The Indigo Podcast

One way to tilt the odds in your favor is to use evidence when making decisions and choices. But our typical use of evidence isn't optimal. We can do better. In this episode, we talk with one of the world's leading voices regarding evidence-based practice, Rob Briner. He is a professor of organizational psychology at Queen Mary, University of London and the co-founder and scientific director of th...

What can managers do to make work more satisfying and more motivational? Does it matter if people find their jobs satisfying? Why or why not? We explore these and related topics in this episode, including:  What job satisfaction is and why it matters Five different facets of job satisfaction The job characteristics model and how managers can make work more satisfying and motivating Links and Other...

In this eye-opening episode, Cort Rudolph of St. Louis University pulls back the curtain on generational differences at work. Simply put, they don't exist. And it's tough to even make the claim that generations themselves exist. We discuss these topics, drawing upon Cort's recently published article on the topic in the Journal of Business and Psychology. Specifically, we explore: What are generati...

First impressions, in some research studies, are measured in milliseconds. Let that sink in. In fractions of a second, we make judgments about each other. In fractions of a second, people make judgments about us. In this episode, we explore impression management. Specifically, we discuss:  What is impression management How do we shape impressions and can we change them Implications for people, lea...

Decisions are fascinating, and Neil Shortland is an expert on them. He's an assistant professor of Criminology and Justice Studies and the director of the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. In this episode, we explore decisions and decision-making, including details about: Making hard decisions Decision-making in policing and business How the resea...

Is the boss always watching you? With the proliferation of employee monitoring technologies, it's becoming increasingly likely. But employee surveillance--electronic or otherwise--must be handled with care. In this episode, we discuss: What is employee surveillance Forms and negative reactions to employee surveillance Implications for people, leaders and organizations   Links and Other Information...

What is humor? Why does it matter with regard to the workplace? How can it help organizations and leaders? In this episode, we talk with comedian and speaker David Horning about the changing nature of work and how humor fits into it all. Specifically, we discuss: The work landscape Why humor helps How to--how NOT to--incorporate humor into the workplace and leadership   Links and Other Information...

Dealing with bad news is a fundamental part of being a leader or a manager. Focusing on how to deal with bad news within the organization, we discuss the research on delivering bad news and distill some actionable insights. Specifically, we explore: How sharing bad news is hard and painful, but it's necessary  Why and how fairness matters with regard to sharing bad news Implications for people, le...

What is talent management, anyway? And what does it have to do with how the workplace is changing? We explore these questions and more in this phenomenal episode with Marisa Carson, Ph. D. Specifically, we discuss:  How an organizational psychologist ended up working in talent management How the workplace is changing amid COVID and other social shifts  Implications for talent management in the fut...

Training at work is often terrible--but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we unpack some of the basic--yet essential--ideas behind creating training that has a real and sustained impact. Specifically, we address: What is training and why does it matter Ways to design training so that it helps people learn Key takeaways for people, leaders, organizations Links and Other Information Associatio...

Being ostracized is painful, regardless of whether it occurs in our non-work or work lives. We explore workplace ostracism in this episode with Josh Cogswell, an assistant professor of management at Nicholls State University who recently published a meta-analysis on workplace ostracism in the Journal of Applied Psychology . Specifically, we discuss: What is ostracism and why does it matter in the...

To develop as a leader, stretch assignments or "crucibles" are critical. We discuss in more detail, using Mormon missionary experiences and the Hells Angels motorcycle runs as examples. Specifically, we explore: Why people need "crucibles" to grow and develop  What is a stretch assignment Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information Thomas, R. J. (2008). Crucible...

Dave Schramm is a no-kidding family and relationships scholar--but he also does tremendous work bringing that research-based knowledge to the general public. He's an expert on what makes good relationships and good families, and he has great ideas on how those concepts can apply in the workplace. In this episode, we discuss:  Promoting happy and healthy relationships The marriage and family help l...

Drawing upon decades of research, we describe what science suggests regarding how leaders actually develop. Specifically, we explore: What is leader development and why does it matter What do we know about leader development and how does it happen Implications for people and organizations Links and Other Information McCall Jr, M. W. (2010). Recasting leadership development. Industrial and Organiza...

Justin Trudeau, Jair Bolsonaro, Angela Merkel: three distinct leaders with three distinct approaches toward the COVID pandemic. We unpack their charismatic, ideological, and pragmatic approaches with Matt Crayne of the University at Albany and Kelsey Medeiros of the University of Nebraska Omaha. Specifically, we discuss: Three ways to think about leadership Profiles of three world leaders during C...

What is coaching and should managers be coaches? We explore this and related topics in this episode; specifically:  Coaching as a critical part of performance management Coaches in the workplace--and managers as part of that How organizations can promote coaching behavior Links and More Steelman, L. A., & Wolfeld, L. (2018). The manager as coach: The role of feedback orientation. Journal of Busine...

Learn about the five roles of everyday agile leaders and turning your conversation flow to cash flow with Mike Richardson, who specializes in the agility challenges of CEOs and executives running small to medium sized enterprises. He shares insights at the intersection of his agility experiences in three worlds. In the real-world, he started his career working as a Petroleum Engineer on offshore o...

Have you ever had to work in a group that had a member or two who just weren't pulling their weight? It happens--all the time. And it's terrible, for both people and organizations! These slackers in teams are doing what's called "social loafing," and in this episode we discuss: What is social loafing What we know about it and what does it do to groups and teams How to prevent social loafing Show N...

In the realm of public service, the Honorable Mike Dovilla has done it all: elected official, congressional staffer, presidential appointee, military officer, and more. In this episode, we explore why public service is worth pursuing as a career, what shapes and forms public service might take, and advice for those of any age or state looking to get into public service. We also explore important a...

Bill Gentry is the author of the best-selling book, Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders.   In this episode, our conversation covers getting to know Bill, his tips on career development, and information for first-time leaders. Why should we listen to Bill? He is a leadership researcher, trainer, speaker, author, and industrial-organizational psychologist with a specialty...

Today, we have guest, Todd Dewett, on the show.  Todd grew up in Memphis. He started a career as a consultant, but got an academic itch and earned his Ph. D. in Organizational Behavior at Texas A&M. He became a professor, quickly rose the ranks through tenure and promotion all the way to full professor, won all the teaching and research awards, and after 10 highly successful years in academia… he...

We're thrilled to have Steven Rogelberg on our show.  Steven has authored more than 100 publications addressing issues such as team effectiveness, leadership, engagement, health and employee well-being, meetings at work, and organizational research methods. He has been seen in the media via CBS, TEDx, The Washington Post , etc.  He is also a professor and the Editor of The Journal of Business and...

In this episode we explore: What the heck can anyone say anymore How to be an effective social deviant How to curate a healthy conversation and culture at work Show Notes Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They're Afraid to Share: https://www.cato.org/publications/survey-reports/poll-62-americans-say-they-have-political-views-theyre-afraid-share The Overton Window: https://en.wik...

Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Enrica Ruggs, Assistant Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis.  We discuss t he racism landscape, r acism and organizations, and m aking progress and the role of leadership against racism. If you want to know a little more abo...

Networking ... some people love it and some people don't. Everyone says it's valuable. Today we discuss: Networking defined and some forms that it takes Research on networking and its outcomes Practical steps for enhancing your career--and your current job Final note about networking during COVID-19   Show Notes Wolff, H. G., & Moser, K. (2009). Effects of networking on career success: A longitudi...