Truth, Lies and Work

Welcome back to a special live edition of Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. This episode is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. In this panel discussion, hosts Leanne Elliott (Chartered Occupational Psychologist) and Al Elliott (Business Owner) are joined by two industry titans to discuss the "doom and gloom" currently permeating the global workforce. Joining the conversation are: Christian Turner: CEO of TK Talent Group, HR veteran with over 100,000 hires under his belt, and Harvard-educated organizational psychologist. Jeffrey Fermin: Employee engagement expert, founding member of Officevibe, and current lead at All Voices. 🔥 Topics Covered 1. The "Job Hugging" Phenomenon Low turnover doesn't always equal high engagement. We explore why employees are "hugging" their current roles out of fear rather than loyalty. Christian explains why disengaged employees might give high survey scores just to "not rock the boat" while secretly planning their exit. 2. Redefining Engagement Metrics Is your expensive employee survey actually telling you anything? The panel discusses why leaders should focus on two "acid test" metrics: Hiring Metrics: If you can’t attract talent easily, your organization may no longer be attractive. Glassdoor: Why ignoring your "TripAdvisor for work" is a fatal mistake for HR teams. 3. The Commercial Case for Culture Investing in people is a commercial necessity. Research shows organizations in the top 25% of engagement scores enjoy 22% higher profitability and 21% higher productivity during economic recoveries compared to those at the bottom. 4. AI: Amplifier or Replacer? We tackle AI anxiety head-on. Jeffrey argues that AI should be a tool to automate manual tasks so humans can get back to "human skills" like empathy and critical thinking. Christian warns that in a world of "AI gobbledygook," your "super skill" is what keeps you relevant. 🧠 Key Takeaways for Leaders The "Canceller" Habit: One of the fastest ways to trigger "quiet quitting" is for managers to consistently cancel weekly one-on-ones. HR is Marketing: Your employees are an extension of your consumer brand. If your internal culture is toxic, your external product will eventually suffer. Open the Gags: 90% of companies over 50,000 people lack an employee advocacy program. Trusting your people to use their own voice on LinkedIn pays dividends. 🎙️ Guest Connections Christian Turner – Website: https://tktalentgroup.com/ – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristienturner/ Jeffrey Fermin – Website: https://www.allvoices.co – Socials: @fermintalkswork (IG, TikTok, YouTube) – LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jfermin 🤝 Credits A special thanks to our Associate Producer, Georgia Hodkinson. – Connect with Georgia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-hodkinson-gmbpss/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Find out how we can support you: https://oblonghq.com/ – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Today, April 2nd, 2026, marks World Autism Day. Statistically, if you have 70 employees, at least one is likely autistic—whether they have disclosed it to you or not. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Laura Dean, a chartered occupational psychologist, President-Elect of the British Psychological Society, and a leading expert on neurodiversity. Laura explains why building a workplace that works for autistic employees isn't just about "being nice"—it’s about high-performance system design that makes work better for everyone. 🧠 What We Discuss with Dr. Laura Dean 1. The "Canary in the Coal Mine" Laura introduces a powerful framing: autistic employees are the "canaries" of the workplace. The environmental stressors that cause burnout in autistic people—such as ambiguous instructions or rigid social rules—impact the efficiency of your entire workforce; they just impact neurodivergent individuals first. 2. Moving Beyond the "Superpower" Narrative While it’s often intended as a compliment, framing autism as a "superpower" can be damaging. It reduces people to their "usefulness" to capitalism rather than seeing them as whole human beings. Laura explains why we should value people for who they are, not just for their pattern recognition or logical skills. 3. The Myth of the Empathy Deficit One of the biggest lies about autism is that autistic people lack empathy. Laura breaks down the difference between Cognitive Empathy and Affective Empathy, explaining why autistic people often have a heightened sense of justice and care. 4. System Design vs. Special Treatment Inclusion shouldn't be hidden behind a diagnosis. Laura argues for Universal Design: clear written instructions, flexible hours to avoid "sensory hell," and quiet spaces for decompression. These aren't "special favors"—they are the hallmarks of a well-run business. 🚀 Three Takeaways for Leaders Stop Gatekeeping Support: Don't wait for a formal disclosure to help your team. Ask everyone what they need to do their best work. Fix the Environment, Not the Person: Predictability and sensory-friendly spaces make your whole team more effective and less likely to burn out. Drop the Superpower Label: Framing autism as a superpower reduces people to their utility. Focus on creating environments where they can simply be themselves. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Laura Dean LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradean1/⁠ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠ – Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠ – Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠ – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠ Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠ UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠ US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠ Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ Global helplines: ⁠https://findahelpline.com⁠ Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. In this episode of This Week in Work, we tackle the overwhelm of 2026, explore a "hallucination-free" AI tool, and investigate if women are being set up for failure in leadership. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. Reclaiming Your "Psychological Sovereignty" Feeling overwhelmed by the 2026 news cycle and the breakneck speed of life? Leanne introduces the concept of Psychological Sovereignty, based on the work of Dr. Emma Seppälä. It’s about regaining control over your attention and agency rather than being pulled by external chaos. The Big Mistake: Believing you just have to "push through". The Dos: Quiet your nervous system twice a day, move your body, hydrate, and protect your sleep. The Don’ts: Don’t run on empty, overschedule, or stay glued to negative news 24/7. Source: Emma Seppälä, PhD (https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaseppala/) | Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/202603/5-foolproof-ways-to-protect-your-sanity-in-a-crazy-world) 2. NotebookLM: Your Personal AI "Mike Ross" Al shares his "love letter" to NotebookLM, a free tool by Google that acts as a personal assistant that never hallucinates. By grounding the AI only in your uploaded documents, you can synthesize months of notes in minutes, create study guides, or even generate a podcast "Audio Overview" of your reports. 3. Inclusion or Insult? The Pink Ice Cream Maker Fiasco A law firm’s International Women’s Day gift of pink ice cream makers has sparked a debate on "performative inclusion". DEI expert Catherine Garrod weighs in on why gimmicks fail and how to move toward real impact—like parental leave and fair progression—instead of branded kitchen appliances. Source: Catherine Garrod on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinegarrod/) 🧠 Truth or Lie: The Glass Cliff Is it true that when women finally break the glass ceiling, they are handed leadership roles that are already failing? The Evidence: Research from the University of Exeter suggests that companies are more likely to appoint women to boards following periods of poor share price performance. The Verdict: TRUTH. While real-world corporate data is complex, experimental evidence consistently shows a tendency to select women for precarious roles—often as a signal for change or, more darkly, as a potential scapegoat. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we answer three listener dilemmas: The Undermining Friend: How do you manage a close friend who now reports to you and has started making dismissive jokes in meetings? The Cash Resentment: Should you be worried if your team sees the company has healthy cash reserves? The Benefits Balance: How do you strike the balance between being a good employer (wellbeing days, stipends) and keeping the business sustainable? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re diving into the high-stakes world of recruitment. If you’ve ever hired someone who looked perfect on paper but failed on day one, this episode is for you. Most businesses are making hiring decisions based on fundamentally broken data: the CV. This week, we are joined by Kate Young, Head of People Science at Sapia.ai. As an occupational psychologist, Kate is on a mission to move recruitment away from "gut instinct" and toward a valid, fair, and defensible science. We dive into the "painful" reality of traditional job analysis—like Kate’s 6:00 AM flight to Munich to shuffle cards with 30 stakeholders for eight hours—and how AI has condensed that process into 90 minutes of high-precision data. In this episode, we explore: The Job Analysis Revolution: Why "measuring what matters" is the only way to avoid doubling down on hiring errors. The Death of the CV: Why Sapia.ai prefers "blind" chat interviews where every candidate gets an equal shot to tell their story. De-biasing the Process: How to strip "ableist" and majority-group language out of job descriptions to find the best talent. The "Human in the Loop": Why AI isn't replacing psychologists, but rather acting as an amplifier for better, fairer decisions. Candidate Experience: How an automated process can actually achieve a 9/10 satisfaction rate, even for neurodiverse candidates. Key Takeaways for Leaders: Job Analysis is Non-Negotiable: If you don't define what a person actually does all day (the tasks and behaviors), no hiring tool can save you. Standardization = Fairness: Unstructured interviews default to the "loudest voice in the room." Using the same questions for every candidate is the simplest way to reduce bias. No More Ghosting: Using AI at the top of the funnel allows you to provide feedback to every candidate, protecting your employer brand. Connect with Kate Young & Sapia.ai Website: https://www.sapia.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-young-1359483/ Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Over the past few years, the world of work has shifted. Layoffs are rising, AI is reshaping industries, and career paths that once felt like solid ground now feel uncertain. But beyond the headlines, something quieter is happening: professionals everywhere are questioning whether the careers they’ve built actually align with who they are today. In this special LinkedIn Live panel discussion, hosts Al & Leanne Elliott are joined by three industry experts to explore whether we are seeing a temporary reaction to economic uncertainty or a deeper, structural shift in how we think about our professional lives. 🎙️ Meet the Panel Che Ugwuala: Global Lead for Android Marketing Strategy at Google and LinkedIn creator exploring ambition and the realities of modern professional life. Connect with Che: https://www.linkedin.com/in/che-ugwuala-mba-1749ab21/ Kelly Garthwaite: Former Red Bull Media House leader turned founder and co-host of The Naked Room podcast. Connect with Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-garthwaite/ Erica Breuer: Creative and go-to-market strategist working at the intersection of culture, creativity, and strategy. Connect with Erica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericabreuer/ 🔥 Key Themes Explored The Identity Crisis: For many, work is tied closely to identity. What happens when the job you built your life around no longer fits? Stability vs. Purpose: Is "purposeful work" a realistic goal for everyone, or have we over-romanticized the idea of a dream career? The Reality of Reinvention: What does a major career shift actually look like in practice, beyond the "idealized" version? The Role of Leaders: How can managers support teams through career uncertainty without overstepping or pretending to have all the answers? The Future of Work: Is the "Great Career Re-evaluation" a temporary blip or the new normal? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re deconstructing the "cockroaches of the employment world," exploring a new AI tool that helps you nail your next interview, and digging into the data to see if hiring for "culture fit" is actually a good idea. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. The $75 Lunch That Beats Any Exit Interview Headhunter Nick Corcodilos calls exit interviews the "cockroaches" of the employment world—they serve little purpose, yet they never die. Because departing employees often fear burning bridges, they give safe, generic answers. The Alternative: Wait six months after an employee leaves and invite them to a casual lunch. The Benefit: Time changes the dynamic. Former employees are more objective and willing to provide grounded feedback for the price of a meal. Source: Inc. Magazine - https://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/the-75-lunch-that-beats-any-exit-interview/91319277 2. Stop Guessing, Start Coaching: HowToJob & Interviewly Al explores HowToJob, an all-in-one platform built by HR veteran Milo Sevelj to help candidates navigate a brutal job market. Interviewly: A standout feature that generates role-specific interview questions and provides structured feedback on your recorded answers. The Impact: It moves beyond practicing in a mirror by giving candidates real-time data on what landed and what didn't. Connect with Milo Sevelj: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milosevelj/ 3. The Power of Intergenerational Teams New research suggests that age diversity isn't just something to "manage"—it’s a competitive advantage. The Findings: Older workers feel more employable and capable when they regularly interact and share knowledge with younger colleagues. The Key: It’s not just about sitting next to each other; it’s about a two-way flow of experience and new skills. Source: Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology - https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joop.70061?af=R 🧠 Truth or Lie: You Should Hire for Culture Fit Around 80% of employers prioritize "culture fit," but Leanne digs into the evidence to see if it actually predicts success. The Truth: Fit does predict job satisfaction (19%) and organizational commitment (26%). The Lie: It is one of the weakest predictors of actual job performance, accounting for less than 1% of the variance. The Verdict: "Culture fit" is often a subjective "airport test" that lets bias in the back door. Instead, look for "Culture Add." 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we tackle three tough listener dilemmas: The Policy Trap: How do you enforce a 5-day return-to-office mandate when you don’t believe in it yourself? The Complicity Crisis: If your employer treats you well but treats others poorly, are you complicit by staying? Scaling Culture: How do you move from "being the culture" to building a culture that works without you as the team grows? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Listen to all the shows here: https://www.hubspot.com/podcastnetwork

Fifteen years ago, Jeffrey Fermin co-founded OfficeVibe, one of the world's first employee pulse survey platforms. Since then, the HR tech market has exploded with over 200 similar tools, yet global employee disengagement remains stubbornly high. In this very honest episode, Jeffrey joins Al and Leanne to explain why the industry he helped create hasn't solved the problem it promised to fix. We dive into the "subscription economy" traps of HR Tech, the rise of "job hugging" in 2025/26, and why your fancy engagement dashboard might actually be making things worse. 🔥 What we cover this week: The "Vitamin" vs. "Painkiller" Problem: Why most engagement tools only show you the problem but provide no help in actually fixing it. The Ethics of AI in HR: How AI should act as an "amplifier, not a replacement" for human relations by removing manual tasks and surfacing contextual themes. Job Hugging: Why employees are clinging to roles out of fear in the current market, and why this is actually the best time for employers to double down on culture. Stop Building for the Dashboard: Jeffrey’s biggest regret from his early startup days and why we need to stop building for HR metrics and start building for the employee experience. The Difference Between Engagement & Relations: How to distinguish between general culture "vibes" and serious employee safety or compliance issues that require platforms like AllVoices. 🎙️ Guest Information Jeffrey Fermin is the Head of Demand Generation at AllVoices and the host of the People First podcast. He is a pioneer in the people analytics space and a vocal advocate for ethical, actionable HR technology. Email: [email protected] Website: www.allvoices.co LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jfermin Social Media (IG, TikTok, Youtube, Threads): @fermintalkswork Podcast (YouTube): People First Podcast 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines — https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we’re diving into the "Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale," exploring why a university degree might be holding your hiring back, and debunking the toxic productivity of the 3:50 AM wake-up call. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. The Science of "Corporate Bullshit" Leanne introduces the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale, a real psychological study from Cornell University. The Definition: "Corporate Bullshit" is defined as semantically empty jargon used in a functionally misleading way. The Finding: Research shows that people who find vague, jargon-heavy statements profound often score lower on analytical thinking and decision-making. The Impact: In the workplace, rewarding this language leads to worse decisions and a culture of performance over substance. 2. The Rise of "New-Collar" Jobs Al explores a term coined by the former CEO of IBM: New-Collar jobs. Skills over Degrees: These are highly skilled, well-paid roles in AI, cybersecurity, and tech that don't require a traditional university degree. The Stats: It's predicted that 60% of new jobs created between 2020 and 2030 will be "new-collar." The Barrier: Despite the talent shortage, 60% of employers still reject candidates with the right skills simply because they lack a degree. 3. Would You Walk Out of a Messy Interview? A viral Reddit story sparks a debate on candidate experience. The Red Flag: A senior professional ended their application process after a recruiter failed to show up for the first interview and was late for the second. The Lesson: Your hiring process is a direct signal of your company culture. If communication is messy before day one, candidates assume it’s messy on the inside. 🧠 Truth or Lie: Are Morning People More Successful? Is the 5:00 AM (or 3:50 AM!) alarm truly the secret to success, or are we just glorifying sleep deprivation? The Truth: Studies show "Larks" often earn 4-5% more than "Owls" and perform better in school. The Lie: This isn't because morning people are more disciplined. It’s because the world (schools and 9-5 offices) is built for their biology. The Cost: Forcing an "Owl" into a "Lark" schedule leads to Social Jetlag, higher cortisol levels, and increased risk of depression. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we tackle three listener dilemmas: The "Silent" Meeting: How do you handle it when the same two people dominate every conversation? Leanne shares tips on balancing participation without it feeling forced. Check out our deep dive on meetings here: What if meetings were the best part of your day? The Overwhelmed Founder: Transitioning from "doing the work" to "leading others." The Toxic High-Performer: What to do when your top talent is quietly damaging team morale. 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we are joined by Bill Yost, a People Analytics powerhouse who has operated at the very highest levels of data-driven culture. Bill spent four years running Googlegeist, Google’s legendary annual survey that consistently achieved a staggering 90% response rate. Now leading analytics at Netflix, Bill joins Al and Leanne to explain why your employee engagement survey is likely failing—and how to fix it. In this episode, Bill pulls back the curtain on the "snake eating itself"—the cycle of performative surveying that destroys employee trust—and shares the exact framework used by tech giants to turn data into genuine organizational change. 🔥 What we cover in this episode: The "Goodwill Account": Why asking for feedback without the intention to act is a withdrawal from a bank account you can’t afford to drain. Confidential vs. Anonymous: The "taboo" of anonymity and why confidential surveys are the gold standard for identifying specific team issues without compromising trust. Closing the Loop: How Google built an entire new department based on survey feedback, and why you must "close the loop" loudly to maintain engagement. The Art of the Dashboard: Distinguishing between data "curation" for executives and "exploration" for analysts to avoid the misery of a bad dashboard. The Return-to-Office Bias: How leaders use their own "personal lens" to interpret messy data to fit their existing biases. 📚 About Bill Yost Connect with Bill for the best spreadsheet humor and blunt data truths: – Website: www.billyost.net – Website: www.billyost.com – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billyost/ (Look for the pirate flag 🏴‍☠️) Special Offer: If you are in the US and want to try some incredible cookies, visit https://cookiesworthsharon.com/ and use the code TLW for 15% off (valid for two months from the release of this episode). 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. In this episode: We explore why "Brand Well-being" is the new secret to a 47% ROI, why a Silicon Valley startup is banning "tech bros" in favour of over-50s, and why the coworking dream is being replaced by the "proworking" revolution. Plus, we debunk the multitasking myth and solve your workplace dilemmas. 🔥 This Week in Work: The News Round-Up Brand Well-being: The Competitive Advantage Is your brand just a logo, or a healthy ecosystem? Leanne introduces "Brand Well-being"—the idea that success depends on the health of employees, internal culture, and customers. With research showing a 47% ROI on well-being programmes and the Work Wellbeing 100 outperforming the market, we ask: why is this still treated as an optional extra? Fast Company Article: https://www.fastcompany.com/91474208/what-is-brand-well-being-and-can-it-give-you-a-competitive-advantage-leadership-brands-well-being The Silicon Valley "Anti-Tech-Bro" Shift Startup Snowcap Compute is flipping the script by hiring a team with an average age of over 50. In a hardware industry where one mistake costs nine months of progress, CEO Mike Lafferty argues that "veteran" skepticism beats "youthful" trust in models. We discuss why deep experience is becoming a primary competitive advantage. Inc Article: https://www.inc.com/kevin-haynes/tech-bros-need-not-apply-a-silicon-valley-hiring-twist/91313738 The Death of Coworking & The Rise of "Proworking" Is the "Bromad" era over? Al explores why serious professionals are quietly leaving open-plan coworking spaces. As home becomes the default for many, the office must offer something better: quiet, privacy, and "proworking" spaces that offer a door that actually shuts. Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2025/12/15/the-private-office-revival-why-professionals-are-quietly-leaving-coworking-behind/ 🧠 Truth or Lie: Can Some People Genuinely Multitask? We put the "supertasker" under the microscope. While 2.5% of the population might handle heavy cognitive loads more efficiently, for the other 97.5% of us, multitasking is just expensive "task switching." We also look at how AI isn't making us better at juggling—it’s just taking some of the balls out of the air for us. 🏥 The Workplace Surgery The "Zero Ambition" Contributor: Is it a problem if a top performer just wants to do their job and go home? Leading Hard Conversations: Advice for HR pros and managers on staying neutral when things get emotional. Podcast ROI: Is starting a business podcast in 2026 a smart growth strategy or a vanity project? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we are joined by the "adult in the room" from the early days of Facebook, Tom LeNoble. Tom has led in boardrooms and fought for his life in hospital rooms, surviving multiple life-threatening illnesses. From shaping growth at Facebook (META), Walmart.com, Palm (HP), and MCI (Verizon) to now serving as CEO of the Academy for Coaching Excellence and a leadership coach with Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Global Impact, Tom helps others navigate adversity with courage and clarity. In his best-selling book, My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels, Tom shares unflinching lessons on risk, resilience, and reinvention. 🔥 What we cover in this episode: The Early Days of Facebook: What it was like interviewing with a 19-year-old Mark Zuckerberg in a tiny office above a Chinese restaurant. The Secret Struggle: How Tom managed a high-octane Silicon Valley career while being given six months to live—three separate times. Leading Through Crisis: The philosophy of laying off 100 people (and eventually himself) with dignity and a "head held high" approach. The Philanthropic Mindset: Why philanthropy isn't about the size of the check, but the intention behind a simple "hello." The Story of Rita Dayworth: Reclaiming all parts of your identity, from executive suits to high heels. 📚 About Tom LeNoble Tom’s book is available on Amazon, and you can learn more by visiting www.tomlenoble.com. Follow @lenoble.tom on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also reach out to Tom directly at [email protected]. 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental health support+1 UK & ROI — Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This week, we explore why "friction" might be the secret to better judgment, the brutal reality of AI-driven layoffs at Block, and why your boss's 10:47 PM emails are exhausting your entire team. Plus, we dig into the science of whether leadership is written in your DNA. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. The Rise of "Friction-maxxing" Leanne introduces a new term: friction-maxxing. Inspired by reporting in the Financial Times, this movement sees workers deliberately choosing slower, more effortful ways of working—like handwriting notes or reading full documents instead of AI summaries—to combat "cognitive atrophy" and build nuanced judgment. Source: https://www.ft.com/content/fd5e65df-83c7-42f3-9658-377c99df42d1 2. Jack Dorsey’s AI Gamble Al discusses the recent layoffs at Block (formerly Square/Twitter), where CEO Jack Dorsey cut 4,000 jobs—40% of the workforce—and explicitly blamed AI productivity gains. We debate whether this "rip the plaster off" honesty is refreshing or a dangerous precedent for the future of work. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/27/block-ai-layoffs-jack-dorsey 3. The Climate of Constant Connectivity New research in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology reveals that when leaders use smartphones for work after hours, they create a shared "climate of constant connectivity". This doesn't just annoy individuals; it leads to collective emotional exhaustion across the entire team. Source: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joop.70067 🧠 Truth or Lie: Are Leaders Born or Made? We tackle the "Great Man" theory of leadership. While studies of identical twins show that between 37% and 59% of leadership style variation can be linked to genetics, that still leaves more than half the equation down to environment, experience, and development. The Verdict: It’s a Lie—leadership is not a genetic script; it is a practicable skill shaped by opportunity and self-awareness. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week, we answer three tough listener questions: The Nepotism Trap: How do you push back when a senior leader pressures you to hire their less-qualified relative? The Vanishing Spark: What do you do when "star" employees suddenly settle for "just fine" without being dramatic about "quiet quitting"? The Transparency Gap: Your manager is telling the CEO a project is "on track" when you know it's failing. Do you speak up or stay complicit? 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Find out more at: https://www.hubspot.com/podcast-network

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets organisational culture. In the corporate world, we are obsessed with personality. We use DISC, Myers-Briggs, and Enneagrams to "colour-code" our colleagues and predict who will be a great leader. But what if we’ve been looking at the wrong data? In this episode, we sit down with Juliette Alban-Metcalfe, a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and CEO of Real World Group. Juliette is at the forefront of leadership research, building on the groundbreaking work of her mother, Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe. Juliette argues that personality only explains a tiny fraction of leadership success. Instead, the real "magic sauce" is behaviour—the specific, observable actions that leaders take to engage their teams and foster success. In this episode, we discuss: Personality vs. Behaviour: Why what you do matters infinitely more than who you are according to your personality test results. The "Accidental Manager" Trap: Why founders and technical experts often struggle to transition into leadership and how 360-degree feedback can bridge the gap. Predictive Validity: The science behind why leadership behaviours can predict up to 60% of a team's motivation and fulfilment. Psychological Safety: How to use assessments to build trust and development rather than fear and judgement. Actionable Advice for Leaders: Two simple things every leader can do today to immediately improve team engagement. If you’ve ever felt like you’re "not a natural leader" or if you're an HR professional frustrated with the lack of ROI from personality workshops, this episode is a masterclass in the science of what actually works. 🔗 Connect with Juliette – LinkedIn: Juliette Alban-Metcalfe – Website: Real World Group 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: Truth, Lies & Work – Al Elliott: LinkedIn – Leanne Elliott: LinkedIn – Email: [email protected] – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🧠 Mental Health Support UK & ROI — Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global Helplines — https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we explore the "silent disengagement" trend, the surprising truth about Gen Z and the office, and the psychological reason why the end of a project feels harder than the beginning. Plus, we settle the ultimate workplace debate: do people leave managers or jobs? Stories Covered 1. The Rise of "Silent Disengagement" Is office culture dying, or is it just getting quieter? We look at silent disengagement, where employees do the work but mentally pull back, speaking less in meetings and avoiding new projects. Leanne argues this isn't a new remote work problem, but a long-standing issue of employees not feeling valued or challenged. Source: Silent Disengagement: The work trend explained 2. Gen Z: Leading the Charge Back to the Office? Forget the lazy stereotypes. New data suggests Gen Z is actually leading the return to the office for social connection and development. We share the story of a 24-year-old commuting four hours a day just to be in the room. It turns out, different life stages need different work models—and flexibility increases engagement for everyone. 3. Why the "Last Stretch" Feels the Hardest Ever noticed how the final 10% of a project feels more draining than the first 90%? A new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology explains that fatigue heightens as we become more aware of the effort we've already invested. The fix? Zoom out and frame the task as part of a bigger goal. Read the paper: More done, more drained (Zeng et al., 2025) BPS Digest: How to get through the last push Truth or Lie: Do people really leave managers, not jobs? It is one of the most common beliefs in business: "People don't leave bad jobs, they leave bad managers." Leanne digs into the research from Gallup, McKinsey, and Facebook to find the truth. While poor leadership dramatically increases the odds of someone quitting, we reveal the other factors that actually drive the Great Resignation. Workplace Surgery This week, we tackle three tough questions from our listeners: Unlimited Holiday: Is it a brilliant trust-building exercise or a recipe for anxiety and "leavism"? Lifting Morale: How do you rebuild energy in a team that is flat after a draining year of changes and stress? The "30-Second" Interview: What do you do when you know a candidate isn't right within seconds of meeting them? Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans: Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind: Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplines: https://findahelpline.com Truth, Lies & Work is proud to be part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re diving into how AI is actually landing in the workplace — and what that means for managers, employees and the future of work. Our guest is Andrew Palmer, host of Boss Class from The Economist and author of the Bartleby management column. In Season 3 of Boss Class, Andrew goes hands-on with AI — not just talking about it, but living with it, testing it and asking the questions leaders need to answer as the technology transforms jobs and organisations. This episode isn’t about hype. It’s about what AI is actually good at today, what it’s still terrible at, and how leaders should think about deploying it in ways that help people — not replace them. 🔥 What you’ll learn 1) AI isn’t coming. It’s here. Season 3 of Boss Class opens with Andrew trying generative AI tools in real work routines — even asking Claude to draft his management column — and discovering both the power and the weirdness that comes with using them. 2) AI reshapes roles, not just tasks Rather than automating jobs wholesale, the most immediate workplace impact of AI is changing how work gets done — augmenting roles, compressing coordination and expanding what managers are responsible for. 3) Imperfect AI still delivers value Some AI tools don’t get things right. But when used as thinking partners — critiquing ideas, suggesting alternatives, or helping leaders make sense of complexity — they make teams more productive and innovative. 4) Leaders need AI literacy, not just tech teams AI affects strategy, priorities and people decisions — not just coding and automation. The organisations that thrive aren’t those that wait for perfect tech, but those that integrate AI intelligently into leadership and workflows. 5) Human judgement still matters Far from making humans obsolete, AI highlights uniquely human strengths: judgment, nuance, people skills and context-aware decision-making. 🧠 Why this matters for work AI is not just a tool — it’s a workforce multiplier. Leaders who understand how to harness AI can reshape productivity, culture and the role of managers in their organisations. Those who don’t risk falling behind as workplace expectations shift rapidly. 🔗 Resources & links Season 3 of Boss Class asks crucial questions about responsibility, adoption and what we truly mean by progress — and this episode brings those questions directly into your workplace context. Listen to Boss Class from The Economist — Season 3 launched January 2026 and explores AI, management and the future of work:https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/boss-class Andrew Palmer’s work: search “Boss Class” on podcast platforms or visit The Economist’s podcast page:https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/boss-class 💬 Connect with the show Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI – Samaritans Call 116 123 | http://www.samaritans.org UK – Mind Call 0300 123 3393 | https://www.mind.org.uk US – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia – Lifeline Call 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplineshttps://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we explore career motivation, generative AI for leaders and the psychology of meaningful work. Plus we put Neuro-Linguistic Programming under the microscope and answer career questions from future business psychologists. 🔥 Stories covered 1. The rise of the “career comedown”motivation, engagement and the future of work. Have you ever hit a major career milestone and felt underwhelmed? Leanne introduces the term career comedown, coined by Stefanie Sword-Williams. It describes the emotional slump that can follow promotions, pay rises and career success. Many professionals report feeling bored, stuck or disconnected once they reach the goals they worked towards. The research suggests three paths forward: • Stick — reshape your current role • Twist — change direction or reinvent your career • Tap out — reduce how much work defines your identity Source: https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/is-your-career-giving-you-the-ick/ Stefanie Sword-Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanieswordwilliams/ 2. Generative AI becomes a leadership skill These stories matter for leaders, founders and managers navigating Google has launched a Generative AI Leader certification, signalling that AI literacy is becoming a core leadership capability. The programme helps business leaders understand generative AI, identify opportunities and adopt AI responsibly. Leaders who lack AI literacy risk making strategic decisions without the full picture. Learn more: https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification/generative-ai-leader 3. Hope is the emotion that creates meaning at work New psychological research shows hope may be more important than happiness for creating a meaningful life. Across six studies with more than 2,300 participants, researchers found hope strongly predicts meaning, motivation and wellbeing. Seeing progress, believing change is possible and having a future direction all boost engagement at work. For leaders, clarity, visible progress and realistic optimism matter more than constant positivity. 🧠 Truth or Lie: Does NLP actually work? This week we explore Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). While NLP training can boost confidence and communication skills, strong scientific evidence for its broader claims is limited. Many techniques overlap with established psychology, but NLP itself is not considered a robust evidence-based approach. 💬 Workplace Surgery – Special edition This week’s questions come from The Business Psycho, a new platform launching for students and early-career professionals in business psychology. We discuss: • Breaking into business psychology • The real people problems inside organisations • Mistakes leaders make when trying to fix culture • Future trends in workplace psychology Follow The Business Psychohttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-business-psycho/https://www.instagram.com/thebusinesspsycho.official Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Mental health support UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Global helplineshttps://findahelpline.com 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

What happens when a small, tight-knit team suddenly starts to grow fast? This week on Truth, Lies & Work, we’re joined by Steve Kemish to talk about the most uncomfortable phase of company growth. The moment when your business moves from a handful of people to a real organisation. Steve calls it the puberty of a company and if you have ever scaled a team, you will know exactly what he means. Steve has grown a marketing agency from a small team into a business approaching 50 people. In this conversation, he shares what leaders rarely talk about when growth accelerates. The identity crisis, the culture wobble, the communication breakdowns and the leadership shifts that suddenly become unavoidable. This episode is packed with practical advice for founders, leaders and managers navigating rapid growth. Key Takeaways Why growth changes everythingMany founders assume growth is purely positive. In reality, scaling introduces new complexity overnight. Communication becomes harder. Informal processes stop working. Leaders who once knew everything now have to learn to let go. The “puberty phase” of organisationsSteve explains why the jump from around 13 to 20 employees is a major turning point. This is when businesses must move from instinct and intuition to structure and systems. Without that shift, chaos quickly follows. The leadership identity shiftThe skills that help you start a business are not the same skills needed to scale one. Founders must evolve from doers into leaders, from decision-makers into decision-enablers. Culture under pressureGrowth puts pressure on culture. New hires bring fresh perspectives, expectations and habits. Leaders must become intentional about culture rather than relying on “how things have always been.” Communication becomes the biggest challengeAs teams grow, assumptions and informal conversations stop working. Leaders must learn to communicate clearly, consistently and at scale. Why this episode matters If you are hiring quickly, planning to scale or feeling the growing pains of expansion, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating one of the most challenging phases of leadership. Connect with Steve Kemish LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skemish/ Website: http://www.intermedia-global.com Connect with the show Follow Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/Follow Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected]: https://truthliesandwork.com Mental health resources UK: https://www.mind.org.uk UK Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org US: https://988lifeline.org International: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines 🎧 Truth, Lies & Work is part of the HubSpot Podcast Network – the audio destination for business professionals.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re asking: how prepared are workplaces for real life transitions, what happens when AI becomes your colleague, and does your name secretly shape your career? 🔥 Stories covered Matrescence: the workplace transition nobody plans for Leanne introduces a word we should all know: matrescence. Similar to adolescence, it describes the emotional, psychological and identity shift that happens when someone becomes a mother. This is one of the most significant transitions in a woman’s career, yet it’s rarely reflected in performance systems, leadership pathways or job design. The question for organisations is simple: instead of asking people to return unchanged, how can we support them to grow forward? Follow the research: https://www.instagram.com/microrosie/ Follow Rose on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-soffel/ 2. The AI that called its owner while he was sleeping A developer created an AI agent that can run a computer, read emails, organise files and complete work independently. Then things escalated. Users began connecting their agents together through a platform called MoltBook, a social network for AI agents to share ideas and improve each other. If AI can do eight hours of work in minutes, what does productivity mean? And what happens when the AI isn’t the company’s tool, but your personal one? Read more:https://openclaw.ai/https://www.moltbook.com/ 3. The biggest workplace problem in 2026 isn’t pay or burnout. It’s managers. A new SHRM report based on thousands of HR leaders and employees found ineffective leadership has overtaken pay and workload as the top workplace concern. In organisations rated ineffective, job satisfaction falls to 44%. In effective workplaces it rises to 91%, and more than half of employees in poorly led organisations expect to leave within a year. Leadership development is now the top priority for HR leaders, with economic uncertainty and AI adoption adding pressure. The message is clear: workplaces don’t fail because people don’t care. They fail because leadership systems don’t support people properly. Read the report: https://www.webpronews.com/boss-bottleneck-why-leadership-tops-2026-workplace-woes/ 🔥 Truth or LieDoes your name influence your career? Nominative determinism suggests people are drawn to jobs that match their names. Early research hinted at a small effect, but larger modern studies found the link disappears when you control for demographics and chance. Verdict: Lie. Your brain loves coincidences, but your career is not written in your name. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week we tackle: • Why personality tools like DiSC remain popular despite weak evidence • Whether small businesses should hire younger workers • How to stand out when starting a career in occupational psychology 🎧 Coming up Thursday We’re joined by Steve Kemish to talk about the “puberty of organisations” and what happens when teams grow fast. 💬 Connect with the show Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans – 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988 https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline – 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au Global: https://findahelpline.com

Why do so many change initiatives, town halls and big launches create excitement and then fade with no real behaviour change? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, Al and Leanne speak with Lindsey Caplan, a former Hollywood screenwriter turned organisational psychologist, about why leaders struggle to influence groups at work and what actually works instead. Lindsey shares the MOVED Model, a practical framework for driving engagement, influencing behaviour and communicating change in a way that sticks. If you lead teams, present ideas, manage projects or drive transformation, this episode explains why information alone never creates change and what does. What you’ll learn Why most workplace change fails Many organisations fall into the transmission trap: the belief that more information leads to better results. More slides, more frameworks and more meetings rarely change behaviour. Real change happens when people feel involved, motivated and emotionally connected. Informing vs influencing at work Influencing one person is very different from influencing a group. Leaders often assume employees are already motivated and aligned, but many are neutral, cautious or distracted. Real change begins with a better question: What do we need people to do differently? Not: What do we need to tell them? The MOVED Model explained Lindsey’s framework maps how leaders try to influence behaviour using two key dimensions. Push vs Pull: is change being done to people or with people? Generic vs Personalised: is the message broad or relevant to individuals? These create four outcomes: compliance, awareness, entertainment and engagement. Most organisations aim for engagement but accidentally design for compliance. What Taylor Swift can teach leaders Great performers design experiences that involve their audience. Leaders can do the same by giving people a role in the change, creating curiosity with a central question, sharing emotion as well as expertise and showing why the change matters to employees. The message is simple: perform with people, not at people. Practical leadership takeaways Decide the behaviour you want before designing the message. Pull people into change instead of pushing information at them. Stop saying “I’m excited about this change” and explain why employees should be. Resources and links Take the MOVED Model quiz: https://www.gatheringeffect.com/quiz Connect with Lindsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseycaplan/ Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Connect with the hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans – 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988 https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline – 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au Global support: https://findahelpline.com

A LinkedIn Live conversation on money confidence, risk and the future of careers Over the last few years, work has quietly shifted from ambition to survival. Rising living costs, economic uncertainty, layoffs and AI have changed how people make career decisions. Instead of taking risks or pursuing meaningful work, many are staying put not because they want to, but because it feels safer to stay. The media has called this the Big Stay or job-hugging. Why these two perspectives together Louise and Ruth operate at different, but deeply connected, points in the system. Louise works at the earliest stage, where money beliefs, habits and confidence are formed in childhood and adolescence. Ruth works at the adult decision-making stage, where financial confidence shapes career risk-taking, leadership progression, entrepreneurship and long-term wellbeing. Together, they offer an end-to-end view of how money confidence shapes working lives. Why money confidence often matters more than income when it comes to career choices How financial insecurity quietly shapes promotions, leadership ambition and risk-taking Why people from less affluent backgrounds are less likely to take career risks, even when highly capable How early money beliefs follow people into adulthood and the workplace Why financial wellbeing is the most neglected pillar of workplace wellbeing What leaders and organisations can do to reduce fear-driven decision-making without being intrusive What you’ll learn in this episode This conversation reframes financial literacy not as budgeting or products, but as freedom, confidence and optionality. Money confidence influences: Who feels able to negotiate, speak up or take risks Who progresses into leadership roles Who starts businesses or new ventures Who opts out, plays safe or stays stuck Why this matters for leaders and organisations For leaders concerned about engagement, retention, wellbeing, DEI and social mobility, this episode highlights a hidden but powerful driver of workplace behaviour. About our guests Louise Hill Co-founder of GoHenry, a financial education platform helping children and young people build money confidence from an early age. 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-hill-5197614/ 🔗 GoHenry: https://www.gohenry.com Ruth Handcock CEO of Octopus Money, supporting adults and employees to make confident financial decisions about work, life and the future. 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-handcock-obe-71b3656/ 🔗 Octopus Money: https://octopusmoney.com 🎧 Who this episode is for Leaders and managers worried about engagement, retention and risk-aversion HR and People teams focused on wellbeing, DEI and social mobility Parents thinking about the long-term impact of money conversations at home Employees feeling cautious, stuck or unable to take career risks Founders and policymakers interested in innovation and economic participation 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Connect with the hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support If this conversation brings anything up for you: UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

What happens when two art students fall in love, start freelancing together, and accidentally build one of the UK's happiest creative brand agencies? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we're joined by Gemma Ruse and Xavier Shariff, the husband-and-wife co-founders of Studio Zag, a 60-person agency that designs and builds experiential installations for brands all over the world. STUDIO XAG: https://studioxag.com/ Gemma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-ruse-646979a Xavier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-sheriff-49091132 Ellie Glason PR: https://ellieglasonpr.com/ They met at 20 in a house share at Central Saint Martins. They've been together for over 20 years, running Studio Zag together for 16 of those. They've clad a 35-metre boombox onto Diesel's Carnaby Street facade, become a certified B Corp, and built a business where people regularly say: "This is and will always be the best place I've ever worked." This isn't a story about having it all figured out. It's about trusting your gut, knowing when enough is enough, and building culture through brilliant work — not ping pong tables. What you'll learn in this episode Why they never planned to work together (and why it works anyway) How complementary skills matter more than identical visions Why "disagree in the room, commit outside the room" is their partnership rule The difference between forced fun and authentic culture Why they don't want to grow from 60 to 600 people (and what that says about sustainable business) How trust your gut feeling actually works as a leadership strategy Why great work IS culture (and how they keep that red thread of attention to detail at scale) What it means when people say your agency is, "the best place you've ever worked" Gemma and Xavier are brutally honest about the realities of building a creative business with your life partner: the complementary strengths, the stubborn moments, and why sometimes the best business advice is to ask yourself: "What does this feel like in my stomach?" 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: ⁠https://truthliesandwork.com⁠ Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork⁠ Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/⁠ Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/⁠ 🧠 Mental health support If this conversation brings anything up for you or someone you care about: UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠ US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | ⁠https://988lifeline.org⁠ Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ Elsewhere: ⁠https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the podcast where behavioural science meets real working life. This week, we’re asking a simple question with uncomfortable answers: who really gets flexibility, who’s trusted around AI, and what psychology myths are still shaping work decisions? 🔥 Stories covered 1. Who actually gets flexible work — and why Leanne introduces a new term this week: i-deals — short for idiosyncratic deals. These are personalised, one-to-one flexibility arrangements negotiated privately between employees and managers. 📄 Research source:https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joop.70084 2. When corporate politics becomes the real job Al brings a thread from X this week by an account called IT_Unprofessional, written by an IT Director earning around $280k a year. He describes what he calls a “corporate survival guide” — not about technical excellence, but about navigating power, perception and incentives. 3. Why banks are hiring behavioural scientists for AI roles After one of the toughest recruitment years since 2008, UK financial services firms are hiring again — and not just technologists. The concern isn’t AI failure. It’s human behaviour around AI — over-trust, automation bias, and quiet deference to systems that sound confident but may be wrong. 🔗 Reporting:https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/banks-ai-experts-worried-misuse-5HjdRJS_2/ 🔥 Truth or Lie💬 People learn better when teaching matches their learning style Visual learner. Auditory learner. Kinaesthetic learner. The idea is everywhere. Leanne breaks down decades of evidence and explains: Preferences exist Enjoyment increases when preferences are met Learning outcomes do not reliably improve The verdict: Lie. What matters is the material, not the learner label. And learning that feels harder is often more effective. Workplace Surgery This week we tackle: How to motivate a team nearing retirement without patronising them What to do when a career coach crosses ethical lines Whether employee NPS is a meaningful measure of engagement We explore motivation, power, boundaries and what good evidence actually supports. 🎧 Coming up Thursday We’re joined by Gemma Ruse and Xavier Sheriff, co-founders of Studio XAG, to talk about building a people-first agency, becoming a B Corp, and what it’s really like running a business with the person you’re married to. 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Connect with the hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

What do late-night comedy writers know about trust, influence, and human connection that most business leaders don’t? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we’re joined by Beth Sherman — a seven-time Emmy-winning comedy writer who spent three decades in Hollywood writers’ rooms before taking what she learned into the world of business. Beth has written for The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Oscars. Today, she works with leaders, sales teams, and organisations who want to build trust quickly, communicate with confidence, and connect more humanly at work. This is not about telling jokes in meetings. It’s about understanding why humour works, how truth creates connection, and why the most effective communicators are the most observant — not the funniest. What you’ll learn in this episode Why “truth is funny” — and what that reveals about trust and rapport The difference between self-awareness and self-deprecation (and why confusing the two damages credibility) How humour creates psychological safety without undermining authority Why being human matters more as work becomes more automated and AI-driven How observational humour helps in sales, leadership, presentations, and difficult conversations Why you don’t need to be funny — you need to be emotionally intelligent and observant Beth explains how comedians build instant rapport with strangers, and why those same principles are powerful in boardrooms, client meetings, and tense workplace moments. Why this matters for leaders and teams In a world where people can buy similar products, services, and solutions anywhere, relationships are the differentiator. Humour, when used properly, signals: Awareness of the room Confidence without ego Safety without softness Humanity without oversharing Beth’s work shows that humour isn’t about performance. It’s about connection — and connection is the foundation of trust, influence, and persuasion at work. About our guest Beth Sherman is a comedian, keynote speaker, and communication expert. She spent over 30 years writing comedy at the highest level before translating those principles into practical tools for business leaders. Her upcoming book is published by Blue Goat Books. 🔗 Beth Sherman website: https://www.bethsherman.com/ 🔗 Beth Sherman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/ 🎧 Listen if you’re… A leader who wants to build trust without forcing charisma In sales or marketing and tired of scripts that feel inauthentic Giving presentations and feeling pressure to “perform” Curious about the psychology of humour and human connection Navigating communication in an increasingly automated workplace 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support If this conversation brings anything up for you or someone you care about: UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re exploring what employees and leaders are really looking for at work right now — and how it’s shaping leadership behaviour, burnout, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture. 🔥 Stories covered Why are Gen Z leaving jobs so quickly? According to a Fast Company article by Jeff LeBlanc, Gen Z workers aren’t job-hopping out of disloyalty. They’re growth hunting. The research shows: Nearly half of Gen Z plan to leave roles for better growth, not higher pay 86% won’t upskill without employer funding 43% feel too burnt out to learn outside work hours Cost, not motivation, is the biggest barrier to development This reflects a wider shift in workplace expectations. When organisations talk about growth but don’t support it structurally, people move on. Gen Z isn’t rejecting work — they’re rejecting stagnation. 🔗 https://www.fastcompany.com/91452297/the-rise-of-growth-hunting-why-gen-z-changes-jobs-so-oftengenz-job-hopping Jeff previously joined Truth, Lies & Work to discuss Gen Z, burnout, and leadership psychology: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/207-what-happens-when-leaders-start-being-kind-with-jeff-leblanc You can also explore his book Engaged Empathy Leadership for practical, science-backed management advice: https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Empathy-Leadership-Redefining-Action-ebook/dp/B0FCGSC48C Does complaining at work make teams less resilient? Research highlighted by Stanford suggests that repeated complaining rewires the brain. Over time: Neural pathways linked to stress and threat detection strengthen Baseline stress levels rise Small irritations feel bigger Negativity becomes automatic For leaders, this matters. Teams that normalise constant complaining may unintentionally reduce resilience, decision-making quality, and psychological safety. 🔗 https://x.com/shiningscience/status/2013113758386987099 What employee wellbeing benefits actually reduce burnout? After a LinkedIn post went viral, Slate introduced a $200 monthly cleaning stipend for employees. Why this matters for employee wellbeing: It removes friction instead of adding effort It gives people time and mental space back It supports carers and those under chronic time pressure Research consistently links cluttered environments to higher stress This reframes wellbeing away from “one more thing to do” and towards burnout prevention. 🔗 https://fortune.com/2026/01/15/company-adds-cleaning-services-as-employee-benefit-what-hr-leaders-can-learn/ 🔥 Truth or Lie Can you manifest success just by visualising it? Lie — if it’s about imagining outcomes alone.Truth — when visualisation is used to plan actions and effort. Psychology shows visualising the process increases follow-through. Imagining success without action often reduces motivation. 💬 Workplace Surgery — practical management advice This week we answer: What’s the earliest sign of burnout before someone admits it? Is it genuinely hard to find a good manager? If you hate your job and feel stuck, what’s the first practical step? 🎧 Coming up Thursday We’re joined by Beth Sherman to explore how humour builds trust, rapport, and confident decision-making at work. 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

Most founders pride themselves on being “high-capacity”. The person who can sell, operate, strategise, and firefight all at once. But there’s a point where that strength quietly becomes the problem. In this episode, Al and Leanne are joined by Dustin Hillis, a serial entrepreneur and executive coach who has led businesses from early-stage chaos through to $100m-plus scale, and is now building again at a much bigger level. Dustin’s core message is simple, but uncomfortable:what gets you to your first milestone will not get you to the next one. Unless leaders change how they work, think, and let go, they become the bottleneck that holds everything back. This is a long-form, honest conversation about growth, power, systems, and the emotional reality of leadership that rarely gets talked about. 🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode Why working harder eventually stops working, and what replaces it How leaders unintentionally burn out their best people by turning them into “catch-alls” Why systems don’t kill creativity, but reduce fear and create capacity What actually changes at £1m, £10m, £100m and beyond The power dynamics that quietly derail teams as money and authority increase Why “pruning” underperformance is painful but essential for healthy cultures How to stop being the centre of everything without losing control Dustin acts as a guide through the messy middle of growth, grounded in lived experience rather than theory. 📘 About the book Dustin is the author of Capacity: Building Your Business Bigger Than You, a practical exploration of how leaders build organisations that no longer depend on them to function. 🔗 Connect with Dustin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhillis/ Website: https://dustinhillis.com 💬 Connect with the hosts Al Elliotthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliotthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🎧 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Have a workplace dilemma or question? Get in touch — it may feature in a future episode. 🧠 Mental health support If this episode brings up difficult feelings, support is available: UK: Samaritans — call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

January blues are back — but is Blue Monday actually real? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we explore wintering, career pivots, and what behavioural science really says about mood, motivation and burnout at work during January. If the start of the year feels heavy, flat or strangely exhausting, you’re not alone. Instead of pushing harder, this week we ask a different question: what if slowing down is the smarter response? 🔥 Stories Covered Word of the Week: Wintering We unpack the idea of wintering, coined by author Katherine May, which reframes winter as a period of restoration rather than something to “power through”. Drawing on coverage in The Times and insights from clinical psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, we explore why January might not be the time for big life changes — and how seasonal rhythms, cold exposure, warm food rituals and gentler movement can help regulate mood and energy. Links:https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/january-blues-cure-wintering-tkxhxwkskhttps://katherine-may.co.uk/winteringhttps://www.penguin.co.uk/books/472162/the-gifts-of-winter-by-fitzgerald-dr-stephanie/9780241779576 When is it really time for a career pivot? We look at new thinking on how to tell the difference between genuine readiness for change and endless rumination. With careers becoming less predictable and many people stuck in the “Big Stay”, we explore why job-hugging is rising — and how understanding your real strengths can help you spot when fit has genuinely broken down. Link:https://www.fastcompany.com/91462109/how-tell-time-career-pivot Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie Mattel has introduced its first autistic Barbie, developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Thoughtful design choices around sensory comfort, communication and representation open up a bigger conversation about inclusion, neurodiversity and what people grow up seeing as “normal” — and how that shapes expectations at work. Links:https://corporate.mattel.com/news/barbie-introduces-the-first-autistic-barbie-doll-championing-representation-for-children-through-playhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cygielman-7a912412/ 🧠 Truth or Lie: Is Blue Monday real? Every January, we’re told there’s a single Monday that’s the most depressing day of the year. It sounds scientific. It feels believable. But does it stand up to evidence? We break down where Blue Monday came from, what research actually says about winter mood, money stress, Mondays and post-holiday crashes — and where the idea falls apart. Verdict: Blue Monday as a specific date is a lie. January strain and winter pressure are very real. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week we answer: What actually works in a company culture diagnostic beyond satisfaction surveys? How do you build a genuinely high-performance team without burning people out? If your policies support work-life balance but staff say otherwise, what’s missing? 🎧 Coming up Thursday A brand-new expert interview with Beth Sherman, comedian and seven-time Emmy Award-winning writer, on how humour builds trust, rapport and confident decision-making at work. 📬 Get in touch with the show Have a question for Workplace Surgery or feedback on the episode? LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ 💚 Mental wellbeing support If you or someone you know is struggling, confidential help is available: Samaritans (UK & Ireland): 116 123 Mind (England & Wales): 0300 102 1234 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988 Find A Helpline (Global): https://findahelpline.com/

This week on Truth, Lies & Work, Al and Leanne sit down with Dr Matt Poepsel, Marine veteran, author and the self-proclaimed Godfather of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index. In a world shaped by burnout, uncertainty and rapid AI disruption, Matt argues that many organisations are facing a “hope crisis” – and it is quietly draining performance, motivation and leadership effectiveness. What We Cover Matt explains why hope is not fluffy positivity but a measurable psychological skill linked directly to job performance, resilience and team culture. Drawing on Snyder’s Hope Theory, he shows how two components – agency (belief you can influence outcomes) and pathways (seeing the concrete steps to succeed) – determine whether people stay engaged or slip into autopilot. We also explore why so many teams are struggling: years of instability, constant change and leaders who unknowingly remove autonomy or fail to explain the path forward. Matt shares practical ways leaders can rebuild hope by creating clarity, showing people where they fit, and setting ambitious but achievable goals. The conversation moves into modern leadership, where AI automates admin but heightens the importance of human connection, psychological safety and real alignment. Matt introduces his concept of Enlightened Leadership – a shift away from outdated command-and-control approaches toward a more selfless, purpose-driven model that balances technology with humanity. If you lead people, manage teams or want to stay ahead in a rapidly changing workplace, this episode offers concrete actions to build engagement, performance and wellbeing in 2026 and beyond. Why hope predicts job performance as strongly as intelligence How burnout, bureaucracy and unclear goals quietly erode hope The difference between hope, optimism and positivity Why new beginnings generate motivation and why post-achievement crashes happen How leaders can use agency and pathways to rebuild engagement Why AI makes human leadership a competitive advantage What Enlightened Leadership looks like in practice How to measure hope inside your organisation Why hope becomes contagious when leaders model it Connect with Matt Poepsel 🌐 Website: https://mattpoepsel.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel 🎧 Podcast: Lead the People – https://www.mattpoepsel.com/podcasts/lead-the-people Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ Mental Health Support Samaritans (UK & Ireland) – 116 123Mind (England & Wales) – 0300 102 1234988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) – Call or text 988Find A Helpline (Global) – https://findahelpline.com/

This week, we're sharing a special feed drop from Great Mondays Radio! Our very own Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Leanne Elliott, takes the guest chair as host Josh Levine (Work Futurist, author, and culture consultant) interviews her on creating amazing workplaces. In this candid conversation, Leanne and Josh dismantle the myths around company culture and redefine it as a strategic, business-critical system rooted in behavioral science. If you're tired of treating culture as a "nice-to-have" or a collection of perks, this episode is a must-listen for business leaders, managers, and HR professionals. 🧠 What We Cover: A Clear Definition of Culture: Leanne shares her preferred definition of culture by John Amaechi: "The worst behaviors tolerated." This makes culture behavior-based and is a living, breathing thing that everyone can be responsible for. The Biggest Misunderstanding: Why do business leaders mistakenly think culture is something physical (like a cool office, ping-pong table, or the general vibe around the place) rather than something psychological and scientific? Moving Beyond Fluff: All the data and science show that building an awesome workplace is fundamentally good for business. It's great for the bottom line, customers, and growth trajectory. The Right Data: Leanne advocates for collecting data on psychosocial risk factors (relationships, control over work, trust, resources, change management) because they are transactional elements that directly impact how people think, feel, and behave. Innovation vs. Efficiency: An organization's strategy (e.g., chasing efficiency vs. relying on innovation) dictates which psychosocial factors to prioritize. For example, innovation requires nurturing psychological safety to allow people to make mistakes safely. Building Internal Capability: Building internal capability for people and culture is critical for survival in the next decade due to increasing complexity and the rate of change. A C-level leader must own this responsibility. 🛠️ Practical Resources Oblong Consultancy (Leanne Elliott's Company) Website: https://oblonghq.com/ HSE Management Standards (UK Health and Safety Executive) Leanne recommends this completely free resource for understanding and measuring key psychosocial risk factors at work. Website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne (Truth, Lies & Work) LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Podcast Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ Connect with Josh Levine (Guest Host): Connect with Josh Levine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akajoshlevine Follow Josh on Instagram: @greatmondays_culturedesign Great Mondays website: https://greatmondays.com Great Mondays Radio: https://radio.greatmondays.com Great Mondays YouTube: https://youtube.com/@GreatMondays Get the book "Great Mondays" at greatmondays.com 💚 Mental Health Support Resources If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Please reach out to one of the following confidential services: Samaritans (UK & Ireland) - Emotional support for anyone struggling to cope, available 24/7. Call: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) Mind (England & Wales) - Advice and support for mental health problems. Phone: 0300 102 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US-based) - Confidential, free, 24/7/365 support for those in crisis. Call or Text: 988 (24/7) Find A Helpline (Global) - Connects users to over 1,600 free and confidential support resources worldwide. Website: https://findahelpline.com/

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work. This is part two of our Predictions 2026 series, where we ask leaders, researchers and thinkers what they believe is coming our way next year. If part one was warm and reflective, part two brings the heat! 🧠 What We Cover: The Big Predictions for 2026 Hybrid Will Fracture Before It Settles – Professors Ina Purvanova & Alanah Mitchell The authors of The New Workplace predict deeper relational fractures across hybrid teams. As employees split across offices, homes and third spaces, meaningful connection weakens and culture becomes harder to sustain. Expect more intentional design, stronger tech integration and a rising demand for purpose and meaning as AI reshapes traditional work. More of the Same… but With More Pressure – Danny Wareham Danny sees 2026 as a magnified version of 2025: tighter budgets, rising expectations and leaders forced to think smarter rather than scale bigger. His hope? A shift toward evidence-based people practices — job analysis, behavioural data and hiring decisions that finally move past “gut feel”. Unionisation Will Surge – Rebecca Taylor Rebecca predicts a new wave of unionisation across industries. As job insecurity rises and workers feel increasingly squeezed, collective bargaining will gain momentum. Anti-union stigma is fading, and younger generations will be the ones to push workplaces toward shared power. AI Will Break Management Before It Fixes It – Vince Sanderson Vince foresees a period of chaos where leaders delegate too much emotional labour to AI — and employees do the same. AI responding to AI, while real connection disappears. The result? Frustrated teams, resentful managers and widening distrust. But he also predicts a competitive edge for companies that stay human-first. The Death of Assimilation – Sonia Thompson Sonia says the old norm of “fit in at all costs” is over. Employees are less willing to hide their identities to succeed, and organisations must adapt. The future belongs to brands that embrace difference rather than smooth it out. Inclusion is shifting from compliance to cultural courage. AI Will Become a Dealbreaker for Candidates – Becky Simms Becky predicts top talent will increasingly judge companies on their approach to AI. If tools are outdated, restricted or slow, candidates will simply move on. Transparency, experimentation and a clear AI strategy will become as important as salary or flexibility. A Reality Check for Leaders – Jeanette Ramsden Jeanette highlights a growing disconnect between what leaders think they are communicating and what people actually hear. Feedback fatigue, message overload and constant change will demand a new level of clarity, groundedness and empathy if leaders expect teams to follow them. 🔗 Connect with the Contributors Danny Wareham – ⁠https://firgun.co.uk/⁠Rebecca Taylor – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccataylor2/⁠Vince Sanderson – ⁠https://www.vincentsanderson.com/⁠Sonia Thompson – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniaethompson/⁠ ⁠www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com⁠ ⁠www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/roadmap⁠Jeanette Ramsden – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-ramsden-0946a83/⁠Becky Simms – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckyreflectdigital/⁠Alanah Mitchell – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanah-mitchell/⁠Ina Purvanova – ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ina-purvanova/⁠ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn (Show): ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork⁠ Al Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott⁠ Leanne Elliott: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne⁠ Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Book a call: ⁠https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat⁠ Podcast Website: ⁠https://truthliesandwork.com/⁠ 💚 Mental Health Support Samaritans (UK & Ireland) – 116 123Mind (England & Wales) – 0300 102 1234988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) – Call or text 988Find A Helpline (Global) – ⁠https://findahelpline.com/⁠

Welcome back to a very special edition of Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. This episode features Part 1 of our annual Predictions for 2026. Join Leanne and Al as they speak to top experts who share their contrasting views on how AI, leadership, identity, and productivity are about to fundamentally shift the world of work. 🔮 Your Panel of Experts: Prediction Headlines Phill Agnew (The Nudge Podcast): AI Must "Show Its Working" & the Rise of Text Speak. Find Out More: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/ Meghan French Dunbar: AI Will Advance Humanity & Job Creation Trumps Destruction. Find Out More: https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com/book Erica Breuer: Identity Deviates from Work: Explore Over Optimize. Find Out More: https://www.ericabreuer.com Anthony Taylor: Clarity and Middle Managers are the New Superpower. Find Out More: https://www.aqrconsulting.co.uk/ Georgia M. Hodkinson: Clarity is the New Productivity Metric (Not Time). Find Out More (Event): https://www.psychbizinc.com/eventpage and (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-hodkinson-gmbpss/ Josh Levine: The Death of the Resume: Relationships are the New CV. Find Out More: https://greatmondays.com/ 🗓️ Coming Up Next The next episode is Part 2 of our Predictions for 2026 and will be released on New Year's Day (January 1st). 💚 Mental Health Support Resources If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Please reach out to one of the following confidential services: Samaritans (UK & Ireland): Emotional support for anyone struggling to cope, available 24/7. Call: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) Mind (England & Wales): Advice and support for mental health problems. Phone: 0300 102 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US-based): Confidential, free, 24/7/365 support for those in crisis. Call or Text: 988 (24/7) Find A Helpline (Global): Connects users to over 1,600 free and confidential support resources worldwide. Website: https://findahelpline.com/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne (Truth, Lies & Work) Do you have your own prediction for 2026? A question for the Workplace Surgery segment? Or a comment on the episode? Podcast Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Merry Christmas! And welcome back to This Year in Work! Today we’re back with Part 2 of our 2025 highlights series, and this time it’s all about our guest interviews. If you’re new here, welcome along. This is Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. Brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. ⭐ Our Favourite Guest Interviews of 2025 Steve Carse — Work Should Be Fun Episode 181: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/181 We kicked things off with King of Pops founder Steve Carse, who turned a layoff into a $10M ice-pop empire built on one radical belief: work should be fun. Andrew Palmer — Fall in Love With the Problem Episode 217: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/217 Then came an absolute pinch-me moment for both of us: talking to Andrew Palmer, senior editor at The Economist and host of the Boss Class podcast. James Hawkins — Chaos, Autonomy and Building Better Teams Episode 189: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/189 Al’s pick was James Hawkins, co-founder of PostHog — the dev tools company that ditched managers and meetings in favour of tiny autonomous teams. Dr Marie-Hélène — The Science of Strategic Resilience Episode 171: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/171TEDx talk link: “Crossing the River: Resilience in the Age of AI” - https://youtu.be/JEdr2cvHF5M?si=OB07KHvgSjldYKmg Leanne’s pick was Dr MH, who reframed resilience as a state — not part of your personality. It moves, fluctuates, and can be strengthened through movement, nutrition, sleep, and relationships. 💬 Listeners’ Choice Award 2025 Elina Teboul — Feminine Intelligence and the Future of Leadership Episode 197: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/197 Your messages, comments and LinkedIn posts made this one clear.Elina Teboul, executive advisor and author of Feminine Intelligence, challenged assumptions about power, masculinity, intuition, balance and the psychological patriarchy. Whether listeners agreed or disagreed wasn’t the point — the episode sparked reflection everywhere, which is exactly what great conversations do. 🥇 Most Downloaded Expert Episode of 2025 Dr Enya Doyle — The Workplace Rules No One Explains Episode 175: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/175 No surprises here. The episode you downloaded most — and shared most quietly — was with Dr Enya Doyle, the harassment and inclusion specialist known online as The Harassment Doctor. This was a true masterclass in navigating messy, awkward and sometimes frightening management moments. From appearance standards to ageing workforces to tricky inclusion issues, Dr Enya cut through the nonsense with clarity, humour and absolute precision. A must-bookmark episode for every manager. 🎧 Episodes Mentioned Today Ep 181 — Work Should Be Fun with Steve Carsehttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/181 Ep 217 — Andrew Palmer on Better Bosseshttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/217 Ep 189 — James Hawkins: Autonomous Teams & Faster Deliveryhttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/189 Ep 171 — The Science of Resilience with Dr Marie-Hélènehttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/171 Ep 197 — Feminine Intelligence with Elina Teboulhttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/197 Ep 175 — The Workplace Rules No One Explains with Dr Enya Doylehttps://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/175 Support Links: Mind UK — https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans — 116 123 or [email protected] Connect with us: LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al — https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne — https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email — [email protected] Book a chat — https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome to This Year in Work! As we countdown to Christmas, we’ve pulled together the standout moments from our Tuesday episodes across 2025 — the stories, segments and listener questions that defined the year. From new workplace vocabulary to tech scandals, CEO tantrums and the wildest listener dilemmas, this episode is a celebration of everything that made TWIW what it is. Word of the Year: Duck Shuffler Our unanimous pick. A perfect term for those colleagues making a lot of noise on the surface while quietly shuffling chaos underneath. Straight from Episode 202 — and yes, the Bosnia-and-Herzegovina reference still makes sense in context. Stories of the Year: Big Toddler Energy When we first discussed CEOs behaving like overgrown toddlers, we didn’t expect the avalanche of DMs, confessions, and even a YouTube thumbnail featuring us as actual toddlers. From Episode 196. Rule-Bending Leaders From Episode 200, the unforgettable debate on rule-breaking founders… including Al’s confession about his beer-delivery business days. The Great Employment Heist Episode 214 gifted us one of the wildest workplace stories of the year: a single engineer secretly working for 22 startups and earning over $1m without doing the work. Hot Take of the Year: Gossip is Good Rebecca Taylor argued that workplace gossip isn’t just normal — it’s useful. One of our most talked-about segments of the year (Episode 194). Truth or Lies of the Year: The triangle that never was. From Episode 240, the myth-busting moment that sent LinkedIn into meltdown. Workplace Surgery Question of the Year: My Ex is My New Boss!! From Episode 180 — still one of the most awkward, gripping dilemmas we’ve ever received. 🎧 Episodes Featured Duck Shuffler – Ep 202http://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/202-divorce-disruption-and-the-death-of-the-watercooler-plus-are-you-a-duck-shuffler-with-kristyna-hawkett-this-week-in-work-3-rd-june-2025 Big Toddler Energy – Ep 196https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/196-does-your-ceo-have-big-toddler-energy-plus-touching-grass-accidental-bullies-and-hiring-mistakes-with-stuart-mace-this-week-in-work-13th-may-2025 Rule Benders – Ep 200https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/200-rule-benders-quiet-quitting-and-the-dei-dilemma-plus-is-happiness-overrated-with-julian-hayes-ii The Great Employment Heist – Ep 214https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/214-the-wildest-overemployment-scam-in-tech-history-plus-fake-empathy-nepo-hires-and-salary-secrets-with-rameez-kaleem Gossip at Work – Ep 194https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/194-secret-jobs-leadership-mic-drops-and-spotify-s-remote-gamble-plus-the-case-for-gossip-at-work-this-week-in-work-6th-may-2025 Maslow’s Hierarchy – Ep 240https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/240-starbucks-ceo-fail-toxic-superstars-and-dubai-s-wolf-of-wall-street-plus-is-maslow-s-hierarchy-a-myth My Ex Is Now My Boss – Ep 180https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/180-my-ex-is-now-my-boss-and-other-toxic-promotions-plus-dei-is-doing-more-harm-than-good-with-sarah-gashier 🎧 Coming Up Thursday Part 2 of our highlights special: the best interview moments of 2025, including Steve Carse, Elaina Teboul, and our most downloaded guest of the entire year. 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Wellbeing Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work. Today we’re doing something a little different for the Christmas break. We’re sharing an episode from our friend Jeremy Cline’s podcast Change Work Life, where Al joined him to reflect on Jeremy’s first year as a full-time coach. This conversation marks Jeremy’s 200th episode, and instead of interviewing someone else, he turns the spotlight on himself. It’s a rare, honest look at what actually happens when you leave a stable career after 20 years and try to build something new from scratch. No glossy “quit and make six figures” narrative — just the real, messy middle that most founders and coaches quietly go through. Al and Jeremy dig into the emotional, financial and identity shifts that come with starting your own business, what surprised Jeremy the most, and why meaningful conversations — not logos or websites — became the backbone of his first year. If you’re thinking of going out on your own, supporting someone who is, or you're simply curious about what a year of reinvention looks like behind the scenes, this is the perfect listen for the quieter days of December. 🧠 What We Cover: The Reality of Year One Life after a 20-year careerJeremy left a long legal career to become a coach, and the biggest challenge wasn’t logistical — it was the identity shock of asking “who am I now?”. Self-employment and the fear of the first stepInstead of hiding behind planning, Jeremy forced himself into real conversations — the uncomfortable kind that actually move a business forward. The messy middle of reinventionTesting ideas, discarding bad ones, refining offers, working through insecurities — the emotional work was bigger than the strategic work. Why conversations matter more than everDespite global connectivity, genuine, real-time conversations are becoming rare. Jeremy argues that this is where opportunity lives. Opportunities come from putting yourself out thereJeremy explains how reaching out to people — including Al — created unexpected relationships, support and new directions for his business. The truth about coaching as a businessHe talks candidly about client work, self-doubt, capacity and the grind of turning passion into something that pays the bills. 🔗 Connect with Jeremy 🌐 Episode page & resources: https://changeworklife.com/one-year-in-lessons-from-my-first-year-as-a-full-time-coach/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyjcline/ LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Podcast Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ 💚 Mental Health Support Samaritans (UK & Ireland) – 116 123Mind (England & Wales) – 0300 102 1234988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) – Call or text 988Find A Helpline (Global) – https://findahelpline.com/

Welcome back This is Truth, Lies and Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Al and Leanne break down the biggest stories shaping the way we work, with practical insights for founders, leaders and anyone trying to build a better workplace. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. Escape The City launches its ‘Top 1 Percent Employer’ certification Escape The City has introduced a new accreditation designed to spotlight genuinely progressive employers. The audit covers pay, inclusion, leadership, wellbeing, flexibility and anonymous employee feedback. Positive News highlighted four featured organisations: • Sharky & George – flexible working, healthcare and nomad-friendly policies • The Economist Educational Foundation – strong purpose and supportive leadership • Rare Recruitment – a leader in inclusive hiring, especially for underrepresented groups • Unifrog – £500 annual learning budget and company-wide bonus It raises a bigger question: if we claim a workplace is “great”, what exactly should be measured? Links: positive.news/society/beyond-the-ping-pong-table-new-certification-endorses-truly-progressive-employers app.escapethecity.org/certification\ 2. Apple’s leadership shake-up Apple has lost four senior leaders in quick succession, including its VP of Human Interface Design to Meta. Rumours of Tim Cook preparing to step aside continue to grow. Meanwhile, competitors are accelerating AI releases as the Vision Pro struggles to find momentum. Investors are calling for clarity on Apple’s AI strategy as the tech landscape shifts.Link: edition.cnn.com/2025/12/06/tech/apple-tim-cook-leadership-changes 3. Supporting veterans in civilian careers New research by James Hardie, guided by Dr Hayley Lewis, explores the transition challenges faced by UK veterans. Themes include identity loss, misunderstanding of collective leadership skills, culture shock around workplace politics and additional barriers for female veterans. The core finding: veterans aren’t failing to adapt — organisations are failing to integrate them. 🧠 Truth or Lie: Is the Christmas spirit real? Al and Leanne unpack the research behind seasonal mood shifts. Studies show Christmas can raise wellbeing through connection, ritual and nostalgia — but stress, comparison and financial pressure can weaken the effect. The “Christmas spirit” exists, but only when the conditions are right. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week’s dilemmas: • Is it unprofessional to skip the office Christmas party? • Do employers have to approve every Occupational Health referral request? • Is a manager undermining their employee, or is something else going on? 🧠 Mental Health Support Mind UK: mind.org.uk/information-support Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat 🎧 Coming up Thursday We kick off our Christmas and New Year specials — highlights of 2025, expert predictions for 2026, and two feed-drop interviews. P.S. You still have time to enter the competition offered by last week's guest, Rob Kalwarowsky, for a chance to win six weeks of coaching or his book. Go to robkalwarowsky.com/reason to get the Find Your Reason tool and enter the draw before Christmas Day 2025.

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work! This week, Leanne is joined by returning guest Rob Kalwarowsky, Executive Coach, Author, and Speaker, to discuss his book, Capitalizing on Chaos. In this crucial conversation, Rob argues that the world is experiencing an unprecedented level of chaos—87% higher than the peak of the pandemic. This episode explores why our brains struggle with uncertainty, how to overcome the status quo bias, and the single most critical skill every leader needs to not just survive, but revolutionize their business in 2026 and beyond. 🧠 What We Cover: Master Your Inner System Defining Chaos: For the brain, chaos is simply uncertainty. This triggers the stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn), which shut down our executive functioning, making it impossible to be a good, innovative leader. The Internal Battle: Chaos is as much about our internal state as external events. Rob discusses the competing parts within leaders (e.g., start looking for a new job vs. stay motivated to innovate), and how to bring both parts to the table to find clarity. Overcoming the Status Quo Bias: We stick to the status quo because our brain can predict a certain outcome, even if it's a terrible one. Rob shares his "Find Your Reason" tool to leverage the goals and future feelings of success against the pain and suffering of staying stuck. The AI Disruption: AI is creating its own friction and non-sense within businesses (e.g., two people using AI to email each other back and forth). Leaders must create clear guidance on where AI adds value and where it poses risks, particularly around data privacy. The Non-Negotiable Skill: The single most crucial skill for capitalizing on chaos is the leader having their own "shit together". This rock-solid inner confidence prevents them from transmitting fear and disruption to their teams. The Power of Clarity: When leaders find inner clarity and confidence, they can double or triple their workforce without hiring a single person because they can finally care about, develop, and engage their team. 🎁 Exclusive Giveaway & Practical Resources Rob is offering a generous giveaway to help you capitalize on chaos and set up your 2026 goals! Grand Prize (1 Winner): A copy of Capitalizing on Chaos + a six-week coaching engagement with Rob (a high-value prize!). Second Prize (10 Winners): A signed copy of Capitalizing on Chaos + one personal coaching session. Everyone Wins: You'll receive the Find Your Reason tool just for entering. To enter (must be within two weeks of the episode release date: 11th December 2025): Go to: robkalwarowsky.com/reason Connect with Rob Kalwarowsky (Guest): Book: Capitalizing on Chaos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robkalwarowsky/ Website: https://robkalwarowsky.com/ 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne (Truth, Lies & Work) LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat Podcast Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ 💚 Mental Health Support Resources If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Please reach out to one of the following confidential services: Samaritans (UK & Ireland) - Emotional support for anyone struggling to cope, available 24/7. Call: 116 123 (Free, 24/7) Mind (England & Wales) - Advice and support for mental health problems. Phone: 0300 102 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US-based) - Confidential, free, 24/7/365 support for those in crisis. Call or Text: 988 (24/7) Find A Helpline (Global) - Connects users to over 1,600 free and confidential support resources worldwide. Website: https://findahelpline.com/

Welcome back to This Week in Work — the show where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott. 🔥 Stories Covered 1. Generation Alpha are coming (Benenden Health report) A major new workforce study shows the 11–15 age group expect flexible careers, strong mental health support and employers who understand neurodiversity. Only 11 percent expect one career path, 77 percent want meaningful wellbeing support, and six in ten personally know someone who is neurodivergent. HR leaders admit they’re not ready. The report warns workplaces will need redesigning around manager capability, clear communication and personalised support.Link: benenden.co.uk/media/10551/bh-gen-alpha-workforce-report.pdf 2. Starbucks faces its largest strike yet Around 2,500 baristas across more than 120 US stores have walked out in the longest coordinated action in company history. Four years after the first union vote, not a single store has a contract. Workers cite pay, conditions, understaffing and stalled negotiations. Leadership churn and sliding trust sit at the core of the dispute — a lesson for any employer relying too heavily on dashboards instead of people.Link: theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/02/starbucks-union-strike 3. The rise of micro-joys (Forbes + The Progress Principle) Micro-joys boost resilience, support creativity, reduce cognitive load and keep teams motivated through meaningful “small progress.” For leaders, these moments are easy to design into a working day — and they compound.Links: forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/11/29/why-micro-joys-are-the-key-to-life-long-happiness progressprinciple.com 🔥 Truth or Lie Can power posing actually increase confidence? The viral TED claim promised hormonal shifts and bold behaviour in two minutes. Replications haven’t supported the biological claims — but the psychological effect survived. Expansive postures don’t transform you, yet contractive postures reliably make people feel worse. The verdict: a light nudge, not a superpower. 💬 Workplace Surgery New coverage of Amabile and Kramer’s work highlights why small moments matter far more than big wins. This week’s dilemmas:• “Help — I pulled the CEO for Secret Santa.”• “Can my employer challenge home-working adjustments already approved by occupational health?”• “Where do I start with a competency model that’s genuinely useful?” Referenced frameworks: • SHL Universal Competency Framework – shl.com • Handbook of Competency Mapping (Seema Sanghi) – amazon.com/Handbook-Competency-Mapping 🎧 Coming Up Thursday We’re welcoming back Rob Kalwarowsky, one of the world’s leading executive coaches. He’s sharing how to capitalise on chaos in 2026 — and offering a major giveaway to get you off to a flying start. 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being Mind UK: mind.org.uk/information-supportSamaritans: Call 116 123 or email [email protected] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/truthliesworkAl: linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliottLeanne: linkedin.com/in/meetleanneEmail: [email protected] a call: savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, Al and Leanne sit down with Aoife O’Brien Founder of Happier at Work and host of the Happier at Work podcast — for a conversation about why so many people feel misaligned at work, and what leaders can do about it. Aoife combines evidence, honesty and lived experience to break down the real drivers of engagement: values, fit, autonomy, fairness and meaning. It’s a grounded, practical discussion that cuts through surface-level “happiness initiatives” and focuses instead on the deeper psychological conditions that actually make work feel good. Expect to learn: Why values misalignment is one of the strongest predictors of disengagement How to diagnose whether your team is missing autonomy, clarity or recognition The role of data in understanding what employees really want How senior leaders accidentally create the problems they’re trying to solve What organisations can do to build cultures where people genuinely thrive The biggest myths about “workplace happiness” (and how to avoid them) Whether you're a founder, a manager or anyone rebuilding their relationship with work, this episode is full of practical, evidence-based ideas you can act on immediately. 🔗 Find Aoife O’Brien Website: https://happieratwork.ie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoifemobrien/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happieratwork.ie TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happieratwork YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@happieratworkhq Happier at Work Podcast: https://happieratwork.ie/happier-at-work-podcast/ 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email [email protected] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne LinkedIn (podcast): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: [email protected] Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat