We Are Human Leaders

Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Todd Kashdan shares with us the difference between productive and destructive disagreement, and how the labels we place on ourselves can stop us from truly understanding the perspectives of others.For more, check out the full conversation with Todd Kashdan right here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/dissent-and-defy-todd-kashdanFor now, enjoy!

Burnout is a red hot topic right now and for good reason.The State of Workplace Burnout Report 2025 shows that 35% of us globally are experiencing burnout. In this episode my usual co-host Sally Clarke dons her researcher’s hat alongside Dr. John Chan as Co-Authors of the State of Workplace Burnout Report 2025. We discuss their very important research from the report. Now in its fifth year, it shines a very bright light on how outdated productivity metrics and expectations are keeping us stuck in burnout with lower productivity.In this conversation, I've asked Sally and John the hard questions:What impact does burnout have on our productivity?What are we getting so wrong about productivity and burnout?Despite the billions of dollars invested globally in wellbeing and burnout, these still such pervasive issues. Sally and John offer a comprehensive evidence backed set of answers to these questions, and they offer critical advice for leaders listening to fundamentally shift how we work to overcome them.SPOILER ALERT: Solving burnout is well within your control as a leader. This conversation is insightful and practical and exactly what all leaders need to hear right now. Learn more, and find links to the report at www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/burnout-productivity-john-chan-sally-clarke

Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Garry Ridge shares with us the WD40 secret in achieving a 98% employee engagement rate, and how coaching your employees can radically shift how they view their job.For more, check out the full conversation with Garry Ridge right here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/humancentredleaderFor now, enjoy!

Have you ever felt out of control in your career? Subject to the whims of your boss and internal politics?What if you could take back that power and drastically amplify your professional profile – in the space of a few simple, impactful conversations?Well, you can, by Managing Up. In this conversation we asked Melody Wilding, author of the brand new ‘Managing Up, How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge’ exactly how we can do this. In this conversation we explore some incredibly practical research-based ways you can shape key conversations with every leader you work with, to create great outcomes for you, your team and that leader – and help you feel a greater sense of agency over your work life. Melody Wilding is a professor of human behavior at Hunter College and was recently named one of Insider’s “most innovative career coaches.” Her background as a therapist and emotions researcher informs her unique approach, weaving evidence-based neuroscience and psychology with professional development. She is the author of Trust Yourself, and her latest book ‘Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge’.Learn more about Melody Wilding and find her book 'Managing Up' here: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/managing-up-melody-wilding

Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Iman Oubou shares with us how to end self sabotage and why this is so important for leaders at work and beyond.For more, check out the full conversation with Iman at the link here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/episode8selfsabotageFor now, enjoy!

Remote, Hybrid, Return to Office—there are so many ways to work in 2025, and as the debate in popular media rages on it can feel utterly overwhelming to know how and where we actually work best.To help us wade through the mess of public discourse, and cut to the facts, we sat down with Stanford University Professor of Economics Nicolas Bloom whose research spans global geographies and focuses on helping us understand work from home, hybrid and office-based work, along with management best practices and uncertainty.And the answer to ‘what is the best way to work’? It’s kind of complicated.In this conversation we explore why work is complicated, and Nick presents his research on how hybrid work, done well, is the best answer we’ve currently got.We hope this conversation with Professor Nick Bloom will debunk some of your misconceptions around where and how we can work best. Nick’s research presents a compelling case for hybrid work, but even more importantly than simply mandating this, is making sure that the coordination of hybrid work is done well, getting clear on what work should be done together, and being explicit on performance metrics, such as outputs over desk monitoring is crucial in making time in the officer, together count.Want to learn more about Professor Nick Bloom and find his research, visit our shownotes: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/remote-hybrid-office-professor-nick-bloomHave something to share about this episode? Share it with us on social media.

Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Lily Zheng shares with us how to Rethink Your DEI strategy and ensure inclusion and belonging in your team and organisation.For more, check out the full conversation with Lily right here https://www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/deireconstructedFor now, enjoy your Brain Snack.

We’re lonelier than ever, fact.So what's causing it and can we do about it? And what role does the workplace play in ending loneliness?We asked Dr Michelle Lim, one of the world’s leading experts in loneliness to help us understand the issue.Distinctly different from being alone, socially isolated or in solitude, loneliness is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a distressing subjective experience of a lack of connection to others, along with a desire for more or more satisfying social relationships.Workplace loneliness has become a widespread concern, with recent data showing that 27% of employees feel isolated at work. While managers may see loneliness as a personal matter outside their responsibilities, its impact on performance and productivity can be significant.In this conversation with Dr Michelle Lim she explains what loneliness is, why we’re experiencing workplace loneliness and what we can do about this at a personal, workplace and community level. This is an episode not to miss!Find our more about Dr Michelle Lim, including her research here: www.wearehumanleaders.com/podcast/loneliness-crisis-dr-michelle-limDr Michelle Lim is CEO of Ending Loneliness Together, a national Australian network made up of universities and industry partners, and the director of the social health and wellbeing group at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health. Dr Lim is a registered clinical psychologist and a board approved supervisor for the Psychology Board of Australia. Dr Lim co-founded and became the inaugural co-director of the Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection, a coalition of organisations from 12 countries committed to ending the global problem of loneliness and social isolation.

Welcome to Brain Snacks: bite sized learning moments from We Are Human Leaders.In today’s brain snack, Justin Jones-Fosu shares with us how to Respectfully Disagree, and the five pillars needed to truly shift our perspective to make this possible.For more, check out the full conversation with Justin Jones-Fosu called '"I Respectfully Disagree": How to Navigate Conflicting Views' here.For now, enjoy!