The Just Work podcast with Kim Scott & Wesley Faulkner
SEASON TWO
In Season Two, Wesley Faulkner, who has led developer relations and been a community manager at a number of tech companies, joins Kim as co-host. We talk to guests about their experiences with bias, prejudice, bullying, discrimination, harassment, and physical violations in the workplace. By sharing experiences, we help to build community and to help listeners recognize problems they are experiencing at work, and get some ideas about how to handle it.
Episode 24: Bloviating BS
Many of us have experienced the office "bloviating BSer," an overconfident coworker who takes up more than their fair share of airtime in a meeting, even though they are often not the most informed person in the room. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss this behavior with Minette Norman, who shares how a bloviating BSer drove her to leave the software industry and become an advocate for the inclusive leader.
Many of us have experienced the office "bloviating BSer," an overconfident coworker who takes up more than their fair share of airtime in a meeting, even though they are often not the most informed person in the room. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss this behavior with Minette Norman, who shares how a bloviating BSer drove her to leave the software industry and become an advocate for the inclusive leader.
Episode 23: Giving Care on Loan
People don't care how much you know, unless they know how much you care. As a leader, you should give out that care, taking the time to pause and consider if your feedback delivery is coming across in the way you intend. In this episode, Kim and Wesley chat with Ron Carucci, who reflects on how giving feedback at the bank made him grapple with his understandings of racial and gender privilege.
People don't care how much you know, unless they know how much you care. As a leader, you should give out that care, taking the time to pause and consider if your feedback delivery is coming across in the way you intend. In this episode, Kim and Wesley chat with Ron Carucci, who reflects on how giving feedback at the bank made him grapple with his understandings of racial and gender privilege.
Episode 22: Good leaders are not bullies
We're constantly bombarded with the message that leadership and bullying go hand in hand. But in reality, bullying destroys the workplace environment, making it impossible for employees to do their best work. In this episode, Kim discusses workplace bullying with Janice Omadeke, who reflects on the emotional duress caused by a bullying boss early in her career.
We're constantly bombarded with the message that leadership and bullying go hand in hand. But in reality, bullying destroys the workplace environment, making it impossible for employees to do their best work. In this episode, Kim discusses workplace bullying with Janice Omadeke, who reflects on the emotional duress caused by a bullying boss early in her career.
Episode 21: Targeted
A leader’s job is to foster an environment where people can collaborate productively. Prejudice, a belief that some sort of false stereotype is true, gets in the way of a respectful workplace culture. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss prejudice with Dr. Tina Opie, who shares her experiences with prejudice from her time as the youngest employee and only Black woman in the workplace.
A leader’s job is to foster an environment where people can collaborate productively. Prejudice, a belief that some sort of false stereotype is true, gets in the way of a respectful workplace culture. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss prejudice with Dr. Tina Opie, who shares her experiences with prejudice from her time as the youngest employee and only Black woman in the workplace.
Episode 20: The Platinum Rule
From a young age, we're taught the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. In this episode, Kim and Wesley advocate instead for a platinum rule approach, which encourages treating others as they would like to be treated, acknowledging that every person has different needs and preferences. Wesley draws upon his experiences as a neurodivergent person in the workplace to discuss structures that can maximize every employee's ability to do their best work.
From a young age, we're taught the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. In this episode, Kim and Wesley advocate instead for a platinum rule approach, which encourages treating others as they would like to be treated, acknowledging that every person has different needs and preferences. Wesley draws upon his experiences as a neurodivergent person in the workplace to discuss structures that can maximize every employee's ability to do their best work.
Episode 19: Not Playing into Expectations
There's no doubt: Pointing out bias is awkward. That's why it's helpful to make bias disruption a norm. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to disrupt bias with Dr. Philip Hickman, who shares a story revealing how parental biases can impact the school environment and student wellbeing.
Bio: Dr. Phil, is a renowned educational expert, EdTech visionary, psychologist, author, and entrepreneur. With a strong academic background, including five postgraduate degrees and doctorate, he has held various leadership positions in both rural and large school districts in the USA.
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There's no doubt: Pointing out bias is awkward. That's why it's helpful to make bias disruption a norm. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to disrupt bias with Dr. Philip Hickman, who shares a story revealing how parental biases can impact the school environment and student wellbeing.
Episode 18: Bias on the Playground
Want to help your team change unproductive, biased patterns of thought? One of the best things you can do is sit down with them and explain why you think doing so is essential to a collaborative, respectful working environment. In this week's episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Matt Abrahams, who shares his experiences facing bias as the only dad among mothers on the playground.
Want to help your team change unproductive, biased patterns of thought? One of the best things you can do is sit down with them and explain why you think doing so is essential to a collaborative, respectful working environment. In this week's episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Matt Abrahams, who shares his experiences facing bias as the only dad among mothers on the playground.
Episode 17: Breaking Down Bias
How can you teach your team to disrupt bias? The key is for leaders to not teach their teams about bias as an abstraction, but to teach them how to disrupt the specific biases relevant to their employees. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss different ways of preventing bias with Kasia Musur, who shares her journey to realizing that toxicity is not an inevitable element of the business world.
How can you teach your team to disrupt bias? The key is for leaders to not teach their teams about bias as an abstraction, but to teach them how to disrupt the specific biases relevant to their employees. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss different ways of preventing bias with Kasia Musur, who shares her journey to realizing that toxicity is not an inevitable element of the business world.
Episode 16: Navigating Institutional Courage
Creating a just workplace requires institutional courage and a leadership commitment to take action on behalf of those who trust or depend on the institution— even when it’s unpleasant, difficult or costly. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to build a just workplace with Delia Grenville, who shares a story about how institutional betrayal fueled mobbing, a form of group bullying, in her workplace.
Creating a just workplace requires institutional courage and a leadership commitment to take action on behalf of those who trust or depend on the institution— even when it’s unpleasant, difficult or costly. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to build a just workplace with Delia Grenville, who shares a story about how institutional betrayal fueled mobbing, a form of group bullying, in her workplace.
Episode 15: Questioning the Status Quo
Preventing bias, prejudice and bullying may feel like the inevitable, given the prevalence of these attitudes. That’s why it’s important that when these problems do occur despite your best efforts, you respond in a way that makes it less likely they will happen again. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss managing these workplace challenges with Ellen Bennett, who reflects on one of her early experiences in the textile industry. She hired a consultant to help her learn about the industry, and soon discovered that he was a bully.
Preventing bias, prejudice and bullying may feel like the inevitable, given the prevalence of these attitudes. That’s why it’s important that when these problems do occur despite your best efforts, you respond in a way that makes it less likely they will happen again. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss managing these workplace challenges with Ellen Bennett, who reflects on one of her early experiences in the textile industry. She hired a consultant to help her learn about the industry, and soon discovered that he was a bully.
Episode 14: The Myth of the Aggressive Woman
A leader doesn’t have to choose between collective results and each person’s individuality. In fact, you can’t get one without the other. The strength of the team is the individual, and the strength of the individual is the team. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to do what you can to prevent bias, prejudice and bullying from destroying respect on your team. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to handle these workplace challenges. Kim shares an experience receiving biased feedback from a direct report and offers retrospective insight into how she could have best responded to it.
A leader doesn’t have to choose between collective results and each person’s individuality. In fact, you can’t get one without the other. The strength of the team is the individual, and the strength of the individual is the team. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to do what you can to prevent bias, prejudice and bullying from destroying respect on your team. In this episode, Kim and Wesley discuss how to handle these workplace challenges. Kim shares an experience receiving biased feedback from a direct report and offers retrospective insight into how she could have best responded to it.
Episode 13: The Workplace Toolkit
Every workplace challenge requires utilizing a different tool. “I” statements invite the person to consider your perspective, challenging bias. “It” statements draw a boundary that a person should not cross in the face of prejudice while “you” statements push bullies away. In this episode, Kim and Wesley chat with Minda Harts, who shares her experiences as a Black woman working under a bullying boss.
Every workplace challenge requires utilizing a different tool. “I” statements invite the person to consider your perspective, challenging bias. “It” statements draw a boundary that a person should not cross in the face of prejudice while “you” statements push bullies away. In this episode, Kim and Wesley chat with Minda Harts, who shares her experiences as a Black woman working under a bullying boss.
Episode 12: Changing the Rules
How do you diversify the workplace? Former Opentable CEO Christa Quarles found that it’s about more than meeting quotas: Workplace leaders instead have to focus on fixing the process. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Christa about her strategies for increasing gender diversity at Opentable. She also shares tips for overcoming imposter syndrome.
How do you diversify the workplace? Former Opentable CEO Christa Quarles found that it’s about more than meeting quotas: Workplace leaders instead have to focus on fixing the process. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Christa about her strategies for increasing gender diversity at Opentable. She also shares tips for overcoming imposter syndrome.
Episode 11: Hollywood A Hotspot for Bullying
Bullies are trying to hurt someone: Pointing out the pain they are inflicting doesn’t make them stop and may encourage them to double down. A “You” response — “What’s going on for you here?” or “You need to stop talking to me that way” — puts you in the active role, making it clear that you will not tolerate abuse. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Eric Deggans, who offers his insight into bullying in Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Bullies are trying to hurt someone: Pointing out the pain they are inflicting doesn’t make them stop and may encourage them to double down. A “You” response — “What’s going on for you here?” or “You need to stop talking to me that way” — puts you in the active role, making it clear that you will not tolerate abuse. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Eric Deggans, who offers his insight into bullying in Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Episode 10: Disrupting Prejudice
Unlike bias, prejudice is a conscious belief, usually incorporating an unfair and inaccurate stereotype. When addressing prejudice, “It” statements are a useful way to draw a boundary between a person’s freedom to believe what they want and their right to impose their beliefs on others. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Omar Gallaga, who shares his own past experience with prejudice as a young journalist attending college in Oklahoma.
Unlike bias, prejudice is a conscious belief, usually incorporating an unfair and inaccurate stereotype. When addressing prejudice, “It” statements are a useful way to draw a boundary between a person’s freedom to believe what they want and their right to impose their beliefs on others. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Omar Gallaga, who shares his own past experience with prejudice as a young journalist attending college in Oklahoma.
Episode 9: A Story About "Mobbing"
How should you respond when you notice bias in the workplace? "I" statements offer a lens for understanding, encouraging the person to notice their mistake and learn from your perspective without calling them out. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Russ Laraway, who shares a story about experiencing "mobbing," a form of bullying, when he was in the minority.
How should you respond when you notice bias in the workplace? "I" statements offer a lens for understanding, encouraging the person to notice their mistake and learn from your perspective without calling them out. In this episode, Kim and Wesley speak with Russ Laraway, who shares a story about experiencing "mobbing," a form of bullying, when he was in the minority.
Episode 8: Toxonomy
What gets in the way of Radical Respect? Kim reads a passage from the book about a "toxonomy" that can help you figure out what exactly is happening so that you can figure out what to do about it. Wesley comments, and then shares a story about a hotel manager who wouldn't allow him to check in. The manager claimed it was because he was local, but there was no such policy posted anywhere. Wesley escalated, but Hilton didn't take any action. It was the kind of story you expect in the 1950's in the south. But it was 2023 in Wisconsin.
What gets in the way of Radical Respect? Kim reads a passage from the book about a "toxonomy" that can help you figure out what exactly is happening so that you can figure out what to do about it. Wesley comments, and then shares a story about a hotel manager who wouldn't allow him to check in. The manager claimed it was because he was local, but there was no such policy posted anywhere. Wesley escalated, but Hilton didn't take any action. It was the kind of story you expect in the 1950's in the south. But it was 2023 in Wisconsin.
Episode 7: a talk with Kate Holterhoff
How do you know whether what you are experiencing is bias, prejudice or bullying--or none of the above? Kim reads a story about an experience she had; guest Kate Holterhoff and co-host Wesley give her some feedback on the story. Then Kate shares a story about an experience she had. Come give it a listen and let us know what you think was going on there--bias, prejudice, bullying, or none of the above?
How do you know whether what you are experiencing is bias, prejudice or bullying--or none of the above? Kim reads a story about an experience she had; guest Kate Holterhoff and co-host Wesley give her some feedback on the story. Then Kate shares a story about an experience she had. Come give it a listen and let us know what you think was going on there--bias, prejudice, bullying, or none of the above?
Episode 6: What gets in the way of Radical Respect?
Wesley and Kim talk with guest Laura Holmes about how bias, prejudice and bullying get in the way of Radical Respect. Laura shares a story about the fact that people use the "private note to manager" feature in 360 products to submit non-transparent feedback about Black women much more often than they use it for other employees.
Wesley and Kim talk with guest Laura Holmes about how bias, prejudice and bullying get in the way of Radical Respect. Laura shares a story about the fact that people use the "private note to manager" feature in 360 products to submit non-transparent feedback about Black women much more often than they use it for other employees.
Laura Holmes is a dedicated software product builder, mother, and advocate for inclusion and equity. With experience in creating innovative solutions, she served as the first Product Manager on Google Fi and Google Tag Manager. Drawing from that experience, Laura founded Grasshopper, an innovative and inclusive platform designed to teach coding to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Before departing from Google, she led the development of multiple products within Google's Education portfolio. Passionate about building teams and making complex products user-friendly, Laura has now ventured into the realm of Artificial Intelligence.
Laura's latest project, Anansi, is an AI-powered interactive story platform designed for children aged 3-7. With the tagline "magical adventures for curious children," Anansi aims to engage young minds, nurture curiosity, and build confidence through the power of story. By combining her expertise in technology and her commitment to inclusivity, Laura strives to make a lasting and positive impact on the lives of others.
Episode 5: Healthy Collaborations
Wesley and Kim discuss healthy collaboration. Plus, they review and react to listener comments.
Wesley and Kim discuss healthy collaboration. Plus, they review and react to listener comments.