Inside Job

As ambition evolves, do we let it or do we try to plan for it? We're starting the new year off strong by tackling a topic we've noticed several of our clients struggling with lately. The topic has presented itself in our conversations as them changing their relationship with ambition or struggling with where to place their motivation. However, in discussing this topic amongst ourselves, we realized there's a much deeper conversation to be had around what the best version of ourselves really looks like and how to know if we're sharing that version to those around us. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Welcome to the final episode of 2025. In this episode, we thought it would be a good time to revisit a topic we actually covered around this time a few years ago. Episode 142: Proust Questionnaire - The Inside Job Edition is one of our most popular episodes, and we think part of that is because so many of you listeners used the questions in that episode as conversation prompts. As you know from our recent series about conversations that count, we're big believers in using conversations as a tool for self-understanding, better relationships, better management, and for better culture at work. In fact, we're such big believers that we've created our very own tool for conversation starters that we're giving you a preview of today. And don't worry. While we will be taking a little bit of a break for the holidays, we'll be back with new episodes in 2026. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We all know that deepening our knowledge in certain areas related to our work is a good idea, but how many of us have several articles saved to read later or classes we've signed up for but haven't yet completed? This topic came up for us because we realized recently we'd both been struggling to make time to focus on a few things we'd been wanting to learn, and knew we weren't alone in that struggle. This week, we're making time to talk about learning and how we make time, or don't, to learn as professionals. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

There's a reason stress reduction is a billion-dollar industry. There's so much stress right now that a lot of our clients have lost the ability to tell what stress is working for them and what stress is working against them. We're in the homestretch of the college application process with our kids, and the stress that comes along with the entire process is a perfect example of why we wanted to talk about this topic on the podcast this week. If you've been feeling stressed, burnt out, or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Are you borrowing someone else's life plan? We often set goals or make decisions based on the path we think we should be on without giving much thought to what we truly want out of life. We see others doing certain things or achieving admirable goals and think we should be doing the same. But, what if we don't actually want to do those things? Our topic this week came to us from a few different directions, but we wanted to bring it to the podcast because our clients almost always raise this topic at some point in our work together. Is a life plan necessary? Do Nayla and Eric even agree on the answer to that question? Tune in to this week's episode to find out. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Inspiration can be found anywhere and, if you're Eric, that can even include a skeleton in your front yard. A lot of us believe we're supposed to feel thrilled, excited, energized, and inspired by our work. While it would be great if that were true all the time, we tend to panic in the moments when it feels like our inspiration in our work is drying up. So, in this episode that was recorded shortly before Halloween, we're exploring what we refer to as the inspiration paradox by discussing what it looks like to lose inspiration in the workplace, whether or not we need to feel inspired in order to be productive, what we can do about a lack of inspiration, and more. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Not a single one of us hasn't made a mistake in the workplace. We've said the wrong thing to the wrong person. We've delayed something inadvertently, and it had big consequences for our team. Knowing these mistakes won't be our last, we thought it would be a good idea to explore how we can handle the tension between acknowledging our humanity and the likelihood that each one of us will make mistakes of consequence in our careers and lives and the need to be accountable. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

For eight weeks now, we've been offering perspectives on using the tool we have of how we talk to each other at work as a way of paying more attention and making more deliberate choices to drive the kinds of results and relationships we want to have. Now that we've reached the final installment of our series on conversations that count, we've realized the one we did not address is how we talk to ourselves. The conversation we have with ourselves throughout the day is the most potent, useful, and damaging conversation we can have in the workplace. So, quiet that inner critic for a moment and join us on our final conversations that count deep dive. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Why is it so difficult to ask for something you want or need at work? In this continuation of our series on conversations that count, we're talking about a conversation that's actually not happening. When we ask our clients to plan ahead for our coaching conversations, this topic is probably one of the top three that comes up. So, let's dive into why we're not speaking up about our wants and needs, what the common points of resistance are, and some pathways to get around those resistance points. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

If you have to tell someone who works for you that they're underperforming, do you know how to make that conversation impactful and useful? If you're unsure, this next installment of our series on conversations that count is sure to provide you with some clarity. Tune in as we focus on this messy, but necessary, topic of conversation that shouldn't be avoided. In this episode, Tara joins us as we talk about how to be the dissenter in the conversation. Listen in as we dive into what holds us back from voicing our opinions and how we lean forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In the latest installment of our series on conversations that count, we're talking about talking. Tara Traeder holds a Ph.D. in Communication Arts & Sciences with an emphasis in health communication from Penn State University and a master's degree in Health Communication from Emerson College. She has nearly 20 years' experience in communication consulting, training, and research, with an emphasis on the impact of health messaging on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral response. In this episode, Tara joins us as we talk about how to be the dissenter in the conversation. Listen in as we dive into what holds us back from voicing our opinions and how we lean forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In this continuation of our series on conversations that matter, we're digging into what is probably the most requested topic from our clients and listeners. Most employees feel like they're not having great conversations about career development in the workplace. Leaders often feel they're not doing a good enough job leading these conversations. So, how can we improve the experience on both sides of this crucial conversation? Check out this week's episode to find out. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Everything we're doing on the podcast this season impacts the way that we talk and listen to one another at work. If we think about the days in which we worked on larger teams ourselves, or even the teams we've come to visit as coaches, a lot of those conversations take place in meetings. Despite the fact that we know deep down that meetings can be useful, most of us dread them. Yet, our calendars are all jammed full with them. Meetings are such a big part of the conversations we have on a daily basis that we wanted to bring in an expert to help us tackle this specific topic. Daniel Stillman designs conversations for a living and insists that you do, too. He's an executive coach for leaders who want to facilitate real change. He's also the host of The Conversation Factory podcast and author of Good Talk, a handbook for changemakers and innovators. In our conversation with Daniel, we talk about how to make meetings a place of connection rather than just a place of information dumping. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

The format of our podcast may have changed slightly, but don't worry. You'll still get your weekly dose of banter about the weather and Pearl Jam. You'll also get a deep dive into why leaders struggle to give good, actual feedback. As a manager or a leader, feedback is one of the most important levers we have. Everyone wants to know where they stand in their organization, and most of us would likely say we don't currently receive the kind of feedback that would change how we perform our jobs. This topic is the number one thing we get brought in to talk with teams about, so we thought it would be the perfect way to really dig into our current series about conversations that count. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We're back, and we're not going to lie … we missed you all while we were gone. In this first episode back, we're dusting off the recording equipment, sharing our thoughts about the sabbatical we took, and explaining how we'll be shaking things up here on the podcast moving forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

This week, we're discussing what's next for us, the most common question we're asked, and how those two things are connected. Tune into this finale episode of 2024 to find out when we'll be back with new episodes and how you can stay connected with us in the meantime. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Here in the United States, it's Thanksgiving this week and that usually means focusing on what we're grateful for and spending time with family. It also usually comes with a long list of to-dos, and we don't want to add to that. So, instead of giving advice about how to spend the holiday weekend, we thought we would instead offer an opportunity to reflect on an idea or two that we'll be doing some reflecting on ourselves. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In an episode we released almost exactly two years ago, we specifically told you you don't have to get shit together. Do we still feel the same or is it, in fact, time to get your shit together? Take a listen as we explore how our perspective on this topic has changed over the past two years, the barriers you'll face when trying to get your shit together, what your goal should be when you're trying to get your shit together, and more. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We tend to work with a lot of people who believe they're incredibly self-aware, and it can be a little hard to break through when they're actually not as self-aware as they think they are. As result of this, we've realized that taking personal responsibility is one of the more difficult things to coach our clients on. So, we figured it was time to bring this topic to the podcast in case you're maybe not as self-aware as you think. In this episode, we want to dive into the topic of taking personal responsibility by showing you how to see the different ways you may be contributing to a problem, how to not get in your own way, and how to not be that person. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Are our fantasies our actual goals or do they represent something deeper? Whether it's drooling over #vanlife renovations on Instagram, or daydreaming of reading a book in our private library while overlooking a picturesque garden, or being jealous of the CEO on the cover an industry-leading magazine, we all have fantasies about the life or things we wish could have. Sometimes those fantasies grow from a want to what feels like a need. But, does that mean we should burn it all down and chase after those daydreams? In this episode, we explore the idea of what our daydreams and fantasies are really telling us, how we can gain clarity around them, and whether or not we should try to make them a reality. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

"I don't want to be a jerk, but …" This is a phrase we've said both at work and in our personal lives. At this point, it's become a default phrase in our vocabularies, and we're guessing the same goes for you. On the Inside Job podcast this week, we're diving into why we call ourselves a jerk for doing things that really aren't that bad, whether or not we're actually being a jerk when we stand up for something or we represent an alternative point of view, and where our opportunity is to correct our behavior if we are truly being a jerk. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Eric Johnson, Nayla BahriShould we really leave our emotions at the door? The inspiration for this week's episode comes from one of Nayla's clients who feels angry and frustrated after a recent merger and feels like she can't take those emotions into the workplace. At the end of the day, work is personal. So, we want to take a deep dive into the topic of sharing your feelings at work in case you've had similar struggles with knowing how to handle emotions in the workplace. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Is a lack of clarity costing you dearly? This week's topic is one of Eric's favorites. It's something that's been brought up a fair amount on the podcast while discussing other things, but we want to make it the focal point now. Specifically, we want to dig into what we mean by clarity, how to generate better clarity for yourself and others, and what might be the obstacle to asking for or offering clarity. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

A "hostile" chat about dried fruit kicks off our episode this week and leads us into a conversation about difficult discussions. We know from our experiences with our coaching clients, that many of you are likely either avoiding having a difficult conversation or are unsure how to go about having the conversation. We want to help you overcome whatever is holding you back from finally having that difficult conversation by doing a deep dive of some of the principles we use in these situations. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

What do you do when your new hire seems like a perfect fit during the hiring process but it's clear it's not working out when they get into the role? Or, you put all your eggs into the career track basket you thought would get you promoted, but you find yourself plateauing? Or, you've invested significant resources into launching a new product and the reception is underwhelming? We all like to think we know how to handle things when our plans go sideways, but our experiences and those we've coached our clients through have repeatedly proven that's not the case. So, we're taking the time this week to dive into the various ways we can respond to setbacks, the questions you can ask yourself to help you reframe the situation, and what you can learn from those experience to help you in the future. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Horror movie franchises, Florida State University's 2024 football season, and prioritization might seem like they have nothing in common, but the connection leads us into our discussion this week about how to feel okay if you find your priorities changing. When we set long-term career goals for ourselves, we might find that our priorities have changed by the time we see those realized. Do you owe it to the prior version of yourself who put in the work to achieve that goal to see it through? Do know how to evaluate if you're truly making a decision about your priorities based on what you want or based on the influence of others? What does it mean about you if your career is no longer your main priority? We dig into all these questions and more in this week's episode to help you begin the process of reprioritizing in a way that feels good to you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Are you lazy if you don't hustle? Are you going to burn out more quickly or easily if you do try to hustle? Ask any seasoned professional what they think of their younger counterparts and you'll almost certainly hear about how they don't work as hard or put in as much effort as people used to. Do a Google search for the word "hustle" and you'll see item after item talking about how hustle culture is toxic. So, what should we strive for in the workplace? Hustling and working toward the rewards that come with it or taking a more laid-back approach and going a more sustainable path? In this episode, we're diving into this nuanced topic and doing our best to figure out a way to hustle without harm. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Was your career path your choice or someone else's? If it wasn't entirely your choice, is it too late to change things? Even though this episode is being released in September, we recorded it while the Olympics were still going, and we think the athletes participating in the games are a great example of our topic for this episode. They personify exactly what can happen when you ignore the other voices and choose to follow your passions. In terms of our careers, choosing to go along with others instead of choosing a path for ourselves can look like having a career trajectory we never planned on and might not even want. In this episode, we cover how to evaluate what we actually want and how to course correct if we discover we've been letting others make our choices for us. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Welcome back to the Inside Job podcast! After taking our first break in four years of doing this podcast, we're feeling equal parts rusty and excited to get back into the swing of things. And we're grateful you're here with us to experience both. Part of the reason we decided to take that break was the feeling of burnout we were reaching. Now that we've been away for two and a half months, we want to check-in with ourselves to see if taking some time off actually helped the way we thought it would and share the biggest takeaways so you can determine if a break would be beneficial for you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Summer is around the corner and that brings us to an announcement relating to the podcast. Take a listen to this quick episode to find out why we're taking a break after not missing a week in over four years, what we'll be doing over the coming months, what we hope you can learn from our break, how you can stay in touch with us, and when you can expect to get new episodes of the podcast. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In one of our recent debriefs of how things are going with our coaching practices, we realized at least two sessions in the span of one week focused on the theme of it's not me, it's you when it comes to our clients dealing with the leadership teams at their organizations. We've all thought someone else was responsible for things going wrong, negative feedback we've received, deadlines getting missed, etc. when the real responsibility lay with us. It's just the nature of being human. Our Inside Job, is to take a deeper look at why we're casting the blame on someone else, what our resistance to taking responsibility means, and how we use that information to grow in the future. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Even though we only just met our guest for the first time a few weeks ago, we've quickly discovered we have a lot in common and knew we just had to have him join us on the podcast. Jeff Wetzler has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he's pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world's top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization. Jeff is also the author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life. Jeff is on the show this week to share his book and his philosophy and framework for making all of us better askers so we can tap into the hidden wisdom of the people around us. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Have you ever thought to yourself, "This job would be so much better if it weren't for the people?" When one of Eric's clients jokingly said this in a recent discussion, they shared a laugh about it. However, Eric later realized it's not only something he hears often from his clients, but something he's also said himself in the past. We thought it would be a good idea to dig deeper into this sentiment on the podcast, but we want to look at it from the perspective of having customers or clients. Businesses need them to be successful, but so many of us wish we could do business without them and the negative things they bring to our workday. Since we can't all pull a Henry David Thoreau and live alone in a cabin for years at a time, let's explore how we can protect ourselves from the naysayers. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We're delighted today to be joined by a guest who is going to help demystify the world of executive search and recruiting. This is an area that we hear from you guys about with questions all the time, and it's an area that we honestly feel we could use a little more education in as well. Tory Clarke is a Founder and Managing Partner of Bridge Partners, a retained executive search firm. UK-born Tory has lived in New York for twenty-four years and fell into the world of executive search after graduating with an MA from the University of Edinburgh. Whether you're part of an organization looking to hire or you're an individual looking for a new role, this is one episode you don't want to miss. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Is it possible to change someone's perspective of you? If so, how do you do it? Nayla's recently had conversations with several clients about changing other people's perceptions of us and we've realized this comes up a lot in our coaching practices so it's time we covered it on the show. Nayla even gets vulnerable and shares an example of feedback she received early in her career that she avoided addressing at first and what she learned from that experience. If you've ever been given less-than-ideal feedback and you want to change what people think of you, or you're responsible for providing feedback to members of your organization, this is one episode you don't want to miss. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We're pleased to be joined today by Lesley Jane Seymour who's going to be talking to us about the concept of reinventing yourself. Lesley has been the Editor-in-Chief of multiple magazines including More, Marie Claire, and Redbook. When her illustrious career in the magazine world came to an end, she was forced to reinvent herself. Lesley has since turned her reinvention story into a company called CoveyClub, which supports women with both their career and personal reinventions. It's easy to see just from this quick bio exactly why we thought she would be the perfect person to talk to about the reinvention of self and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

None of us are immune to feeling angry, but do we express it in a healthy and constructive way that minimizes the negative impact on those we work with? A recent experience with one of Eric's clients has led to us tackling the topic of anger in the workplace from not just one angle, but two on this week's episode of the podcast. Not only did this client's experience inspire this episode, but it also inspired us to take a hard look at how we handle our own anger that arises in our work. We invite you to listen to this episode so we can all do this inner work together and create healthier workplaces. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Ever since our conversation last week with Maricella Herrera, we've been talking nonstop amongst ourselves and those around us about what can be learned as a result of making big decisions in our lives; more specifically the decision to quit our job. As part of these conversations, we realized our clients frequently express a fantasy about quitting their jobs. So, today, we want to explore where the fantasy might end and reality begins as you consider even just the fantasy of quitting your job. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Nayla's former student and current friend, Maricella Herrera, joins us on the podcast this week to chat about her experience quitting a job and what she's learned interviewing people on her podcast called, Sh*t I Just Quit My Job. Maricella is also a strategy consultant and advisor for mission-driven companies who has more than fifteen years of experience building communities. Lately, she's been on a mission to bring more empathy and courage to the world and she believes honestly sharing our stories, especially around quitting our jobs, is a way to do just that. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

It's our nature to want to feel irreplaceable and that can bring up some complicated emotions whenever we hear how our former departments or organizations are holding up after we vacate a role. In fact, a recent experience with one of Eric's clients where the workplace fell apart after she was promoted to a new role is what inspired him to suggest this week's topic to Nayla. The realization that Nayla had a client who experienced the opposite situation but was left with the same emotions is why we're sharing the topic with you on the podcast this week. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We know you'll find this shocking, but Eric has some strong opinions on this week's topic, and it might even lead to a rant or two. A recent meeting with the owner of his son's racing team inspired this episode where we're diving into what you do when you feel like you're not being heard. This is something we've all dealt with in the workplace… likely more than once. So, take a few minutes to listen to us as we share our insights on how to evaluate all sides of the conversation when you feel like people just aren't listening to you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

In this week's episode of the Inside Job podcast, we're building off an interesting experience Eric had recently with a LinkedIn post where he shared an article about how to get a resume past applicant tracking systems that did not go the way he anticipated. In fact, the response to that post has us both reflecting on what we think it means to be a good professional citizen. If you're wondering that as well, or even what we mean when we use the term "professional citizen," then don't miss this episode! Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

The latest Green Day album kicks off our conversation today about expectations. If something fails to meet our expectations, that doesn't always mean we set them too high, we need to lower them in the future, or we need to overcompensate to make easier for others to meet our expectations. What it might mean instead is that we need to change how we think about our expectations and that, of course, is an inside job. Take a listen to this week's episode of the podcast to find out what type of inner work we should be doing and whether that Green Day album exceeded expectations or fell short. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

It's been a little while since we've taken listener questions, but we've received a few here lately that were really good, so we wanted to take the time to answer two of them on the show this week. The first question is something that Nayla recently had some personal experience with when she spent about six weeks helping to care for her ailing mother, and the other question is something we've all likely thought about doing at some point or another in our careers. You also don't want to miss yet another riveting conversation about candy corn; this time with a Will Ferrell twist. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

Do you have ghosts of work past? No, we're not talking about the kind of ghost that comes to you covered in chains and leads you around in your old-timey nightshirt trying to get you to be less of a jerk. Our ghosts are people, events, locations, behaviors, feelings, etc. that we associate with previous jobs or careers that show up for us long after we physically leave them behind. These ghosts of work are more than likely negatively impacting your performance and your relationships with your colleagues. That's why we think it's time to break out the candles and have a metaphorical séance with these ghosts so you can stop letting them hinder your success at work. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

Do you consider a coworker lazy if they clock-in, do the bare minimum, and clock out? Are you telling yourself a story about their motivations without knowing what they actually are? A recent experience Eric had with a client who came to terms with the fact they were being judgmental of their coworkers, led to the realization that most of us carry a lot of judgment around at work and in our personal lives. This is something we regularly try to help our clients gain a new perspective of, and we figured it was time to bring it to you on the podcast this week. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

Both of us had the chance to experience boredom on recent trips, and it sparked the idea for this week's episode of the podcast because boredom sometimes gets a bad reputation. Boredom also comes up quite often in our work with our clients. They're usually not sure what it means or what they're supposed to do about it. It's precisely those topics we want to dive into today so we can figure out what a healthy relationship with boredom looks like for you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

If you want to be more successful, you just need to work harder… right? Asking what success means or looks like for you is one of the most foundational questions you can ask yourself. It's something we work on often with our clients and something we frequently redefine for ourselves. Take a listen to this week's episode to find out our thoughts on how success should be measured. Plus, you don't want to miss how we manage to discuss spending Christmas in a hotel room, fending off an alligator with a frying pan, and an Arizona dirtbag ala The Good Place all within the first five minutes of the show. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

New year, new… goals? In this first episode of 2024, we reflect on the goals, or questions, we set for ourselves going into 2023. Did we achieve them? Did we under or overestimate the barriers to accomplishing our goals? Are we setting the same goals in 2024 or are we changing things up? We also explore some of the themes we noticed while working with our clients on their goals in 2023 and what our movie of choice would be if we spent the night in the last remaining Blockbuster that, apparently, has been listed Airbnb in the past for $4/night. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.

Here at The Inside Job Podcast, we a love a good year-end review. So, of course, we had to wrap up 2023 with one of our own. In this special episode, we recap the last year of the podcast and what it's held for us, what it's taught us, the things we're still thinking about, our expressions of gratitude, and some things to help you catch up if you've fallen a little behind on the episodes. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn (Eric | Nayla). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com. You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email We'd love to hear from you.