Research shows that up to 80% of workers feel disengaged, leaving many people stuck, exhausted, or simply going through the motions at work and in life. This week, Karen is joined by performance consultant, podcast host, and founder of The Better Life Lab, Andrew Horsfield, for a practical conversation about how to avoid becoming one of them.

In this episode, they unpack why so many capable people lose momentum, how burnout quietly takes hold, and what it really takes to reset your direction, rebuild energy, and perform at your best — both professionally and personally.

Drawing on two decades of experience working across business, education, and elite sport, Andrew shares practical insights into navigating the “messy middle,” overcoming self-doubt, aligning your time and energy with what matters most, and turning struggle into genuine growth.

If you are ready to reset your direction and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, this conversation is your ultimate playbook.

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This week on Work Savvy, Karen is joined by international speaker, innovation expert, and author Dom Thurbon to explore the power of honesty in leadership, workplace culture, and high performance.

In this conversation, they unpack why the best teams are the ones willing to face reality, challenge assumptions, and have the conversations others avoid. From performance issues and emerging risks through to innovation and decision making, Dom shares why truth is not just a moral ideal — it’s a practical driver of learning, trust, growth, and better business outcomes.

Drawing on insights from his new book To Be Honest, Dom explores how leaders can move beyond “polite silence” to create cultures where people feel safe to speak openly, challenge ideas, and contribute honestly.

If you’re ready to build a culture where truth thrives and performance follows, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

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While much has been said about traditional workplace bullying, there is an under-recognised but growing behavior that is quietly eroding modern organizations: Upward Bullying. This week, Karen is joined by Maureen Kyne, a global authority on workplace culture, to discuss how staff undermining or intimidating those in authority can cripple a team's success.

Maureen shares her straight-talking approach to rebuilding authority and restoring trust within boards and executive teams. We dive into her "Tranquil Leadership" framework, designed to help leaders move beyond mere compliance to create cultures of genuine accountability and respect.

If you are looking to strengthen your leadership presence and stop the cycle of workplace conflict, this conversation is essential listening.

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Leadership has never been harder, and with 47% of managers reporting severe stress, burnout has become the new norm rather than a looming risk. This week, Karen is joined by Graeme Cowan—founding director of R U OK? and author of the new book Great Leaders Care—to discuss why care is a competitive leadership advantage, not a "soft" skill.

In this episode, we explore how the best leaders deliver sustainable results by prioritizing wellbeing alongside performance. We unpack Graeme’s evidence-based framework for building safe, resilient teams that can perform under pressure without burning out.

If you want to become the leader your people want to follow while still hitting your organizational targets, this conversation is for you.

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In a world defined by AI disruption, global conflict, and constant workplace pressure, the most critical capability isn’t a new piece of technology - it’s the human skill of communicating well under pressure. This week, Karen sits down with communication specialist and acclaimed author Leah Mether to unpack how leaders can navigate high-stakes conversations without damaging relationships or culture.

Leah shares her "Five C’s" model to help teams shift from knowing what to do to actually doing it. We discuss why avoiding hard conversations is damaging your team’s performance and why "clarity is kindness" when it comes to reducing workplace conflict.

If you’re ready to move past personality clashes and lead with more courage and control, this episode is a must-listen.

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In this powerful episode of Work Savvy, Karen catches up with Vinisha Rathod again. Vinisha is an accomplished keynote speaker, advisor, and author. Together they discuss a critical issue that often remains hidden in the workplace: The role organizations play in reducing domestic violence. Vinisha sheds light on the reality of coercive control and explains why a workplace is often the only safe haven for those experiencing abuse.

This episode is essential for leaders who want to move beyond basic policy and build a culture of genuine safety and resilience. By taking these steps, companies don't just manage risk; they gain a competitive advantage through higher engagement and deep-seated loyalty.  And frankly, we think it’s the right thing to do.

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Strengthen Your Culture: At Corporate Dojo, we help leaders master the emotional intelligence and leadership skills needed to navigate complex workplace challenges. Explore our leadership development programs at www.corporatedojo.com.

Connect with Vinisha: Find Vinisha Rathod on LinkedIn to learn more about her work in social impact and organizational responsibility. Her article can be found here: https://ceoworld.biz/2025/09/03/how-organizations-can-play-a-bigger-part-in-reducing-domestic-violence/

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In this episode of Work Savvy, Karen is joined by Siobhán O'Riordan, the author of ‘Reframe: How Generalists Thrive in a Changing World’. Siobhán is the founder of Big Sea Strategies and a Gallup®-Certified Global CliftonStrengths® Coach. Throughout the discussion, Siobhán explains how You’ll learn how to translate wide-ranging experience into a clear value proposition, lead teams effectively through change, and collaborate with specialists without losing your own generalist identity.

This episode is a must-listen for mid-career professionals and managers who feel their non-linear path has been overlooked. Siobhán provides a practical playbook for claiming your strengths and designing a career built on curiosity and adaptability.

Connect and Grow:

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In this episode of Work Savvy, Karen is joined by leadership expert Brad Giles to discuss the hidden traps of constant business growth. While many leaders chase "bigger," Brad argues that rapid expansion often masks deeper issues like fractured teams and high turnover. Drawing from his new book, Bigger Isn’t Better, Better Is Better, Brad shares how great leaders design enduring companies by focusing on loyalty, culture, and unique offerings that competitors simply can't copy. Whether you are scaling a startup or leading an established team, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on sustainable success. If you feel like your business is owning you instead of the other way around, this episode will help you learn how to build a stronger, more profitable company while reclaiming the autonomy to live life on your own terms.

Tune in now, and don’t forget to Work... savvy!

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In this episode of Work Savvy, Karen Gately is joined by mental health advocate, former professional surfer and author Cooper Chapman to explore a powerful idea: meaningful improvements in wellbeing don’t require massive lifestyle changes — they can start with just 1% of your day.

Cooper is the author of The 1% Good Club, a book that introduces simple, science-backed habits designed to strengthen mental wellbeing, increase resilience and improve clarity. Drawing on insights from elite sport, psychology and his work supporting thousands of people through The Good Human Factory, Cooper explains how small daily actions can compound to create powerful change over time.

Karen and Cooper explore how many people struggle to prioritise their mental health and why sustainable wellbeing is built through consistent daily practices rather than occasional bursts of motivation.

If you’re interested in strengthening your mindset, building healthier habits and supporting wellbeing at work, this episode offers practical insights you can start applying immediately.

Tune in now - and don’t forget to Work… savvy!

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In this episode of Work Savvy, Karen breaks down why psychological safety is a critical commercial driver, not just "HR fluff". Recorded at a recent leader’s conference, Karen shares how toxic leadership and public humiliation can physically and emotionally break a high-performing leader, and why organisations must stop trying to "fix the employee" when they should be fixing the environment.

We also dive into the real psychosocial hazards leaders need to watch out for and explore how recent legislative shifts are holding companies legally accountable for the cultures they create.

Psychological Safety is not being "soft," walking on eggshells, or lowering performance standards to protect feelings. True psychological safety isn't about creating a comfortable bubble - it’s about creating the exact conditions human beings need to perform at their highest level.

If you’ve ever struggled to balance high accountability with genuine humanity, this episode is your blueprint.

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We help leaders master the emotional intelligence and leadership skills needed to navigate complex workplace challenges.