This Working Life

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

Studies show more of us are looking for purpose and meaning at work. But what if the work we do doesn't fill that need?

From group giving activities to individual arrangements that allow you to volunteer in an area that means something to you, explore the different ways organisations are attempting to facilitate the need for purpose at work. 

Guest:

Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Professor of Management, Macquarie University 

Mick Liubinskas, CEO, Climate Salad

If you have a tendency to take on too much, you might want to look at the boundaries you have with your co-workers and your boss.  

It seems hard, but setting boundaries could improve your life, and your work as well. Boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab teaches you how. 

Guest:

Nedra Glover Tawwab, therapist and author of New York Times best seller, Set Boundaries, Find Peace 

Job sharing could soon be back in vogue as some businesses and governments push for return to office policies.  

What are the pros and cons of job sharing and could it be the answer to work life balance? 

Guests:

Rosalind Dixon, Professor of Law at the School of Global & Public Law, UNSW 

Mariebelle Malo, job sharing consultant 

Angela Dally and Kath Slack, job sharing lawyers for a large corporate retailer 

In helping young people prepare for a life of work, asking them what they want to do for a job, or what they’re good at may limit their options. 

Learn a different way of thinking about careers that focuses on challenges, rather than job titles. 

Learn a different way of thinking about careers that focuses on challenges, rather than job titles. 

Guests:

JP Michel, organisational psychologist and author, The World Needs You: A New Mindset for Career Exploration

Kate McBeath, who works with career advisors in schools in Australia and New Zealand

Most of us are faced with managing multiple changes in our work lives, sometimes all at once. 

Learn how to anticipate, accept and grow with change, and be the "pilot" of your own career. 

Guest: Andrea Clarke, futurist and author of Adapt