Better At Work with Cathal Quinlan

Why Culture Is the Most Powerful Force at Work (And How to Actually Change It) | Marcus CollinsWhat if the biggest thing shaping your experience at work isn't your manager, your workload, or your pay, but something most organisations can't even define? In this episode, Cathal sits down with Marcus Collins, marketing professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, faculty director for the school's executive education partnership with Google, and faculty member at Harvard Extension School. Marcus has led digital strategy for Beyonce, worked on Nike and iTunes initiatives at Apple, and was recently awarded the Thinkers 50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award.His book For the Culture: The Power Behind the World's Most Successful Brands has been endorsed by Daniel Pink, Adam Grant, Amy Edmondson, and Katy Milkman. But don't let the word "marketing" fool you. This is a people book, and the conversation goes deep into what actually drives behaviour in any organisation.

They dig into research showing the ideal collaborative team is tiny — about 4.5 people — and why bigger leadership groups stall. They discuss the common goal-setting mistake that leaves teams floundering. They explore how rising individualism and hybrid work erode collective identity and why psychological safety matters more than ever. They also share a listener’s career reinvention into a portfolio life.

Colin Fisher went from touring the world as a jazz trumpet player to becoming one of the leading researchers on group dynamics at UCL. His new book, The Collective Edge, reveals why the structure around your team matters more than the talent inside it.In this episode, Colin shares the surprising research behind why orchestra musicians are less satisfied than prison guards, introduces the "California Tomorrow" problem for goal-setting, and explains why 93% of leadership teams can't even agree on how many people are on the team.We also cover: the optimal team size (it's 4.6), how to "relaunch" teams that are stuck, why competition between teammates is playing with fire, and why the best coaches ask questions instead of diagnosing.Key topics: group dynamics, psychological safety, team composition, goal clarity, conformity vs. creativity, competition, team coaching, relaunches.Book: The Collective Edge by Colin Fisher (available now)Connect with Colin: colinamfisher.com | @ColinMFisher on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, BlueSkySubscribe for new episodes every Thursday at 7am.

She left her job for a direct competitor. Six months in, she wants out.This week's Q&A tackles a listener career dilemma that most of us have lived through — that sinking feeling when your new job isn't what you expected.Amy's dealing with a culture mismatch, missing processes, and tanking motivation. Cathal and Annette share practical, honest advice drawing from their own career transitions.Plus, Annette shares her three key takeaways from last week's conversation with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez on project-driven organisations.What we cover:→ Why the shock of changing organisations is bigger than we admit→ Finding one friend at work (and why it matters)→ The manager conversation most people never have→ How to protect your personal brand while job hunting→ Annette's sea view analogy — knowing what you need→ Antonio's balanced portfolio approach to projectsMentioned: "Powered by Projects" by Antonio Nieto-RodriguezNext week: Colin Fisher — The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of GroupsSend your career dilemma: betteratwork.netConnect: @betteratworkpod on Instagram

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez got fired for trying to bring project management to a top consulting firm.Today, he's the most published expert on project management in Harvard Business Review and a Thinkers 50 global authority.His new book "Powered by Projects" makes a bold claim: Every organization is project-driven, but the leaders don't know it.IN THIS EPISODE:The Origin Story:- Almost went professional with Real Madrid (broke his knee)- Got fired for pitching project management ("too tactical")- The moment that sparked his missionGetting HBR to Listen:- Chased Harvard Business Review for 5 years- The pitch: "Everyone's a project manager but nobody knows it"- Became their most published PM expertCOVID Changed Everything:- 3 days to do what used to take 3 months- Laser-sharp focus on priorities- Then we lost all that knowledgeThe Project-Driven Organization:- Shift from operations to transformation- AI taking over operations; people work on projects- "Back to normal" doesn't existThree Dimensions Framework:1. Organization (culture, structure, governance)2. Leadership (prioritization, HR, performance)3. Value Creation (operations, execution)Key Examples:- Haier: Stop projects if no value in 3 months- Fixed to exponential mindset- Lean governance (match intensity to risk)Best Advice:- Do the hardest thing first every day- Care about people (Marshall Goldsmith)- Speak up constructively to leadersKEY QUOTES:"Your projects are your future. If you do them wrong, you put your future at risk.""During COVID we did in 3 days what took 3 months. Then we went back to thousands of projects going nowhere.""There's no back to normal. Change will happen."About Antonio:- Author: "Powered by Projects" & "HBR Project Management Handbook"- Thinkers 50 ranking (2023, 2025)- 25 years corporate (PwC, BNP Paribas, GSK)- Website: antonionietorodriguez.comBetter at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time.New episodes every Thursday (+ special Sunday episodes!)Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloanbetteratwork.net

Q&A episode answering a tough leadership question from Emer, plus Annette's takeaways from Laura Gassner-Otting.IN THIS EPISODE:Thank You Email Goes Viral:Cathal's email praising his daughter's teacher went around the whole school. Miss Smith said "You'd be surprised how little that happens." Why recognition matters more than we think.Annette's Laura Takeaways:- The Four Horsemen of Success (money, title, power, prestige) and why we chase them- The Forces (Calling, Connection, Contribution, Control)- "Refuse not to be happy now"- Balance = being yourself everywhere- Do Laura's quizListener Question: New Leader, Difficult Team MemberEmer started a new leadership role. Most of her team is on board. But one woman has "taken a total dislike" to her. The woman ignores everything Emer says.Annette's advice:1. Work as team to agree on values/behaviors (clear is kind)2. Get to know this person - seek to understand3. Might be anxiety, trauma, nothing to do with you4. Build connection and safetyCathal's advice:1. Start with YOU - is this about YOUR need for validation?2. Imposter syndrome from previous org?3. Ask open questions: "How are you finding it?" "Any concerns?"4. Discuss ways of working5. Reality check: She might just be difficult/jealous/wanted the job6. If intractable after doing the work, she might need to goKey Insights:"You'd be surprised how little that happens." - Teacher receiving thank you"Refuse not to be happy now. Balance is being yourself in work and life." - Annette"Let's be real. She might be a piece of work. But we try to be fair." - CathalResources:Laura Gassner-Otting's quizSubmit your career dilemma: betteratwork.netBetter at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time.New episodes every Thursday.Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloan

Laura Gassner-Otting (Wall Street Journal bestselling author) joins Cathal in the London studio to challenge everything we think we know about success.This is Laura's UK/Ireland podcast debut, recorded at Christmas after a mulled wine with incredible energy.IN THIS EPISODE:The Four Horsemen of Success (and why they drive Laura batty):1. "I'll be happy when..." - Life is short. Refuse to not be happy NOW.2. Purpose - Your job doesn't need a white hat to have purpose.3. Follow your passion - The "live, laugh, love" tattoo of career advice.4. Balance - We need alignment, not balance. Code-switching is exhausting.Need to Make vs Want to Make Numbers:We all have two numbers. Need to make: bills, food, school. Want to make: Claridge's vs Holiday Inn, Rolls Royce vs Hyundai. In between are the sacrifices you'll make.Caroline's Story:Laura wanted to promote her to VP. Caroline said no thank you. She'd just had a baby and wanted to be present. Three years later, she got promoted. Still with the firm 10 years after Laura sold it.Eleanor Roosevelt: "We would worry much less about what other people thought about us if we realised how seldom they did."Whose Goal Is This?We define success at 17-18 before our frontal lobe is fully formed. Laura dropped out of law school - it was her fourth grade teacher's goal, not hers. Give yourself grace to change.Work-Life Alignment > Balance:You're friends with coworkers on social media. It's already integrated. Stop separating work and life. Find alignment instead. Code-switching is exhausting.Feeling Seen vs Feeling Loved:Laura's therapy revelation: She felt loved transactionally (got grades = we love you). But did she feel seen? Could she have said "I don't want law school, I want to be an artist"?Key Insights:"I refuse to not be happy NOW. They retire and have heart attacks.""Follow your passion is the live, laugh, love tattoo of career advice.""I think we're not too busy. We're too busy doing things that don't matter to us.""When you find alignment, you just move from one to the other pretty seamlessly."ABOUT LAURA GASSNER-OTTING:Author of "Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path" and "Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should."20 years as executive recruiter, sold her firm, now speaker/consultant. Regularly on Good Morning America.Website: lauragassnerotting.comSubmit your career dilemma: betteratwork.netBetter at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time.New episodes every Thursday.Hosted by Cathal Quinlan

Q&A episode with Annette's top takeaways from Russell Beck + critical advice for dealing with burnout at work.IN THIS EPISODE:Annette's 3 Takeaways from Russell Beck:1. The Rise of Artist Engineers (STEM → STEAM)Why creativity and art matter more than ever in the future of work. Drawing as a tool for thinking.2. One Size Fits OneManagers need to understand how each person works best while balancing the team's needs.3. Work as a Friend FactoryWhy having friends at work isn't just nice—it's critical for engagement, retention, and culture.Listener Question: Burnout at a Major OrganisationEllie asked: How do I get out of a toxic workplace without destroying my career?Cathal's advice:- You need at least 2 months off to recover- Consider consulting/contract work instead of another corporate role- Get back to the work you love (not just management drama)Annette's practical daily tactics:- 10-minute morning meditation (Calm app)- Mammalian dive reflex for grounding (2-min exercise)- Schedule 20-min coffee with work friends- Weekend self-care: massage, sauna, nature walks- Career counseling or coaching- Bill Cowan's career transition processKey Insights:"Work can be a friend factory." - Aisha Bousaid"Employees with a best friend at work are 7x more likely to be fully engaged." - Gallup"We take jobs for the salary. We quit because of culture." - Bruce Daisley"Burnout is really real. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to pull back out." - Annette SloanResources:Books: "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, "Building a Winning Career" by Bill CowanApps: Calm (meditation)Better at Work: Better Careers modules at betteratwork.netSubmit your career dilemma: betteratwork.netNext Episode: Laura Gassner-Otting on "Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody and Carve Your Own Path"Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time.New episodes every Thursday.Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloan

You won't lose your job to AI in 2026. You'll lose it to someone who knows how to use AI better.Russell Beck (author of "The World of Work to 2030" - Leadership Book of the Year) breaks down what's changing in the workplace and how to stay ahead.IN THIS EPISODE:- Why AI collaboration beats AI competition- How technology democratizes work by destroying skills, not jobs- The 3 skill buckets for 2030: creativity, self-efficacy, leadership- The JFK janitor who said "I'm helping put a man on the moon"- Why your manager impacts your mental health as much as your partner- Active listening: the skill most people aren't usingRussell's key insight: "I'm not worried about whether AI is thinking. I'm worried about whether humans are thinking."Russell Beck has worked in 25 countries, was European Head of Talent at Yahoo, and now helps organisations future-proof their people strategies.Book: "The World of Work to 2030" by Russell BeckWebsite: imaginethinkdo.comSubmit your career question: betteratwork.netBetter at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time.New episodes every Thursday.

Our final episode of 2025! Cathal and Annette wrap up the year with takeaways from last week's Smart Conflict episode - plus Annette has a hilarious problem: she can't stop saying the word "problematic."In this Christmas special, we review key lessons from Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast's brilliant conversation, thank our amazing community, and ask for your help with Annette's vocabulary crisis.IN THIS EPISODE:- Christmas catch-up with Cathal and Annette- Why last week's Smart Conflict episode is perfect for family gatherings- Annette's 3 takeaways from Smart Conflict- The 5 R's framework: Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair- Singles tennis to doubles tennis: Shifting from adversarial to collaborative- Annette's "problematic" word problem - we need your help!- Why "problematic" has become problematic- Thank yous to the team: Phoebe, Harrison, Grace- Thank yous to listeners: Angela Collins, David Monroe, Linda Menos, Jesse- Preview: Russell Beck on World of Work to 2030 (first episode back January)- Christmas wishes and 2026 excitementANNETTE'S 3 SMART CONFLICT TAKEAWAYS:1. The 5 R's Framework - Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair. If you're short on time, focus on REPAIR.2. Singles Tennis to Doubles Tennis - Move from adversarial (me vs you) to collaborative (us vs the problem together).3. The Decision Tree - Should I have this hard conversation? The book has a decision tree that helps you work through it.THE "PROBLEMATIC" CHALLENGE:Annette has banned herself from using the word "problematic" after realizing she says it constantly. She needs a replacement word that isn't "aligned" (already banned), isn't too rude, and works professionally.Help Annette! What should she say instead?RESOURCES:Smart Conflict Book: How to Have Hard Conversations at WorkAuthors: Alice Driscoll and Louise van HaastLast Week's Episode: Smart Conflict with Alice and LouiseWebsite: betteratwork.netInstagram: @betteratworkABOUT BETTER AT WORK:Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday.We're back in January 2026 with Russell Beck discussing the World of Work to 2030.Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.netThank you for an incredible 2025! See you in January 2026.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Cathal, Annette, and the Better at Work team!