Andrew’s Podcast: 50 WAYS TO SUCCEED AT WORK

E20/S2 CLUTTER KILLER - Make sure your mess and disorder don’t do you down

Clutter is a common problem for many people, but as Andrew explains, it is not always bad. Some of history's most brilliant minds, such as Francis Bacon, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg, have thrived in disorder. However, clutter can also adversely affect mental health and productivity, especially in the workplace. To address this, it's essential to understand why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively.
According to studies, clutter can significantly affect our cognition, thinking, emotions, behaviour, decision-making, and relationships. People tend to keep clutter for various reasons, such as feeling overwhelmed or keeping things as reminders. However, clutter can harm our chances of success at work and reduce overall life satisfaction, especially among older adults. To tackle clutter, it's essential to create a simple plan and avoid leaving it all to chance.
One helpful framework for decluttering is Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain.First, break your total time into manageable blocks and dedicate a specific time each day to decluttering. Take it slowly and set a goal for each session. Next, reduce your material by making three piles of things: keep, reconsider, and chuck. Be honest with yourself and ask if you genuinely need the things you're keeping. Finally, Andrew says to organise what you've kept and maintain it regularly. Finding a system that works for you and avoids clutter in the future is essential.
In summary, he reminds you that clutter is not always bad but can adversely affect mental health and productivity. Understanding why we keep clutter and how to declutter effectively can create a more organised and fulfilling life. Using the Time, Reduce, Organize, and Maintain framework can help you to create a simple plan for decluttering and avoiding the harmful effects of clutter in the workplace and at home.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E30/S2 CULTURE CREATURE - Supporting the culture makes you stand out

In this episode, Andrew discusses the importance of culture in the workplace and how employees can incorporate values into their approach. Kellogg's is an example of a company that relies on six core values to drive its culture, including integrity, accountability, passion, humility, simplicity, and results. The company aligns everyone around its vision by reinforcing behaviours and success through a global recognition platform. As an individual employee, understanding the organisation's core values and practising them can increase your chances of success at work.
To understand the culture at your workplace, you can ask questions such as "What are our strengths and weaknesses?", "How do we prioritise things around here?" and "What is our duty towards our customers or clients?" You can take pride in your organisation through giving back to the community, optimism, quality products and services, decision-making authority, employee development, cost control, and a sense of accomplishment, benefits, and transparency. An organisation's response to failure can reveal much about its culture. A culture intolerant of failure and managing through fear will not encourage risk-taking, A better response to failure is to use it as a learning experience. When an organisation promotes a culture that embraces risk-taking and uses failures to improve, employees can take risks and learn from their failures 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E29/S2 SHARER - Why sharing information pays more than hoarding it

Andrew shares insights about the importance of sharing information in the workplace. In a story of two teams working for the same company, Andrew explains how hoarding information negatively impacted their performance. A new manager commissions research and presents data to both teams. He introduces a solution to the inter-team rivalry problem, which involves regular rotation of team members. As a result, both teams start to work together and share knowledge, leading to exceeding their sales quota.
Andrew answers some of the most common questions about sharing information in the workplace. Before sharing information, he suggests asking, "Is this helpful and motivating for the team? Also, "Do we have the authority to share it, and could doing so potentially breach any regulations?" Andrew explains the benefits of sharing knowledge in the workplace, such as encouraging fresh thinking, creating a learning culture, and providing a better customer experience.Andrew acknowledges the risk of losing one's job or career prospects from irresponsible information sharing. He recommends checking the organisation's information-sharing expectations to protect its reputation. However, responsible sharing has personal benefits such as gaining respect from colleagues, becoming more visible, and supporting better decision-making. Andrew encourages rejecting the approach of "my knowledge is power, and so I must hold on to it" and instead encourages being generous with information.
Andrew emphasizes that sharing knowledge is power, and work is all about collaboration. Regular rotation of team members and information sharing helps retain collective knowledge and improve performance. Responsible sharing of information has personal benefits and supports better decision-making.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E28/S2 POSITIVE THINKER - Use the power of “yes and…”

Andrew explains the power of using “Yes, And” in communication to build on ideas and to promote active listening. The story illustrates how the team leader uses “Yes, And” to generate more ideas during the meeting. Saying “Yes, And” is not simply agreeing with others but accepting and expanding their ideas. Andrew highlights that saying “Yes” instead of “No” creates an environment for positive thinking and progress. The “Yes, And” attitude allows people to find common ground, accept and expand on ideas, and offer new thoughts that support the idea. Andrew suggests using “Yes, And” at work to promote innovation and inspire people. It could make a big difference and can be a recipe for personal success.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E27/S2 WINNER, NOT WHINER - Grumblers seldom come out on top

We hear Gerald S complain about work. He thinks deadlines are unfair and that Nolan, the team leader, has it out for him.  His colleague asks questions and tries to understand but suggests that it might be time for Gerald to find a new job if he hates it so much.
Whiners like Gerald can be harmful to the workplace. They have a negative focus and are always looking for sympathy. Taking responsibility for your needs and wants is essential to avoid sounding like a victim. Focus on positive thoughts, help others, and avoid blaming others for your problems. If you need to talk to a whiny co-worker, use "I-statements." For example, "I feel like I can't help with that right now" or "I wish I had more time to talk, but I have a deadline." If that doesn't work, could you talk to your boss about the problem as an organisational issue, not a personal complaint? Remember not to get trapped in a whiner mentality yourself. Stay positive and avoid making everything seem like a disaster. Instead, focus on solutions and things that are going well.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E26/S2 COME CLEAN! - How and why cover-ups can damage your career

Andrew discusses two stories in this episode, highlighting the consequences of covering up mistakes and how to handle mistakes at work. The first story recounts the Ford Pinto case where the company launched the Pinto car despite knowing it had a design flaw, and how settling burn victim lawsuits would save the company more than remedying the fault. The second story features Sheila Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com, who fired an employee, regretted it immediately, and later rehired the person. Marcelo learned that wrong decisions could be reversed, apologising does not indicate weakness, and taking responsibility for mistakes is essential.
Andrew advises handling mistakes at work, including the need to admit mistakes, accept the consequences, and avoid making excuses or inventing stories to explain the mistake. He emphasises that apologising is essential and can save one's job, showing maturity and professionalism. Andrew suggests spending time repairing relationships and identifying specific learning from the mistake. It's also essential to avoid blaming others and owning up to the error to demonstrate confidence and take cues from your behaviour.
Andrew also shares advice on forgiving oneself after making mistakes. He suggests being honest about what happened, apologising to those affected, and asking for forgiveness.Excessive guilt can be counterproductive, and moving on from the mistake and identifying specific lessons learned is essential. Finally, he notes that it's easier to come clean and take responsibility for mistakes than to cover them up, and hiding mistakes can have severe consequences.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E25/S2 GRAB TRAINING - Stay alert for personal development opportunities

In the audio text, Andrew discusses the benefits of personal development and training opportunities. He tells the story of Brett, who was feeling unmotivated at work until HR offered him a tailored package that paid him to go to the gym twice a week during office hours.
Andrew explains that a personal development plan (PDP) is a roadmap to success that can help people clarify their goals, identify their strengths and weaknesses, improve their employability, track their progress, and boost their mental well-being.
Andrew answers three common questions about personal development and advises people to create a PDP to clarify their goals, gain practice to grow their confidence, and take the initiative to request advice and make friends quickly with their teammates.
Andrew suggests two actions that people should take: investing time to create their PDP as a long-term investment in their success and getting clear on their personal development goals, gaining practice to grow their confidence, and taking the initiative to request advice and make friends quickly with their teammates.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E24/S2 HANDBOOK HAPPY - Study any new employee notes or handbooks

Andrew discusses the importance of company handbooks for new employees. He talks about Boris, an employee who is tasked with creating a handbook without any guidance, budget or deadline. Boris reviews examples of successful handbooks from other organisations and decides to base his handbook on the employees' fears, worries, and queries. He contacts the recruits and creates an online app for the culture guide.
Andrew explains that company handbooks can be helpful for new employees, as they provide information about the organisation's culture, values, and expectations regarding workplace behaviour and performance. He suggests that employees should read the handbook carefully and consider what it tells them about the organisation's culture and rules that are essential to pay attention to. Andrew also notes that some information in the handbook may protect the organisation from possible litigation or help managers impose uniformity across the organisation, which aids with control.
Furthermore, Andrew shares examples of unique handbooks, such as the US retailer Nordstrom's famous rule book, which claims to have only one rule, "Use good judgment in all situations." He also mentions the Zappos Employee Handbook/Comic book and Netflix's culture guide, which explains the company's culture, values and expectations without a handbook. Andrew advises that while reading the handbook or watching a video makes sense, employees should ask themselves questions such as "What does this tell me about the company's culture" and "Is there anything I need help understanding that matters?"
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E23/S2 CHANGE MAKER - Be a Change Maker, not a Change Loser

In this podcast episode, Andrew discusses the story of Katharine Viner, the first female editor-in-chief of The Guardian, who turned around the struggling newspaper by finding new ways to fund the company and involving its readers. She demonstrated the needed characteristics of successful changemakers, such as asking more questions, offering more solutions, and building relationships to help cultivate change.
Andrew then relates Viner's story to the listener's situation at work, emphasising the importance of being a changemaker rather than a change loser. He suggests that success depends on supporting change rather than becoming its victim in a world of ongoing change. He addresses three main questions people tend to have about being a changemaker at work: how to be one, how to persuade those who disagree, and what to do if rejected.To be a changemaker at work, Andrew advises accepting that change is inevitable and preparing for it by pushing oneself out of their comfort zone, focusing on the positives of change, and learning to voice concerns. He also emphasises collaboration's importance and draws in everyone who can help make the change happen.To persuade those who disagree with the proposed change, Andrew advises seeking common ground and interacting with them instead of bombarding them with reports or arguments. He emphasises the power of engagement and the human voice to persuade.Finally, for those who fear rejection when suggesting change, Andrew advises being willing to risk failure and presenting a robust case for change, starting from a position of humility and being open to alternative views.Overall, Andrew encourages you to commit to supporting change, taking on more responsibility, and adopting a positive and supportive attitude towards change. Responding in this way can contribute to their success at work.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book 

E22/S2 ASTUTE ADAPTOR - Why it pays to go with the flow

Andrew introduces the story of Deepak, a customer adviser, who is asked to move to the HR team to deal with the trade unions. Andrew explains adaptability as taking on new roles and responsibilities and adjusting work to reflect changing priorities. To be an astute adapter means staying calm and responding quickly to unexpected situations.  Andrew further elaborates on how AQ (Adaptability Quotient) is now an essential ingredient for success at work. To show adaptability, it is crucial to highlight disrupters, check assumptions, make plans, assess threats, and speed up how you work.
Andrew explains that showing adaptability also means accepting alternative ideas, unexpected changes, and urgent strategic requests. The second question Andrew addresses is about examples of adaptability skills. Andrew lists several learnable skills, such as clarity of purpose, resilience, active listening, and asking questions.
Andrew further suggests that people must constantly seek to upskill themselves by exploring the world more intensely, asking what-if questions, and looking for ways to unlearn what they already know. Andrew advises taking a step back when change is in the air and ensuring several options are discussed to promote brain and day-to-day flexibility.
In summary, Andrew emphasises that it is essential to be an astute adapter and adapt to change, and the speaker outlines the importance of AQ in today's rapidly changing workplace. One can show adaptability at work by highlighting disrupters, checking assumptions, making plans, assessing threats, and speeding up how you work.
 
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book