Summary:
What if work didn't have to feel exhausting, overwhelming, or misaligned with who you are?
In this powerful episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I sit down with executive coach and HR consultant Lindsay Barnett, author of Working Hell to Working Well, to explore how individuals and organizations can transform the workplace experience.
In a world where burnout feels commonplace and "busy" has become a badge of honor, what if we paused long enough to ask: Does work have to feel this hard?
Designing the Workplace of Tomorrow, Today
In a recent episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lindsay Barnett—executive coach, HR consultant, and author of Working Hell to Working Well. Lindsay's journey from anthropology student to organizational change leader offers a fresh and deeply human lens on how we can transform our workplaces—and ourselves.
As someone who often describes myself as a corporate anthropologist, I was delighted to discover Lindsay once used that same phrase. Her academic roots in anthropology and organizational behavior shaped her understanding that companies are, in many ways, small-scale societies. They have rituals, hierarchies, insiders and outsiders, power dynamics, and shared myths. When conflict arises at work, it is rarely just about tasks—it's about people navigating culture.
Lindsey Barnett was Finding Her Through Line
Lindsay's path was anything but linear. She began studying archaeology, fascinated by the lives of people long gone. But as research leaders increasingly asked her to help with team dynamics, she realized her gifts were better used with the living.
She moved into advertising, then human resources, always following a deeper curiosity about human behavior. Later, when her family relocated to Australia, she experienced a powerful shift. As a working mother who suddenly was not working, she confronted a loss of identity.
That moment became pivotal.
Through reflection, Lindsay identified what she calls her "Three I's"—the core needs she must meet to feel fulfilled in her work:
- Intellectual challenge
- Impact
- Interaction
Once she named them, she saw that these needs could be met in multiple ways. Writing children's books, forming a writers' group, and returning to organizational development were not disconnected moves. They were creative responses to those core needs.
There is a powerful lesson here: when you understand what truly energizes you, your options expand dramatically.
The Workplace Stalemate
In Working Hell to Working Well, Lindsay addresses a tension many of us recognize. Leaders often say, "You are responsible for your own wellbeing." Employees respond, "How can I manage my wellbeing when expectations and workloads are out of control?"
The result? A stalemate.
Lindsay's approach is pragmatic. Don't wait for the other side to change. Start with what you can control. Model healthier behaviors. Create safety through example.
When leaders visibly leave work to attend a child's event—or even "leave loudly," as one leader she interviewed described—something shifts. Turning off the lights, closing the laptop, and saying goodbye intentionally signals permission. Culture changes through what is normalized.
The Three P's: A Practical Framework for Working Well
For those who want tools, Lindsay offers a memorable framework: Planning, Pacing, and Playing.
Planning doesn't require a 30-page strategy document. It can be as simple as choosing one intentional action—like buying a larger water bottle to improve hydration. Small commitments, consistently executed, compound into meaningful change.
Pacing involves awareness. Are you rushing blindly toward tasks? Are you collaborating across silos or duplicating effort? Slowing down just enough to ask better questions can unlock faster progress.
Playing introduces experimentation and curiosity. Whether you call it "play" or a "pilot project," approaching change with a spirit of experimentation reduces fear of failure. Play fuels innovation.
These aren't abstract concepts. They are immediately actionable.
Charging Your Energy Battery
Beyond productivity, Lindsay speaks about energy. Traditional advice focuses on sleep, diet, and exercise. While important, she expands the conversation into three types of energy that recharge us:
- Creative Energy: Designing, building, imagining. Creativity restores vitality.
- Connection Energy: Relationships, purpose, time in nature, or alignment with mission.
- Completion Energy: Finishing something—even something small. Making the bed or folding laundry can provide a tangible sense of accomplishment that renews motivation.
During the pandemic, some executives criticized employees for doing laundry at home. Lindsey reframes this. Completion energy matters. Small wins sustain momentum.
As anthropologists of work, we must ask: what assumptions are we carrying about productivity that no longer serve us?
The Power of the Pause
When asked to share her top advice, Lindsey emphasized one simple but profound practice: pause.
In a culture obsessed with output, pausing can feel counterintuitive. Yet it is in the pause that we ask:
- Do I need to be doing this?
- Is there a better way?
- What does my body need right now?
- Who else should be involved?
The pause creates space for intention. And intention drives sustainable change.
Role Modeling Change
Culture does not shift because of policies alone. It shifts because people see others behaving differently and feel safe to do the same.
Whether it's taking a midday walk, setting boundaries around meetings, or openly prioritizing family, visible modeling invites replication.
As Lindsay shared, we don't have to wait for permission to begin.
From Observation to Innovation
What I appreciate most about Lindsay's work is its grounded optimism. She does not deny that workplaces can feel like "working hell." But she believes transformation is possible—through small actions, mindful energy management, and courageous modeling.
As you reflect on your own work life, consider:
- What are your core needs?
- Where could you plan one small shift?
- What might you pace differently?
- How could you introduce more play?
And perhaps most importantly: when will you pause?
If we are willing to observe our own habits with anthropological curiosity, we can turn those observations into innovations. That is how we move—from working hell to working well.
To learn more about Lindsay Barnett and her book, visit your favorite bookseller or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Lindsay's profile: linkedin.com/in/lindsaykbarnett
Website: barnettcoaching.com
Email: [email protected]
Connect with me:
- Website: www.simonassociates.net
- Email: [email protected]
- Learn more about our books here:
- Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business
- Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success
- On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights
Now--it is time to share our new book with our listeners. Rethink Retirement: It's Not The End--It's the Beginning of What's Next. Out on Amazon and soon in your local bookseller. Rethink Retirement: The Workbook
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Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow. Let's Talk!
From Observation to Innovation,
Andi Simon, PhD
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author Simonassociates.net [email protected] @simonandi LinkedIn
