Fast Track: Career conversations with Margie Hartley

We've all heard the entrepreneurial saying “If you find a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” The concept of loving our work has swept the world in the last 20 years and now workers and employers are clashing over return-to-office plans with large sways of the population considering changing jobs and even industry. Margie Hartley talks to journalist and author of ‘Work Won't Love You Back: How devotion to our jobs keeps us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone,' Sarah Jaffe, about why our work doesn't need to be our passion and how to have a mindset around work that's enabling rather than exhausting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does a positive workplace lead to more engaged employees and higher productivity? Does positivity make us successful or is it success that makes us positive? And what does a positive workplace look like? Margie Hartley talks to Clinical and Coaching Psychologist, author and founder of The Positivity Institute, Dr Suzy Green about the evidence-based research that points to a positive workplace as a hugely powerful thing, why positive workplaces require effort to achieve and what individuals and organisations can do to create a positive working environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating the world of work and career is difficult at the best of times, and the pandemic has made it even harder. In this milestone 100th episode of Fast Track, Margie Hartley reflects on five impactful guests of the show around how to build psychological safety, dealing with jerks at work, the art of teamwork, the pursuit of perfection and being the coaching leader. Their expert advice and insights are sure to provide motivation and practical tips you can apply to accelerate your own career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being part of a toxic workplace or having a toxic leader can be complicated and confusing, and one person's experience can be vastly different from another's. So how do we know if we're in a toxic workplace or have a toxic leader, and what can we do about it? Margie Hartley talks to Behavioural Scientist, CEO of Bright Research and Insights, and author of 'Bullying and Harassment: Understanding the psychological and behavioural tactics of the toxic leadership stronghold,' Susan Broomhall to get an evidence-based understanding of the different tactics used by toxic leaders that form a pattern of bullying, how a chaotic and dysfunctional environment enables leaders to have control, and insights to help navigate bullying and harrasment in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Powerful speeches change minds, communities and the world, and teach us valuable lessons in the art of persuasion and creating positive change. Speech writing and presentation is a common minefield in leadership but a strong, engaging speech is imperative in giving direction, guidance and inspiration. Margie Hartley sits down with  Founder of leadership consultancy Mojologic and author of What She Said, Monica Lunin to find out how powerful speeches work and why they're effective, how we can deliver more persuasive presentations, why being good at oratorical leadership is so important to our career and how we can leverage the power of the spoken word. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents who work in today's fast-paced, volatile, and at times disorientating world can easily lose track of who they are and what really matters most. Feelings of reactivity and running from one thing to the next abound and many parents feel guilt at work because they aren't at home and guilt at home because they aren't doing work. Margie Hartley speaks with Organisational Psychologist and co-author of Parents Who Lead, Professor Alyssa Westring about how a leadership mindset can help parents reframe their approach to work and parenting, how overwhelmed parents can refocus their attention to better align with their priorities and why we need to Parent with Purpose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all want to perform our best at work, but this often comes at the expense of our well-being or physical health. Margie Hartley sits down with Coaching Psychologist and author of 'Get Moving Keep Moving' Dr Gordon Spence to learn how we can perform well by living well, why getting the balance right is transformative and how to best increase our motivation, energy levels and ultimately create a longer and more successful life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you got a sponsor? This is a question that is posed to workers in recent times and a discussion particularly held for women. So why is sponsorship important as part of an organisation's culture and what role can leaders play as sponsors in the workplace? Margie Hartley talks to Managing Director at Pathway To Your Potential and adjunct professor at Torrens University, Dr Jess Murphy to find out how sponsorship is different to coaching and mentoring, why meritocracy is a myth, and how to build a culture of sponsorship in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the age of the Great Resignation, the idea of quitting seems to be on everyone's mind.  Margie Hartley sits down with former Google and Twitter executive, now Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group and author of 'Don't Quit Your Day Job' Aliza Knox, to uncover how to have a great career and a fulfilling personal life at the same time, why stamina is essential to longevity in a career and the importance of seeing the bigger picture and rising above the low points. They discuss the essential mind shifts needed to thrive, why success depends not just on hard work but also our ability to build and maintain genuine relationships throughout our career, and practical strategies for when we feel stuck in a job that no longer challenges or inspires us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever watched a colleague charm the pants off management while showing a competitive, Machiavellian side to the lower ranks? They happily throw peers under the bus, but their boss is oblivious to their bad behaviour. What about a constantly interrupting colleague, or an over-bearing manager? Margie Hartley speaks with Professor of Psychology at New York University and author of 'Jerks at Work,' Professor Tessa West about how to spot a jerk at work, understanding their motivations in order to deal with them and the best way to manage and respond to poor behaviour in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you're a confident working human one day and then the next, a cancer diagnosis blows your life up? Margie Hartley talks to global digital leader and author of The Naked Truth About Breast Cancer, Jane Marshall to learn how to best handle difficult and disruptive life-changing events both personally and as leaders, how to navigate this important part of our identity alongside our work, and the right and wrong way to lead or work alongside someone who is going through a major personal crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In several countries around the world, the four-day working week has been trialled where workers moved from a 40 hour week to 35 hours, without a reduction in pay. The trial found that productivity remained the same but wellbeing increased and there was a reduction in stress and burnout. So as we come out of the greatest remote working social situation, how does the four-day work week stack up? Margie Hartley speaks with Vice President of Research and Advisory for Gartner, Aaron McEwan about what's possible with the 4 day work week, whether it's good for us, good for productivity and good for society. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Work will never be the same again.' The phrase has been a mantra over the last two years, but what does it really mean? Has work actually been redefined through disruption or are we overplaying the changes to the way we work and our environment? Margie Hartley talks to Joan Lurie, Developmental Psychologist at Orgonomix about how we might redefine the workplace when we return to the office, what the opportunities and potential pitfalls might be and how leaders and organisations can get unstuck and thrive in the complexity of the changing world of work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The greatest fear at work is often presenting; presenting a view, presenting a deck, presenting on a panel. A great presentation often stays with the audience and is remembered with affection or interest, while a bad presentation leaves everyone slightly relieved it's over and wishing they'd be able to have the time back. As we continue to find the balance between physical and virtual presentations, how can we make sure our presentations are the most effective they can be in delivering their point across while engaging the audience? Margie Hartley talks to Tony Bulmer, founder of The Bulmer Group and a Presentation Coach with over 30 years experience to identify the ins and outs of compelling public speaking and presentation style, understand what's different now in the virtual world of presentations and how we can get joy from presenting.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The term 'productivity' is well worn. Getting more done with less time and more efficiently sounds like a worthy goal. But is it just evil corporate-speak for squeezing more out of us all? Margie Hartley speaks with Australia's leading productivity expert and author of The 1 Day Refund, Donna McGeorge to learn about the key principles of effectively using our time to make work enjoyable, how our productivity has changed in the last two years and the best way to manage our physical and emotional capacity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the current stop-start rhythm and momentum plus the uncertainty of returning to the office, there is a groundswell of people wondering how to ride this rollercoaster. How do we best deal with this ever-changing landscape in a practical way and make sense of our thinking and feelings? Margie Hartley talks to Jodi Oakman, Associate Professor of Public Health at La Trobe University about the relationship between work and our health and how to navigate uncertainty to best flourish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'The Great Resignation' is a phrase being used a lot at the moment, referring to an exodus of talented people from their jobs, many rethinking their careers and either changing roles or choosing to stop working altogether. So what is the trend, what is happening to workers around the globe and what should we be doing about it? Margie Hartley speaks with Vice President of Research and Advisory for Gartner, Aaron McEwan about how the pandemic has reshaped society and our views towards work, and what we can learn from the trends to navigate the change and flourish.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hardly a week goes by without hearing or reading about the phenomenon of Imposter syndrome; the feeling of being a fraud or waiting to be 'found out' by the people around us. In fact 70% of people have felt like imposters at some stage in their career. So what is this syndrome and what happens to us when we experience it? Margie Hartley talks to author, Mindset and Performance coach and founder of Imposterhood Suzanne Mercier about how imposter syndrome manifests, why it occurs and what to do about it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you remember the first time you had to lead and manage people? Organising and communicating with people who you're responsible for can be daunting at first; learning the difference between telling and asking, delegating and influencing and having tough conversations is just part of managing others well. Margie Hartley speaks with Chief Human Resources Officer of SEEK, Kathleen McCudden about stepping up to people management in order to lead effectively, the qualities that define a great manager and how to continue to grow and develop as a leader. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's rare to find people raving about the experience of starting a family and navigating work; the balancing act of getting enough time off while managing a professional career is often precarious. Australia's maternity and parental leave is still considered to be one of the least generous parental schemes in the world, so has it developed enough to really make a difference? Margie Hartley speaks to Head of HR for Asia Pacific Spotify, Michael Kim about the possibilities of making parental leave work for everyone, the philosophy that sits behind Spotify's people-centric approach and what other businesses and employees should look for when creating or asking for family and parental leave benefits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The way finances are managed is a constant issue for business, affecting everything from sales, marketing, human resources, research and development to production and procurement. So why does it feel like a mystery for so many of us who aren't CFO's and how can we demystify it? Margie Hartley talks with Michelle Kvello, Managing Director & CFO of Lantern Partners to find out how she helps businesses gain clarity around their finances and why it's so important to understand how business decisions are made internally in order to be commercially successful in any corporate role.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a period of such uncertainty and low control, a common phenomenon has arisen - a feeling of apathy, restlessness and a sense of monotony in the day to day, which filters through to our work life. Sociologists use the term languishing to refer to this psychological state which commonly manifests in trouble focusing, low motivation and lack of purpose. Margie Hartley speaks to psychologist and co-founder of Connect Psych services Dr Natalie Flatt Ph.D about why so many of us feel this way at the moment, what impact languishing is having on our brains and some practical tips we can put into practice to move from languishing to flourishing and thriving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us strive for perfection in our work life, with often unrealistically high standards and goals we set for ourselves and the highly critical voice in our heads that gives us a hard time when we're not perfect. So how can we manage perfectionism at work and is there such a thing as healthy perfectionism? Margie Hartley speaks to best selling author, teacher of the most popular class at Harvard University on Positive Psychology and happiness and a PHD in organisational behaviour, Tal Ben-Shahar to learn why we're so drawn to pursuing perfection, whether perfectionism can be a strength rather than an obstacle and why he encourages his students to fail.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the concept of remote work became common practice in 2020, it was praised as the holy grail of better work-life balance and an effective way of replenishing our mental and physical resources. But it soon became clear that several issues arose from not being able to separate our workday from our home life and the number of work decisions increased significantly - and as a result we have a greater cognitive load to manage. Margie Hartley talks with Sophie Deutsch, Deputy Editor of HRM, the member publication of the Australian Human Resources Institute to find out what prolonged periods of working from home could be doing to our brains, what steps we can take to alleviate some of those detrimental effects and how work will change so that learning and development can still flourish in a remote work setting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Negativity and insecurity can be common symptoms of a high-pressure work world, and the concept of self-compassion is often misconstrued by images of self-indulgent wellness warriors. But in fact self-compassion is an evidence-based methodology for improving the quality of our lives in the every day and at work. Margie Hartley speaks with Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas and author Kristin Neff to find out why self-compassion is the opposite of self-obsession and how we can harness kindness to speak up, claim our power and thrive in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future of work really look like and how can we use our ‘human skills' to differentiate ourselves and stay secure in the future of work? Margie Hartley talks to former journalist, author and facilitator Andrea Clarke about why the future of work is about talent, not technology, what the critical skills are to stay relevant and competitive in the modern workplace and what going through underwater helicopter crash training taught her about good leadership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel like you don't have a clue when seeking to understand First Nations people and culture? Margie Hartley talks to Shelley Reys AO, CEO of Arrilla Indigenous Consulting, Partner at KPMG Australia, and a pivotal leader in the reconciliation space who helps the Australian workforce to work in the Indigenous space with greater skill and confidence. They discuss the role that corporate Australia has to play in reconciliation and action for First Nations People, removing the eggshells around cultural competency and why Shelley has a vision of becoming redundant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not many people enjoy conflict, and many of us avoid it as much as possible. We've never been taught the skills to feel comfortable with conflict or view it as a normal part of the human relationship cycle – harmony, disharmony then repair. Margie Hartley talks to Nina Harding, nationally accredited Mediator and expert in the area of dispute resolution, to understand why we hate conflict, what mediation looks like and why it works, and what behaviours and mindsets set us up for successful resolution of complex issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we break new ground in our personal career or even an industry; particularly when there are well-established barriers and the challenges of low diversity and inclusion? Margie Hartley speaks with Chelsea Roffey, journalist, author and the first woman to officiate an AFL Grand Final, about how it was being a young woman in a very visible, highly scrutinised, starkly male domain and how it led her to find the opportunities for inclusion and diversity in organisations moving forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a lot of hypothesising about the impact of the Covid pandemic on leadership, work and change but there are few real evidence-based studies and insights. Margie Hartley speaks to Leadership and Change Consultant Lyndal Hughes to find out what she learned from her interviews with senior leaders about their lived experience, the importance of knowing what we can and can't control, the idea that communication must build belief and whether it's true that 'work will never be the same again.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do if your brand and reputation, or your organisation's brand and reputation goes down the drain? How does a business or person go from a positive reputation to seemingly losing it overnight? Margie Hartley speaks to Carden Calder, Reputation Consultant and Founder of BlueChip Communication to learn about the common reputation risks, what leadership behaviours contribute to a crisis and strategies to protect your personal or corporate reputation.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us dream about reinventing ourselves in a completely new career, but don't know how or when to do so - and if it's even feasible. Margie Hartley speaks to Founder and CEO of Grande Experiences Bruce Peterson, to find out how he went from P.E. teaching to becoming a pioneer of the art scene, what the mindset and actions were on his journey to a new industry and how to transfer skills from a previous role into a completely different career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us want to make a difference, change the world and leave a legacy. But where do we start with this lofty goal? Margie Hartley speaks with Holly Ransom, Founder and CEO of strategic advisory group Emergent and author of ‘The Leading Edge'. Holly was named one of Australia's 100 Most Influential Women by the AFR, has delivered a Peace Charter to the Dalai Lama and interviewed Barack Obama. They discuss the current state of leadership in the workplace, the principles of mindset, method and mastery and how to create change as leaders.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us have heard of, or experienced a toxic workplace. Even our Federal Parliament has been labelled an environment of toxic low standards for our female politicians who have been democratically voted to represent us. So what does it really feel like to be a female politician in Australia and what can we learn from those that have endured, survived and in some cases even flourished? Margie Hartley talks with former Federal MP in the Rudd and Gillard Governments and author of 'Sex Lies and Question Time' Kate Ellis, about the lessons learnt and building leadership strength through adversity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often have you focused on the bad feedback in a conversation, when in fact there was plenty of good news in there too? How often have you immediately looked at what's wrong rather than what's strong about yourself? It turns out this is a human characteristic that is universal and more common than not, so how do we use this negativity bias for good, to help us live more effective working lives? Margie Hartley speaks with Dr Roy Baumeister, Professor of Psychology at University of Queensland to discuss his ground breaking research and insights into the 'Power of Bad.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we do stupid things and what is it that can stop us from doing stupid things? Is the answer willpower and self-control? Margie Hartley speaks with social psychologist, scientist and researcher, Dr Roy Baumeister who is known for ground breaking research on self-esteem, self-control, motivation and free will. In this episode they explore what research has found about why people do stupid things, what willpower is good for and how to use self control like a muscle for greater success.                                 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A universal characteristic of a great leader is one that develops others. It's hard to do and it's often not done well, but when the concept of developing others is applied properly it makes for a high performing, dynamic and engaged workplace. Margie Hartley sits down with Pip Marlow, CEO of Salesforce ANZ & ASEAN and former Managing Director of Microsoft Australia to find out why developing others through new opportunities, recognising strengths and giving feedback on development areas, is essential for success.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To lead is to bring confidence to the people you lead and the customers who buy your services and products; but recently many of us have lost confidence in brands, companies and subsequently leaders. Margie Hartley sits down with best selling author and Founder of Speakers Institute Sam Cawthorn, to find out what's missing in the current state of leadership, the importance of character over charisma and Sam's incredible story of becoming one of the world's most in-demand professional speakers after having a major car accident. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traditionally, senior leaders have been long-term fixtures at the top of organisations, who have taken long periods of time to be appointed. But there's a new phenomenon within senior leadership - the interim C-suite executive. Margie Hartley sits down with Interim CIO at Cover-More Travel Insurance Nicki Doble, to learn about this new way of operating, what sort of person is suited to the role and whether this style of leadership is the way of the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades teams and their performance has been the subject of countless books, research papers and headaches for leaders. Teams who struggle with interpersonal dynamics, have trouble making decisions or can’t delegate effectively. Margie Hartley speaks to Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, Amy Edmondson to find out the difference between formal teams and the concept of teaming, what the keys are to effectively build and work in successful teams and why we need teaming practices more than ever in the current world circumstances. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever sat in a meeting bursting with a great idea, but chosen not to speak about it? Have you ever been with your manager and not shared your recent mistakes for fear of losing your bonus, or even your job? We've all heard the term psychological safety, but what does it really look like in a work context? Margie Hartley speaks to Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, Amy Edmondson to learn how we can create psychologically safe work environments and whether psychological safety is the answer to engaged employees and a happy workplace.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we write a resume that will get us noticed and hired? How do we put our life's work into one document? And how do we negotiate for a salary we think we deserve? Margie Hartley talks to Career and Negotiations Strategist Claudia Miller, to find out what hiring managers are looking for in a resume, how to prepare for an interview and how to successfully negotiate the salary we want in order to land our dream job. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We tend to think of burnout as a problem that can be solved with some simple self-care, but evidence shows that it’s is a rapidly evolving workplace phenomenon and organisations need to take the lead in developing a strategy to prevent it. Margie Hartley talks to award winning journalist and author of The Burnout Epidemic, Jennifer Moss to find out why burnout is so widespread, what it looks like in the workplace and how leaders can ensure their employees aren't chronically overworked.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Networking, negotiating, communicating, leading and career planning are all critical to our career success. But does anyone ever teach us these skills? Margie Hartley talks to Mark Herschberg, author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You, to find out how we can master these vital skills and stay ahead of the curve in our career progression. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people have been prompted to rethink the way and why of their work, and whether they should start their own business and be their own boss during and post Covid. Is the dream potentially a reality or just hype? And what do we really need to do to take the entrepreneurial plunge? Margie Hartley sits down with experienced business builder and board member Jeff Cooper, to discuss whether it's better to be an employee or take the plunge into entrepreneurship.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we often end up competing against our work team mates and what exactly do we compete for? Is this instinct, or the badly constructed system of workplaces? Margie Hartley talks to Lex Dwyer, director of Corporate Fitness Services to discuss the paradox of competition and collaboration at work and how we can combine the two to be our most effective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we the most self-obsessed generation in history? Margie Hartley talks to Simon Hammond, Adj. Professor & Industry Fellow, Faculty of Business and Law, Swinburne University and author of Brutal Truths, Surviving in a World of Lies, Taboos and Bullshit; to find out how we have lost our tribes and why individualism has been favoured over collectivism.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If 2020 showed us anything, it’s the importance of fostering a positive culture at work, but how can we improve work culture if we're not in the office? Margie Hartley sits down with Founder and CEO of The Culture Equation, Hiam Sakakini to discuss the importance of good leadership in the workplace, change management and how to create a work environment that employees actually want to be a part of. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big-noting, dominating meetings, taking credit for other people's work and manipulating the truth are all signs of a narcissist at work. Margie Hartley sits down with Associate Professor of Coaching and Counselling Be Pannell, in the third of a three part series to discuss how to best manage and deal with narcissistic personalities in a work environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we recognise a narcissist and what's the best way to cope with gaslighting, stonewalling, baiting and bread-crumbing behaviour? Margie Hartley sits down with Associate Professor of Coaching and Counselling Be Pannell, in the second of a three part series to discuss how narcissists see the world and the behaviour to look out for in relationships. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have all labelled someone we know or work with as a narcissist at some point. There are many myths about what the characteristics of narcissism actually are and whether narcissists are simply self-promoting, high-flying manipulators. Margie Hartley sits down with Associate Professor of Coaching and Counselling Be Pannell in the first of a three part series looking at how to recognise a narcissist and how to cope with this behaviour in different environments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.