This Working Life

Finding it hard to get your brain into gear? You might feel your mind wandering a bit, daydreaming of being somewhere else.

To help you get you back on track, one of the world’s top experts on attention, Dr Gloria Mark from the University of California Irvine, explains how our attention spans have declined and what we can do about it. 

And Sydney University Associate Professor Paul Ginns provides a simple hack to keep you focused through your work day. 

This episode was first broadcast on Jan 28, 2024.

The psychology of performance is not just for elite sports, it can also help you do better at work.

As the Paris Olympics kicks off, we share some lessons about performance and wellbeing and help you adapt them to your own career.

Like it or not, redundancies are a part of the career cycle for many of us. 

Whether it’s happening to you or someone you know, hear stories from people who have been through it, and those who help them, about how to prepare for and navigate that phase. 

In 2021 we asked experts to gaze into a crystal ball and give us their predictions for how work would change as a result of a global pandemic.

Were the futurists right, and what changes do they see coming in the next few years? 

Laughter is good for us, but sometimes jokes and funny quips just don't land, especially when they're delivered by your boss.

If you're a leader or you report to one, here's how to use humour to make work a more enjoyable experience for all concerned.

Put a pin in it, leverage that, circle back, LMK (let me know) - ugh! Some of us are drawn to use jargon and buzzwords, while others are annoyed by them.

Learn when and how to use jargon so that you can avoid miscommunication at work.

How is the use of artificial intelligence in meetings, recording transcripts, generating notes, listening in (!), affecting your work, and how do you feel about its presence in the 'room'?

Learn what AI can do in meetings, to improve productivity and team building, and what's still to come.

Job cuts have been announced,  a restructure is imminent, you've got a new boss, AI is about to change your job. These events are all part of regular working life, so what can you do?

Learn why we struggle with uncertainty at work, and get some skills to help you cope.

They’re usually the last step in the process, but reference checks are an important part of a job hire. And if you get them wrong, you can have a real situation on your hands.

What's best practice when it comes to reference checking: whether you’re hiring, trying to be hired, or giving a reference for someone else?

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.