Where Work Meets Life™ with Dr. Laura

Dr. Laura addresses perfectionism in this episode, looking into what perfectionism truly is and how it’s detrimental to our well-being. The pursuit of perfection slows us down and interferes with us being our best, most innovative selves. Few situations call for absolute perfection, Dr. Laura notes, and she examines how the single-minded drive to be perfect blocks our creativity and leads to burnout. 

One method for combating perfectionism is the 80/20 rule, which Dr. Laura explains is learning to be satisfied with getting a project to 80%, which is very good, and not spending the extra 20% to fight for perfection. Dr. Laura’s advice focuses on how to retrain ourselves from striving for perfection, how we can practice self-compassion, what practical steps we can take, and how to avoid letting perfectionism impact our relationships. She approaches the subject from a personal perspective, sharing her own journey through perfectionism and how she found success without being perfect.

“I love this quote by Sheryl Sandberg in that done is better than perfect. And I agree, it's about execution. It's about getting things done and doing things well. But getting things done perfectly will lead you to not get things done, period.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Content Warning: Talk of death by suicide and depression

Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program, about men’s mental health and HeadsUpGuys, the men’s mental health resource that he co-founded. Men account for 75 to 80% of deaths by suicide and it’s the need for resources to tend to this mental health crisis that Dr. John Ogrodniczuk and Dr. Laura discuss. 

Dr. Ogrodniczuk explains some of the reasons for the high rates of death by suicide among men and the lack of resources specifically targeting men. He and Dr. Laura explore what is needed to assist in dealing with the pressures of life and how that need is addressed by HeadsUpGuys. Featuring real-life stories of depression and how men across the globe have found help as well as self-checks. HeadsUpGuys.org is meeting the mental health needs of men globally as a free online resource, including a search engine for therapists. This episode sheds light on a mental health crisis that is not given enough attention and offers resources to deal with depression.

“We have the world's largest collection of real guys sharing their stories of what it was like to be depressed and very importantly, what helped them recover. And so that is a really important thing because when you're experiencing something like depression or anxiety, it's a really isolating experience. You feel so alone. You feel people don't get you. They don't understand you. And thus there's no one to help you. So when there's a lot of other guys out there that have been through the same thing, that's in a way very comforting.” Dr. John Ogrodniczuk

About Dr. John Ogrodniczuk:

Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UBC Psychotherapy Program, one of North America’s largest medically based psychotherapy training programs.  His research program focuses on a variety of psychotherapies and patient populations, with a particular focus on personality disorders and men’s mental health. 

Dr. Ogrodniczuk has held several grants to support his research, which has led to over 300 scientific publications. In addition to his research, Dr. Ogrodniczuk is involved with teaching medical students and psychiatry residents, serves as a mental health consultant for various organizations, and maintains a psychotherapy practice.  He is past President of the North American chapter of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR), and a recipient of the Distinguished Research Career Award from SPR. Dr. Ogrodniczuk is the Founder of HeadsUpGuys, the world’s leading men’s mental health resource.

Resources:

Website: HeadsUpGuys.org

Dr. John Ogrodniczuk on LinkedIn

HeadsUpGuys on LinkedIn

HeadsUpGuys on Instagram

HeadsUpGuys on YouTube

HeadsUpGuys on Facebook

The Economist

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura welcomes Hillary Rideout and Steve Brierley to Where Work Meets Life™ to talk about inspiring better humans and their new book on the subject. Hillary and Steve previously collaborated on “Being a Better Human Teenager” and that book and its reception led to their new follow-up book, “Inspiring Better Humans”. Dr. Laura explores why Steve and Hillary are drawn to inspiring young people, their thoughts on making a difference, and how having a purpose can change lives.

Steve and Hillary work together in the Better Human Group, a project that fuelled their first book, and one of the discoveries they share is that a common factor among the profiled teenagers was very involved parents. They discuss how having a purpose and believing in the ability to offer something to the world positively impacts everyone, not just teenagers. The message in their books resonates with teens and parents alike and has inspired purposeful action in classrooms, which is part of the solution to combating mental illness in young people. Dr. Laura’s conversation with Steve and Hillary opens a window into the lives of extraordinary teens and caring parents and how any one of us can tap into our ability to change the world for the better.

“These kids truly felt like they could have an impact on the world. And they did. And that was very motivating to the kids in the class who were reading the stories and then actually creating their own plan to do something similar” Hillary Rideout

“To me, the message is very clear. And I think it is that when you do something to help somebody, you also help yourself. And for me, if we can get this message out to others, I think it would be just an incredible impact.” Steve Brierley

About Steve Brierley:

Over the past 20 years, Steve has held progressive positions in corporate training, talent management and executive leadership development in corporate and post-secondary sectors.

While working in California, Steve was the General Manager of a multi-national corporate training organization that focused on delivering IT skills and leadership development for Fortune 100 organizations and government agencies.

After four years in the USA, Steve returned to Canada and joined SAIT’s corporate training department in the role of Corporate Learning Advisor, followed by the role of Director of Executive Education at the University of Alberta School of Business. 

He then joined the energy sector as Group Lead, Corporate Training & Talent Management at Encana Inc., followed by Director of Executive Development & Talent Management at Enbridge, Steve then joined Canadian Tire as Associate Vice President of Talent Management. In his last corporate role, Steve was Vice President of Leadership Assessment and Development at Gallagher. 

Currently, Steve teaches Leadership at SAIT in the BBA, BA and diploma programs. Also, he provides talent management and leadership consulting to corporations and non-profit organizations across Canada.

As a lifelong learner, Steve obtained a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and is a Certified Executive Coach from the Royal Roads University graduate program and PCC accredited from the International Coach Federation.  

In his spare time, Steve enjoys writing and publishing books. He released his first book, Being a Better Human Being at Work in 2020, his second book Being a Better Human Teenager in 2021 and his third book, Inspiring Better Humans will be coming out in fall 2024. Steve seeks adventure on his motorcycle, on the slopes or in the mountains.  Steve’s motto is Live on Purpose!

Steve Brierley on LinkedIn

About Hillary Rideout:

Hillary is a creative writer, designer, publisher, and website builder.

As Partner in The Better Human Group - an organization making the world a better place through storytelling and community building - she is a published author and book publisher.

As Founder of Inside Out Branding Inc., she thrives on uncovering the essence of individuals and businesses, identifying core values and unique narratives that reflect truth and value. Some call it branding, Hillary calls it pulling their insides out. 

As Creative Associate with ViTreo Group - a non-profit leadership and development agency - Hillary brings life and attention to the stories and missions that deserve to be told. 

Hillary also volunteers with BARC's Rescue - a Calgary-based dog rescue organization - lending her graphic design and communications expertise to get homeless dogs into loving, forever homes. 

She is a University of Calgary alumni and holds several talent management and leadership development certifications - education she employed for 20+ years as she created and managed learning and development programs for leaders in various organizations.

Hillary lives near Calgary with her family, including her rescue dog, Roxy. She loves spending time at her family's cabin in the woods and finds joy in the simplest of things - music, quiet mornings, and dog walks.

Hillary Rideout on LinkedIn

Website: InsideOutBranding.ca

Resources:

Website: BetterHumanGroup.com

Instagram: Better Human Group Inc

“Inspiring Better Humans” by Hillary Rideout & Steve Brierley

“Being a Better Human Teenager” by Steve Brierley, Melissa From, Paul Lamoureux & Hillary Rideout

“But She Looks Fine: From Illness to Activism” by Olivia Goodreau

LivLyme Foundation

Huberman Lab Podcast

Armchair Expert Podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura digs deeper into the subject of toxic bosses in this episode, discussing how to identify a potentially toxic boss before you start working for one. Toxic bosses are unfortunately prevalent, with a 2023 survey finding that 87% of professionals have had at least one toxic boss in their careers. But there are warning signs, and Dr. Laura lists some, highlighting what to look for and how to get the answers we need before joining a toxic workplace.

One of the key ways to investigate a boss before working for them is through mutual connections, especially on LinkedIn. Dr. Laura explains the value of maintaining connections and how to broach the subject of a boss with former or current employees. She breaks down how to decipher the answers we receive, identifying the warning signs of a toxic boss. What is being said? What isn’t being said? There are things to look for in the interview, as well. The boss isn’t just interviewing us, we’re interviewing them! Dr. Laura names some warning behaviors that can be seen even in those initial conversations. Not every boss will be toxic and not every challenging workplace has a toxic boss leading it, but this episode gives sound insight into spotting the red flags of a toxic boss before we sign up to work with them. 

“Are people burnt out? Asking those questions can go a long way. And if you hear the answer is yes, it is a demanding place and people are exhausted and burnt out, that's somewhere that you don't want to be. That doesn't mean you don't want to be in a challenging, invigorating, busy workplace. And of course, there'll be periods where you're going to be working hard. But is it a constant strain? Is it under-resourced? And [are] people expected to be on call 24/7? [That] is a recipe for burnout.” Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources:

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura welcomes Cecile Peterkin to the podcast to talk about imposter syndrome. Cecile is a chief transformation strategist and founder of the Leadership Coaching Centre, with 22 years of expertise as a confidence coach and mentor to her credit. Together, Cecile and Dr. Laura explore where imposter syndrome comes from and why it’s often more prevalent in girls and women. They explore building confidence and learning to assert yourself in situations where your instinct says to keep quiet. 

Cecile credits much of her inspiration and success to her late father, and she talks about how the way she was raised enforced her sense of having a voice that should be heard. Imposter syndrome, she says, is more common among women because they are conditioned and nurtured in ways that suggest domesticity and quietude. While this is changing with new generations, there is a lot that women, and anyone, can learn about holding space for themselves and demanding to be heard. Cecile and Dr. Laura explore confidence, how to build it, and why it’s so key to not just career success but to emotional well-being.

“From my experience in a lot of these board meetings, men tend to talk over women because, again, women don't project themselves to be heard. … And I think, too, that some girls are raised not to be loud. … If a man is talking and you want to speak and you have something to say, there's no reason why you [can’t say], could you be quiet for a few minutes so I can be heard? Because to me, you get more respect that way than not saying anything…” Cecile Peterkin

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Cecile Peterkin:

Cecile Peterkin is the Founder & Chief Transformation Strategist at the Leadership Coaching Centre. She has over 22 years of expertise as a distinguished confidence coach & mentor, helping 1,000+ professionals & aspiring entrepreneurs to unleash their unique strengths, pivot with purpose & craft legacy careers.

Her approach is deeply inspired by the life lessons from her father. His guiding principles of kindness & respect shaped Cecile’s holistic approach to leadership, where personal well-being & professional achievement converge, empowering others not just to succeed, but to redefine success on their own terms. She balances authority with compassion, cultivating a leadership style as human-centric as it is dynamic. This not only guides her interactions but shapes the empowering & inclusive environments she’s committed to creating.

Cecile’s journey has equipped her with unique insights into resilience & self-belief. She offers practical wisdom & expert guidance to help navigate the complexities of personal & professional challenges to reach limitless potential. Known as a force of nature, she brings a determined, charismatic & energetic leadership style to everything she does, grounded in real-life wisdom & the virtues of grit & perseverance. Media-savvy, she is experienced in speaking on stage & virtually, sharing compelling business insights & life stories with global audiences.

Resources:

Website: LeadershipCoachingCentre.com

Cecile Peterkin on LinkedIn

Episode 89 | The Great Disconnect: Inability to Listen and Its Impacts on Workplaces

“Emotional GRIT: 8 Steps to Master Your Emotions, Transform Your Thoughts, & Change Your World” by Dr. Neeta F Bhushan

Gen Z @ Work podcast

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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Dr. Laura is joined by Pamela Barnum, a former undercover police officer and federal prosecutor who is also a keynote speaker, to talk about building trust in organizations. Pamela’s background in undercover work taught her how to build trust with difficult drug dealers, and her work as a prosecutor gave her further insight into building trust. As a body language expert and also a corporate negotiator, Pamela shares a lifetime of knowledge on the importance of trust and how to cultivate and maintain it. 

Pamela explains all her years of building trust in different careers as being able to read people and to show up in a way that’s trustworthy and charismatic. She discusses how trust is key to convincing people to buy into or accept whatever messaging is being presented and that it exists at the crossroads of confidence and empathy. She and Dr. Laura explore how leaders can instill a culture of trust in their organizations and talk about nonverbal cues and eye contact in cultural contexts. There is a sense of influence that goes along with cultivating trust, and Pamela’s experience helps convey the importance of modelling the behaviors we want to be returned to us. The lessons are profound and valuable in any setting. 

“You know, we want to be transparent, but sometimes there are things that the C-suite is telling the leadership team that can't be shared with everyone yet, or isn't really worked out all the way. So being transparent can be challenging, but I encourage people to be as transparent as possible with the information that they're permitted to share, and share it in a way that lands with people so that they understand, they know what's going to be happening, they know what the end goal is, and they have some steps to get there.” Pamela Barnum

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Pamela Barnum:

Imagine what it would be like to live as a different person with a different name, identity, and background. For months at a time, you’re living with a false identity, and your success depends on building trust and detecting deception with some of the most dangerous people imaginable. That’s precisely what Pamela Barnum did for years working undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section. She learned real-world techniques for building trust and interpreting body language.

When Pamela graduated from law school, she left policing and accepted a position as a federal prosecuting attorney. She spent countless hours in the courtroom, perfecting her proficiency as a trust strategist and body language expert. 

Following a successful 20-year career in the criminal justice system, Pamela studied corporate negotiations in graduate school. Now, she shares her expertise with others, teaching them how to improve their communication skills to increase trust inside corporations, associations, and law enforcement agencies.

As a nonverbal communication expert and trust strategist, Pamela delivers techniques once thought of as a “secret second language” that participants can begin using immediately. 

Take decades of experience, including working deep undercover in narcotics, followed by a rewarding legal career, and you get real-world strategies that help participants crack the code on trust and improve professional relationships using proven field-tested techniques.

Pamela shares her experience, research, and expertise with humor, candor, and energy, blending actionable strategies with memorable stories. 

She is also a featured expert and contributor in print media, radio and television news programs in Canada and the United States. She has appeared in person in front of audiences ranging from 50 - 12,000 and on countless virtual stages.

Resources:

Website: PamelaBarnum.com

Pamela Barnum on LinkedIn

Pamela Barnum on Instagram

Building Bad information

“Insight” by Tasha Eurich

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini, PhD

MasterClass

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In honor of the 100th episode of Where Work Meets Life™, Dr. Laura is interviewed on her own podcast by veteran host, Dave Kelly. Dave has an extensive background in television and has around 28,000 interviews to his credit, including with Ellen Degeneres and former US president Barack Obama. Dave turns the spotlight to Dr. Laura to learn more about what podcasting means to her and why she continues to push for important, enlightening conversations.  

Dave Kelly finds out how Dr. Laura kept the momentum for Where Work Meets Life™ going in the early days and why she chooses to highlight certain topics through her episodes. Dr. Laura reflects on some of her favorite and most thought-provoking episodes, memorable guests, and why she enjoys learning and sharing through this medium. Dave and Dr. Laura enjoy a warm, open conversation that allows Dr. Laura to give us a glimpse into her goals, her upcoming book, and the lessons she’s taken to heart through the course of the first 100 episodes. Join this milestone episode to look back on the path Where Work Meets Life™ has taken so far and celebrate what is still to come.

“I think that passion, it looks and feels different for different people. There's also a reality in the mix of I may be passionate about, you know, some obscure form of art, but I’m not able to support my family off of that. So I may find a career that's interesting and challenging, but my passion remains in that obscure form of art. And that's fine. I think the word passion can be a bit extreme for some people, and it can make them feel that if they don't have a passion, will they be unhappy in their career? And that's not it. But what I sure want for people is not to have the opposite of passion, which is feeling depleted and unfulfilled and it's soul-sucking and you dread Mondays.” Dr. Laura

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Dave Kelly:

Dave Kelly is an award-winning host, writer, and interviewer who creates intelligent and deeply human moments for events and keynote conversations around the world. He is the host of Dave Kelly Live - Canada’s own talk-variety show. From his beginnings as a TV Host, Dave has spent decades leading conversations with business and political leaders across North America and beyond, from Stanford School of Business in California to Amman, Jordan and everywhere in between. He has led conferences and run panels in categories as varied as health care, financial technology and artificial intelligence.  

He sat down for an hour-long in-depth conversation with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in Montreal, Ellen Degeneres selected Dave as the moderator and interviewer for her multi-city tour across Canada, and he hosted a conversation with President Barack Obama in Calgary. Dave is the co-founder of Kelly Brothers Productions, an award-winning video and entertainment company.

Resources:

Dave Kelly website: DaveKellyHosting.com

Dave Kelly on LinkedIn

Episode 17 | Episode 18 No Ego for Better Work and Lives, with Cy Wakeman

Episode 39 Life’s Messy, Life Happy: Keys to Contentment

Episode 40 Evolving Yourself to Live Happy in this Messy World

Episode 48 Unlikely Connections, Affirmations, and the Power to Make a Difference

Episode 58 From Sea to Space: The Quest to Help Humanity Survive and Thrive

"Losing Cadence" and "Finding Sophie" by Laura Lovett

“The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children” by Dr. Shefali Tsabary

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura welcomes Giselle Kovary, a generational expert and Head of Learning and Development at Optimus SBR, to talk about the different generations in today’s workplaces. Giselle has 25 years of experience in learning and development, has worked with over 26 Fortune 500 companies, and is the co-author of two books: Loyalty Unplugged and Upgrade Now. Dr. Laura and Giselle explore the differences in the five generations at work and how to harness their unique strengths and skills into a cohesive workplace. 

Giselle defines the five generations by age group as Traditionalists, from 79 to 100; Baby Boomers, from 60 to 78; Gen X, from 44 to 59; Millennials, from 29 to 43; and Gen Z, from 12 to 28. She also stresses, however, that age alone does not define a generation; how a person identifies plays a key part as well. For example, a Millennial may identify as Traditionalist in mindset and this needs to be accounted for when assessing generational differences. Giselle and Dr. Laura discuss how generational identities assist understanding at a macro level but that within organizations it’s vital to understand employees at a micro level, as individuals, as well. Giselle offers insights into where different generational identities collaborate well and where clashes often occur, based on her studies and experience. These insights serve to highlight where organizations must strengthen communication and understanding in order to best utilize the strengths each generation brings to work.

“Not everyone in a generation is going to align with this. But after over 20 years, I have literally thousands of anecdotes of when people will come up and say, oh my goodness, you just described me, or you described my children, you described my partner. And it's because there is enough of a baseline to say this is what this generation believes and thinks, and we want to look at it from that perspective. The other piece… is it's less important the year you're born and more about your generational identity. How do you identify?” Giselle Kovary

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Giselle Kovary, M.A.:

As Head of Learning & Development at Optimus SBR, Giselle is dedicated to building strategies and programs that help clients target, motivate and engage employees in order to increase performance and productivity. She is a sought-after resource to industry leaders, having worked with 26 of the top Fortune 500 companies. Over 65,000 people globally have attended her workshops or presentations. 

Giselle has 25 years of experience in learning & development and has devoted the past 20 years to researching the impact that generational differences have on organizational performance. She has co-authored two books and completed Canada’s first national Gen Z research study.

Giselle completed her Master of Arts Degree in Communications Studies at the University of Windsor, is Chair of the Board at The Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), co-chair of the Cross Academy Association, and Advisory Council member at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Resources:

Website: OptimusSBR.com

Giselle Kovary on LinkedIn

“Loyalty Unplugged: How to Get, Keep, & Grow All Four Generations” by Adwoa K Buahene and Giselle Kovary

“Upgrade Now: 9 Advanced Leadership Skills” by Giselle Kovary

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura welcomes Bryan Robinson, PhD, a psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus from the University of North Carolina. He is also the best-selling author of over 39 books, including his latest non-fiction, Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World. Dr. Robinson has researched and written extensively on the subjects of work-life balance, workaholism, and the impact of workaholism on families. Dr. Laura dives deep into Bryan’s understanding of work addiction and how to regain perspective and balance in one’s life.

Dr. Robinson describes his own experience with workaholism and how deeply anxious he’d become if he didn’t have work to do. Despite a failing marriage and physical health issues due to workaholism, it wasn’t until he had a profound experience with the compassion and clarity exhibited by Tibetan monks that he started his journey toward balance. Bryan explains how counterintuitive it is to stop fighting and learn to float more in life, as in a riptide, but stresses it’s finding balance to our fight or flight sympathetic nervous system that holds the key to self-care. 

Dr. Laura and Dr. Robinson talk about the lessons in his book Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World, how Gen Z is changing the face of workaholism for the better, what “work jerkery” refers to, and how writing murder mysteries is part of Bryan’s own balance in life. 

“I'm fortunate enough to live on the side of a mountain with an incredible view of the sunsets and just watching the sunset is fulfilling. And it also helps these creative ideas hatch. It's like an incubator. So even though I'm doing nothing, something's happening. And that's what we have to understand. Then what about my shortcomings? I can tell you what those are, but … what are my tallcomings again? People often go blank. But what you're doing is you're bringing balance to your thinking. You know, have a health day to balance out your sick days. Having green time to balance out the screen time.” - Bryan Robinson, PhD

Watch this episode on Dr. Laura’s YouTube channel

About Bryan E. Robinson, PhD:

BRYAN E. ROBINSON, PhD, is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is the author of over forty books, his latest being CHAINED TO THE DESK IN A HYBRID WORLD: A GUIDE FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE. He is a regular contributor to Forbes.com and Thrive Global. On the side, he writes murder mysteries. His tagline is, "I heal by day and kill by night."   

Robinson has published his research in over a hundred scholarly journals. He received the American Counseling Association’s Research Award and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s First Citizen Scholars Medal for his pioneering research on the negative consequences of workaholism. Has been featured on numerous television programs, including ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, the NBC Nightly News, the CBS Early Show, The Doctors, and the PBS show The Marketplace.  

Robinson’s latest novel, a murder mystery called Way DEAD Upon the Suwannee River, was made into a pilot for a television series and is being produced as a stage musical in 2025. 

Visit his website at www.bryanrobinsonphd.com or email him at [email protected].

Resources:

Website: BryanRobinsonPhD.com

Bryan Robinson, PhD on LinkedIn

“Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Work-Life Balance” by Bryan E. Robinson, PhD

“10% Happier” by Dan Harris (Tenth Anniversary Edition)

“Way DEAD Upon the Suwannee River: An Einstein Brad Pope Mystery” by Bryan E. Robinson 

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Laura offers essential insights for leadership teams aiming to create successful hybrid work environments. She starts by reflecting on the evolution of remote work, from the early days of teleconferencing and email to the widespread use of video calls. She also examines how leadership attitudes have shifted over time and why. Drawing on her doctoral research in Organizational Psychology, where she focused on virtual team leadership, Dr. Laura shares her deep passion for hybrid work. She also discusses the pushback employees experience when asked to return to the office without consultation, emphasizing that flexibility, autonomy, and trust are what drives employees to want to continue hybrid work.

As she explores the challenges of leading hybrid teams, Dr. Laura highlights the importance of clear objectives, adaptable policies, and unified team norms. She warns that rigid approaches can harm talent retention and advocates for leadership training specifically tailored to managing hybrid workforces, pointing out that many leaders haven’t received formal training in this area. Looking ahead, Dr. Laura calls for a balanced approach, urging leaders to prioritize trust, collaboration, and adaptability to meet the evolving demands of the workplace and tackle larger global challenges.

“Flexibility is a gift, and it’s a way of saying that I trust you and work still needs to get done. There's no doubt about it, and a lot of research has shown, that people who are working remotely are 10% to 20% more productive; but again, they need to have clear outcomes and goals and great leadership.” —Dr. Laura

About Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is a work and career psychologist and thought leader on the evolution of work. She has always been fascinated by how work intersects with life and loves to use her expertise to improve organizations and help people thrive. Her passion for taking creative ideas and launching them into successful business strategies led her to start three counselling psychology practices (Calgary Career Counselling, Canada Career Counselling, and Synthesis Psychology), as well as six different business brands offering organizational assessment and consulting services.

Dr. Laura is honoured to have been selected as a Woman of Distinction in Canada in 2014 and received a Canadian Woman of Inspiration Award as a Global Influencer in 2018.

Resources

Dr. Laura on LinkedIn

Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube

Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live

The Smarter Working Manifesto by Philip Vanhoutte 

For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations: 

Canada Career Counselling

Synthesis Psychology

Order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss

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