DEDx - Ideas worth binning

Is the traditional 5-day work week overdue for retirement? In this episode, John and Anna dive into the world of reduced working hours with academic psychologist Charlotte Rae , who leads the Sussex Four-Day Week Project. The trio explores the growing momentum behind the 4-day week movement, backed by robust data on well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction. With a mix of personal stories, ha...

Anna and John explore the surprisingly rich terrain of failure—why it matters, when it’s useful, and how to distinguish the constructive kind from the kind that should never happen twice. Along the way, they share personal stories (including one involving 100 golf balls and a tractor), challenge the romanticised tech-world narrative of "failing fast," and consider what failure looks like...

This week on Ded X, Anna and John tackle Impostor Syndrome with coach Catherine Andrews The Big Idea: Catherine declares it's not a syndrome. She argues that "impostor phenomenon" was coined by researchers Clance and Imes in 1978, based on observations of high-achieving women doubting their success. The "syndrome" part, Catherine suggests, might be a rebranding by the lead...

In this episode of DEDx , we explore the controversial concept of organisations as families. Can work be a surrogate family, and what does that mean for employees? We examine the benefits and risks of family-style business cultures. John and the host share insights on whether this approach helps—or harms. Key Topics Discussed: What is a Family Culture in the Workplace? We begin by defining what a...

In this episode of DEDx, hosts Anna and John, along with guest Andy Perkins, explore the concept of team building. They delve into whether traditional team-building activities should be embraced or discarded.  Andy, with over 30 years in the Learning and Development industry, shares his extensive experience with team-building events, questioning their long-term effectiveness and value. The discuss...

Episode Overview: In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most common hiring practices: the job interview. Is it the best way to decide who to hire, or is it time for a change? We’ll explore the history of interviews, their effectiveness, and why they might not always be the best tool for hiring decisions. Key Topics: The Interview Process We discuss the most widely used interview ty...

DEDx - Feedback - A Gift? Introduction Is feedback a gift or a burden? Employees often don’t get enough, dislike it, or don’t know how to use it. What Is Feedback? Evaluation of performance to reveal blind spots. But it’s tricky—bias, emotions, and context play a role. Personal Experiences Negative feedback lingers, but it’s just one perspective. Effective feedback is direct, caring, and construct...

Episode Summary:  In this episode of DEDx, Anna and John are joined by William McKee to discuss the relevance and validity of psychometric testing in the workplace. They explore whether psychometric testing is a DEDx, an idea worth binning, or if it has redeeming features that justify its use. What are we talking about?  Overview of psychometric testing and its intended purposes. The distinction b...

Meetings: Hub of productivity or waste of time? Quote of the Episode: "Why spend 30 hours a week in meetings when you could be using that time to actually get work done?"  Call to Action: Have a look at your own calendar—are there meetings you could cut or optimize? Share your thoughts on what makes a meeting truly valuable by tagging us on social media using #DEDxPodcast. Episode Summar...

Episode Title: DEDx - Meritocracy: Dedx or not! The idea that a meritocracy exists is a contentious one. Certainly it is a seductive idea, to suggest that the best people rise to the top in any field. But is there any evidence that it truly exists? This podcast features an intriguing discussion about the relevance of the idea of meritocracy in today's world. What are we talking about? Meritoc...

Show Notes: Whole self Bringing Your Whole Self to Work: A brilliant concept or lunacy? Since Mike Robbins' TED Talk and subsequent book in 2018, the idea of bringing your whole self to work come up throughout organisational life. In this podcast, we get under the skin of the idea, evaluate it, and recommend whether it’s something we should embrace or an idea to bin.   Highlights:  What are w...

L eader as coach In this podcast we dive into the question of whether leaders should adopt coaching as a methodology for working with their teams. Is it time to finally get rid of ‘command and control’ for good, and be more curious about those you work with? Is the leader being a coach for the team a great idea, or an idea worth binning? And is there a better way? Highlights: The question of leade...

Performance Review - Love It or Hate it In this episode we take a long, cold look at the effectiveness and relevance of annual performance appraisals. Are they a value add - they certainly take a lot of time and energy, or are they past their sell by date, and there’s a better way? Highlights: What are we talking about? The idea of the performance appraisal began in the early 1900s with Frederick...

The high-performing team: an idea to keep, or a DedX? In this DEDx podcast episode we explore the concept of high-performing teams. What are we talking about in this context, what value does this idea offer, and is this the right way to think about teams in your organisation? Is the idea one that has merit, or a DedX: an idea worth binning? Highlights:  What do we mean when we talk about high-perf...

Time Management - The cure-all or Dedx Dive into the world of time management with us as we debate its place in modern business. Is it a tool for productivity or an outdated concept? Highlights: Understanding Time Management: We dissect time management into planning, prioritizing, and performing, questioning its efficacy in enhancing productivity. Misconceptions: Often confused with organizational...