No one likes to be tricked. But it still happens sometimes, and some of us have friends who are tricked all the time. What’s lacking here is a better way to make decisions and not get tricked. In this episode, we discuss: - The disinformation and misinformation landscape - Common practices that trick people - Implications for people, leaders and organizations Links and Other Information The “dirty dozen” -- article from NPR on the 12 people behind most vaccine hoaxes Idea of “pre-bunking” as dis...
Oct 05, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep 108•Transcript available on Metacast Mo Gawdat is the former Chief Business Officer of Google [X] and the author of Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World. In this episode, we had the chance to discuss artificial intelligence--or AI--with Mo, and we covered his view of how AI is rapidly evolving, the risks of AI, and ultimately how we can remain in control of our collective future through a thoughtful approach to our interactions with technology. Links and Other Information Scary Smart: Mo...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep 107•Transcript available on Metacast If you’re in the fields of HR or training and development, it’s likely that you’ve heard some about the use of artificial intelligence and gamification in organizations. One of the top experts in this area is Richard Landers, who is a professor at the University of Minnesota. He joined us for a fascinating conversation, in which we discussed: - Why technology is cool but not magic - Gamification and artificial intelligence - Implications for leaders and organizations Links and Other Information ...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 106•Transcript available on Metacast Learning how to negotiate is an important skill. And one of the more common types of negotiations that we all go through has to do with job offers. So in this episode, we’ll be talking about navigating job offers from the perspective of both the job candidate and from the perspective of the organization doing the hiring. Specifically, we discuss: - Basic approaches toward negotiation - Stages of the negotiation process - Additional guidance for people and hiring teams Links and Other Information...
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep 105•Transcript available on Metacast While not all work can be done remotely, we’ve learned that many types of work can be done remotely or with some types of flexible arrangements. This realization isn’t going away, and leaders now need to face this challenge head on. In this episode, we discuss: - What’s actually going on right now - Unpacking the leadership challenge faced by many executives and managers - Implications for people, leaders, organizations Links and Other Information Top 10 Work Trends: list Updates on the top work...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 104•Transcript available on Metacast Since early 2019, a group of 12 members of the U.S. House of Representatives--six Democrats and six Republicans--have been on a bold mission to fix Congress. They’re members of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, chaired by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer. He joined us to talk about their efforts, including: - The origins of the committee - Recommendations it has produced - And much more Links and Other Information The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: websit...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 103•Transcript available on Metacast So many times in business and in life, people and teams mess the same things up, over and over again. But one specific way in which leaders and teams can drive continual learning is through what’s called the “after-action review,” which we explore in this episode. - What are after-action reviews and what problems might they help address - Important elements of after-action reviews - Best practices in using after-action reviews for team members, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Informat...
Aug 24, 2021•56 min•Ep 102•Transcript available on Metacast Work teams benefit from diverse perspectives. Yet that diversity can increase the probability of tension. In this episode, we discuss: - The relationships among diversity, conflict, and team performance - How we can think about and manage conflict within diverse teams - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information Garcia‐Prieto, P., Bellard, E., & Schneider, S. C. (2003). Experiencing diversity, conflict, and emotions in teams. Applied Psychology , 52 (3), 413-...
Aug 17, 2021•52 min•Ep 101•Transcript available on Metacast If you care about workplace learning and training, this is the episode for you. Kurt Kraiger is one of the world’s top experts in that space, and he joined us for a tremendous conversation about the science of workplace instruction. In this episode, we discussed: - Kurt’s academic and professional journey - What is the science of workplace instruction and why do we need it - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information The Science of Workplace Instruction: arti...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast Being the new person can be really tough. And helping newcomers is an important part of how we make teams work and how we get along well in society. In this episode, we discuss: - What does it mean to feel welcomed - Why it matters in the workplace and in broader society - Tips for all of us Links and Other Information Siegel, A., Esqueda, M., Berkowitz, R., Sullivan, K., Astor, R. A., & Benbenishty, R. (2019). Welcoming parents to their child’s school: Practices supporting students with diverse...
Aug 03, 2021•59 min•Ep 99•Transcript available on Metacast Bosses can be bad for many reasons. One reason is that they were promoted based upon technical expertise yet lack leadership and interpersonal skills. In this episode, we discuss that situation. Specifically, we address: - How being a technical expert who fails at leadership is one of many ways in which a manager can be a bad boss - What we can learn from the research on abusive supervision - Dealing with this particular type of bad boss: Tips if you’re in this situation Links and Other Informat...
Jul 27, 2021•50 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast Forrest Faison is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy who served as its 38th Surgeon General. He is now the senior vice president for research and innovation and chief healthcare strategy officer at Cleveland State University. He joined us to talk about the future of health care and much more. We discussed: - Major trends in the future of health care - Managing health emergencies at a large scale - Lessons learned from being the 38th surgeon general of the U.S. Navy Links and Other ...
Jul 20, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast What would it look like if every time someone wronged us, we responded with our most basic instincts: avoidance or revenge? This is one of the most critical types of situations in which we find ourselves torn between what we want to do and what makes the world a better place. In this episode, we explore the science of forgiveness, including: - What is forgiveness and ways to think about it - How forgiveness develops and its links with well-being - Implications for all of us Links and Other Infor...
Jul 13, 2021•46 min•Ep 96•Transcript available on Metacast Going off to college is an exciting time for both parents and students. It’s a time that marks the end of childhood in some ways and the launch into adulthood in other ways. It’s also a time that’s fraught with uncertainty and ambiguity. So in this episode, we explore how new college students can approach their first year, and how parents can support their child’s new foray into college. Links and Other Information - Parent resources: Cleveland State University and University of Michigan - We’re...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep 95•Transcript available on Metacast Cheryl Gray studies unhelpful help, which refers to those times when a supervisor or coworker does something that others perceive as being intended as helpful but actually is unhelpful or even harmful. In this episode, Cheryl joined us to discuss unhelpful help, and we explore: - What is unhelpful help and why does it matter - Cutting-edge emerging research on unhelpful help - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information Gray, C. E., Spector, P. E., Lacey, K. N...
Jun 29, 2021•47 min•Ep 94•Transcript available on Metacast In some workplaces, foul language seems to spew forth from people nonstop. In others, the slightest off-color remark would turn heads and raise eyebrows with astonishment. Given these differences, how should we think about swearing at work? And what research might help guide us? We discuss: - An introduction to ways to think about swearing at work - A survey of some of the research on swearing at work - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information Baruch, Y., P...
Jun 22, 2021•43 min•Ep 93•Transcript available on Metacast If you ask a person to do something, why would he or she say yes and comply? It has to do with the power you hold and the influence you wield. This holds true regardless of whether you’re working with your boss, your direct reports, your coworkers, or even with friends or members of your family. We discuss: - What is power and what are the primary sources of power - What is influence and what are the primary different influence tactics - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links ...
Jun 15, 2021•51 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Smith is a professor of sociology in the College of Leadership and Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College. Brad Johnson is a professor of psychology at the U.S. Naval Academy. Their most recent book--and the topic of this episode--is Good Guys: How Men can be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace . In particular, we discuss: - What does it mean to be an “ally” for women at work and why does it matter - Different types of allyship - Practical steps for leaders and the world of work Links an...
Jun 08, 2021•57 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast The data are clear about the benefits of having a sense of purpose and meaning in life. And one big piece of that for many people is their work. But what makes work meaningful? How might we make our work more meaningful, and what might we do if that’s just not possible? In this episode, we discuss: - What is meaningful work and why does it matter - How to make work more meaningful or what to do if that’s unlikely - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information B...
Jun 01, 2021•45 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast Imagine an “executive.” What do you picture in your mind? If you’re like most of us, some characteristics likely come to mind, and these characteristics are part of something called “executive presence.” It’s an important idea, but it’s also one that can get people and leaders into trouble. In this episode, we discuss. - What is the popular understanding of executive presence? - Research findings about executive presence and related concepts - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations ...
May 25, 2021•57 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast Rachel Wernicke is a clinical psychologist and leadership coach, currently serving as an associate dean and chief mental health officer at George Mason University. She’s also a U.S. Army veteran, and in today’s episode, we talk with her about self-talk--what it is, why it matters, and how it can be harmful or helpful. We discuss: - What is self-talk - Different types of self-talk and examples - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information - More about Rachel We...
May 18, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast What do you think about when you think about the word, “bureaucracy?” If you’re like most people, it’s probably not something positive. Truth be told, there is plenty about bureaucracy that’s not great. But might bureaucracy have some redeeming qualities? In this episode, we discuss: - What is bureaucracy and why does it have a negative connotation? - What might “good bureaucracy” look like - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information - Thompson, V. A. (1965)...
May 12, 2021•53 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast Surveys have become very common, and it can be annoying. But are surveys worth doing? The short answer is yes, but it depends. It turns out there are a number of best practices that have to do with surveys and how to make them a useful tool for management, leadership, and overall organizational development. In this episode, we discuss: - Should you do a survey - Top items to keep in mind if you are going to do a survey - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Informa...
May 05, 2021•51 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast Among the scholars who study the world of work, Paul Spector is a giant. A 2012 Indiana University study and a 2019 Stanford University study listed Paul as one of the 10 most influential business management researchers worldwide. In this episode, we discuss: - The field of occupational health psychology and why it matters - Signs of healthy and unhealthy workplaces - How to create organizations that are better suited for the psychological and physical health of their members Links and Other Inf...
Apr 27, 2021•1 hr•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast Co-hosted by organizational psychologist Ben Baran and management consultant Chris Everett, The Indigo Podcast takes an evidence-based approach toward solving problems at work and in life in a way that's always thoughtful and spit-out-your-coffee funny. The Indigo Podcast is on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more. Visit: https://www.indigotogether.com/indigopodcast...
Apr 26, 2021•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Even with the best hiring and coaching, good organizations and leaders need to be ready to fire someone who isn’t working out. Letting poor performers linger doesn’t help anyone. But firing people isn’t an activity to be taken lightly. It’s full of emotions and lasting consequences. It’s one of those things you want to handle with care as a leader. We discuss: - Managing the termination process - Minimizing risk for you and the organization during the process - Navigating an actual firing conver...
Apr 21, 2021•41 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to managing people, one of the toughest parts is hiring. But if you want a good organization, you have to get hiring right. The good news is that there’s a mountain of evidence about how to hire people. Listen in, and we’ll explore: - The challenge of selection - A process backed by 100 years of science - Implications for job candidates, hiring managers, and executives Links and Other Information - Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (1998). The validity and utility of selection method...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast Leading people is hard. It’s especially hard when many of the people you’re trying to lead don’t like you. But you have to lead anyway. In this episode, we talk about what you can do, exploring: - Situations in which leading other people is challenging - The central nature of trust and leadership - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information Burke, C. S., Sims, D. E., Lazzara, E. H., & Salas, E. (2007). Trust in leadership: A multi-level review and integration...
Apr 07, 2021•59 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we discuss training at work. Specifically, we examine what’s widely known in the training industry as the 70:20:10 rule. One part of this idea is that most of the learning that occurs at work happens informally and not through more formal experiences like those in the classroom. But does this idea stand the test of science? We explore: - The 70:20:10 rule and a review of the evidence - Maximizing the value of on-the-job training - Implications for people, leaders, and organizati...
Apr 01, 2021•51 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft released a report on March 22, 2021 that outlines seven urgent business trends and five ways forward with regard to the world of work. We discuss the report and provide our analysis and commentary. Specifically, we discuss: - An overview of Microsoft’s new report, “The Next Great Disruption is Hybrid Work -- Are we Ready? - Our evaluation of what we see as most (and least) valuable - Implications for people, leaders, and organizations Links and Other Information The Next Great Disrupti...
Mar 24, 2021•49 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast 
