My Crazy Office

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Hosts Kathi Elster and Katherine Crowley are committed to creating world peace one crazy office at a time. Best selling authors of Working with You Is Killing Me, Mean Girls at Work, and Working for You Isn’t Working for Me. Kathi and Katherine address all of those wacky behaviors that we all de…

Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster

New York, New York


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 12m AVG DURATION
    • 344 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from My Crazy Office

    Too Busy to Look for a New Job?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 10:06


    On this episode of My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a very important question for people who want to leave their current jobs: What can you do if you're too busy to look for a new job? We start with a question from someone who knows it's time to leave their current job […]

    Getting Bullied by a Co-Worker?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 14:01


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine investigate what you can do if a coworker starts to bully you. They start with a question from someone who discovers that a colleague who she thought was a friend begins to act differently in a group setting. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to detect a […]

    Does Your Boss Put You Down to Keep You Around?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 9:59


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a hot topic: Do you secretly suspect that your boss may be keeping you down because he or she needs you? They start with a question from someone who has been working as an assistant to a top designer for two years with the […]

    Are You Managing a Slug?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 9:31


    Low performing employees are very stressful to manage. On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a particular management headache — the slug. It's the kind of employee who only does the bare minimum at work. We'll start with a question from someone who currently supervises a very sluggish employee and wonders how […]

    Networking for Introverts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 12:39


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss a topic that many people don't like to think about but it that can have a huge impact on your career – networking. Specifically, Kathi and Katherine examine networking for introverts. They start with a question from someone who wants to change jobs, suspects […]

    Is Your Employer Trying to Break Up with You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 12:53


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss a provocative question: Is your employer trying to break up with you? They start with a question from someone who was promised growth and opportunity at the start of her job but recently received a demotion and a pay cut. Kathi and Katherine examine […]

    Afraid Your Top Performer Might Leave?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 8:37


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine consider a challenging situation for any boss: What do you do if your top performer might leave? They start with a question from a manager who discovers that their best employee was almost poached by a competing organization. Kathi and Katherine discuss what you can […]

    My Boss Got Fired. Should I Apply for Their Job?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 13:27


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine examine a tricky topic: If your boss gets fired, should you apply for their job? They start with a question from someone whose boss was recently terminated, and the folks in upper management are encouraging her to apply for her boss's position. We'll discuss what to […]

    Feeling Underappreciated at Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 11:27


    On this My Crazy Office podcast Kathi and Katherine address a topic that some people consider “soft” but actually affects staff morale, productivity and retention — showing appreciation. They start with a question from a manager who recently learned that their staff do not feel appreciated. Kathi and Katherine discuss different ways to demonstrate appreciation […]

    Do You Feel Frozen Professionally?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 10:50


    Do you feel frozen in your career? That's what Kathi and Katherine talk about on this My Crazy Office podcast. They start with a question from someone who has been in a job for several years, knows it's time to move on, but sees that the economic climate is not good for finding a decent […]

    Dealing with Uncertainty?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 10:32


    It seems like many people are grappling with uncertainty these days. In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about dealing with uncertainty at work. They start with a question from someone who works at a company at risk of losing some of its funding. This individual is having trouble focusing and being […]

    Waiting Too Long to Fire Someone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 12:22


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about waiting too long to fire an employee. They start with a question from someone whose recent hire has become a real problem. This person is always late, disorganized and unable to perform the job well. Yet the manager can't seem to fire them. […]

    A Change in Tone — Please Listen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 2:46


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine want to hear from YOU. Political events don't always affect business, but with this new administration, many federal agencies and the companies that deal with them are in flux. Loss of funding, elimination of jobs, banning of DEI, potential tariffs on imported goods, and plans […]

    Turn Your Bad Job Into a “B” Job

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 11:41


    In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about how to turn a bad job into a “B” job. They start with a question from someone who hates their job and feels an urgency to quit but realizes that it will take time to prepare for the thing they really want to do. […]

    Afraid To Hold Your Staff Accountable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025


    It can be scary to confront staff if you fear that they may get angry and quit. In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss the importance of holding your staff accountable for their behavior. They start with a question from someone who manages many frontline staff but never confronts any of […]

    Passed Over for a Promotion Again?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 10:50


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine examine a serious problem – what do you do if you are passed over for a promotion more than once? They start with a question from someone who's a top performer at their job but keeps getting passed over for promotions to upper management. Kathi […]

    Do You Resent Your Boss?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 13:09


    Resentment is a tricky emotion. It can consume you, making it difficult to do (or enjoy) your job. In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss this hot topic. They ask the question, “Do you resent your boss?” If so, how do you manage that resentment? Kathi and Katherine start with a question […]

    How Much Should You Invest In a Bad Hire?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 13:40


    In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine explore an important question for anyone in management: How much should you invest in a bad hire? They start with a question from a manager who hired a very likeable person who lacks the skills needed for the job. This manager has invested time and money […]

    Are You a Manager Who Is Afraid of Upsetting Your Staff?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024


    It's really hard to manage effectively if you are afraid of upsetting your staff. On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss this challenge for some managers. They start with a question from someone who is new to management but realizes she must give certain members of her staff some tough feedback. This […]

    Is Your Co-Worker a Suck Up?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 11:41


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a familiar challenge to many individuals at work: What do you do if your co-worker is a suck-up? By “suck up” they mean someone who constantly does and says things to flatter and impress the boss. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someone […]

    Does Your Boss Play Favorites? And You’re Not One of Them?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss how to handle a boss who plays favorites – especially if you're not one of them. They start with a question from someone who is noticing that her new boss has a group of favorite employees, and wonders whether not being one of the favorites […]

    Is Your Boss Afraid You Will Outshine Them?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024


    Most bosses want you to do your job well, but some bosses may view your personal success as their loss. In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine examine a delicate situation: What can you do if your boss is afraid that you will outshine them? They start with a question from someone whose […]

    How Do I Fire a Long-time Employee?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 10:32


    In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a subject that many people in leadership positions must address: How do you fire a long-time employee? They start with a question from someone who was recently hired as the senior director of a large department and realizes there is a key employee who must […]

    Can I Turn Down a Promotion?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 13:27


    In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address an interesting question: Is it okay to turn down a promotion? They start with a question from someone who has been offered a promotion but doesn't want the management headache that comes with it. Kathi and Katherine consider the pros and cons to saying […]

    My Psycho Boss

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a hot topic: How to handle a psycho boss. They start with a question from someone who recently took a new job that is both challenging and rewarding. The new boss started out supportive and encouraging, but recently revealed another side – hypercritical, erratic and […]

    Are You Snapping at People Because You Are Overwhlemed at Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024


    In this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine investigate what you can do if you are lashing out at people because you are overwhelmed at work. They start with a question from someone who works as an office manager for a not-for-profit where the responsibilities are overwhelming, and this person finds themselves snapping at […]

    Promotion negotiation — Do you know how to do it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024


    Do you know how to negotiate a promotion? In this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine discuss what it takes to do just that. They start with a question from someone who wants to get promoted but has been told by her boss to wait for another year so that he can offer a […]

    Could Getting Fired Be The Best Thing That Ever Happens to You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine explore whether getting fired could possibly be the best thing that ever happens to you. They start with a question from someone who was suddenly terminated from her job without warning. She now finds herself with two job offers, and wonders if getting fired could be […]

    Two Job Offers — Which One Do I Take?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 9:22


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine explore how to choose the best job when it's a choice between two companies. They start with a question from someone who has been looking for a new job and now must decide between two offers; the positions are the same, but the companies are very […]

    I Should Have Known Better

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024


    On this My Crazy Podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss those situations at work where someone tries to warn you about someone or something beforehand, and you ignore the warning. They start with a question from an individual who just got fired by a boss that his colleague told him would be a nightmare to work […]

    Ghosted by Your Manager?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine examine a challenging situation — being ghosted by your manager. They start with a question from someone whose boss insists on scheduling regular bi-weekly meetings only to never show up for them. This manager also doesn't respond to emails or texts and does not see their […]

    Is It Time To Make a Radical Change?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 10:54 Transcription Available


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a crucial question that some of you may be asking yourselves: Is it time to make a radical career change? We start with a question from someone who has been in a boring-but-secure job for 15 years. A recent lay-off is making this person consider […]

    Attacked By a Toxic Client?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 Transcription Available


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a challenging situation: What do you do if you are attacked by a toxic client? They start with a question from someone who has experienced just that — being aggressively attacked by a client during a meeting. Kathi and Katherine talk about how to recover […]

    Is Your Department Moving in a Direction that You Don’t Like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 10:20


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you can do if your department (or company) is moving in a direction that you don't like. They start with a question from someone who disagrees with their department's decision to do things differently based on customer feedback. Kathi and Katherine talk about […]

    Anxious Mother-To-Be

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office Podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about balancing maternity leave with career growth. They start with a question from someone who is pregnant, but also wants to take on a large new client. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to look at these kinds of situations that require incorporating a major life […]

    Is Your Self-Talk Holding You Back?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address an important question: Is your self-talk holding you back? Self-talk is the running dialogue in your head. Negative self-talk involves your deepest doubts and fears. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someone who knows it's time to move their career forward, but keeps […]

    Do You Have an Advocate at Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about the importance of having an advocate at work. An advocate is someone who wants to see you succeed and who provides opportunities for advancement. Other terms for this important relationship are sponsor and mentor. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from an employee […]

    Are Supervisory Shoulds Hurting You as a Manager?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 13:44


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine go over Ten Supervisory Shoulds that many managers hold about how their staff should behave. Supervisory Shoulds are beliefs that prevent managers from supervising their staff effectively. Do you believe you should only have to say something once? Do you assume your employees should know […]

    I Hate My Absentee Boss

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 8:08


    On this My Crazy Office episode Kathi and Katherine talk about a very difficult kind of person to work for – The absentee boss. They start with a question from someone who's been working for a manager who is never around. When he does come to work, he criticizes her every move. Kathi and Katherine […]

    Are You Working with a Super Spreader?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 7:20


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address the issue of people who come to work sick and spread their sickness to others. They start with a question from someone whose co-worker came to work with a cough and fever, and proceeded to infect others with that illness. We'll talk about what your […]

    Social Media in the Office

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 9:34


    On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine talk about a tricky topic — social media in the workplace. They start with a question from someone whose coworker plays TikTok videos all day long, and the distracting sound and sight of those videos make it hard for this person to concentrate and do her […]

    Pets in the Office?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 11:51


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a hot topic – pets in the office. They start with a question from someone who is interviewing for a job that seems like a great fit, but learns that pets are part of the office environment. Kathi and Katherine discuss the pluses and […]

    Introverts Who Struggle With An Extroverted Workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 14:06


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about introverts, and the challenges they face in the workplace. They start with a question from an introvert who must attend long meetings and worries that appearing checked out after a meeting could be interpreted as rude by his extroverted colleagues. Kathi and Katherine clarify […]

    Didn’t Get That Promotion? Now What?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 10:36


    On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you should do if you don't get the promotion that you ask for. They start with a question from someone who applies for a promotion, meets the benchmarks, but doesn't get promoted. Kathi and Katherine investigate when it's worth it to hang in there […]

    Keeping Secrets During Re-Structuring?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 10:09


    On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a provocative topic — How do you keep secrets when your company is re-structuring? They start with a question from someone who is on the executive team of a company that is re-organizing. This person feels increasingly uncomfortable holding the knowledge of who will stay […]

    Is Delegating Difficult for You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 9:58


    On this epidsode of My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a skill that all managers need to develop, but few managers feel comfortable doing — delegating. They start with a question from a manager who wants to be promoted but knows that it won't happen without learning to delegate. Kathi and Katherine […]

    Is There a Troublemaker at Your Company? Is It You?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 11:01


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a certain kind of role at work – the role of rebel or scapegoat. Rebels (or scapegoats) are those individuals who view themselves as the truthtellers at work. They are willing to challenge the status quo and fight for what they think is right. […]

    Waiting For a Promotion That Never Comes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 10:55


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you should do if you are promised a promotion, and it never comes. They start with a question from someone who has been waiting for a promotion for two years, but circumstances keep arising that stop it from happening. Kathi and Katherine talk […]

    Stay In Your Job While You Start Something New

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 11:23


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about the value of staying in your job while you start something else. They start with a question from someone who has a comfortable but uninspiring job. She has a great business idea, but can't afford to leave her job. Kathi and Katherine discuss […]

    Afraid That You Might Hire The Wrong Person?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 11:50


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss a topic that is important to every manager: How do you know you are hiring the right person? They start with a question from someone who needs to hire an assistant director but has a history of hiring the wrong person in the past. […]

    Do You Hate Networking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 14:27


    On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about a topic that many people hate: networking. They start with a question from someone who loves their job, but knows that in order to get promoted they need to network. Kathi and Katherine talk about all the ways to network, and how to […]

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