Better At Work with Cathal Quinlan

In episode 29, we chat with Tessa West about finding work that works for you, and applying relationship therapy tools to our careers.  Dr. Tessa West is a professor of psychology at New York University and expert in the science of social relationships. Tessa's extensive research and publications in top psychology journals have gained her recognition in media outlets like The New York Times and CNN...

In the final episode of our mini-series, we're wrapping up with key takeaways and actionable strategies for better workplace practices. ‘Better Ways’ is all about setting priorities, running effective meetings, and fostering an environment where employees can care and thrive. We discuss: Setting an intentional direction for your day. Tricks to avoid overwhelming your brain and stay positive.  How...

Welcome back to ‘part-two’ of our mini-series ‘How to be Better at Work’ where we delve into the essentials of improving ourselves and our relationships. In this three-part mini-series, Cathal Quinlan and Annette Sloan share 9 brain-friendly, bite-sized insights from world experts in workplace relationships, behavioural science and performance. In this episode we delve into ‘Better We’, focusing o...

In episode 26, we go deep on what makes a better day at work based on what we have learnt so far across two seasons of inspiring interviews with incredible people, plus our own lived experiences across global workplaces. When we’re so busy ‘doing’ work, how can we learn to be better at it?  In this three-part mini-series, Cathal Quinlan and Annette Sloan share 9 brain-friendly, bite-sized insights...

In episode 25, we chat with  Dr. Jim Harter  about how developing the right habits in organisations can lead to increased productivity and better work environments. We go deep on what the latest research from Gallup is revealing about engaging and retaining employees. Jim is the Chief Workplace Scientist at Gallup and has been studying human behaviour in organisations for 37 years. Jim has led mor...

In episode 24, we chat with  Jonathan Black  about soft skills being the employability skills, how the hiring process is not all about qualifications and achievements, and how hiring for attitude is so important. Jonathan shares his insights and practical tips for improving career prospects. From working in small businesses to large corporations, Jonathan's diverse background makes him the perfect...

In episode 23, we chat with  Margaret Heffernan  about the critical human skills that we need to confront the unexpected in today’s world. Margaret explains why attempts to predict the future, even in today's world of AI and Big Data technologies, are often doomed to failure. She offers alternative strategies for people and organisations facing an uncertain future — strategies based on human creat...

In episode 22, we chat with  Mamie Kanfer Stewart  about creating effective and engaging meetings. Have you felt that you were wasting your time in a meeting, stuck in back-to-back meetings all day, and not getting to your work? Our listeners have told us this is a problem in many of their organisations and one that has worsened in recent years. Mamie, is a coach and consultant who trains teams an...

In episode 21, we chat with  Professor Ian Robertson  about the science and neuroscience behind confidence. If you have confidence, it can empower you to reach heights you never thought possible. But if you don't, it can have a devastating effect on your future. Confidence lies at the core of what makes things happen. Probing the science and neuroscience behind confidence that has emerged over the...

In episode 20, we chat with  Kate Goodger  about the approaches to unlock our best performance ever.  Formerly a PE teacher, Kate is one of the most experienced performance psychologists in Olympic sport in the UK having worked with Team GB athletes and medallists at seven Olympic Games.  She has also built a reputation as a high-performance coach and facilitator with leaders and executives in Eur...

In episode 19, we chat with  Joe Hirsch  about feedback. Most of us dread giving feedback and we're not that effective when we do. International lecturer and best-selling author Joe explains why our present method for feedback is flawed and he has made a career investigating how we can transform feedback from something we fear, to something that brings us joy.   We discuss: The difference between...

In episode 18, we chat with  Ayse Birsel  about designing a life you love. Ayse (pronounced Eye-Shay) Birsel is one of the world’s leading industrial designers. She has designed hundreds of products, from toilet seats to office systems to potato peelers to concept cars. However, her current work has shifted beyond that. Now, Ayse is focused on what it takes to design a good life. Through her works...

In episode 17, we chat with  Maryanne O’Brien  about the importance of conscious communication in the workplace. Our work lives revolve around effective communication. It is essential for cultivating trust and team collaboration, as well as strengthening our motivation and well-being at work. And with teams experiencing more anxiety, stress, and burnout than ever before, strong communication skill...

In episode  16 , we speak with  Joe Folkman  about leadership and trust.  We discuss: - Joe’s background as a psychometrician (psychologist who uses data to predict outcomes) who studies leadership - How trust in society can predict GDP - The impact of low trust inside an organisation - The correlation between trust and leadership effectiveness - The three behaviours that most affect gaining trust...

In episode 15, we speak with  Amy Gallo  about the most effective methods to deal with conflict and difficult people at work.    Amy Gallo is a contributing editor at  H arvard Business Review . She is the author of the  HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict  and  Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone , and a cohost of HBR’s  Women at Work  podcast. She writes and speaks about workplace dynamics, co...

In episode 14 of Better@Work, we chat with two leading experts on the future of work, Lawrence Goldstone and Caitlin Guilfoyle. Many of the solutions for the future of work are vague when they’re not tied to an example e.g. ‘Upskilling’, ‘True self’, ‘Purpose’: Plus, these concepts are all journeys (maybe even journeys that don’t have measurable endings).   Lawrence and Caitlin provide practical a...

In episode 13 of Better@Work, we chat with one of the world’s leading thinkers and researcher on self-awareness,  Dr. Tasha Eurich . Tasha shares her insights around why self-awareness is crucial when it comes to understanding ourselves and the people around us, how you go about developing it, what are the biggest misconceptions about it, and what can you do to overcome the blind spots in your sel...

In episode 12 of Better@Work, we chat with  Chester Elton , Leadership Expert and Author. Chester shares his perspective on the #1 issue in workplaces across the globe, anxiety. Anxiety in the workplace has always been present, however, rates of anxiety, have increased significantly since 2020 and more people are quitting for mental health reasons. Chester shares generational differences in dealin...

In our latest episode of Better@Work, we chat with William Cowan, author, and career strategist. We discuss the mistakes people make when attempting to take the next steps in their career. We dive into the simple ways to articulate your strengths and learn how you can really secure your dream role. William Cowan has over 30 years of experience in senior management positions and has served as an ad...

Check out the trailer to learn more about Better@Work, including a preview of the world-leading behavioural psychologists, neuroscientists and performance gurus who join us on each episode to give us their practical tips for a better day at work. Plus, insights on the topics we will be covering in season two.   Get in touch:  Cathal@betteratwork.com.au or betteratwork.net Get in touch on Instagram...

In episode ten of this Better@Work episode, we chat with Erica Keswin about the power workplace rituals have to connect us to purpose and take teams to new levels of performance. I am a huge fan of Erica as I strongly believe in workplace rituals and have seen how positively they can impact culture.   In our chat, we take a look at why it's so important to create rituals in the workplace and how t...

In episode nine of this Better@Work episode, we chat with the amazing Margaret Moore aka “Coach Meg,” who is the founder and CEO of Wellcoaches, an evidenced-based wellness coaching school, that has trained over 14,000 coaches in 50 countries over the past 20 years. We might assume coaches are used only in the world of sport, however, Margaret has been helping people from all walks of life discove...

In episode eight of this Better@Work episode we explore with Melody Wilding how some of us sense and feel more than our colleagues at work and this can actually be a superpower instead of a liability. Being a driven but sensitive individual is an interesting mix. You have all the desire for high achievement and go-getting but can also overthink everything, which slows you down. This overthinking c...

In episode 7 of this Better@Work episode, we have an engaging chat on better leadership with the super smart and warm Amy Jen Su. We work through the five essential principles for bringing out your best-self every day. Amy understands busy leaders and entrepreneurs want to improve, however they don’t want to be overwhelmed at the prospect of doing more in order to be a successful and effective lea...

In episode six of this Better@Work episode, we have an informative chat on burnout with our first Canadian guest, Jennifer Moss. Since early 2020, many of us have been operating in crisis mode; responding to the expanding demands of work, working from home while juggling family priorities all under the mental fog of chronic stress. Burnout is real and it has increased significantly since the pande...