Women at the top of their game share their stories about the good, the bad and the ugly of power in the workplace. And to you blokes out there, this isn't a "stacks on men", it's really worth a listen.

(Hear part one from last week about why power makes you more likely to cheat, steal, talk over people and swear at work here.)

GUESTS

Laura, former analyst turned entrepreneur

Juliet Bourke, adjunct professor at UNSW Business School

Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Zoe Routh, leadership expert and trainer and author of People Stuff

Producer: Maria Tickle

(This program was first broadcast on February 15, 2021.)

The cliche of bright red lipstick and shoulder pads as symbols of power for women went out of style in the 80s, thank goodness.

But who gets power at work today and why? And what do you need to do to keep it?

Social psychologist Professor Dacher Keltner, from the University of California, Berkley has studied power for 25 years. He has found the Machiavellian approach to power (force, deception, manipulation) is not what keeps you in power. Neither does red lipstick.

We also hear from Chief People Officer, Estimate One, James Law and executive coach Cassandra Goodman.

(This program was first broadcast on Mon 8 Feb 2021.)

Producer: Maria Tickle

Thinking of quitting your job? Join the club!The COVID pandemic has led to what’s being dubbed The Great Resignation in the US. And apparently this seismic shift in the workforce is about to hit our shores, especially in the tech industry.Aaron McEwan from global research and advisory firm Gartner shares industry trends and what organisations need to do to head it off at the pass.

With stories from Anna Burgess Yang, Chicago-based content marketing manager; Cathy, Australian start up founder; and Deb Mavric, community innovation director, Culture Amp

Producer: Maria Tickle

Australians are constantly told the only way out of rolling lockdowns is vaccination. So why aren't most workplaces mandating COVID-19 jabs so everyone get back to business? We dig into tricky legal, ethical and practical issues with workplace relations lawyer Michael Byrnes (partner at Sydney firm Swaab) and infectious diseases social scientist Dr Holly Seale (UNSW).

Producer: Maria Tickle

Does your inbox make you miserable? Is the constant barrage of back and forth emails stopping you from doing deeper, more focussed work you actually need to do? You are not alone. According to Cal Newport, on average, email interrupts knowledge workers work every six minutes. There is an alternative. Cal walks us through why our relationship with email is dysfunctional and how to break up with it. Cal's book: A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in the Age of Overload

Producer: Maria Tickle

On the verge of burnout or feeling disconnected from your workmates? Don't underestimate the power of working music into your workflows and even meetings.

Psychologist and classical musician Greta Bradman explains how our brains respond to music and runs through research-backed ways we can use music to connect, help focus and manage stress.

Greta consults on culture with organisations across technology and creative industries. She also hosts ABC Classic weekend mornings. Hear the playlists from her series Music For Wellbeing.

Producer: Maria Tickle

What do psychometric tests, workers comp and Sydney bin chickens have in common? Well they can be all in a day’s work for human resources professionals.

But their responsibilities and place in the company is rapidly changing in organisations today. Jacqui Curtis is chief operating officer of the Australian Tax Office and is also in charge of this change in HR for the Australian Public Service.

Jacqui explains why HR must have a seat at the boardroom table and how AI and data analytics can help the people management.

Producer: Maria Tickle

Illustrator: Tatum Kenna

Changing careers isn’t easy - overcoming inertia is hard and knowing where to start can seem really difficult.

Career coach Kate Richardson debunks some myths and steps us through the process. We also meet some brave souls who’ve pulled it off including criminologist turned crime writer Mark Brandi, former lawyer now psychiatrist-in-training Nicca Grant and Monique Ross who left a 12-year career in digital media to follow her passion and become a forest therapy guide.

Producer: Maria Tickle

Routines and rituals boost productivity and wellbeing - but how? We explore why we need routines and rituals, how to create your own and how they can improve your work ethic, output and satisfaction.

(This show was first broadcast on Radio National July 20, 2020.)

GUESTS:

Dr Sean O’Connor, Director of Sydney University’s Coaching Psychology Unit Casper ter Kuile, Harvard Divinity School fellow and author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices

With thanks to: 

Kate Christie, time management expert

Steph Clarke, podcaster

Susie Hopkins, TWL listener

Producer: Zoe Ferguson

Are you feeling absolutely exhausted at work right now? What you are feeling may be uncertainty fatigue.

For ideas on how to work through the overwhelming and heavy feelings that come with yet another lockdown, psychologist Dr Shanta Dey from the University of Sydney Business School and leadership expert and coach Julia Steel share what they’ve learned through the COVID chaos.

Producer: Maria Tickle

Researcher: Kara Jensen-McKinnon