Truth, Lies and Work

Is burnout the next global pandemic?  In Part 1 of this 2-part series, we learned that we could be on track to lose more than half of our workforce due to absenteeism and turnover as a result of burnout. For businesses to survive, and thrive, well-being and burnout prevention need to be at the top of the agenda. In Part 2, we welcome back our panel of expert guests, including Cait Donovan, Burnout...

Is burnout the next global pandemic?  Rates of burnout are on the rise. The State of Workplace Burnout 2023 Report found an increase in burnout rates from 29.6% in 2020 to 38.1% in 2022.  We could be on track to lose more than half of our workforce due to absenteeism and turnover as a result of burnout. How do we stop it? In this episode, we speak to a panel of expert guests, including: Cait Donov...

In the second part of our predictions series, Al & Leanne make their predictions about what will happen in the world of People & Culture in 2023. In this episode, we cover: Why transparency is going to be vital in 2023 How we can use technology to manager burnout What role wearables might have in well-being How a culture of well-being could reduce salary expectations How hybrid and remote working...

In part 1 of 2, Al & Leanne make their predictions about what will happen in the world of People & Culture in 2023. Part 2 will be out in the first week of January. Links: You can find Leanne on LinkedIn and Twitter For bonus content, full interviews and sneak peeks of future episodes, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube

Leanne's been a Business Psychologist for almost 15 years, but unlike a lot of her peers, she's spent 8+ years in the field as a leader and manager, actually implementing the theory she learnt in her Master's degree. This is the untold story of your co-host of the Truth, Lies & Workplace Culture Podcast.  We’re a few episodes in and realised we’ve never taken the time to introduce ourselves. In th...

In 2005, Al Elliott was named in the Top 42 entrepreneurs Under 42 in the UK. By 2007 he was bankrupt for £103,000. By 2008 he’d built an ethically-driven multimillion-pound property business, a portfolio that he still holds today.  This is the untold story of your co-host of the Truth, Lies & Workplace Culture Podcast.  We’re a few episodes in and realised we’ve never taken the time to introduce...

Creative, innovative, high-performing teams with positive well-being that are engaged and committed to your business - every leader's dream, right? How to engage and motivate teams can seem complicated, but research shows us there is one factor more important than any other: Psychological Safety. Join us as we explore how to build teams that contribute positively to your workplace culture and perf...

Let's just get this out of the way - although our last 3 episodes have been about Elon Musk and Twitter, we're not singling him out! However, at the time of release, he is arguably the most famous leader in the world, so any psychological lessons on behaviour and personality are easily demonstrated by using him as an example. In this jam-packed episode, we are joined by expert guest Sandy McKenzie...

In the previous episode, we left things on a bit of a bombshell - the Global Head of Wellness at Twitter was unsure if Twitter would survive! Following Elon's acquisition of Twitter on the 27th of October 2022, he promptly fired almost 50% of the staff. However, it's how he did it that has angered people. In this episode, we continue our conversations with our experts and look more into the impact...

Well... it's been quite the month for the tech industry. Following Elon's acquisition of Twitter on the 27th of October 2022, he promptly fired almost 50% of the staff. However, it's how he did it that has angered people. In this episode we have exclusive interviews with 3 industry insiders: We get the expert opinion on how the brand and PR were handled from Stephen Waddington, a PR guru, the visi...

We’re all feeling the effects of the sharp increase in energy, mortgages, rents etc. And for leaders, the impact of the COLC will be as far-reaching as revenue performance, profitability, and employee well-being. This week, we’re going to chat specifically about how the COLC may impact remote or hybrid working – for better or for worse. Questions we answer: - What is the COLC? - What has the COLC...

Today, we’re going to dive deep into the famous ‘condition’ and figure out the truth, and lies, behind an affliction that some research suggests affects up to 82% of the population. We answer the following: What is imposter syndrome? Why do psychologists call it something different? Is it all made up? What are the facts? Are there any upsides to imposter syndrome? What should leaders do if they ex...

There seems to be a lot of talk recently about 'Quiet Quitting', so Business Psychologist Leanne Elliott dives into the subject, and answers the important questions: What is Quiet Quitting exactly? How do we know if it's happening in our organisation? How do we, as managers and leaders, tackle it? What do we need to do to prevent it in the future? Let's get stuck in.   --- Want a chat with Leanne...

You've may have heard of a 'positive workplace culture', and if you read this article in the Harvard Business Review, then you might be under the impression that you need to transition to it immediately.  However, Is it really attainable? In this episode, Business Psychologist (and lead consultant at Oblong), Leanne Elliott goes through the suggestions that the original authors make, and explains...

It's August, and that means sunny days and more opportunities for downtime. We give you our top 7 book recommendations for when you've got some spare time and want to learn how other organisations lead.  So grab a beer, a glass of crisp, white wine or a cup of tea, and let's dive in! --- Want a chat with Leanne about how you can use psychometrics to run successful recruitment or development progra...

You've probably done a Myers Briggs (MBTI) survey - you may even know which 4 letter combination you are. But, how accurate is it really? In this episode, Business Psychologist (and lead consultant at Oblong), Leanne Elliott digs into psychometric tests, and starts by asking if the MBT is as good as they say it is. You'll hear her draw on both her decade of recruitment & engagement, as well as exp...

In these post-pandemic times, it seems everyone wants to work remotely - but that's not actually the case. A recent survey revealed that most people just want some flexibility to work remotely sometimes. In this episode, Business Psychologist (and lead consultant at Oblong), Leanne Elliott digs into the why, when & how of implementing a Hybrid Workplace. You'll hear her draw on both her decade of...

10 years ago, recruiting for culture fit was all the rage! But was it just a fad, or are there some genuinely useful lessons we can learn? In this episode, Business Psychologist (and lead consultant at Oblong), Leanne Elliott dispels the myths around recruiting for culture fit and explains how (and when) it can be the right strategy for recruiting great people. We hope this is helpful... oh, and i...

If you're having trouble finding great people at the moment, then you're not alone (and it's probably not your fault). We're in strange times - the recent pandemic has massively changed how people see their jobs. This has not only meant much higher numbers of resignations, but candidates searching for jobs are much more demanding (and often willing to hold out for more money or greater flexibility...

Building a highly engaged team might sound like a daunting task, but there are only 4 things you need to get right. In this episode, Business Psychologist (and the lead consultant of Oblong) Leanne Elliott outlines the only 4 things you need to do to build a team of people who care as much about the organisation as you do. But beware: As Leanne says, "If you're experiencing issues in your organisa...

Is Employee Engagement just about surveys..? Nope!  In our first episode, Business Psychologist and our lead consultant, Leanne Elliott, discusses why employee engagement is fundamental to business success. "The key to employee engagement is that these positive attitudes, feelings & thoughts, translate actual positive behaviours within the workplace. There's so much research out there, that shows...