Workplace Psychology with Dr. Martha Grajdek

Sabbaticals & Extended Recovery: Career Sustainability Beyond PTO High performers don’t need more snacks. They need structured restoration. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek makes the business and psychological case for sabbaticals, which can help to renew identity, spike creativity, and improve retention. She explains the importance of sabbaticals to be designed for equity and impact. Where employ...

Workflow designs are intended to make things easier for employees. However, all too often, workflow designs become too complex, complicated, and convoluted. As a result, they can lead to stress and burnout. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores workflow designs through the lens of cognitive load theory as it applies to everyday work. She highlights variables such as click audits, number of fields,...

Performance systems can grow people, or they can teach them to play defense. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores common rater errors, and suggests how to replace vague competencies with behavior-anchored rubrics tied to outcomes. She addresses separating potential from performance as well as empowering employee agency through evidence logs and feed-forward goals. Tune in to learn more.   Check o...

Hybrid work quietly rewards face time unless employers design for equal access to opportunity. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores proximity bias and hybrid work equity. She discusses proximity bias and shows how to neutralize it with outcome-based goals, time-zone fairness, and rotating meeting roles, to name a few. Moreover, Dr. Grajdek presents managers with tangible norms to equalize exposur...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek reveals why the best hire might be the talent you already have, and how psychology shapes whether internal moves feel fair or political. She unpacks self-efficacy, expectancy theory, and procedural justice, then translates them into a practical internal-mobility system. Dr. Grajdek also explains which metrics to track when considering and executing internal mobility pr...

Chronic over-commitment is a process problem, not a personal failing. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek teaches teams to visualize demand vs. capacity with Kanban and WIP limits, prioritize, and renegotiate. Set SLAs for inbound requests, prune the backlog quarterly, and protect maker time – so that  “no” becomes a professional, data-backed path to reliable delivery (and saner weeks). Tune in to learn...

Knowledge Transfer & Institutional Memory Critical know-how too often lives in one person’s head. When they leave, knowledge and information leaves with them. Whether this is part of regular turnover or is fueled by AI-inspired changes, the results can be equally detrimental. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek differentiates tacit vs. explicit knowledge and discusses how to capture both. She also ex...

Ethical Dilemmas And Moral Injury At Work In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores ethical dilemmas and moral injury at work. When people feel pushed to act against their values, the harm lingers beyond stress – it can erode identity, trust, and engagement. Dr. Grajdek defines moral injury, shares red-flag indicators, and provides decision guardrails. She also makes suggestions of best practices for...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how globally distributed teams often stumble not on skills but on mismatched norms, such as direct vs. indirect feedback, time-zone fairness, and distance. She decodes these differences and offer tools that preserve respect across cultures. Listeners learn to turn friction into fluency and documentation into a unifying culture. Tune in to learn more.   Check o...

Invisible Work & “Office Housework”: The Non-Promotable Task Trap In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores invisible work and “office housework” in terms of their necessity, contribution, and burden. From taking notes to emotional glue work, non-promotable tasks keep organizations running but rarely count toward advancement, thus disproportionately burdening reliable high performers. Dr. Grajdek...

Meeting Science: Fewer Meetings, Better Outcomes, More Deep Work In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores replacing the overload of too many meetings with a science-based redesign where only meetings related to decision or co-creation are truly required. She reviews lean facilitation (owner/decider/scribe roles, decision logs, 25/50-minute caps) and team norms (no-meeting focus blocks, monthly audits...

Job Crafting: Redesigning Your Role Without Changing Your Job Title In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how employees can tailor tasks, relationships, and mindsets to better align with strengths and values thus boosting energy and performance without a promotion or a job change. She highlights guardrails that keep job crafting from creating extra work for the individual employee and/or peers. As...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines how publishing pay ranges reshapes trust, motivation, and team dynamics, separating true fairness (process) from perceived fairness (outcomes). She unpacks real risks such as pay compression, rumor spirals, and anxious managers. Moreover, Dr. Grajdek shares a clear transparency rollout – audit and correct inequities, publish ranges with context, and coach lead...

This episode, Dr. Grajdek explores the often-overlooked role of workplace rituals – the intentional practices that go beyond routine to create connection, stability, and shared identity. From onboarding ceremonies to end-of-week reflections, rituals can improve team cohesion, reduce stress, and reinforce company culture. Listeners will learn how to design meaningful rituals that energize rather th...

In an age of prolonged screen time and nonstop notifications, digital overload is quickly eroding attention, productivity, and well-being. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek breaks down how hyperconnectivity impacts cognitive performance and mental health. Furthermore, she offers strategies to reclaim focus by highlighting intentionally moving toward digital wellness in teams. Dr. Grajdek also teaches h...

Employee activism is reshaping how workplaces respond to social and ethical concerns. In this episode, Dr. Grajdekinvestigates why employees are speaking up more than ever, how purpose and values drive this movement, and how companies can respond constructively. Moreover, she also explores the psychological risks and rewards of activism at work. Finally, Dr. Grajdek discusses and how leaders can f...

Open office designs aim to foster collaboration, but for sensory-sensitive employees, they can be overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how noise, lighting, and other environmental factors affect focus, stress levels, and performance – especially for those with heightened sensory processing. Furthermore, Dr. Grajdek provides actionable steps for individuals and organizations to creat...

Not all workplace hierarchies are formal. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek unpacks how perceived status influences everything from speaking up in meetings to how credit is distributed. She examines how subtle status signals shape team dynamics and impact employee engagement, and offer strategies for leaders to create more inclusive, status-balanced environments where everyone feels seen and heard, reg...

When too many voices weigh in – or when no one takes the lead – teams can get stuck in a state of indecision. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores decision paralysis in collaborative environments, exploring its psychological roots and organizational consequences. Moreover, Dr. Grajdek offers insight into group dynamics, fear of conflict, and choice overload, allowing listeners to gain tools to st...

Stories aren’t just for marketing – they’re a powerful internal tool that shapes meaning and motivation. This episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how corporate storytelling enhances employee engagement by connecting everyday work to purpose, vision, and shared values. She discusses how leaders can use storytelling to inspire trust, align teams, and drive culture change, and offers strategies for turning...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek uncovers the powerful impact of microbreaks on focus, productivity, and well-being. From neuroscience to practical examples, Dr. Grajdek explains how short resets can counteract fatigue, boost mental clarity, and improve overall job performance. Listeners will learn how to build microbreaks into their daily routine and how organizations can support a culture that value...

In today's remote and hybrid work environments, much of communication happens through screens, where tone and intent can easily be misinterpreted. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores the concept of digital body language, as she highlights how timing, punctuation, word choice, and formatting affect how messages are received. She offers strategies for improving digital communication, ensuring prof...

Going above and beyond at work – known as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) – can sometimes lead to burnout when extra efforts become expected rather than simply appreciated. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores the phenomenon of workplace citizenship fatigue, its signs, and its effects on both employees and organizations. Listeners will gain strategies for setting boundaries, recognizing...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek addresses the cost of perfectionism in high-performing organizations. She examines the signs of organizational perfectionism, its impact on creativity and mental health, and how unrealistic expectations can stifle innovation. Dr. Grajdek offers solutions for building a culture that values learning, growth, and progress over unattainable standards of flawlessness. Tune...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines the nature of humor at the workplace. Humor can be a powerful force for building bonds and reducing stress at work, but it can also alienate or offend when used poorly. This episode Dr. Grajdek discusses the dual nature of workplace humor, the benefits of encouraging appropriate, inclusive humor, and the risks when humor crosses lines. Listeners will learn how...