Working Conversations

Episode 192: Putting My Advice About Workplace Friendship to the Test In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson and her guest Carolyn Strauss explore the intricate world of forging adult friendships, especially in professional settings. They delve into the importance of mutual interests and social connections in developing meaningful relationships. They share how their friendship evolved and grew, and y...

Episode 191: Collaborating with AI: Creating Stunning Slides In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the innovative use of AI tools for creating dynamic slide presentations. Sharing her recent experience with Gamma.app, she details how the AI-powered tool transformed her slide creation process, making it faster and more efficient. She discusses the collaborative dynamic between herself and Ga...

Episode 190: The Subtle Benefits of Office Hive Mentality at Work In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the "hive mentality" and its significance in the workplace. Unlike mere conformity, hive mentality leverages the collective environment's subtle benefits, functioning much like bees in a hive. She explores contrasting experiences of in-office and remote workers, highlightin...

Episode 189: Why We Are Nicer to Siri Than to Our Co-Workers In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the intriguing ways we interact with technology and each other in the digital world. Exploring findings from classic and recent studies, she discusses our tendency towards "mindless politeness" with machines while being less courteous to fellow humans online. Dr. Anderson revisits t...

Episode 188: Making Sense of RTO Mandates In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson discusses the current trend of return-to-office mandates sweeping corporate America and explores how a user experience engineering approach can foster a successful transition. She introduces four employee archetypes to illustrate diverse perspectives on returning to the office and emphasizes the importance of a “pull” ra...

Episode 187: The Business Case for Taking a Vacation In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson dives into the importance of taking vacations and the broader implications for both mental and physical well-being. She discusses how stepping away from work allows our brains to reset, reducing stress and improving productivity. Dr. Janel also highlights the evolving trends in vacationing, from workcations to...

Episode 186: Unveiling AI's Realism: My Keynote Summarized by Avatars In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the fascinating world of AI-generated content, showcasing a realistic, AI-generated discussion that interpreted her keynote, Take Charge of Your Future. Two incredibly realistic AI “people” capture the essence of her speech, from the importance of continuous learning to making...

Episode 185: Glossing: Unmasking Fake Positivity at Work In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson dives into the topic of "glossing" in the workplace, where leaders avoid addressing real issues by presenting a facade of positivity. Dr. Anderson explains why this toxic habit can harm both employees and managers, leading to disengagement and eroded trust. She also provides actionable strategies f...

Episode 184: Remote Work's Impact on Women's Careers In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the complexities of remote and hybrid work and their impact on women's careers. While flexibility in work arrangements seems like a win, proximity bias and increased household responsibilities can hinder women's career advancement. Backed by research from McKinsey and Deloitte, Dr....

Episode 183: The Hidden Dangers of Looking Busy In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the concept of "fauxductivity" or faux productivity – the act of appearing busy even when you’re not accomplishing meaningful work. She explores how technological tools in today's remote and hybrid work environments foster this phenomenon, leading to burnout and eroded trust between managers...

Episode 182: How “Busy Bragging” Sabotages Your Career In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the phenomenon of busy bragging or stress bragging, a behavior where individuals boast about their busyness and stress as a badge of honor. Highlighting recent research from the University of Georgia, she discusses the negative impacts of this habit on workplace relationships and career growth. By s...

Episode 181: Understanding the Surgeon General's Workplace Mental Health Framework In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the Surgeon General's Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-being. She discusses the significant impact of mental health on the future of work and outlines the five key areas in the Surgeon General’s framework: protection from harm, connection and comm...

Episode 180: How to Tackle Digital Clutter In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the impact of digital clutter on productivity and mental well-being. She shares her personal struggles with inbox overload and excessive browser tabs and offers three tactical strategies to manage digital chaos. From managing inbox clutter with the two-minute rule to consolidating digital files using the "o...

Episode 179: AI in the Workplace: Will it Replace Humans? In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the rising integration of generative AI in the workplace. Drawing parallels to the adoption of personal computers in the late 1980s, she emphasizes that AI's true potential lies in its ability to enhance, not replace, human capabilities. Through personal anecdotes and real-world examples, she...

Episode 178: Mastering Generative AI In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the art of writing effective prompts to elicit specific and useful responses from generative AI technologies like Chat-GPT. She emphasizes the importance of detailed prompts, comparing the AI to a smart intern that needs clear guidance. Dr. Anderson also discusses key strategies such as starting new conversations...

Episode 177: Harnessing Human Energy: The Secret Fuel Found in Interaction In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson discusses the powerful human energy that emerges when people come together in shared workspaces. Drawing parallels to the movie Monsters, Inc., she explores concepts like emotional contagion, social facilitation, and collective effervescence to highlight the intangible but potent force th...

Episode 176: AMA: Goals, Productivity, Boundaries, and Mindset In this behind-the-scenes episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares her personal strategies for productivity, mindset, and work-life balance. She reveals her go-to tools for managing tasks, from wall calendars to planners, and outlines her daily practices of journaling, meditation and visualization to maintain a positive growth mindset. Dr. A...

Episode 175: AMA: Diving into Leadership, Communication, and the Future of Work In this Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares insights into the Working Conversations podcast. She discusses what inspired her to start the show, what to expect in future episodes, and how she stays updated on the latest workplace trends. Dr. Anderson also shares her perspective on key leadership qua...

Episode 174: Work-Life Balance: Myth or Reality? In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the elusive concept of work-life balance, arguing that it's not a myth but a dynamic state requiring regular adjustments. She emphasizes the importance of shifting our mindset, setting clear boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and making time for self-care. Dr. Anderson discusses why work-life balance is...

Episode 173: Burnout Alert: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions for the Overworked In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson addresses the critical issue of burnout caused by overwork. Sharing her personal experience, she identifies key signs of burnout, including behavioral and cognitive changes. Dr. Anderson outlines six essential strategies for preventing and recovering from burnout: setting boundaries, p...

Episode 172: How to Make Friends at Work In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson dives into the essential topic of making friends at work. Highlighting the pivotal role of curiosity, she discusses practical strategies like initiating small talk, finding common interests, and offering support to build meaningful relationships. Dr. Anderson also introduces three types of curiosity—diversive, empathic, a...

Episode 172: How to Make Friends at Work In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson dives into the essential topic of making friends at work. Highlighting the pivotal role of curiosity, she discusses practical strategies like initiating small talk, finding common interests, and offering support to build meaningful relationships. Dr. Anderson also introduces three types of curiosity—diversive, empathic, a...

Episode 171: Remote Work Gone Wrong: Employee Secretly Outsources His Job In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson delves into the remarkable true story of an employee who secretly outsourced his job to someone halfway across the globe. She explores the intricate details of how this audacious scheme unfolded, the impact it had on the corporate world, and the crucial lessons every employer needs to abso...

Episode 170: Building Community in the Hybrid Work Environment In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores ways to build community in a hybrid workplace. From creating shared interest groups like pickleball or parenting groups to promoting virtual coffee breaks and publishing in-office days, she offers practical strategies for fostering connection and engagement. Dr. Anderson highlights the impor...

Episode 169: Debunking the Myth that No One Wants to Work In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson debunks the pervasive myth that "no one wants to work." She tackles the real reasons behind the labor shortage, including demographic shifts, the impact of the pandemic, and wage stagnation. Dr. Anderson also highlights the importance of matching skills to employer needs and the role of immigratio...