Working Conversations

You have sat in that meeting, watching the clock, thinking this should have just been an email. And you were right. Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down the real reason unnecessary meetings keep getting scheduled: not poor planning, but a leadership confidence problem she calls the CYA meeting. She introduces the Meaning Making Test, a three-question framework to help you decide in 30 seconds whether something needs a meeting or an email. If you lead a team and find yourself defaulting to meetings out of habit or worry, this episode gives you the tools to break the cycle and give your team their time back.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/273

You have probably heard you should be doing skip-level meetings. But if you are not sure what the point is or what you are actually supposed to talk about, you are in good company. Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down why skip-level meetings are relationship infrastructure, not a surveillance tool, and lays out three compelling reasons every senior leader should have them on the calendar. She walks through how to set them up with your managers first, why a formal agenda works against you, what to actually talk about, and what to redirect when the conversation drifts. Whether you are the senior leader initiating these meetings or the junior employee trying to get them started, this episode covers both sides. If you manage people at any level, this episode is built for you.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/272

Executives are convinced their teams are embracing AI. Frontline employees are doing the opposite. And you, the middle manager, are absorbing the pressure from both directions with no clear playbook.

Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down exactly why this gap exists, backed by Harvard Business Review research showing a 45-point perception gap between what executives believe and what employees are actually doing. She then walks through three specific moves: reframing the problem upward as change management rather than tech deployment, closing the perception gap by surfacing your team's real fears in a direct conversation, and shrinking the ask to something specific and completable.

If you are managing a team through AI adoption right now, this episode gives you a framework you can use in your next one-on-one.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/271

Your organization wants you to use AI, but nobody gave you training, context, or an on-ramp. That gap is real, and it is not your fault. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares four practical strategies for getting started with AI at work, including why picking a specific problem beats trying to learn AI broadly, how to use AI as a thinking partner rather than a ghostwriter, and a personal example involving a difficult email that illustrates the difference. If you have been avoiding AI or wondering where to begin, this episode gives you a clear, low-stakes starting point.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/270

When a coworker takes credit for your work, the damage is not just frustrating. It is reputational. Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down three types of workplace credit theft, explains why the type matters for how you respond, and gives you four concrete techniques to protect your professional visibility. From creating a paper trail before the meeting to a specific, calm script for a direct conversation, this episode gives you a clear framework to reclaim what is yours without blowing up a working relationship.

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Most people know they should handle hard conversations better. What they do not know is which specific pattern their brain runs every time the pressure is on. Dr. Janel Anderson identifies four distinct patterns: the Improviser, the Avoider, the Escalator, and the Deflector. She explains what drives each pattern, why most people misidentify their own, and why that misdiagnosis is the real reason nothing has worked. She also shares how to identify your own pattern accurately using a free two-minute quiz. If you have ever fumbled a hard conversation and wondered why, this episode will tell you.

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You already know what the word no means. The fear is what you think it will cost you. Dr. Janel Anderson reframes the real career risk: it is not saying no, it is saying yes to more than you can deliver. She walks through five specific scripts for giving a strategic no at work, including the honest redirect, the trade-off ask, the soft hold, the values-based no, and the no with the bridge. Each one keeps the conversation professional, protects your reputation, and lets you show up at your best where it counts. If you are a high performer who chronically overcommits, this episode is for you.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/267

Most leaders ask this question at the wrong moment, when they are already stuck. But the leaders who benefit most from executive coaching are the ones who are already performing well. Coaching is not remediation. It is acceleration. Dr. Janel Anderson breaks down three signals that indicate you may be ready for a coach: the plateau, the transition, and the perception gap. She also clarifies the difference between executive, career, and life coaching, and shares what to look for when vetting a coach so you do not waste time or money. If you are serious about your career growth and want to move faster, this episode is worth your time.

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That workplace issue that's been bothering you keeps taking up mental real estate during your commute, in the shower, and when you're trying to fall asleep. You know the feeling - there's this thing at work that's bothering you, but you keep telling yourself it's not really worth making a big deal of. So you let it slide, and then it happens again and again. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson gives you a clear framework for deciding when it's time to stop ruminating and start talking. She covers the warning signs that you've crossed from minor annoyance to must-address-now, four critical questions to evaluate any situation, and how to recognize when you're hoping others will magically read your mind. She also explains why your friends and family want you to have the conversation more than you realize. If you find yourself complaining about the same workplace issues or losing sleep over situations you're avoiding, this episode is your roadmap to action.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/265

Your boss is micromanaging you, made a decision you know won't work, or completely misunderstood a situation — and now you have to set the record straight. The power dynamic makes these conversations terrifying because they control your paycheck, projects, and daily happiness at work. In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares her five-step framework for approaching your manager when they've messed up. She covers how to stay emotionally regulated, open with facts instead of accusations, and create solutions that preserve the relationship while solving the problem. She also explains why your boss likely has no idea their behavior is counterproductive and how to follow up for lasting change. If you're scared to talk to your boss about problems or feel like they won't listen to feedback, this episode is your roadmap.

Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/264