Truth, Lies and Work

270. Is flexible work actually fair? PLUS! Corporate politics, motivating Gen X and the truth about learning styles

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work — the podcast where behavioural science meets real working life. This week, we’re asking a simple question with uncomfortable answers: who really gets flexibility, who’s trusted around AI, and what psychology myths are still shaping work decisions? 🔥 Stories covered 1. Who actually gets flexible work — and why Leanne introduces a new term this week: i-deals — short for idiosyncratic deals. These are personalised, one-to-one flexibility arrangements negotiated privately between employees and managers. 📄 Research source:https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/joop.70084 2. When corporate politics becomes the real job Al brings a thread from X this week by an account called IT_Unprofessional, written by an IT Director earning around $280k a year. He describes what he calls a “corporate survival guide” — not about technical excellence, but about navigating power, perception and incentives. 3. Why banks are hiring behavioural scientists for AI roles After one of the toughest recruitment years since 2008, UK financial services firms are hiring again — and not just technologists. The concern isn’t AI failure. It’s human behaviour around AI — over-trust, automation bias, and quiet deference to systems that sound confident but may be wrong. 🔗 Reporting:https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/banks-ai-experts-worried-misuse-5HjdRJS_2/ 🔥 Truth or Lie💬 People learn better when teaching matches their learning style Visual learner. Auditory learner. Kinaesthetic learner. The idea is everywhere. Leanne breaks down decades of evidence and explains: Preferences exist Enjoyment increases when preferences are met Learning outcomes do not reliably improve The verdict: Lie. What matters is the material, not the learner label. And learning that feels harder is often more effective. Workplace Surgery This week we tackle: How to motivate a team nearing retirement without patronising them What to do when a career coach crosses ethical lines Whether employee NPS is a meaningful measure of engagement We explore motivation, power, boundaries and what good evidence actually supports. 🎧 Coming up Thursday We’re joined by Gemma Ruse and Xavier Sheriff, co-founders of Studio XAG, to talk about building a people-first agency, becoming a B Corp, and what it’s really like running a business with the person you’re married to. 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Connect with the hosts Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

269. Why Truth is Funny: 7x Emmy Winner Beth Sherman on Building Trust at Work

What do late-night comedy writers know about trust, influence, and human connection that most business leaders don’t? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we’re joined by Beth Sherman — a seven-time Emmy-winning comedy writer who spent three decades in Hollywood writers’ rooms before taking what she learned into the world of business. Beth has written for The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Oscars. Today, she works with leaders, sales teams, and organisations who want to build trust quickly, communicate with confidence, and connect more humanly at work. This is not about telling jokes in meetings. It’s about understanding why humour works, how truth creates connection, and why the most effective communicators are the most observant — not the funniest. What you’ll learn in this episode Why “truth is funny” — and what that reveals about trust and rapport The difference between self-awareness and self-deprecation (and why confusing the two damages credibility) How humour creates psychological safety without undermining authority Why being human matters more as work becomes more automated and AI-driven How observational humour helps in sales, leadership, presentations, and difficult conversations Why you don’t need to be funny — you need to be emotionally intelligent and observant Beth explains how comedians build instant rapport with strangers, and why those same principles are powerful in boardrooms, client meetings, and tense workplace moments. Why this matters for leaders and teams In a world where people can buy similar products, services, and solutions anywhere, relationships are the differentiator. Humour, when used properly, signals: Awareness of the room Confidence without ego Safety without softness Humanity without oversharing Beth’s work shows that humour isn’t about performance. It’s about connection — and connection is the foundation of trust, influence, and persuasion at work. About our guest Beth Sherman is a comedian, keynote speaker, and communication expert. She spent over 30 years writing comedy at the highest level before translating those principles into practical tools for business leaders. Her upcoming book is published by Blue Goat Books. 🔗 Beth Sherman website: https://www.bethsherman.com/ 🔗 Beth Sherman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/ 🎧 Listen if you’re… A leader who wants to build trust without forcing charisma In sales or marketing and tired of scripts that feel inauthentic Giving presentations and feeling pressure to “perform” Curious about the psychology of humour and human connection Navigating communication in an increasingly automated workplace 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support If this conversation brings anything up for you or someone you care about: UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

268. Does complaining at work rewire your brain? PLUS! Gen Z growth hunting, wellbeing perks and how to manifest success

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week we’re exploring what employees and leaders are really looking for at work right now — and how it’s shaping leadership behaviour, burnout, employee wellbeing, and workplace culture. 🔥 Stories covered Why are Gen Z leaving jobs so quickly? According to a Fast Company article by Jeff LeBlanc, Gen Z workers aren’t job-hopping out of disloyalty. They’re growth hunting. The research shows: Nearly half of Gen Z plan to leave roles for better growth, not higher pay 86% won’t upskill without employer funding 43% feel too burnt out to learn outside work hours Cost, not motivation, is the biggest barrier to development This reflects a wider shift in workplace expectations. When organisations talk about growth but don’t support it structurally, people move on. Gen Z isn’t rejecting work — they’re rejecting stagnation. 🔗 https://www.fastcompany.com/91452297/the-rise-of-growth-hunting-why-gen-z-changes-jobs-so-oftengenz-job-hopping Jeff previously joined Truth, Lies & Work to discuss Gen Z, burnout, and leadership psychology: https://truthliesandwork.com/episodes/207-what-happens-when-leaders-start-being-kind-with-jeff-leblanc You can also explore his book Engaged Empathy Leadership for practical, science-backed management advice: https://www.amazon.com/Engaged-Empathy-Leadership-Redefining-Action-ebook/dp/B0FCGSC48C Does complaining at work make teams less resilient? Research highlighted by Stanford suggests that repeated complaining rewires the brain. Over time: Neural pathways linked to stress and threat detection strengthen Baseline stress levels rise Small irritations feel bigger Negativity becomes automatic For leaders, this matters. Teams that normalise constant complaining may unintentionally reduce resilience, decision-making quality, and psychological safety. 🔗 https://x.com/shiningscience/status/2013113758386987099 What employee wellbeing benefits actually reduce burnout? After a LinkedIn post went viral, Slate introduced a $200 monthly cleaning stipend for employees. Why this matters for employee wellbeing: It removes friction instead of adding effort It gives people time and mental space back It supports carers and those under chronic time pressure Research consistently links cluttered environments to higher stress This reframes wellbeing away from “one more thing to do” and towards burnout prevention. 🔗 https://fortune.com/2026/01/15/company-adds-cleaning-services-as-employee-benefit-what-hr-leaders-can-learn/ 🔥 Truth or Lie Can you manifest success just by visualising it? Lie — if it’s about imagining outcomes alone.Truth — when visualisation is used to plan actions and effort. Psychology shows visualising the process increases follow-through. Imagining success without action often reduces motivation. 💬 Workplace Surgery — practical management advice This week we answer: What’s the earliest sign of burnout before someone admits it? Is it genuinely hard to find a good manager? If you hate your job and feel stuck, what’s the first practical step? 🎧 Coming up Thursday We’re joined by Beth Sherman to explore how humour builds trust, rapport, and confident decision-making at work. 💬 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🧠 Mental health support UK & ROI: Samaritans — 116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 | https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — 13 11 14 | https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

267. How to build a business bigger than you, with Dustin Hillis

Most founders pride themselves on being “high-capacity”. The person who can sell, operate, strategise, and firefight all at once. But there’s a point where that strength quietly becomes the problem. In this episode, Al and Leanne are joined by Dustin Hillis, a serial entrepreneur and executive coach who has led businesses from early-stage chaos through to $100m-plus scale, and is now building again at a much bigger level. Dustin’s core message is simple, but uncomfortable:what gets you to your first milestone will not get you to the next one. Unless leaders change how they work, think, and let go, they become the bottleneck that holds everything back. This is a long-form, honest conversation about growth, power, systems, and the emotional reality of leadership that rarely gets talked about. 🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode Why working harder eventually stops working, and what replaces it How leaders unintentionally burn out their best people by turning them into “catch-alls” Why systems don’t kill creativity, but reduce fear and create capacity What actually changes at £1m, £10m, £100m and beyond The power dynamics that quietly derail teams as money and authority increase Why “pruning” underperformance is painful but essential for healthy cultures How to stop being the centre of everything without losing control Dustin acts as a guide through the messy middle of growth, grounded in lived experience rather than theory. 📘 About the book Dustin is the author of Capacity: Building Your Business Bigger Than You, a practical exploration of how leaders build organisations that no longer depend on them to function. 🔗 Connect with Dustin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhillis/ Website: https://dustinhillis.com 💬 Connect with the hosts Al Elliotthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alelliott/ Leanne Elliotthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leanneelliott/ 🎧 Connect with Truth, Lies & Work Website: https://truthliesandwork.com Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truth-lies-and-work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthlieswork Have a workplace dilemma or question? Get in touch — it may feature in a future episode. 🧠 Mental health support If this episode brings up difficult feelings, support is available: UK: Samaritans — call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org US: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org Australia: Lifeline — call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au Elsewhere: https://findahelpline.com

266. Is Blue Monday actually real? PLUS! Autistic Barbie, career pivots and the science of 'wintering' - This Week in Work, 13th January 2026

January blues are back — but is Blue Monday actually real? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we explore wintering, career pivots, and what behavioural science really says about mood, motivation and burnout at work during January. If the start of the year feels heavy, flat or strangely exhausting, you’re not alone. Instead of pushing harder, this week we ask a different question: what if slowing down is the smarter response? 🔥 Stories Covered Word of the Week: Wintering We unpack the idea of wintering, coined by author Katherine May, which reframes winter as a period of restoration rather than something to “power through”. Drawing on coverage in The Times and insights from clinical psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, we explore why January might not be the time for big life changes — and how seasonal rhythms, cold exposure, warm food rituals and gentler movement can help regulate mood and energy. Links:https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/january-blues-cure-wintering-tkxhxwkskhttps://katherine-may.co.uk/winteringhttps://www.penguin.co.uk/books/472162/the-gifts-of-winter-by-fitzgerald-dr-stephanie/9780241779576 When is it really time for a career pivot? We look at new thinking on how to tell the difference between genuine readiness for change and endless rumination. With careers becoming less predictable and many people stuck in the “Big Stay”, we explore why job-hugging is rising — and how understanding your real strengths can help you spot when fit has genuinely broken down. Link:https://www.fastcompany.com/91462109/how-tell-time-career-pivot Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie Mattel has introduced its first autistic Barbie, developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Thoughtful design choices around sensory comfort, communication and representation open up a bigger conversation about inclusion, neurodiversity and what people grow up seeing as “normal” — and how that shapes expectations at work. Links:https://corporate.mattel.com/news/barbie-introduces-the-first-autistic-barbie-doll-championing-representation-for-children-through-playhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cygielman-7a912412/ 🧠 Truth or Lie: Is Blue Monday real? Every January, we’re told there’s a single Monday that’s the most depressing day of the year. It sounds scientific. It feels believable. But does it stand up to evidence? We break down where Blue Monday came from, what research actually says about winter mood, money stress, Mondays and post-holiday crashes — and where the idea falls apart. Verdict: Blue Monday as a specific date is a lie. January strain and winter pressure are very real. 💬 Workplace Surgery This week we answer: What actually works in a company culture diagnostic beyond satisfaction surveys? How do you build a genuinely high-performance team without burning people out? If your policies support work-life balance but staff say otherwise, what’s missing? 🎧 Coming up Thursday A brand-new expert interview with Beth Sherman, comedian and seven-time Emmy Award-winning writer, on how humour builds trust, rapport and confident decision-making at work. 📬 Get in touch with the show Have a question for Workplace Surgery or feedback on the episode? LinkedIn (Show): https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com Website: https://truthliesandwork.com/ 💚 Mental wellbeing support If you or someone you know is struggling, confidential help is available: Samaritans (UK & Ireland): 116 123 Mind (England & Wales): 0300 102 1234 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): Call or text 988 Find A Helpline (Global): https://findahelpline.com/