This Working Life

Should you lie on the couch or go hiking with friends? Discover what to do before, during and after a holiday to get the most out of it. Experts share the best ways to fully recover from work stress and offer practical tips to make that post-holiday glow last longer. Guests:  Stacey Parker, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, University of Queensland    Ty Ferguson , Research Fellow i...

Almost half of Australian workers are impacted by some kind of post-employment restraint.  The government plans to ban non-compete clauses for middle and lower paid workers. But how do you strike the balance between an employee’s right to move jobs and a business’ right to protect their commercial interests?  Guests: Paula McDonald, Professor of Work and Organisation, QUT Centre for Decent Work an...

If your career progression has stalled it may be because you lack emotional intelligence and the ability to regulate your behaviour in the workplace.  A Harvard Business School expert says the key to great leadership is understanding yourself so you can manage others, and she’s helped thousands of people do it.   Guest: Margaret C Andrews , managing director The MYLO Center ,  author of Manage You...

What are the best ways to learn at work, and how can you make that new information stick? Understand the science of learning and how online courses and workshops can be designed to optimise motivation and opportunities to practise. Guests:  Michelle Ockers , Founder and Chief Learning Strategist, Learning Uncut  Ryan Jesson , cognitive scientist, School of Psychology, University of Queensland 

New research has uncovered early warning signs of burnout that could help you get on top of it, before it goes too far. Learn strategies to identify these signs, recover from work stress and prevent burnout.  Dr Ben Searle , organisational psychologist, consultant and researcher  Luke Martin , Senior specialist and clinical spokesperson, Beyond Blue  For more details on Ben’s Recovember Challenge...

A Westpac employee with parental responsibilities was recently awarded the right to work from home five days a week, by the Fair Work Commission. How might this decision affect business hiring practices, and the working conditions parents are allowed by their bosses in future?  Guests: Dr Giuseppe Carabetta , Associate Professor of workplace and business law with the UTS Business School  Emma Wals...

Have you ever turned up to work and thought...where is everyone?! Empty offices and flexible work is part of the reason why so many people are experiencing work loneliness, but it's not the whole picture. We explore how organisations can diagnose work loneliness and build more connected workplaces.  Guest: Connie Noonan Hadley , organisational psychologist, Research Associate Professor, Boston Uni...

Lisa is joined by Panio Gianopolous, co-founder and editorial director of the Next Big Idea Club , as they each nominate three non-fiction books related to work that have changed the way they work and live.  Tune in to Radio National’s Top 100 Books countdown, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October from 1pm. Or catch up anytime on the ABC Listen app. Panio’s picks: The Work of Art: How Something Co...

How can reorganisations, restructures and redundancies be managed in a way that works for everyone? With obligations to manage psychosocial hazards now front of mind, this process has never been more important.  Guests: Melinda Bell , partner at Norton Rose Fulbright in Melbourne  Leonie Green , founder and consultant, Conscious Workplace Also check out our related episode Your role is being made...

There are lessons you can take from the careers of David Bowie and Oprah about identity and authenticity. Being “authentic” in your life and career is something we’re told to aspire to. But can that be taken too far? Dr Tomas, Chamorro- Premuzic , Professor of Business Psychology at University College London and Columbia University, author, Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is overrated and what...

Need help organising your desk or kitchen table workspace? Get decluttering tips that will help clear your mind and your home.  Guest: Amy Revell , decluttering expert  For more on the psychology of decluttering, check out the All In the Mind episode, Is clutter making you feel bad? 

When you validate someone, it shows that you’re there, you get it and you care, even if you don't agree with their point of view. Learn the difference between validation and praise, and how you can use the former to strengthen relationships and build influence at work.  Guest: Dr Caroline Fleck , licensed psychologist, corporate consultant and author, Validation: The New Psychology of Influence 

Whether you approve of it or not, research shows gossip does have value within organisations, especially when it’s used positively.   Learn how you can harness gossip to improve relationships and communication with colleagues.  Guests: Amy Gallo , workplace expert and contributing editor, Harvard Business Review. Author, Getting Along: how to work with anyone James Greenslade-Yeats , Research Fell...

Learn how to build co-operation rather than war, between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers. Instead of leaning on stereotypes, there are ways to work to the strengths of people in teams that include multiple generations.   Guests: Megan Gerhardt, Professor at Farmer School of Business, Miami University and co-author of Gentelligence Florence Potter, founding director, No umbrellas

We've reached the one year anniversary of the right to disconnect regulations, which now also apply to small businesses.  What are the challenges of managing this change to the ways we contact each other outside of work hours, and how is it impacting work life balance?  Guests:  Anna Volkova , People and Culture leader, Hi Bob  Matthew Addison , Chair, Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBO...

Soon more people will be leaving the workforce than joining it, but most organisations don't encourage older workers to stay on and thrive. Experts say redesigning work to retain mature-age workers across the life cycle is part of the solution to Australia’s ageing population and productivity challenges.  We explore how planning for "longevity work" across the career cycle, can help eliminate bias...

Everyone at work plays a part in preventing psychosocial hazards, including you. We ask an expert how to create a psychosocially safe workplace, and why it's important. Guest: Dr Laura Kirby , chief psychologist, Australian Psychological Services Check out our companion episode: What are we getting wrong about psychosocial safety? , featuring Professor Amy Edmondson from Harvard Business School an...

There’s confusion about the terms psychological safety and psychosocial safety in workplaces, so what’s the difference?  Leading expert on psychological safety, Professor Amy Edmondson, and researcher Rachael Potter explain.  Plus, are Australia's regulations around psychosocial hazards making a difference to workplace safety and productivity?   Guests: Amy C. Edmondson , Professor of Leadership a...

It’s estimated we make up to 35,000 decisions every day so how can you make better decisions at work?  Before you start drawing up pros and cons lists, listen to this episode to hear how you can make decisions with less stress and a lot more satisfaction - from small everyday ones, to big ones like changing career. Guests: Dr Ellen Langer - Professor of Psychology, Harvard University. Author, The...

We can learn a lot about gaining influence when you don't have power, from those who work on Capitol Hill.  A leadership adviser reveals how Congressional Chiefs of Staff navigate a volatile political environment, with challenging bosses.  This is a masterclass in how to manage up and build relationships that can further your career. Guest: Margie Warrell , Leadership advisor, author The Courage G...

Have you ever been told that if you follow your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life? As it turns out, the research doesn’t support that narrative.  We explore what’s really going on with passion at work, and discover how to sustain and nurture it over time. Guest: Jon M. Jachimowicz , Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School Thanks to Renata, Yin and Meliss...

It can be hard to know what to say when your colleague or employee is going through a difficult time.  We explore how to support someone who is dealing with grief.  Guest: Tasha Broomhall , founder and Director of Blooming Minds  Also check out our companion episode: How to handle grief at work

The death of a loved one, a divorce, an illness, a job loss or another challenging personal issue will be experienced by just about everyone in the workplace at some point.  What are the practical, and emotional considerations that can help?   Guests: Diane Bergeron , social psychologist and Senior research scientist at the Centre for Creative Leadership  Chris Hall , Psychologist & CEO of Gri...

Videos of job applicants being interviewed by artificial intelligence avatars are being posted on social media. How can job seekers and recruiters navigate the AI-powered recruitment process in a way that keeps things human?   Guests:  Dr Natalie Sheard , lawyer and McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne with expertise in discrimination by AI systems    Daryl Keeley , Managing...

It's mid way through the year and many of us are still asking ourselves, ‘ Why are we here’ ?  What is it about the culture of work that’s leading to that feeling? And what can we do about it?   Guest: Jennifer Moss , workplace culture strategist, author, Why Are We Here: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants This story was first broadcast on 20th January, 2025