71. Uncompete: A New Strategy for Career Advancement Without Political Games or Burnout
Are you constantly measuring yourself against everyone else at work? This constant comparison is exhausting. And according to today’s guest, Ruchika T. Malhotra, it's also sabotaging you. Ruchika is the author of Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success and joins Melody to share a radically different approach to success – one that doesn't require being obsessed with always being the best.What You’ll Discover: The invisible beliefs about competition draining your energy at work (and how to break free from them)How to handle colleagues who seem to get ahead by stepping over othersWays to advance your career without "sharp elbows" or playing political games that make you feel grossAbout Ruchika Ruchika T. Malhotra is the founder of Candour, a global inclusion strategy firm that has worked with some of the world’s biggest organizations. A former business journalist, she is now a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, and more. She is the author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work and Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success. https://www.ruchika.co/ melodywilding.com/training www.speaklikeaseniorleader.comConnect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up
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70. Performance Review Secrets That Position You for a Promotion
It's performance review season, and if you're still approaching your review the way you did 10 years ago, you're leaving BIG opportunities on the table. If you're tired of working your butt off only to walk out of your review feeling underwhelmed, this episode will show you exactly what needs to shift. Melody reveals five secrets that separate leaders who advance from those who stay stuck at "meets expectations." What You’ll Discover:Why your review has almost nothing to do with the past 12 months (and what it's REALLY about)The seemingly harmless 5-word phrase that's destroying your credibility in reviewsWhat your boss is really thinking when they say you need to "work on your executive presence"Two quick techniques that turn ambiguous feedback into actionable clarityWhy your "areas for improvement" are screaming “you’re not ready for a promotion” (and the simple fix) melodywilding.com/training www.speaklikeaseniorleader.comConnect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up
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69. How to STOP Feeling Intimidated Around Senior Executives
Whenever you get around powerful executives, you shrink. Your usual confidence evaporates, your words get jumbled, and you find yourself acting like you're grateful just to be in the room. This episode dives into the hidden reasons behind why accomplished mid-career professionals like you often feel intimidated by those in authority and how to stop undermining yourself. What You’ll Discover:Why some leaders make you feel instantly smaller while others feel like equals (hint: it’s not their title!)How to spot when you're unconsciously handing over your powerThe subtle language patterns that immediately signal you're operating from a disadvantaged positionWhat your strongest reactions to certain leaders reveal about you melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up
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68. 7 Unconscious Beliefs That Make or Break Your Leadership Success
As a leader, it’s easy to point the finger at someone else when something goes wrong – expectations aren’t met, peers are slow to act, or pressure from the top adds to an already stressful environment. Leaders spend so much time trying to control others, stressing and ruminating on how to force a situation to bend to their will, when they should instead focus on themselves. Today, Muriel M. Wilkins, author of LEADERSHIP UNBLOCKED, joins the show to share seven hidden beliefs that block leaders’ progress and how to get unstuck. About MurielMuriel M. Wilkins, founder and CEO of Paravis Partners, is a sought-after C-suite adviser and executive coach with a twenty-year track record of helping senior leaders take their performance to the next level. She is the author of Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential and coauthor of Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence. Muriel is the host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Coaching Real Leaders, consistently ranked as a top-ten podcast in Apple's Management category. melodywilding.com/training www.speaklikeaseniorleader.comConnect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up
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67. Layoff Anxiety
It’s no secret that work is more uncertain than ever. You may spend each day worrying, “Will I be let go?” even if you’re a top performer. There’s a term for this: layoff anxiety. In this episode, Melody breaks down how to manage constant stress about your job security without letting it consume you or hurt your performance. What You’ll Discover:Why 58% of companies plan layoffs in 2026 and how these cuts are different from previous yearsHow to separate real layoff warning signs from anxiety-driven overthinkingSpecific questions you can ask your manager to gauge job security without sounding paranoidWhat leadership actually looks for when making difficult staffing decisions melodywilding.com/training Connect with Melody: FREE GUIDE: Steal These Scripts for Saying No at Work FREE NEWSLETTER: Psychology at Work Weekly Get on the Speak Like a Senior Leader™ Waitlist Follow Melody on LinkedIn Follow Melody on Instagram Get Melody's new book, Managing Up
About Psychology at Work | Career Success, Leadership, Communication Skills
Have you ever felt like you're the only one struggling with self-doubt at work? Maybe you’ve wondered why office politics seem so complicated or how some people seem to influence so effortlessly? The secret is that every day at work, we're surrounded by psychological dynamics - internal and external. There's the voice in our head second-guessing our decisions, the subtle power plays in meetings, the unspoken expectations that shape our behavior and others. Yet most of us are dropped into our careers with zero insight into these invisible forces.That changes today. Welcome to Psychology at Work. I’m your host Melody Wilding, licensed social worker, human behavior professor, and author of two books: Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work and Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge. With a background as an emotion researcher, therapist, and after over 13 years of coaching thousands of executives and leaders across the world, there’s nothing I love more than helping emotionally intelligent people like you use superpower to make work better for themselves and everyone around them. Because here’s the thing, technical skills will only get you so far in your career. It's mastering your own psychology and understanding that of others that will truly make or break your success.While your coding skills might land you a job, it's your ability to manage stress and stay focused under pressure that will help you meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work.Your financial acumen might get you noticed, but it's your ability to navigate stakeholder relationships and office politics that will help you secure buy-in for your ideas.Your strategic thinking might earn you a promotion, but it's your self-awareness and ability to regulate your emotions that will make you an effective leader people want to follow.The title of this show is a playful nod to our double focus. First, we explore how psychology operates in professional settings. But second, in each episode you’re going to walk away with practical insights that you can put to work right away. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate the workplace when you're sensitive, empathetic, and prone to overthinking. That's why I created this podcast that brings you the tools and insights I wish I'd had earlier in my career.Get ready, because you’re going to learn how to master the ‘silent rules’ of human behavior so you can achieve career success without sacrificing inner peace.
Listen to Psychology at Work | Career Success, Leadership, Communication Skills, The Other Hand and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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