Cubicle Confidential

While there may be nothing constant in this world, except change—it doesn’t mean that organizations are good at creating change. In fact, research shows that organizational leaders are getting worse at implanting successful change and not better. So where does that leave those of us who must navigate change and transition in the workplace? 

Flummoxed in Philadelphia is a new manager who has been tasked with “cleaning up” the culture of their department. Is it possible to change the culture? Is so, where does one begin?

Can’t Take the Complaining in Kansas City is sick and tired of their team complaining about recent changes to their workplace. The team said that they wanted more flexibility, but now they are complaining about the result. What gives?

Cope-less in Cleveland is exhausted by all the constant changes at her workplace. What can she do to become more resilient? 

 Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

This episode marks the first anniversary of Cubicle Confidential! So, in honor of this celebratory “podiversay” event, Mary & Chris answer listeners’ questions about—you guessed it—partnerships!

Am I Being Cheesy or Whiny in Washington wants to know if it is a good idea to open a wine and cheese shop with their best friend? Is this a good idea or recipe for disaster?

Until D&I do We Part in Pittsburgh has learned that their consulting business partner is cheating on them. And by cheating, we mean that their partner is doing side work for their clients and not putting the money into the partnership. WTF? Should they break up, if so, how?

Stuck on You in Stanton wants to start a podcast with their partner—their romantic partner—and wants some advice on creating a successful podcast partnership. Mary and Chris are only too happy to help! 

 Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

 We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

How susceptible are you to clickbait? Are you a sucker for catchy headlines? In this special episode, Chris DeSantis quizzes Mary on real and fake headlines.

Tune in and play along!

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

How important is the opinion of others? Do you care what other people think of you at work? Should you? What is the balance between caring and not caring? In this episode, Mary and Chris take a deep dive with listeners who are struggling with what others think of them…

Baby Faced in Baltimore is a seasoned professional who looks way younger than they are and thus people don’t give her the respect she is due. People assume she is too young to know what she is doing. It’s a nice problem to have, but still a problem.

Is the Gift of Gab Really a Gift in Gaithersburg worries that their extroversion may be repelling their quieter colleagues. How do they modulate to connect but not repulse…

It’s Not Me, It’s You in Utica is not seen as a team player. They’ve been called bossy and opinionated. Does it matter? If it does, what can they do?

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Have you ever left a job for a shiny new one, only to discover, that--oops--it was a bad fit? Have you ever been tempted to double-dip on jobs? Or have you ever hired someone and uh-oh it may have been a mistake? If so, this episode tackles these pesky job-hopping dilemmas!

Miss Match in Michigan is concerned that a new hire doesn’t have what it takes to succeed in their role. So, Miss Match wonders if they should continue to give this person a shot, or just call it a day. Our question to Miss Match is—did you hire a bad fit or did you do a bad job helping this person fit in?

Buyer’s Remorse in Racine fears she has made a big mistake. After 10 years of working for a large (and stable) organization, she took a new job and discovered that she hates it. The new company has a toxic culture, and the leadership is, well, just plain awful. She’s only been in the job for 6 months—is it too soon to quit? And how should she position this sudden departure to new prospective employers?

This Bytes in Brooklyn wants to moonlight on their current company. The problem? It’s with a competing tech company. How bad of an idea is this? Uh, probably pretty bad….

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Ghosts, Wimps, and Implusives, oh my! Have you ever dealt with a boss or colleague who ghosts you? Or a boss who is so wishy-washy that you want to pull your hair out? Or how about the boss or co-worker who is always changing their minds or chasing shiny objects? If so, this episode was made for you. Chris and Mary hear from listeners who need their help dealing with these difficult dynamics. 

Ghosted in Galveston is frustrated by her ghost boss. He’s never around when she needs him, and it is beginning to impact her ability to succeed. Does she need a ghostbuster or ghost chaser?

Seeking Serenity in Salt Lake City is exhausted by her impulsive, scattered-brained boss. The chaos, madness, and constant shifting of priorities are driving her crazy. What can she do?

My Boss is a Wimp in Wisconsin wants to know how to transplant a backbone into their boss who can’t seem to make a decision to save their life. And even when they do decide on something, they are easily swayed to change it. How do they get their boss to “pick and stick”? 

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

 We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Recommended Book: Managing Up, How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Despite tremendous gains made by women in the workforce, women still face many structural and personal barriers to success—especially in leadership roles. In this episode, Mary and Chris hear from several female listeners who are struggling with gender and leadership issues and expectations.  

Raising the Roof in Tulsa is up for promotion to District Manager. She is also the only woman at the management level. Even though her district outperforms her peers, her boss told her she needs to make a more “compelling case” to win the promotion. WTF???

Woman on the Verge in Virginia is tired of being the only woman in the C-suite. She is tired of having to represent the views of all the women and she can’t bear to attend another retreat golf outing. Plus, the wives of the other executives are mean to her. Is it time to throw in the towel?

Snow Flakes in Florida has no interest in mentoring or coaching the younger women in her company. She finds them entitled and dismissive. She worked her ass off to succeed and thinks they should just toughen up. Is she justified in her attitude or is she going to hell?

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1.  All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Let’s be honest. The workplace can be very ageist. Very ageist. Being seen as “too young” or “too old” can stymie your career. How do you manage perceptions that you are “over” qualified or that you don’t have enough experience based on your age? In this episode, Mary and Chris provide advice to listeners who are dealing with ageist perceptions and perspectives.

Gambling with My Future in Vegas keeps being told that they are “overqualified” for jobs. How do they neutralize this perception?

Big in Bedford Heights is NOT happy that her new manager is 30 years her junior. How can she possibly work for a “child”? Does she need a new job or a new attitude?

High Rise Hi Jinx doesn’t think a young employee is cut out for the job. Does he fish or cut bait? How much time (and effort) does he owe this young employee?

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

After two years of wearing our dress shirts with pajama bottoms, it’s time to dress up for work again. Which for many of us, means the reappearance of the fashion crisis. Just exactly what does “business casual” really mean?  And can I still wear my yoga pants to work?

In this week’s show, Chris De Santis and Mary Abbajay help listeners navigate the new rules of office dress-up. Hint: the days of mullet dressing are over…

Dapper in Delaware wonders if he is just a bit too well dressed for the office. Should he tone it down a bit?

Dis-Dressed in Silicon Valley hates the bro-culture hoodie look in Silicon Valley. Does dressing like a teenager equal “business casual?”

Well Suited in Syracuse thinks his people are dressed too casually for the office. Is it time to institute a dress code?

Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Does anyone enjoy having to give or receive difficult or “constructive” feedback? Hearing that you are not hitting the mark is never fun. Nor is it enjoyable to be the person who must burst the bubble. Yet, without feedback, it’s hard to know how to adjust one’s performance and behavior. This week’s episode addresses listeners' challenges with giving or receiving feedback. 

Not Dressed for Success in Sausalito wants to know how to tell their employees that their professional attire is, well, not professional. How does he tell them to improve their appearance?

Out of Options in Ontario is frustrated with an employee who simply ignores constructive feedback. How can they get this person to get with the program?

I Need More in Madison wants to know how to give feedback to her boss who is simply terrible at communicating. What is the protocol for giving upwards feedback (without getting fired)?

Fears the Tears in Tampa has an employee who utterly implodes with even the slightest criticism. Every time they even give the slightest constructive feedback this employee has a complete meltdown. What gives?

Give us some feedback! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. Good or bad--we want to hear from you.

We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

Our favorite books and resources on feedback:

Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well, by Sheila Heen & Douglas Stone

Fierce Conversations Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott

How to Say Anything to Anyone: A Guide to Building Business Relationships That Really Work, by Shari Harley

Radical Candor: How to Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity, by Kim Scott

Thanks for listening! Connect with us on LinkedIn!