Truth, Lies and Work

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. This week, Al and Leanne talk to Danny Wareham, organisational psychologist and author of Constellation Leadership: Reimagined for a Connected Age, about why leadership might not need a single leader at all. From Navy SEALs to small business teams, Danny’s research explores what happens when you remove the leader from the room — and discover that, in the right conditions, performance can actually increase. 🔥 What We Cover 📘 What is Constellation Leadership? Danny introduces his model — a flexible, culture-driven approach where leadership shifts based on context and capability, not hierarchy or titles. 🧭 Why culture can replace hierarchy Learn why clear purpose, shared trust and behavioural norms can guide teams more effectively than top-down control. 💡 The North Star principle Before defining roles, policies or perks, Danny says every organisation must answer one question: why do we exist? That North Star then becomes the anchor for every decision. ⚙️ How small organisations have a natural edge Danny’s research shows that companies under 150 people — below Dunbar’s number — perform best when they keep teams small, autonomous and purpose-led. 💬 The Navy SEAL mindset We unpack “mission command” — how elite teams rotate leadership fluidly, with the person best equipped for each situation taking charge in real time. 🧠 The psychology of trust and autonomy From imposter syndrome to cultural alignment, Danny explains what it really takes to create teams that lead themselves. 🎧 Want more from Danny Wareham? – Website: dannywareham.co.uk – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-wareham/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-wareham/] – Constellation Leadership: https://dannywareham.co.uk/constellation-leadership/ [https://dannywareham.co.uk/constellation-leadership/] 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/] – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org [jo@samaritans.org] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork] – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott] – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne] – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat [https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat]

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this week’s headlines dive into generational friction, AI disruption, and Amazon’s latest layoffs — plus the psychology behind “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” 🔥 This Week’s Stories 🧃 Gen Z vs Everyone Else The Telegraph says Gen Z are ruining the workplace — dodging phone calls, dressing down, demanding safe spaces, and setting firm boundaries. But is this generational chaos or cultural evolution? Leanne breaks down what’s really going on when work expectations clash across age groups. 📰 Source: The Telegraph – Six ways Gen Z are “ruining” the workplace [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/14/six-ways-gen-z-ruining-the-workplace/] 🤖 40 Jobs AI Might Replace (and 40 It Can’t) Microsoft analysed 200,000 Copilot conversations to rank which jobs are most at risk from AI. Translators top the list at 98%, coders at 90%, and even DJs at 74%. But the real story isn’t about job loss — it’s about job evolution. Al explores how automation could actually create more work, not less. 📰 Source: Sky News – The 40 jobs most at risk from AI [https://news.sky.com/story/the-40-jobs-most-at-risk-of-ai-and-40-it-cant-touch-13447013] 📦 Amazon’s AI-Fuelled Layoffs Amazon is reportedly cutting up to 15% of its HR division as CEO Andy Jassy doubles down on AI investment. Fortune reports that the People Experience & Technology team (PXT) is bearing the brunt. We unpack what happens to trust, culture, and psychological safety when “learn AI or be left behind” becomes company policy. 📰 Source: Fortune – Amazon plans new round of layoffs [https://fortune.com/2025/10/14/amazon-layoffs-pxt-hr-andy-jassy/] 🧠 Truth or Lie: “Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe” Does your energy really shape the people around you — or is it just another social media myth? Leanne examines the science behind attraction, similarity, and social mirroring. From the “chameleon effect” to homophily, find out what really draws people together (and what pushes them apart). 💬 Workplace Surgery 1. A remote employee might secretly be working two full-time jobs — what should you do? 2. How do you motivate your team to actually upskill? 3. You’ve started a new job full of red flags — do you fix it or flee? 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/] – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org [jo@samaritans.org] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork] – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott] – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne] – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat [https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat]

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture — brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode is a masterclass on one of the most dreaded parts of working life: meetings. Our guest is Mamie Kanfer Stewart — host of The Modern Manager podcast, author of Momentum, and founder of Meeteor — who has dedicated her career to transforming meetings from time-wasting nightmares into spaces for decision-making, creativity, and genuine collaboration. 🔥 What We Cover 📌 Why most meetings fail Mamie shares how growing up in a culture that encouraged open, challenging conversations gave her a unique perspective — and why most organisations get the fundamentals of meetings wrong. 📌 Feedback conversations that don’t implode Learn Mamie’s frameworks for difficult one-to-one meetings, including how to give feedback to someone more senior without tanking your reputation. 📌 Group decision-making without the chaos From dominant voices to silent stakeholders, Mamie explains how to prepare for and run complex meetings that lead to real decisions instead of endless back-and-forth. 📌 The “zero to five” strategy Mamie reveals a simple but powerful technique that turned a potentially hour-long battle into a 15-minute consensus — and how you can use it too. 📌 When meetings should be emails — and when they really shouldn’t We tackle the internet’s favourite complaint. Mamie explains the real issue behind “this could’ve been an email” and why the answer isn’t fewer meetings, but better ones. 🎧 Want more from Mamie Kanfer Stewart? – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamiekanferstewart/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamiekanferstewart/] – Meeteor: https://www.meeteor.com/ [https://www.meeteor.com/] – The Modern Manager: https://www.themodernmanager.com/ [https://www.themodernmanager.com/] – Mamie KS: https://www.mamieks.com/ [https://www.mamieks.com/] 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/] – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org [jo@samaritans.org] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork] – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott] – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne] – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat [https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat]

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture, brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, every Tuesday we unpack the biggest workplace news stories, decode the psychology, and tackle real listener dilemmas. 🔥 This Week’s Stories 🍞 Breadcrumbing at Work A new HR buzzword has arrived. Originally a dating term, “breadcrumbing” describes when managers hint at promotions, raises, or development opportunities but never follow through. In a shaky economy where pay rises and mobility are stalling, leaders may be tempted to keep talent with vague promises — but the psychology shows this kills trust and motivation. Source: Cangrade, “2025 HR Buzzwords” https://www.cangrade.com/blog/talent-management/24-hr-buzzwords-to-know-in-2025/ [https://www.cangrade.com/blog/talent-management/24-hr-buzzwords-to-know-in-2025/] ☕ Starbucks’ “Fabricated Empathy” Problem New CEO Brian Nichol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan mandates scripted customer interactions — eye contact, cup messages, four-minute service times — alongside tighter dress codes and reduced remote work. The goal: revive sales. The risk: forcing fake connection and alienating both staff and customers. Source: Minda Zetlin, Inc.com https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/starbucks-just-announced-a-new-policy-its-a-failure-of-leadership/91243638 [https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/starbucks-just-announced-a-new-policy-its-a-failure-of-leadership/91243638] https://x.com/mindazetlin [https://x.com/mindazetlin] 📞 The Dubai Sales Machine Would you make 100 calls a day for £24,000 a year? A London firm is hiring trainee wealth managers in Dubai with brutal daily quotas and little base pay. They call it “resilience.” We break down why high pressure without autonomy or purpose can wreck motivation. Source: Louis Goss, The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l/lk-lo/louis-goss/ [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/l/lk-lo/louis-goss/] 🧠 Truth or Lie Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is on every business school slide, but is it actually true? We dig into the real history — including the missing “sixth level” Maslow added — and what modern psychology says about human motivation. 💬 Workplace Surgery * What do you do when your top performer is destroying team morale? * How can you keep remote teams genuinely connected? * And how do founders protect their wellbeing when the business never switches off? 🧠 Support with Mental Health and Well-being – Mind UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/] – Samaritans (UK): Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org [jo@samaritans.org] 📬 Connect with Al & Leanne – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork] – Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott] – Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne] – Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com – Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat [https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat]

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture. Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features Josh Levine, work futurist, author of "Great Mondays," and culture consultant who's helped companies like Credit Karma navigate the treacherous waters of hypergrowth. Episode Summary Picture this: You've built something special. Your team of 15 feels like family. Everyone knows everyone. The culture just works. But now you're staring down growth - maybe to 50, maybe to 100 employees. And there's this gnawing fear: what if scaling breaks everything we've built? What We Cover The 50-Employee Breaking Point * Why founder's culture has an expiration date and the physics behind cultural breakdown From Implicit to Explicit * How to transform unspoken behaviours into values that actually scale beyond personal influence The Three-Step Framework * Identify, codify, and communicate the most important decisions that move the needle Why Most Values Fail * The difference between values as wall decorations versus business tools that drive decisions Recognition Done Right * How Wells Fargo's outcome-focused rewards destroyed trust and what to do instead Trust as Infrastructure * Why relational infrastructure matters more than physical infrastructure in distributed work The WD-40 Case Study * How Gary Ridge reframed failure as learning and invested in humans, not just outputs Measuring Culture at Scale * Why Employee Net Promoter Score captures what matters as you grow Resources Connect with Josh Levine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akajoshlevine [https://www.linkedin.com/in/akajoshlevine] * Follow Josh on Instagram: @greatmondays_culturedesign * Great Mondays website: https://greatmondays.com [https://greatmondays.com] * Great Mondays Radio: https://radio.greatmondays.com [https://radio.greatmondays.com] * Great Mondays YouTube: https://youtube.com/@GreatMondays [https://youtube.com/@GreatMondays] * Get the book "Great Mondays" at greatmondays.com Mental Health Support This episode discusses workplace stress, burnout, and the challenges of scaling culture. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: UK: * Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7 helpline) - https://www.samaritans.org/ [https://www.samaritans.org/] * Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - https://www.mind.org.uk/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/] US: * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7) - https://988lifeline.org/ [https://988lifeline.org/] * NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) - https://www.nami.org/ [https://www.nami.org/] International: * Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ [https://www.befrienders.org/] (directory of crisis helplines worldwide) * International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ [https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/] (global crisis center directory) Connect with Your Hosts * Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/] * Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne] * Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/] * Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com [podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com] * Follow us on Instagram: @truthlieswork * Chat with us on X: @truthlieswork * YouTube channel: @TruthLiesWork * Check us out on TikTok: @truthlieswork Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com [hi@TruthLiesandWork.com] Got feedback/questions/guest suggestions? Email podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com [podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com]