Career regret is a common phenomenon, so what practical advice is there for people who are at a career crossroads? 

Guests:  

Leah Lambart, Career and Interview Coach, resident career expert for SEEK  

Annie Louey, celebrant, comedian and writer who has experienced and interviewed others about career breaks

More than 50 years ago, an American sociologist published a game-changing paper that illustrated just how important casual acquaintances are in our work lives.

Mark Granovetter's The Strength of Weak Ties was a groundbreaking paper that changed the way we looked at networking forever.

So, how vital are 'weak ties' in today's workforce?

If you think of productivity as hustle culture, endless multi-tasking, and constant busyness, you might be on the wrong track and you may be on the way to burnout.

New York Times bestselling author Cal Newport is a long-time advocate for making changes to the way we work. Now he has a new work philosophy: Slow Productivity.

He says doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality will deliver lasting success.

Guest:

Cal Newport, author of Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

From pets to pot plants, comfy clothing to noise-cancelling headphones. There have never been more ways to bring a personal touch to your office experience.   But what happens when different employees have conflicting approaches? 

Guests:

Christhina Candido, Professor of Environmental and Sustainable Design, University of Melbourne

Dr Amantha Imber, organisational psychologist, founder, Inventium, and host of the 'How I Work' podcast

Pick something you enjoy doing and you can 'leisure craft' it! We learn about the benefits of this technique as a way of improving your personal wellbeing, and your performance at work. 

Plus we'll give you some practical tips on how to 'leisure-craft' in Try This.

Guest: 

Alex Hamrick, Assistant Professor of Management, Robins School of Business, University of Richmond 

From our phones to social media, to search engines, artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday lives.

Learn how organisations are incorporating it into their workflows, and explore the ethical considerations and other concerns people have about using artificial intelligence at work. 

Guests:

Jeremy Utley, adjunct professor, Stanford University, co-host Beyond the Prompt

Mark Pesce, futurist and co-founder Wisely AI

The junior person feels like they’re being micromanaged, but the manager feels like the job is not being done properly. When does good supervision tip into micromanagement?

Shona Ryan had such a difficult time being micromanaged as a millennial worker, that she decided to research the topic. 

We hear what she learned, and get advice from an expert on how to break the pattern of micromanagement.

Guests:

Dr James Donald, Senior Lecturer in Work and Organisational Studies, University of Sydney

Shona Ryan, employee relations specialist

And if you liked this episode you’d enjoy our story on the magic of job crafting,  listen to it here.

This episode was first broadcast on 2nd June 2024.

What are your memories about your parents and work, and how have they influenced the way you manage your own work-life?  

We explore these origin stories and the changing landscape of workplace flexibility. 

Guests:

Professor Lyndall Strazdins, clinical psychologist and researcher of work and family life, Australian National University, and Director and Chair of the University Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Jono Nicholas, founder and managing director The Wellbeing Outfit 

Tips and advice on how to prepare for your performance review ahead of time. 

Plus, how to handle feedback during the meeting and go for that performance rating you're after.

Guest:Emma Power,  education-focused lecturer, Melbourne Business School and independent HR consultant

And check out the companion episode: Can performance reviews "exceed expectations"?!

Whether you’re having one or doing one, it can feel like the official performance review process is missing the mark.

We explore the art and science of performance reviews and get some ideas about what could make them better. 

Guests:

Michelle Brown, Professor of Human Resource Management, in the Department of Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne 

Dr David Burkus, former business school professor turned consultant, author 

Look out for our bonus episode Try this: performance review edition