The Great Work Podcast

We all make mistakes from time to time. Sometimes they're serious. Yet there's a culture of not talking about them, and this is a problem. So in this episode I tell you candidly about one of my medical errors. There are lessons for anyone who does work that matters and who worries about getting things wrong, or finds it hard to cope when they do. * * * ARE YOU GETTING THE EMAILS? Great Work's an e...

Six reviews of books that might improve your tough working life. Links are in the email version, which is here: https://letter.adamsandell.com/p/book-reviews . * Simone Stolzoff, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers * Kelly McGonigal, The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It * Selina Barker, Burnt Out: The Exhausted Person’s S...

The vacation test: a sign that something needs to change—and an opportunity to figure out what to do. ARE YOU GETTING THE EMAILS? Great Work's an email as well as a podcast, with podcast embedded in the emails, so you can choose to read or listen. Sign up (free, easy to unsubscribe) here: https://www.adamsandell.com/newsletter . Links: all the links and references are in the email version, availab...

How do people do tough, meaningful work—and even thrive doing it—alongside caring for being a parent or caring for family members? I've unearthed a few strategies! WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE ABOUT THIS? I need your input on this one—as do other Great Work listeners. Join the Great Work chat ( https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/dd23f6ab-5185-4da6-921f-d5b616b9d2d3 ), comment on the written version ( http...

Are you fine? Is your job fine? Or are you too tired to tell? Three ways exhaustion warps your perspective—and how to fix it. Stuff referred to in this episode: * The importance of rest: https://letter.adamsandell.com/p/prioritize-rest * It's often the reaction, not the stuff: https://letter.adamsandell.com/p/its-the-reaction-not-the-stuff-f74 * Imposter syndrome: https://letter.adamsandell.com/p/...

Happy, high-functioning teams need to be both kind and businesslike—yet few are. What this means and how to get there. Are you getting the emails? The podcast’s embedded in the emails, which you can read, if you prefer. Sign up (free, easy to unsubscribe) here: https://www.adamsandell.com/newsletter . Feedback If you’re willing—you can answer just two questions and it helps me improve this! https:...

How you really can be happier, and achieve more, if you’re kinder to yourself If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for the email version of this, which has the podcast embedded in it: https://www.adamsandell.com/newsletter All the links and references are in the email version of this episode. That’s available here: https://letter.adamsandell.com/go-easier Would you do me a on...

The Startling Benefits of Taking Some #&@*?%! Responsibility Or: Things Go Dramatically Better When You Tend to Them The second Great Work principle. Links: Work should be one of the great things in your life: https://letter.adamsandell.com/p/core-ideas-1 Growth mindset: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/growth-mindset Often, it's the reaction, not the stuff: https://letter.adamsandell.com...

Seven core ideas form the foundation of Great Work , and this episode considers the first of those, that work’s a huge part of life, and it should therefore be a part of what makes your life fulfilling and fun. For references and links, see the email version at letter.adamsandell.com/core-ideas-1. If you haven't already signed up for the email newsletter (which contains the podcast version too), y...

When to leave a job because it's wrong with you, why you should think twice about that, and why it's right for some people to reinvent themselves every few years. Links from this episode: • Surviving winter working life • The eleven lives comic • It's the reaction, not the stuff • Know thy working self • Catcher in the Rye syndrome • The importance of working relationships • Getting through the to...

Surviving Winter Working Life —and how to get through the cold, dark, wet months for those who, like me, become a grumpy git when the clocks go back. Also: a reader comment on my last article • a podcast on AI and work • and an update about my own work and the Great Work book I’m writing. Books I refer to in this episode: Kari Leibowitz, How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark,...

Time-boxing —perhaps the most effective way of getting more done while looking after yourself and being realistic about how much you truly can get done. And a book review: Mark Zao-Sanders's new book Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time. Links: * Parkinson's law * The necessity of rest for being more productive * Budget and schedule your Internet time * Pomodoro technique I've starte...

More ideas about how to manage a tough working life, this time from middle school teacher and Great Work reader Sarah Wendel. Imposter symptoms, boundaries, and difficult conversations. And for the first time it's professionally edited, with music, and Sarah's voice, and everything! Links from the podcast: * Imposter symptoms and CBT * Imposter symptoms: not just in your head * The importance of w...

Tired, exhausted, or burned out? Which are you? And how to avoid all three. There are multiple links in this episode: to see them, click here . This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

Taking Work Relationships Seriously Good relationships with everyone you deal with at work are central to your well-being and ability to get things done. There’s almost always an approach that addresses whatever’s mattering to you while strengthening relationships. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adams...

Why saying "no" is often the most responsible thing to do—and how to do it confidently and well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

The six factors that make the biggest difference to how good your job is. And they're not high pay or low pressure. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

Worried you're not mentally quite as sharp as you used to be? You're probably functioning at a higher level than you were back then. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

A new perspective on the imposter phenomenon—and an answer from feminism, cognitive psychology, and David Hume. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

One small thing you can do to make your next week better, more productive, and more enjoyable. Also: a TV show recommendation. And: introducing the Great Work chat on Substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

How's everyone doing? A five-minute habit to revitalise your team. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

On being an introvert or an extrovert at work, and switching off email notifications. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

On the imposter phenomenon, and how not to care. (Originally a written article — catching up with audio versions.) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com

Do you make it easy for people to give you feedback? If you don't, you're missing out on a precious gift for improving your working life from the people who are probably best placed to help with that. In this episode I consider how we unintentionally signal we don't want feedback — and how to change that. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acc...

Strategies for getting through a tough week at work This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letter.adamsandell.com