Tag Archive for: workplace

The Horrors of LinkedIn

The Horrors of LinkedIn: Humblebrags, Work-iversaries, and Fake Leadership Lessons

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In this episode, Chuck Allen and Andrew Sheridan take a sharp, funny look at the “Horrors of LinkedIn” and why the platform often feels like a professional version of Instagram: a place where people perform success, manufacture envy, and turn everyday moments into forced leadership wisdom.

 

They dig into the most common LinkedIn tropes, including humblebrag announcements, algorithm-driven engagement (“Great job!” buttons), and the infamous work anniversary prompts that can land like a cruel joke for anyone stuck in a job they dislike. They also explore how hustle culture posts and pseudo-inspirational “influencer wisdom” can reinforce unhealthy workplace narratives, shifting responsibility onto individuals rather than fixing broken systems.

 

LinkedIn works best when you write in your own voice, stop performing for engagement, celebrate wins without fake humility, avoid autopilot interactions, and connect with people intentionally.


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Bad Bosses

How Bad Bosses Misuse Power—and What Great Leaders Do Instead

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If you’ve ever had a boss who wants to be cc’d on every email, bans overtime “effective immediately,” or mysteriously fires the smartest person in the room… congratulations. You’ve survived a power trip.

 

In this week’s episode of Humanize The Workplace, Chuck and Andrew take a joyful stroll through the wild, weird world of bad leadership—Reddit horror stories included. From micromanagers drowning in their own inboxes to managers threatened by employees who can operate a toilet with actual expertise, they dissect why fear-based leadership “works”… right up until everyone starts secretly applying for new jobs on their lunch break.

 

Then they flip the script: curiosity over control, listening over lecturing, and actually asking your employees what they need (radical, we know). Also: homework. Yes, homework. Chuck and Andrew want you to go find out what gifts your team is hiding while you’ve been busy pretending you’re the smartest person in the room.

 

If you’re leading people, this one’s for you. If you’ve worked for one of these bosses… yeah, enjoy the flashbacks.

 

Stay safe, stay kind and stay human.


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Is your job a cult?

How to Tell If Your Job Is a Cult

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Is your workplace a community or a congregation? Chuck & Andrew skewer the culty side of “culture”: forced fun, founder worship, surveillance-y “care,” and those rituals that eat your calendar and your soul. Then they map the healthy alternative—psychological safety, clear boundaries, dissent that isn’t punished, and values that don’t require chanting. If your team ends meetings with a slogan… this one’s for you.

 

In this episode:

  • The “too much” test: when culture tips into control
  • Rituals vs. productivity (and why your introverts are quietly dying inside)
  • Founder worship, ghost-of-the-founder energy, and anti-dissent norms
  • Surveillance theater (Zoom all day? Heartbeat monitoring? hard pass.)
  • Practical manager moves: celebrate results, model boundaries, invite questions


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Listen, laugh, and send this to the coworker who refuses to chant.

 

Stay safe, stay kind and stay human!

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

How Labels Sabotage Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — and What Real Equity Takes

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Why do mandatory DEI sessions make everyone groan—both the people they’re meant to protect and the ones who fear saying the wrong thing? In this raw conversation, Chuck Allen and Andrew Sheridan invite Leah Williams—Black woman, mother of three “game‑changers,” and veteran racial‑equity practitioner—to name the elephant in every training room: labels and unspoken expectations run the show.


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Leah shares:
🏷️ How race, gender, and parent status get questioned after you’re hired
⚖️ Equality vs. equity in plain‑English (and why $75 might not be fair)
📢 The difference between “calling out” and “calling in”—and when each harms
🌍 Three arenas for real change: intrapersonal, interpersonal, communal

 

You’ll hear hard truths, practical frameworks (shout‑out to The Equity Lab’s “Ready Agreements”), and a challenge to replace silent judgment with messy, grace‑filled dialogue. No tidy closure—just the next step in the people work we can’t keep dodging.

 

Love what you hear? Subscribe now and let’s make work suck less together! 🚀🎧

Thanks for the Terrible Feedback

How to Deal with Terrible Feedback

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In this episode, Chuck and Andrew face their very first YouTube burn on their AI episode. They break down a comment that kicks off with “This is terrible” and spirals into body odor brawls and tarmac tangents. Watch as they navigate the minefield of bad feedback with snarky humor, ironic takes, and a whole lot of eye rolls. Whether you’re an AI enthusiast or just here for the laughs, this episode is your crash course in handling awful comments without losing your cool (or your sense of humor). 😂🔥

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Key takeaways:

📝 Constructive Feedback Matters

🗣️ Communication Style Counts

🔍 Context is Crucial

⚖️ Balance Criticism with Support

🔄 Encourage Open Dialogue

👥 Maintain Human Connection

 

Love what you hear? Subscribe now and let’s make work suck less together! 🚀🎧

From Cell to CEO

From Cell to CEO: Leadership Lessons Behind Bars

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In this episode, Chuck and Andrew dive into Andrew’s eye-opening visit to Singapore’s Changi Prison. Discover how respect, boundaries, and rehabilitation aren’t just for inmates—they’re game-changers for your workplace too! Expect jaw-dropping insights, hilarious anecdotes, and brutally honest takes on transforming tough environments into thriving spaces. Tune in and learn how making work suck less starts with some unexpected prison wisdom!

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Key takeaways:

🎓 Respect is Non-Negotiable
🌍 Environment Shapes Behavior
🤝 Humans First, Always
📏 Be Consistently Predictable
🧠 Think Long Game
🛠️ Bosses Need Training Too
👂 Listen Like a Pro
💪 Empathy + Accountability = Magic
📉 Short-Sighted Leaders Suck
🏗️ Build Relationships, Not Just Results
💼 Treat Everyone Like a Human

 

Love what you hear? Subscribe now and let’s make work suck less together! 🚀🎧

Trust

Trust Me, I’m Lying: Navigating Workplace Trust Issues

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In this episode, Chuck and Andrew pull back the curtain on workplace trust—or the hilarious lack thereof. From bosses who say “Great idea!” while mentally tossing your suggestion into the nearest trash can, to colleagues as predictable as a caffeinated squirrel, we dive into why trust is the office unicorn everyone talks about but nobody’s seen. Prepare for laughs, eye-rolls, and that awkward realization that maybe, just maybe, you’re the one who needs to check your boundaries. Tune in if you dare—we promise we’re being honest this time!

 

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Key takeaways:

😒 Trust is built on predictability.
🤐 Fake agreement undermines trust.
🙄 Low-trust workplaces breed dread and fear.
🎭 Authenticity matters—be genuine.
🔍 Employees watch managers closely.
💬 Listening isn’t just hearing.
🤝 Trust is a two-way street.
🚫 Set and maintain strong boundaries.
💡 Transparency + Empathy + Accountability = Trust.
💪 Invest in manager development now.

 

Love what you hear? Subscribe now and let’s make work suck less together! 🚀🎧