FT Listen to Lucy

By Financial Times

What's FT Listen to Lucy about?

Financial Times management columnist Lucy Kellaway pokes fun at management fads and jargon, and celebrates the ups and downs of office life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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FT Listen to Lucy episodes:

07.25.2017
FT readers, I will miss you most of all
After 32 years, you are still an enigma, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.18.2017
How I lost my 25-year battle against corporate claptrap
The exponential rise of guff in business shows no sign of abating, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.06.2017
Apple's new grandiose office is for grown -ups
Apple's $5bn headquarters is the world’s most expensive office and Steve Jobs' last posthumous hurrah, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.28.2017
Don't listen to prigs: profanity is glorious
Shock over swear words exposes some misplaced prudery, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.19.2017
Let's have more 'womanterruption'
Interruptions help cut short boring discussions. So instead of making men interrupt less, women should be made to do it more, argues Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.15.2017
Why the most successful people just say no
The main difference between yes and no is that one is easy and the other hard, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.07.2017
Paul Romer’s ‘and’ quota is a false economy
It was wrong to punish someone who tried to get his colleagues to write text that people might conceivably want to read, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.01.2017
You heard it here first: hold fast to your antiques
The tables are turning on Ikea and the fashion for Skandi tat, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.21.2017
Amy the robot wants my job, but she's no match for me
Voice bot Experimental Amy might represent serious competition if what she produced was halfway decent, but it isn't, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.17.2017
To say older workers lack energy is ageist and wrong
Modern fiftysomethings are perky, well-rested and free from domestic ties, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.10.2017
There is nothing cute about innumeracy
Abbott’s difficulty with a simple sum is evidence of a troubling assumption, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
05.03.2017
Mondelez serves up 10 business clichés in one sentence
‘Breakthrough’ is so stale it makes me almost feel sorry for the author, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.24.2017
My speech was a car crash because I am too confident
Good intentions led to a tour de force of clangers, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.20.2017
Cheap ways to prevent executive burnout
Expensive ‘holistic’ leadership programmes do not solve anything, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.11.2017
A masterclass in calling bullshit
Puffed-up nonsense has been deemed worthy of academic study, says Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
04.05.2017
The dedicated office chatters are being forced out
Everyone will tell you they are too busy to talk — but it is not true, says Lucy Kellaway. Image credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.30.2017
Codes of conduct breach the principles of common sense
Like most humans, I am not naturally drawn to small print, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.23.2017
Robert Kelly’s children remind us how pompous we are at work
Viral video of domestic mishap shows the artificiality of the professional self, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.16.2017
How I help my children navigate their incredible life journeys
Unlike Angela Ahrendts, I am not ‘on 24/7’, say Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.07.2017
Why do we let Warren Buffett get away with sexism?
The Sage of Omaha tells old and unfunny jokes without recrimination, says Lucy Kellaway. Picture credit: Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
03.01.2017
Death can bring your career back to life
A disrupter of habit, it stops the living in their tracks, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02.22.2017
Should you ever trade on past glories?
Telling others what you did before can be a sign of mediocrity, says Lucy Kellaway. Illustration by Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02.14.2017
Sexy and super bland: the rise of the office uniform
What people wear to work at investment banks, management consultancies and top law firms is ridiculous. Individualism is to be avoided at all costs, says Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02.08.2017
How to ask for what you want — and get it every time
Start with please and thank you, then spoon on the flattery, says Lucy Kellaway. Image by Chris Tosic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02.02.2017
I am a difficult person at work and proud of it
In the workplace and in life, being troublesome can be useful, says Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01.25.2017
Why is work making us miserable?
Office life is better than ever before, but dissatisfaction is rising, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
01.18.2017
Writing clearly turns out to be not so easy after all
When handing out my annual guff awards last week I said clear language in business was perfectly possible if you tried hard enough. I now find it’s not as simple as that, says Lucy Kellaway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
01.10.2017
Lucy Kellaway’s jargon awards: corporate guff scales new heights
Contenders for 2016’s gong ranged from euphemistic to ‘plain moronic’, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.22.2016
I’m leaving to become a teacher and I want you to join me
After 31 years at the Financial Times, Lucy Kellaway is leaving to set up Now Teach Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.15.2016
Skip the empathy, Mr Schultz, and focus on the coffee
Starbucks boss has no business sending a missive to staff to tell them how to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.08.2016
My tips for overcoming a fear of public speaking
Remind yourself how awful most business leaders are: the bar is low, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
11.01.2016
Silicon Valley's corporate culture is ageist
Faddish organisational trends that shut out older workers are in danger of spreading, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10.25.2016
Obama is right: being early has everything going for it
Time spent waiting is an opportunity to catch up with emails, reading and phone calls, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10.19.2016
Feedback on your dinner party chat will do you good
Just as with other skills, we benefit from clear and direct views that help us improve, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10.12.2016
Unisex loos are no refuge for a gossip
The rise of the gender-neutral toilet in the workplace is not an entirely good thing, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10.06.2016
Lessons in clarity from the world’s grumpiest boss
The Tiger Oil chief’s missives were rude, but his style was perfect, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.27.2016
The bliss of being 396 miles from my lost smartphone
The aftermath of leaving my iPhone in a Washington DC taxi was frightening, shaming, then liberating, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.20.2016
Wells Fargo’s wagonload of insincere regrets
After being taken for a ride, customers should bridle at the guff in the bank's apology advert, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.13.2016
The plague of compulsory creativity may be dying out
Forget calling staff "imagineers" or "sandwich artists"; companies need more modest skills to evolve, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
09.06.2016
Why it is fine to be ignorant of your company’s profit
Staff are more likely to be excited by a new vending machine and for good reason, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08.30.2016
Poolside working is no longer a sign of importance
Not being able to switch off is becoming seen for what it is — a sign of poor time management, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08.09.2016
Millennials ought to ignore career advice from BCG boss
Rich Lesser risks widening the gap between expectations and reality for twentysomethings, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
08.02.2016
Female CEOs are fascinating, as Marissa Mayer knows
Despite the Yahoo chief’s ire, we will go on being interested until there are more women at the top. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.26.2016
Holidaying CEOs flaunt latest way to brag
Now it is unacceptable to boast about spending, company bosses are turning to the summer reading list Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.18.2016
My ambition to look more like Theresa May in meetings
To appear exasperated but poised is as good as it gets, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.12.2016
Say ‘I quit’ with the perfect resignation
Your departure offers a rare chance to voice what you like while everyone is listening, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
07.05.2016
Carry on Post-Brexit, whether calm or not
The 10 minutes I debated high heels on the radio were the sanest I have had since the referendum, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.28.2016
Why we are ruder at work than we are in the street
I did not set out to be uncivil to my colleagues. This is just how office life has become, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.21.2016
The extraordinary rhetoric of Sir Philip Green
A hat trick of honesty, ignorance and blame: it is plain, simple — and insidious, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
06.14.2016
We need smart products because we are stupid
Clever technology is bad for our brains, says Lucy Kellaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's FT Listen to Lucy about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

FT Listen to Lucy episodes:

FT readers, I will miss you most of all

How I lost my 25-year battle against corporate claptrap

Apple's new grandiose office is for grown -ups

Don't listen to prigs: profanity is glorious

Let's have more 'womanterruption'

Why the most successful people just say no

Paul Romer’s ‘and’ quota is a false economy

You heard it here first: hold fast to your antiques

Amy the robot wants my job, but she's no match for me

To say older workers lack energy is ageist and wrong

There is nothing cute about innumeracy

Mondelez serves up 10 business clichés in one sentence

My speech was a car crash because I am too confident

Cheap ways to prevent executive burnout

A masterclass in calling bullshit

The dedicated office chatters are being forced out

Codes of conduct breach the principles of common sense

Robert Kelly’s children remind us how pompous we are at work

How I help my children navigate their incredible life journeys

Why do we let Warren Buffett get away with sexism?

Death can bring your career back to life

Should you ever trade on past glories?

Sexy and super bland: the rise of the office uniform

How to ask for what you want — and get it every time

I am a difficult person at work and proud of it

Why is work making us miserable?

Writing clearly turns out to be not so easy after all

Lucy Kellaway’s jargon awards: corporate guff scales new heights

I’m leaving to become a teacher and I want you to join me

Skip the empathy, Mr Schultz, and focus on the coffee

My tips for overcoming a fear of public speaking

Silicon Valley's corporate culture is ageist

Obama is right: being early has everything going for it

Feedback on your dinner party chat will do you good

Unisex loos are no refuge for a gossip

Lessons in clarity from the world’s grumpiest boss

The bliss of being 396 miles from my lost smartphone

Wells Fargo’s wagonload of insincere regrets

The plague of compulsory creativity may be dying out

Why it is fine to be ignorant of your company’s profit

Poolside working is no longer a sign of importance

Millennials ought to ignore career advice from BCG boss

Female CEOs are fascinating, as Marissa Mayer knows

Holidaying CEOs flaunt latest way to brag

My ambition to look more like Theresa May in meetings

Say ‘I quit’ with the perfect resignation

Carry on Post-Brexit, whether calm or not

Why we are ruder at work than we are in the street

The extraordinary rhetoric of Sir Philip Green

We need smart products because we are stupid