Cubicle Confidential

Apparently, not everyone is excited to return to the physical office. This week’s episode hears from listeners who are less than thrilled at the prospect of going back to the office.

 The Party’s Over in Pensacola does NOT want to go back to the physical office.  In fact, they dread it. How can they convince their employer to let them stay remote?

Boston Yank in Spanx gained a lot of weight during the pandemic, and now he fears being the subject of ridicule and mockery when he returns. How can he prepare for the teasing to come?

 Betwixt a Rock and a Hard Place in Batavia is furious that her team is being asked to work full-time in the physical office while other teams are being allowed to retain remote flexibility and options. Should we fight for her team?

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We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us at: [email protected] or tweet us: @cubicleconfide1. 

All names will be changed to protect the guilty and innocent...

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Do generational differences at work have you perplexed? Annoyed? Confused? Do you look at other generations at work and think to yourself WTF?

 Well, Chris De Santis is here to help! In honor of his newly published book Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work, Chris and Mary answer questions from multiple generations about how to deal with each other.

Ants in My Pants in Ann Arbor wants to turn down a promotion in order to travel the world. After 4 years in the workforce, they feel they need a break. WTF?

 My Way or the Highway in Hawaii is frustrated that their young employees don’t want to come into a physical office. Yet, they complain that they don’t feel “connected” to the firm. WTF?

 He Who Has Had It with Them in Everywhere USA doesn’t know what to make of the focus on pronouns. After 30 years of work experience, he is having trouble making sense of this “pronoun thing.” WTF?

 PS: Chris De Santis is giving away free books to anyone who sends in a question. Email us at: info@cubicleconfidential and get your free book. 

PPS: Mary says that Gen X is really the greatest generation ever!!!!

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...

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How important is having a personal brand for career success? What’s the difference between your brand and your reputation? How do you know if your brand is working for you? What letter comes after X in the alphabet? Chris and Mary lay out the do’s and don’ts of creating an effective personal brand to ensure a positive reputation. 

•  Young and Virtual in Vermont wonders how to build a personal brand in an entry-level position?
• Building My Brand in Buffalo is concerned that a polished and professional brand will make him/her/them seem unapproachable…
• Going Social in South Carolina wants help with using social media to build their brand…
• Curious in Connecticut is curious about how one goes about measuring the success of their brand…
• Might Be Misaligned in Michigan is worried that their personal brand is at odds with their current employer…is this a problem?

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...

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

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In this special episode, Chris and Mary share listeners’ thoughts and LinkedIn poll results on various workplace and career topics. Check out this episode to learn you and other listeners think about Pay Transparency, Introversion and Extroversion, Family Leave, Big Ideas, Workplace Appreciation, Micromanagers, and other topics!

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!

When it comes to favors, are you a giver or a taker? Do you make it easy for people to say yes to favors? Do you reciprocate? Are you tired of people asking you for favors? If so, this episode is for you. Chris and Mary give out some tough love on the art of asking for and receiving favors. Don’t break your favor bank!

Unimpressed with the Unprepared in L.A. has a big problem with people asking to meet with him to “pick his brain” and then these people show up late and unprepared for the meeting…

No, it’s Not Nice to Meet You in New York is sick and tired of unsolicited introductions. How can they politely decline these requests? Can they tell people that they don’t have time for meaningless meetings?

Overdrawn in Ohio is frustrated with a colleague who never reciprocates favors. Can she start saying “no” to this colleague who has clearly overdrawn her favor bank?

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...

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How do you annoy me? Let me count the ways! In this episode, Mary and Chris address listeners’ complaints about their annoying co-workers. When dealing with bothersome behaviors in others, should we speak up, shut up, or suck it up?

Pompous Panelist in Pasadena wants to know how to deal with a fellow panelist who is obnoxious, pompous, and overly self-promoting.  Should they say something? How can they hold their own with an air hog?

Should I Say Something in St. Louis can’t help but notice that her husband is well, a jerk, when talking to his colleagues. Should she say something? Or let him go on being a jerk….

Stop Drooling on Me in Dallas works in a pet-friendly workplace. The problem? One of the pets is too friendly. Should they say something?

Tired of the Baby Talk in Toledo can’t take a single more conversation about a co-worker's brand new grandchild. If she has to look at one more picture of that kid, she may poke her own eyes out. Should she say something?

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 lost your mojo? Has two years of remote work left you feeling unmotivated and unconnected? Are you trying to get back in the groove? If so, you are not alone! This week’s episode answers listeners’ questions about how to get and stay motivated. In other words, how to get your groove back.

Rudderless in Raleigh has lost her mojo. Is it her? Is it her Job? Or is it just this &#$#@ never-ending pandemic?

Just Plain Stumped in Jackson manages a remote team that seems to be out of juice. How can he get his team remotivated?

Generous to Fault in Philly is frustrated with their team. They were given big bonuses, yet the staff is still grumbling and unhappy. Are bonuses effective motivators?  What to do? What to do?

Check out Chris DeSantis' special offer for our listeners at the end of the show! 

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...

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Workplace friendships are the topic of this week’s show. The workplace is a social system--but does that mean that we HAVE to be friends with the people we work with? How much friendship is too much friendship? How much friendliness is too little? Is it okay to be best friends with your boss? Mary and Chris help both the friendless and overly friendly navigate this tricky landscape.

Friendless and Fabulous in Fremont doesn’t want to be friends with their co-workers. Is it wrong to not pursue workplace friendships? Does it make her a Grinch?

I’m Not Your BFF in Baltimore doesn’t want to be best friends with their boss. How do they free themselves from this friendship?  

 Why Can’t They Be Friends in Wyoming wonders how to navigate two supervisors whose animosity towards each other is causing office friction and ruining morale. Should they encourage the two supervisors to repair their friendship? What to do, what to do… 

Show us your friendship! 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 Article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dont-have-friends-at-work_l_61defa66e4b0ae44b31a40ef?platform=hootsuite

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Are you an idea person or are you an idea implementer? How can you get others to buy into your ideas? In this episode, Mary and Chris offer strategies to get your great ideas heard and implemented!

 Bewitched in Boulder loves (his) big ideas. The problem? He doesn’t like to implement them. Is there a way that he can job craft himself out of implementation?

Workplace Newbie in Wisconsin can’t get her “older” managers to buy into her new work ideas. How can she get her ideas “heard” by senior folks?

Siloed in Secaucus has a great idea for another department. Is there a way that they can pass on this idea without overstepping their role? 

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 Books:
Blue Ocean Strategy, by W. Chan Kim
Six Thinking Hats, by Edward De Bono

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In this episode, Mary and Chris help introverts and extroverts cross the great divide of communication and collaboration. 

 Talk to Me in Tallahassee is frustrated by their introverted colleague--who just doesn’t seem to communicate enough.

 Need My Space in Needham dreads having to return to the physical workplace because of the dreaded “open space” office plan. 

Introverted in Indiana has been told that they must “get over” their introversion to be a good boss. WTF???

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

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 Books:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

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