Workplace Weirdness

Ghost Posts, Start-up Takeover Glitches and Desk-Perchers

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In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven!


Key Takeaways

  • The significance of blending various life and career experiences to enhance leadership and team dynamics in rapidly growing companies
  • The pivotal role of positive corporate culture in fostering robust employee engagement
  • Why people-first cultures may conflict with performance-driven environments
  • The challenges of adapting to a slower, more bureaucratic workplace environment following a corporate acquisition
  • The importance of adaptability, communication, and humor in the workplace


    • In This Episode

    00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

    01:09 - Meet Menaka Chang

    08:36 - High Performers and Interview Techniques

    14:01 - Weirdest Workplace Moment

    16:33 - Week in Work: Ghost Job Listings

    25:37 - Listener Question #1: Job Offers

    27:52 - Listener Question #2: Startup Slowdowns

    36:39 - Workplace Weirdness: Desk Perchers

    40:09 - Conclusion and Farewell


    Notable Quotes

    • [09:28] "The zone of genius is when people really find that they are doing work and they almost feel like no time has passed, where you feel like you're in a flow state and you're doing great work." - Menaka Chang


    • [12:37] " The best companies are performance driven because they are people-first. They treat employees well, they set clear expectations, they reward great work. People perform at their best when those things are happening." - Menaka Chang


    • [26:16] " You should never feel pressured to sign a contract within an hour. That's a huge red flag. It sounds like a scare tactic or disorganized hiring process." - Menaka Chang



    Resources and Links


    Menaka Chang

    • LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/menaka-chang


    Maya Kadar Kovalsky

    • Website https://www.mayakadar.com/
    • LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/


      • Workplace Weirdness

      • Email: [email protected]
      • SpeakPipe http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness
      • Website https://workplace-weirdness.com/
      • Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/


        • Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.

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        Workplace WeirdnessBy Maya Kadar Kovalsky