170. Are You Being ‘Floodlighted’ at Work? PLUS! Why You Need a Micro-Niche, featuring JLD - This Week in Work, 11th February 2025

Truth, Lies, and Work is an award-winning psychology podcast from the HubSpot Podcast Network, hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott.

Every Tuesday, we bring you This Week in Work—your go-to for workplace news, a HOT TAKE from an industry expert, and our world-famous workplace surgery, where Leanne answers your trickiest work dilemmas.

🗞 News Roundup:

1️⃣ Floodlighting: The Toxic Boss Tactic You Need to Know

• If your boss singles you out, magnifies your mistakes, and embarrasses you publicly—congrats, you’ve been floodlighted.
• Read more about floodlighting: https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/floodlighting-toxic-boss-behaviour/959655
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2️⃣ Basecamp’s Profit-Sharing Model Puts Equity to Shame

• Instead of handing out “someday” stock options, Basecamp gives employees real cash bonuses—and this year, over 20 staff members got six-figure payouts.
• Jason Fried’s full thread: https://x.com/jasonfried/status/1887972661357134252

3️⃣ Why Napping Boosts Performance (And The Wild Science Behind It)

• A new study suggests even a short 30-minute nap can significantly improve cognitive function.
• Read the full study: https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/nap-performance-improvement

🔥 Hot Take of the Week: John Lee Dumas on Why Specialization is the Future

John Lee Dumas (JLD), host of Entrepreneurs on Fire and author of The Common Path to Uncommon Success, breaks down why generalists are out, and specialists are in.

💡 Want more from JLD?

• Check out Entrepreneurs on Fire wherever you get your podcasts.
• Find his books & new YouTube project at https://EOfire.com

💡 World-Famous Workplace Surgery:

📌 Q1: Hotdesking Nightmare—Do I Have Any Rights?

• A neurodivergent employee struggles with the unpredictability of hotdesking. Is this legal? And if so, how can they make it work?

📌 Q2: My Manager Avoids Giving Negative Feedback

• A new leader admits they sugarcoat constructive criticism and end up redoing their team’s work. How do they tackle tough conversations without losing their team’s trust?

📌 Q3: My Coworker Accidentally Keeps Taking Credit for My Ideas

• A listener’s extroverted colleague keeps getting credit for their work, but they don’t think it’s intentional. How do they fix this without sounding petty?

🎧 What’s Next?

This Thursday, we sit down with Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, one of the world’s top experts on resilience. Think resilience is just about “pushing through”? Think again. MH will share science-backed strategies to protect well-being, avoid burnout, and stay at the top of your game.

And next Tuesday, we’ll be back with more This Week in Work!

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email [email protected] (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: [email protected]

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat