Episode 120: The Relationship Driven Leader with Karen Bridbord
In this week’s episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Dr. Karen Bridbord — licensed psychologist, Gottman-certified couples therapist, and author of The Relationship-Driven Leader.
Karen blends cutting-edge psychology with organisational behaviour to show how leaders can strengthen workplace relationships for better productivity, resilience, and wellbeing.
From navigating conflict to building trust, Karen offers powerful tools every leader can use to transform team dynamics.
💡 Topics covered:
How to complain without blame
Recognising the “Four Horsemen” of toxic communication
Understanding attachment styles at work
Why bids for attention can make or break trust
Practical repair strategies for conflict
This episode is packed with real-world insights to help you lead with connection and confidence.
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Episode 119: Higher Ground: Doing the Right Thing in a Turbulent World with Alison Taylor
In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Alison Taylor, Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business and author of Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World.
Alison has spent two decades advising multinational companies on risk, corruption, sustainability, human rights, and workplace culture. Her book has been praised as a timely guide for leaders navigating today’s polarized, high-stakes world.
💡 Key insights from this episode:
Why the role of business in society has shifted beyond profit
The rise of employee activism and what younger generations expect from employers
Why “bad apples” aren’t the problem—it’s the system and incentives that matter
How leaders can build ethical infrastructure that fosters trust and accountability
Why putting human rights at the centre creates a stronger foundation than jargon or KPIs
This is an eye-opening conversation on how leaders can move beyond greenwashing and PR to create lasting impact rooted in dignity, respect, and values.
🎙️ Listen now to learn how to lead on higher ground.
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Episode 118: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants with Jennifer Moss
In this week's episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Jennifer Moss—award-winning author of The Burnout Epidemic and Why Work, and one of Thinkers50’s Top 10 management minds.
Jennifer delivers incredible insights backed by cutting-edge research from Gallup, Oxford, and Deloitte. Her work helps leaders create workplace cultures that actually work—for performance and people.
🔥 Key insights from this episode:
Hope Is a Strategy – Gallup’s newest research says hope is the #1 leadership skill today
Purpose Gap – Why 85% of executives feel purpose, but only 15% of employees do
Positive Gossip – Talking nicely behind someone’s back can boost innovation, onboarding & morale
Social Engineering Isn’t Evil – How to intentionally rebuild culture with small rituals (and why Google slows down lunch lines)
The Fear of Obsolescence – AI is creating silent anxiety in teams, and leaders aren’t talking about it
The Cloak of Dissension – A genius way to build psychological safety and challenge groupthink
💡 Standout Quote:
“We’re trying to galvanize young people for the future of work—but how can they do that if they feel no sense of themselves in that future?”
Jennifer’s episode is packed with real-world examples and powerful reframes every leader needs to hear.
Find out more about the work Jennifer does here: Why Are We Here - Creating A Work Culture Everyone Wants
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Episode 117: You're The Boss with Sabina Nawaz
In this week's episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless sits down with Sabina Nawaz, elite executive coach and author of "You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need."
Sabina brings incredible credentials - 14 years at Microsoft where she advised Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly, plus extensive work with Fortune 500 companies. Her book has received high praise from Adam Grant, Marshall Goldsmith, and Rita McGrath! 📚
🔥 Key insights from this episode:
The Container vs Content Mindset - Your job as a manager isn't the work itself, it's shaping HOW the work gets done
Power Gap Distortions - How your strengths (being direct, confident, strategic) can be misinterpreted as weaknesses (callous, arrogant, manipulative)
The "Ya But" Test - If you're using too many "ya buts" to justify your actions, you might be falling into toxic behaviors disguised as nobility
Breaking Family Patterns - How childhood dynamics play out in our leadership style years later
The Shut Up Muscle - The single biggest communication improvement? Speak less and listen more 💪
💡 Standout Quote: Sabina's insight about the myth of being exceptional vs excellent really hits home: "Excellent is producing great work. Exceptional is believing the rules don't apply to you."
The book also includes a brilliant 360 assessment tool - pure gold for any manager! ⭐
Find out more about Sabina: sabinanawaz.com
Support our podcast: patreon.com/WorkplacePodcast
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YouTube: William Corless YellowWood - YouTube
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Episode 116: Don't Say Um - How to Communicate Effectively with Michael Chad Hoeppner
This episode's guest is Michael Chad Hoeppner, CEO of GK Training. He joins William to discuss his brilliant book "Don't Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively."
Michael brings nearly 20 years of expertise helping people speak well when it matters most - from Columbia Business School to Fortune 500 companies and even former presidential candidates!
🔥 Episode Highlights:
The Lego Drill: A game-changing exercise that forces you to slow down and communicate one idea at a time
Silent Storytelling: Unlock vocal variety by exaggerating your physical delivery before adding sound back in
The 5 P's of Vocal Variety: Pace, Pitch, Pause, Power, and Placement - your roadmap to engaging communication
Breathing Breakthrough: Learn to "put air into action" instead of just "taking a breath"
Confidence vs. Competence: Stop chasing the mythical confidence beast and focus on building communication behaviours instead
💡 Key Takeaway: Your voice IS your body. When you engage your physical communication instrument, your words spring to life with natural variety and presence.
The book is packed with practical exercises you can start using immediately - from finger walking to tackle verbal tics to mastering the art of strategic pauses.
Download the nerves chapter FREE at HOME - Book Published - Don't Say Um | by Michael Chad Hoeppner📚
Find out more about Michael's work: Presentation Skills Training & Executive Coaching Services | GK Training
#EffectiveCommunicationsMonth #TheWorkplacePodcast #Communication #Leadership #ExecutivePresence #PublicSpeaking #YellowWood
About The Workplace Podcast in association with YellowWood
The Workplace podcast covering all aspects of work life. Listen to experts who are subject matter experts, who are extremely talented at what they do. A thought provoking conversation where we will give a different perspective and insight into the workplace.The aim is to empower you to create a different path to success for yourself, your team and your organisation. A diverse range of topics will include: Personal Development, Leadership Insights, Organisational Behaviour and Design, Education, Conflict, High Performance Teams, Negotiation, Executive Presence, Innovation, Communication and Body Language and much, much more....
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