important as a basis for understanding ours and others behaviour
• The importance of soft skills when evaluating candidates and why skills such as teamwork and communication are so important
• Hiring for attitude and training for skill, Jonathan talks about the importance of looking beyond qualifications and focusing on a candidate's attitude. Skills can be taught, but you cannot change attitude
• How Gen Z bring the courage to challenge and express their views and the rest of us can benefit if we listen, respect and present our own ideas so together we make things better
• No pride in ownership, Jonathan reminded us that true success comes from collaboration and shared ownership. Let go of the ego and embrace teamwork

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion to gain valuable insights from Jonathan’s experiences and to enhance your understanding of the dynamic world of career development and hiring.

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus we answer a question from our listener Jo, who has her first interview in 10 years and is looking for our advice. 

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Jonathan Black has been Director of the Careers Service at the University of Oxford for the last 15 years. He has worked in the UK, Europe and the USA, in small businesses and large corporations, private and public sector. In his day job, he works one-to-one with students, presents at international conferences, and produces new ideas and programmes to help students in schools, university and beyond, to improve their career prospects.  Jonathan writes his own column at the Finanical Times called "Dear Jonathan" and is also an author. His book, How to Find the Career You've Always Wanted is a must read that really gives you the confidence and skills to choose your career - as well as the perspective to see the big picture and understand where you are heading.

Website:  https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jonathan-black

FT: https://www.ft.com/jonathan-black

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In episode 23, we chat with Margaret Heffernan about the critical human skills that we need to confront the unexpected in today’s world.

Margaret explains why attempts to predict the future, even in today's world of AI and Big Data technologies, are often doomed to failure. She offers alternative strategies for people and organisations facing an uncertain future — strategies based on human creativity and resilience.

Dr Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur, Chief Executive, broadcaster, and author. She writes, speaks and blogs about business leadership, management, innovation and creativity, and her TED talks have been seen by over 14 million people. Margaret has written six books and her third book, ‘Wilful Blindness, Why We Ignore The Obvious’ was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. Her most recent book ‘Uncharted: How To Map The Future’ was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Financial Times Best Business Book award.

We discuss:

• How Margaret’s dads job influenced her thinking early in life, especially that there were good companies and bad companies and good bosses and bad bosses
• The more we rely on technology to make us efficient, the fewer skills we have to confront the unexpected
• Human skills such as humility, imagination, and optimism are adaptable and flexible skills that feed people
• Ways to prevent potentially devastating “willful blindness” in your organisation
• The biggest misconception around middle managers
• Her love for the TV show “Succession” and the lessons for Boards.

This episode is packed full of wisdom and amazing insights, you will walk away feeling inspired and energised.

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways.

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Dr. Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur, author, academic and Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s, where she mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organisations. Her book, Uncharted: How to Map the Future explores how understanding and being prepared for uncertainty, both as individuals and leaders of organisations, helps navigate modern life. 

Website: https://www.mheffernan.com/

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In episode 22, we chat with Mamie Kanfer Stewart about creating effective and engaging meetings. Have you felt that you were wasting your time in a meeting, stuck in back-to-back meetings all day, and not getting to your work? Our listeners have told us this is a problem in many of their organisations and one that has worsened in recent years.

Mamie, is a coach and consultant who trains teams and organisations to develop a healthy and productive meeting culture. She shares with us her expertise in planning (and declining!) meetings, substitutes to meetings, and making meetings more beneficial and productive for everyone. Cathal and Mamie also spent some time discussing how meetings reflect your culture and your team dynamics.

We discuss:

• How to establish whether you need a meeting and the alternatives to holding one
• Why asking the desired outcome of a meeting before accepting it can have multiple benefits for you and the meeting organiser
• Approaches to prepare for meetings effectively
• How to chair/lead meetings inclusively for different personalities and thinking styles 
• Best practices for achieving your expected outcome in meetings

This episode is packed full of practical tips to put into action in your meetings immediately!

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus we answer a question from our listener Elizabeth, who has been out of the workforce for 15 years and is unsure how to start her career again. 

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Mamie Kanfer Stewart is the author of Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings. Her company, Meeteor, helps teams and organizations build healthy meeting culture. As a coach, speaker, writer, and trainer, Mamie has helped thousands of people improve their meetings and how they collaborate. Mamie has been featured in Forbes, Inc, and Fast Company. She is a regular contributor on The Price of Business and is the host of The Modern Manager podcast.

Website: MamieKS.com

Book: Momentum by Mamie Kanfer Stewart and Tai Tsao

Podcast:  The Modern Manager

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In episode 21, we chat with Professor Ian Robertson about the science and neuroscience behind confidence. If you have confidence, it can empower you to reach heights you never thought possible. But if you don't, it can have a devastating effect on your future. Confidence lies at the core of what makes things happen.

Probing the science and neuroscience behind confidence that has emerged over the last decade, clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Professor Ian Robertson tells us how confidence plays out in our minds, our brains and indeed our bodies. He explains where it comes from and how it spreads. And why it's not necessarily something you are born with, but something that can be learned. 

We discuss:

• How our upbringing impacts our confidence
• The science behind confidence
• The ‘can do’ and ‘can happen’ matrix
• Our imagination is the Chief Operating Officer of confidence  
• Why women face more issues with self-confidence than men.  

From the science behind confidence to practical tips for boosting self-assurance, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their mindset and achieve their goals

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus we answer a question from our listener Shane, who’s company has been partnered with another company for a major project and both have very differing views. 

 

Get in touch: [email protected] or betteratwork.net

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: betteratwork.net/contact-us/

Get the newsletter: betteratwork.net

 

About Guest

Ian Robertson is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin and Co-Director of the Global Brain Health Institute. He is also the T Boone Pickens Distinguished Scientist at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas and is a Member of Academia Europaea, as well as being a trained clinical psychologist and neuroscientist.

Website: https://ianrobertson.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-robertson-4480502/

Book: https://ianrobertson.org/product/how-confidence-works-the-new-science-of-self-belief-and-why-some-people-learn-it-and-others-dont

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