Better At Work with 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 One
Managers need to understand how each person works best while balancing the team's needs.

3. Work as a Friend Factory
Why having friends at work isn't just nice—it's critical for engagement, retention, and culture.

Listener Question: Burnout at a Major Organisation

Ellie 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 process

Key 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 Sloan

Resources:

Books: "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, "Building a Winning Career" by Bill Cowan
Apps: Calm (meditation)
Better at Work: Better Careers modules at betteratwork.net

Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net

Next 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 using

Russell'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 Beck
Website: imaginethinkdo.com

Submit your career question: betteratwork.net

Better 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 excitement

ANNETTE'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 Work
Authors: Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast
Last Week's Episode: Smart Conflict with Alice and Louise
Website: betteratwork.net
Instagram: @betteratwork

ABOUT 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.net

Thank 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!

Louise van Haast and Alice Driscoll, co-authors of Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work, join Cathal in-studio for a masterclass in navigating workplace conflict.

This is our first in-studio episode with 4-camera setup - and it looks stunning.

If you've ever avoided a difficult conversation, taken feedback too personally, or struggled to speak up at work, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Where their passion for conflict work began
- How they met and decided to write a book together
- The two main conflict styles: harmony-seeking vs goal-focused
- "Get curious, not furious" - the principle that changes everything
- Alice's story: "Feedback isn't that I don't like you"
- Ripcord phrases to exit conversations gracefully
- Louise's lesson: "Just because you're good at it doesn't mean you enjoy it"
- The Conflict Style Quiz (both individual and team)
- Practical scripts for hard conversations

KEY INSIGHTS:

"Get curious, not furious. Whether you're someone who avoids conflict or someone who charges straight in, this principle applies. When you notice you're getting furious, pause and get curious instead." - Louise and Alice

"Every time I heard feedback, I was collapsing it into 'you're not good enough.' Then someone finally said: 'You know this feedback isn't that I don't like you, right?' It was a light bulb moment." - Alice Driscoll

"Just because you're really good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it. And just because other people think you should keep pursuing it doesn't mean you should have to." - Louise van Haast

"I wasn't expecting to have this conversation. I need some time to reflect so I can give you a considered response." - Ripcord phrase for exiting conversations

ABOUT LOUISE VAN HAAST AND ALICE DRISCOLL:

Louise van Haast and Alice Driscoll are executive coaches, conflict specialists, and co-authors of Smart Conflict. They help leaders and teams navigate difficult conversations with confidence and skill.

Louise started her career in advertising where she witnessed high conflict and big egos. She became passionate about finding better ways to navigate workplace tension.

Alice grew up as the hyper-aware child analysing family dynamics. She went on to work in human rights NGOs where conflict was constant. Through painful self-awareness moments, she learned how to navigate difficult conversations effectively.

Together, they've created practical frameworks for handling workplace conflict without avoiding it or escalating it.

RESOURCES:

Book: Smart Conflict - How to Have Hard Conversations at Work
Website: thepowerhousecompany.com
Conflict Style Quiz: thepowerhousecompany.com/quiz
Individual and team versions available
Coaching Programs: thepowerhousecompany.com

ABOUT BETTER AT WORK:

Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. We tackle the real challenges of modern work with practical advice you can use immediately.

New episodes every Thursday.
Guest interviews and listener Q&A episodes.

Website: betteratwork.net
Instagram: @betteratwork
Submit Your Question: betteratwork.net

NEXT EPISODE:
Listener Q&A with Annette - Takeaways from this Smart Conflict conversation

Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net

A listener on a graduate program asks: "I'm not learning what I expected. The role feels narrow. I want to be an entrepreneur. What should I do?"

Cathal and Annette tackle this question with practical advice that applies to ANYONE feeling stuck in a narrow role, not just graduates.

Plus: Cathal shares what it was like meeting Dermot Kennedy (and whether he lived up to expectations).

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Why large organisations are "friend factories"
- The 5 things to do when your role feels limiting
- How to use "easy" time for work-life balance
- Side hustles vs full-time entrepreneurship
- Getting involved in company-wide projects
- Why you won't know what you learned until later
- Meeting Dermot Kennedy: Did he live up to expectations?
- The Tig Notaro/Taylor Dayne story everyone should hear

ANNETTE'S 5 PIECES OF ADVICE:

When your job feels too narrow or not challenging enough:

1. Find your people - Your workplace is a "friend factory." Build friendships that create belonging and resilience.

2. Use the time wisely - If work is easy, use that space for work-life balance, volunteering, or building future skills.

3. Reflect deeply - Name exactly what frustrates you, then counter it with innovation projects or improvements.

4. Find mentors/coaches - Shadow people, join employee action groups, get guidance from those ahead of you.

5. Give it time - You won't know what you learned until you're in your next role. Patience reveals the value.

CATHAL'S ADVICE:

- Talk to your manager about getting involved in company-wide projects
- Consider a side hustle on weekends (test entrepreneurial ideas)
- Join internal committees (People Development, Innovation, etc.)
- Give it a year before making big decisions
- Be proud you got the role - grad programs are incredibly competitive

KEY INSIGHTS:

"Your workplace is a friend factory. Spend time finding your people and making friends at work. Those friendships build belonging, purpose, and resilience when the day-to-day isn't energising you." - Annette

"You probably won't really know what you've learned from this time until the future comes and you go, 'I grew there, I learned about myself.'" - Annette

"Give it a year. You're already six months in. Talk to your manager, get involved in other projects, maybe do a side hustle on weekends." - Cathal

RESOURCES:
Website: betteratwork.net
Instagram: @betteratwork
Submit Your Question: betteratwork.net

ABOUT BETTER AT WORK:
Making your work life be