Cubicle Confidential

While there may be nothing constant in this world, except change—it doesn’t mean that organizations are good at creating change. In fact, research shows that organizational leaders are getting worse at implanting successful change and not better. So where does that leave those of us who must navigate change and transition in the workplace?  Flummoxed in Philadelphia is a new manager who has been t...

This episode marks the first anniversary of Cubicle Confidential! So, in honor of this celebratory “podiversay” event, Mary & Chris answer listeners’ questions about—you guessed it—partnerships! Am I Being Cheesy or Whiny in Washington wants to know if it is a good idea to open a wine and cheese shop with their best friend? Is this a good idea or recipe for disaster? Until D&I do We Part i...

How susceptible are you to clickbait? Are you a sucker for catchy headlines? In this special episode, Chris DeSantis quizzes Mary on real and fake headlines. Tune in and play along! Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts. We’re here to help you succeed! Send us your workplace dilemmas or career questions. Email us: info@cubicleconfidential.com or tweet us:...

How important is the opinion of others? Do you care what other people think of you at work? Should you? What is the balance between caring and not caring? In this episode, Mary and Chris take a deep dive with listeners who are struggling with what others think of them… Baby Faced in Baltimore is a seasoned professional who looks way younger than they are and thus people don’t give her the respect...

Have you ever left a job for a shiny new one, only to discover, that--oops--it was a bad fit? Have you ever been tempted to double-dip on jobs? Or have you ever hired someone and uh-oh it may have been a mistake? If so, this episode tackles these pesky job-hopping dilemmas! Miss Match in Michigan is concerned that a new hire doesn’t have what it takes to succeed in their role. So, Miss Match wonde...

Ghosts, Wimps, and Implusives, oh my! Have you ever dealt with a boss or colleague who ghosts you? Or a boss who is so wishy-washy that you want to pull your hair out? Or how about the boss or co-worker who is always changing their minds or chasing shiny objects? If so, this episode was made for you. Chris and Mary hear from listeners who need their help dealing with these difficult dynamics.  Gho...

Despite tremendous gains made by women in the workforce, women still face many structural and personal barriers to success—especially in leadership roles. In this episode, Mary and Chris hear from several female listeners who are struggling with gender and leadership issues and expectations.   Raising the Roof in Tulsa is up for promotion to District Manager. She is also the only woman at the mana...

Let’s be honest. The workplace can be very ageist. Very ageist. Being seen as “too young” or “too old” can stymie your career. How do you manage perceptions that you are “over” qualified or that you don’t have enough experience based on your age? In this episode, Mary and Chris provide advice to listeners who are dealing with ageist perceptions and perspectives. Gambling with My Future in Vegas ke...

After two years of wearing our dress shirts with pajama bottoms, it’s time to dress up for work again. Which for many of us, means the reappearance of the fashion crisis. Just exactly what does “business casual” really mean?  And can I still wear my yoga pants to work? In this week’s show, Chris De Santis and Mary Abbajay help listeners navigate the new rules of office dress-up. Hint: the days of...

Does anyone enjoy having to give or receive difficult or “constructive” feedback? Hearing that you are not hitting the mark is never fun. Nor is it enjoyable to be the person who must burst the bubble. Yet, without feedback, it’s hard to know how to adjust one’s performance and behavior. This week’s episode addresses listeners' challenges with giving or receiving feedback.  Not Dressed for Su...

Apparently, not everyone is excited to return to the physical office. This week’s episode hears from listeners who are less than thrilled at the prospect of going back to the office.  The Party’s Over in Pensacola does NOT want to go back to the physical office.  In fact, they dread it. How can they convince their employer to let them stay remote? Boston Yank in Spanx gained a lot of weight during...

Do generational differences at work have you perplexed? Annoyed? Confused? Do you look at other generations at work and think to yourself WTF?  Well, Chris De Santis is here to help! In honor of his newly published book Why I Find You Irritating: Navigating Generational Friction at Work , Chris and Mary answer questions from multiple generations about how to deal with each other. Ants in My Pants...

How important is having a personal brand for career success? What’s the difference between your brand and your reputation? How do you know if your brand is working for you? What letter comes after X in the alphabet? Chris and Mary lay out the do’s and don’ts of creating an effective personal brand to ensure a positive reputation.    Young and Virtual in Vermont wonders how to build a personal bran...

In this special episode, Chris and Mary share listeners’ thoughts and LinkedIn poll results on various workplace and career topics. Check out this episode to learn you and other listeners think about Pay Transparency, Introversion and Extroversion, Family Leave, Big Ideas, Workplace Appreciation, Micromanagers, and other topics! Show us your love! Please give us a review wherever you listen to you...

When it comes to favors, are you a giver or a taker? Do you make it easy for people to say yes to favors? Do you reciprocate? Are you tired of people asking you for favors? If so, this episode is for you. Chris and Mary give out some tough love on the art of asking for and receiving favors. Don’t break your favor bank! Unimpressed with the Unprepared in L.A. has a big problem with people asking to...

How do you annoy me? Let me count the ways! In this episode, Mary and Chris address listeners’ complaints about their annoying co-workers. When dealing with bothersome behaviors in others, should we speak up, shut up, or suck it up? Pompous Panelist in Pasadena wants to know how to deal with a fellow panelist who is obnoxious, pompous, and overly self-promoting.  Should they say something? How can...

Have you ever lost your mojo? Has two years of remote work left you feeling unmotivated and unconnected? Are you trying to get back in the groove? If so, you are not alone! This week’s episode answers listeners’ questions about how to get and stay motivated. In other words, how to get your groove back. Rudderless in Raleigh has lost her mojo. Is it her? Is it her Job? Or is it just this &#$#@...

Workplace friendships are the topic of this week’s show. The workplace is a social system--but does that mean that we HAVE to be friends with the people we work with? How much friendship is too much friendship? How much friendliness is too little? Is it okay to be best friends with your boss? Mary and Chris help both the friendless and overly friendly navigate this tricky landscape. Friendless and...

Are you an idea person or are you an idea implementer? How can you get others to buy into your ideas? In this episode, Mary and Chris offer strategies to get your great ideas heard and implemented!  Bewitched in Boulder loves (his) big ideas. The problem? He doesn’t like to implement them. Is there a way that he can job craft himself out of implementation? Workplace Newbie in Wisconsin can’t get h...

In this episode, Mary and Chris help introverts and extroverts cross the great divide of communication and collaboration.   Talk to Me in Tallahassee is frustrated by their introverted colleague--who just doesn’t seem to communicate enough.  Need My Space in Needham dreads having to return to the physical workplace because of the dreaded “open space” office plan.  Introverted in Indiana has been t...

Let’s talk about money.  In this episode, Mary Abbajay & Chris DeSantis discuss why talking about money is so taboo and they answer listeners’ questions about how to get paid. If you want your work to show you the money, then this episode is for you.   Exhausted in El Paso is frustrated because they are being paid less than their colleagues--how can they get what they are worth? Is this an exa...

It’s hard out there for working parents--especially for working mothers. Mary Abbajay and Chris DeSantis tackle listeners' questions about balancing the duties of parenthood with career goals.  " Bundle of Nerves" wants to know when the right time is to tell her boss that she is pregnant.  "Kid Proof" is annoyed that their boss’ kid is constantly derailing team meetings. ...

In this week’s show, Mary Abbajay and Chris De Santis address listeners’ questions around overblown expectations and dehumanizing work.  Flaming Out worries about unrealistic expectations once they return to the physical office. Big Brother is Watching is creeped out by the fact that their employer uses spyware to monitor them. Dumping is Not Delegating is miffed about doing their boss’s work. If...

In this special episode, Cubicle Confidential goes live to answer workplace questions from a bunch of lawyers! The Legal Counsel for Leadership Diversity invited Mary Abbajay & Chris De Santis to provide workplace and career advice to lawyers while playing the “Hybrid” workplace drinking game. What could go wrong? If you have workplace dilemmas or career questions, send them to us! Email us: i...

Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries! This week’s episode tackles tricky sensitive situations at work. What to do if… You are asked to be a sperm donor for a colleague… Your employee leaves you a pamphlet on “gay conversion therapy”… Your boss is trying to set you up with their niece… What to do, what to do, what to do? What would YOU do? If you have workplace dilemmas or career questions, send them...