Working Conversations

Episode 124: Loud Quitting – What It Is and What to Do About It

First there was the Great Resignation and then Quiet Quitting. The latest trend is Loud Quitting.  In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explains what loud quitting is (hint: it might not actually involve quitting!) and what to do about it. Are you a Loud Quitter? If you’ve ever felt disengaged at work you might be. If you’ve felt disengaged recently or if you work with people who are disengaged, this is a can’t-miss episode. You’ll learn what to do if you’re the Loud Quitter, their boss, on the human resources team, or a colleague who’s observing Loud Quitting going on with someone else.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/124

Episode 123: Micro-acknowledgment and Why It’s Hard to do Remotely

When you make eye contact with a colleague who just shared a good idea or example and you give them a look of agreement, of respect, or of admiration, you are communicating a very subtle message of micro-acknowledgment. We do this very naturally in the face-to-face work environment. In meetings, in the hallways, heck – even in the parking lot. But in the virtual and hybrid work environment, micro-acknowledgment is practically non-existent. And that’s not good for your company culture or for retaining your best employees. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explains what micro-acknowledgment is and shares ideas on how you can do it in the virtual or hybrid workplace.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/123

Episode 122: What is Your Competitive Edge?

What is your competitive edge? Why should we prefer you? Whether in your leadership, in your product and service offerings to your customers, or how you are as a colleague, what makes you a better choice than someone or something else? Sparked by an exceptional customer service experience in which she was overwhelmingly surprised and delighted, Dr. Janel Anderson deconstructs what makes something a cut above and gives you a leg up on the competition. Tune in to this episode to find out how to gain your competitive edge.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/122

Episode 121: Are Generations Still Relevant?

Do all Millennials enjoy avocado toast? Are all Gen Xers cynical and jaded? And are all Gen Zers addicted to their phones and unable to hold a face-to-face conversation? Of course not! But some of the generational research would have you thinking otherwise. Recently, the Pew Research Center announced that they would not be producing new research on generations – something they’ve done for, well, generations.  In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson digs into the hazards of using generational stereotypes and generational research and offers up some tips for when and how to use generational research responsibly, and how to curb it’s overuse.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/121

Episode 120: The Work from Home Impact on Families

We know that the pandemic’s need for people to work from home brought about tremendous changes in the workplace, both for working professionals and for organizations in general. But what about the impact on the family unit? Does it make a difference for children and families if parents are around more, working from home? In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores what parents working from home means for family life. From teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol use to the divorce rate in the United States, this episode looks at how these trends have changed over the past few years. The data are fascinating! 

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/120

Episode 119: The Four Day Work Week

Will Thursday become the new Friday? The four day work week is being touted as the answer to most of the ills of the modern workplace. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores how the four day work week can answer an even bigger problem that leaders face: Do we force a return to office for greater productivity and profit or do we continue with work from home to afford greater flexibility? The four day work week offers compelling benefits for both sides of this debate. This episode shares a compelling, research-based method for pilot testing a four day work week in your organization.  

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/119

Episode 118: How to Stop Office Gossip

Office gossip is one of the most corrosive and damaging things for an organization’s culture. But so many people find it irresistible! Why? What is it about gossip that some people find so tempting? In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores what office gossip is, why people do it, and how to do less of it. Whether you are the subject of the office gossip, or the audience for the gossip, or even the chief gossiper yourself, this episode has tips and techniques that will reduce office gossip and make your organization a healthier and happier place. 

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/118

Episode 117: Full-Time Job AND Full-Time Caregiving?

These days, hundreds of thousands of parents are juggling working full-time while also doing childcare full-time. Prior to the pandemic, this was not something that parents – or their employers – had to contend with. Now, it’s a very grey area. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson unravels the complexity and the multifaceted nature of trying to do a full-time job and full-time caregiving simultaneously. This episode is a must-listen for those in that situation or managing those in that situation. 

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/117

Episode 116: My Best Advice for Hybrid Meetings

Hybrid meetings – those meetings where some participants are together in a conference room and others are calling in from remote offices – are rife with issues. From audio issues, to connectivity issues, to lack of engagement, to poor facilitation . . . they tend to not be good experiences for anyone.  In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson gives you her very best advice on hybrid meetings. Her surprising advice is to not have hybrid meetings. She shares details on why that is her position and what to do instead.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/116

Episode 115: How to Say No

Most people don’t like to be told “no” when they ask for something. They don’t like to feel the disappointment, the letdown, and the frustration of not getting their needs or wants met. And many people don’t like telling someone “no,” even when it is merited. We humans need social connections and belonging. Being told “no” or giving a “no” can feel like a threat to relationship and connectedness. When we put relationships first all the time, it can be easy to forget how to say “no.” Whether at work or in your personal life, if you can’t say “no,” you will always be putting others’ needs ahead of your own. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson teaches you how to say “no,” with the utmost professionalism, compassion, and grace.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/115