

You First: Creating and Managing Happier, Healthier and More Productive Business Teams
Dysfunctional teams are discouragingly prevalent throughout the world of business. Rather than aiding an organization’s business plan, poorly conceived and managed teams erode productivity and extinguish innovation.

Because There's More Podcast
Episode Description
There are so many ways a team can go wrong. Does your team make decisions so slowly that nothing ever gets done, or does it go too fast and miss critical issues that come back to bite you later? Does your team bicker endlessly or smile and nod while avoiding the tough issues? Too often, team dysfunction leads to abysmal productivity and zero innovation for your organization, as well as misery and wasted time for you.
Listen to Dr. Liane Davey sharing her expertise and extensive experience in enabling effective team dynamics from the executive team down in order to transform organizations.

Five common problems your team is susceptible to—and the one thing you can do to fix all of them
There are so many ways a team can go wrong. Does your team make decisions so slowly that nothing ever gets done, or does it go too fast and miss critical issues that come back to bite you later? Does your team bicker endlessly or smile and nod while avoiding the tough issues? Too often, team dysfunction leads to abysmal productivity and zero innovation for your organization, as well as misery and wasted time for you.

The scariest, most anxiety-provoking bosses to work for—and how to cope with them
It can be scary to work for a leader who’s insecure. It might not seem like a threat, but there can be consequences to this style of leadership that can affect you and your team. If this is something you’re struggling with, check out my tips on how to alleviate the negative side effects of an unsure leader.

How to De-Escalate an Argument with a Co-Worker
It’s all too easy to slip into an aggressive discussion during conflict. If you want some ideas on how to efficiently handle a situation where an argument has become too intense, check out this article.

Three Steps to Effectively Deal with a Heated Argument
If you enjoyed Liane’s article on how to de-escalate intense arguments with co-workers, check out this piece. It will provide you with some more tips on how to handle an intense argument with someone you work with, inspired by the tips that Liane provided in my latest HBR article.

Everyone's Network Should Provide Two Things
Have you spent time securing yourself a network of people you can reach out to when you need them? If so, here are Liane’s ideas on what this support system of people should be able to provide to you, and how to determine if your network is really doing what you need it to.

What if your Employer Paid you to Exercise and Sleep? Inside One Startup's Wellness Experiment
Physical exercise and sleep are important aspects of our wellness, and should be encouraged. But, can it go too far? Here are some of Liane’s thoughts on the benefits and drawbacks of tracking employee’s health and fitness behaviours and using them to provide monetary rewards.

Managing a Team that's Been Asked to do too Much
If you’re managing a team and they have too much on their plates, things can get ugly. Here are Liane’s tips on how to combat some of the pressures your team may be feeling, and some ideas on how to advocate for your team so they don’t get into a difficult situation.

Uber has Crossed the Line from Motivating Employees to Actively Manipulating Them
Uber is a highly popular service that many people take advantage of. While it may seem like a convenient way to save money and travel efficiently, the company has some secrets. Read Liane’s commentary on the ways that Uber has moved from positively motivating employees to manipulating them.

Psychologists Explain why Name-Dropping Basically Always Backfires
We name-drop for all kinds of reasons, whether to get ahead or to simply assert our importance. While it’s natural to name-drop around others, it may not be beneficial. Read Liane’s thoughts in this article on why name-dropping can backfire, and why it usually always does.

Three Strategies Women can use to Combat Manterruptions at Work
Unfortunately, it has become all too common for a woman to get cut off by a man in the middle of a thought. These manterruptions are not only distressing, but can influence productivity and overall team effectiveness. Here are some of Liane’s tips for women who are struggling to be heard.

Comey's Testimony Exposed the Management Tactic that Cowardly Leaders Love
Comey’s testimony has brought a great stir with it, and interestingly enough, some business lessons. Here, Liane inputs some of her thoughts on a tactic Comey used during his testimony that cowardly leaders tend to use in their day-to-day work.

You Can Tell How Happy Employees are by Looking at these Subtle Details of Office Design
Have you ever seen spilled milk in your office? Would you clean it up if you did? Surprisingly, your answers to these questions may speak volumes about your company’s culture. Liane weighs in in this article on how to tell if employees are happy by looking at the surrounding environment.

How to Tell Your Boss that you have Too Much Work
Do you have a lot on your plate, but aren’t sure how to tell your superior? If so, here are some of Liane’s ideas on how to communicate with your boss and tell them you have too much going on.

Talking Politics at Work
Politics is a fascinating topic, and many people are quite involved with the political goings-on of their country and other surrounding areas. But, is it appropriate to bring this passion into the workplace? Political views are often highly personal, and it can be dangerous to bring them up in a conversation at the office. Listen to this interview with Liane, to gain some insight into the positives and negatives of getting into a political debate at work.

How to Tell Your Boss to Give you Less Work
If you’re struggling with an overwhelming workload, then take a look at some of the tips in this article, including some of Liane’s ideas on how to ask your boss to give you less work.

We tracked Jeff Bezos’s use of “We” Versus “I” over 20 Years to see how he’s Changed as a Leader
As a leader, do you prefer to use the word “we” or “I”? As an employee, which do you prefer to hear? There are many reasons as to why any one person would choose to use either one of these words. Liane shares her thoughts in an interesting piece on Jeff Bezos’ vocabulary throughout his years as a leader.

Wake up Call: Keep your Writing Simple and Too the Point
It may seem important to sound smart and sophisticated in a piece of business writing, but actually it’s far more important to get to the point. Liane shares her thoughts on why it’s important to keep writing simple, and make sure that it’s not too fancy to be understood.

This is the Most Awkward Networking Mistake you can Make
If you enjoyed Psychologists Explain why Name-Dropping Basically Always Backfires, then read this article with expanded views and more quotes from Liane on why it’s important to stay away from dropping names in business situations.

How (and why) to say 'No' to a Meeting
Do you find yourself constantly attending meetings? Are they all of equal importance? If not, then you may benefit from Liane’s tips on how to say no to a meeting. Although unpleasant, sometimes it can be the right choice.

What to Do First When Managing Former Peers
Promotions are exciting, until you realize that it means you may have to manage those who used to be your peers. While it can be scary to step into a situation where your former colleagues are now your employees, there are ways to go about it. Read Liane’s instructions on how to handle a this kind of situation.

Should You Talk About Politics at Work?
If you enjoyed Liane’s interview on the dos and don’ts of discussing politics in the workplace, read this article. With new perspectives and more insights from Liane on the situation of political banter at work, this article will give you a deeper understanding of how to go about bringing up the current political situation in the office.

Make Sure your Team's Workload is Divided Fairly
As a manager, it’s one of your jobs to make sure that everyone on the team has an equal amount of work to do. This article details how to make sure of this, with some interesting tips from Liane included.

How to Tell your Colleague you Dropped the Ball
Have you ever made a mistake at work? Chances are you have. It’s all too common to make mistakes, and they should be used as learning tools… but sometimes it can be difficult to tell you colleagues when you dropped the ball. Here are some tips on how to talk to your co-workers after a mistake has been made, with advice from Liane included.

When an Argument Gets Too Heated, Here's What to Say
Conflict can be productive, but it can also easily tip across the line and become over-emotional and heated. If a conflict is angry and hostile, it’s not going to help anyone. Here are Liane’s tips on how to defuse an argument that’s become too aggressive and intense.

The One Question to Ask Yourself the Next Time You’re Facing a Difficult Problem
Everyone encounters difficult problems, and there are many tried and true ways to go about them. But, next time you find yourself facing something difficult, try starting here with this one question. Liane inputs her thoughts in this article on the place to start with any difficult problem.

Here's What to Look for When You Go in for a Job Interview
Job interviews are often thought of as a process for the employer. But, the employee should benefit from the interview as well. If you’re planning on going to a job interview anytime soon, here are some thoughts and some of Liane’s inputs into what you should be looking for.

New Year's Resolutions Made Easy: Tips for Reducing your Workload
What are your New Year’s Resolutions? If you’re lacking, read this article with Liane’s ideas on how to reduce your workload in the New Year.

Make a More Convincing Argument by Using Hypotheticals
In your next disagreement, try using this strategy. This piece suggests using hypothetical situations to win over an opponent during an argument. Including some of Liane’s advice, this article will give you the tools you need to convince your opponent of your argument’s merit in your next conflict.

How to Make Sure You're Heard in a Difficult Conversation
When the conversation gets intense, it can be tough to make sure that you’re being heard and understood. Try these tips, and some of Liane’s rules to ensure that you’re always going to be heard when the conversation gets heated.

Instagram's CEO is not very good at Instagram - and that's why he's good at his job
Instagram is a public craze, and it’s become all too common for people to focus their time on finding the perfect aesthetic for their personal pages. However, Instagram’s CEO couldn’t care less about the way that his page looks. Read some of Liane’s thoughts on this case, and how she sees it to be a good thing that this CEO isn’t the greatest at his own product

The Social Faux Pas That Will Make You Instantly Unpopular
It’s becoming public knowledge that name dropping never gets you where you want to go. So, why do we do it? This article takes a deeper look into why people feel the need to name drop, and Liane inputs some of her ideas on the subject.

6 Ways a Boss can Reduce Stress at Work
It’s too easy to become stressed in our society, and it can be detrimental to productivity in the workplace. If you’re a boss of a group of stressed out people, try these Liane’s tip to reducing stress at work.

How a Bad Boss can Stunt your Career
Having the wrong boss can be extremely detrimental to your career. It can stunt your confidence and your skill set, and can end up being extremely damaging. Here is a closer look at why bad bosses can hurt your career, and what to do about them, with tips from Liane included.

5 Ways to Fix Your Dysfunctional Team
Toxic teams are dangerous things, but they can be fixed. Read here Liane’s opinion on both different types of toxic teams, and the actions necessary to fix one.

The Status Quo Kills Companies. Here's How to Enact Change
It’s scary to distance yourself from the familiar, but it’s necessary for innovation. The status quo may seem comfortable, but it can actually severely harm your company if you’re not willing to stray from it. Read some of Liane’s thoughts on why it’s important to move towards the unknown.

It's True - Putting in too Much Overtime can Kill You. Here's the Proof.
We all put in the extra hour every now and then. But, when it becomes a habit to work overtime, it can become bad for our health. This article takes a deeper look into the possible consequences of working too much overtime, with some of Liane’s insights included.

How to Deal with a Crier on your Team
It can be very uncomfortable when somebody starts crying in the middle of an argument or discussion. But, this article looks into why it shouldn’t be. With some tips from Liane, this article provides a good explanation as to what crying at work really means.

Help your Overwhelmed, Stressed-Out Team
Stress in our society is overly common. But, if you’re a manager, you might have the opportunity to alleviate some of the stress your team might feel. Read some of Liane’s thoughts on how you can help your overwhelmed team if you’re in charge.

Morphing Teamwork: from Buzzword to Reality
Teamwork is a great concept… but it can be hard to put into reality in some situations. This interview with Liane contains valuable information on how to transform teamwork from just a buzzword with a lot of potential to a practice with a lot of payoff.

How to Become more Comfortable with Confrontation in 7 Different Ways
Confrontation is hard, but there’s no way around it sometimes. Liane provides a tip in this article to learn how to deal with confrontation in a more productive way.

A Game Plan for that Conversation You've Been Putting Off
You know the conversation — the one that brings stress and anxiety with just the mere thought of it. If there’s a discussion you need to have that you’re dreading, read Liane’s article on why it’s important to have the talk, and how to go about it.

The Right Way to Start a Meeting
A good meeting starts with a good introduction. If you’re struggling with starting your meetings, you’re not alone. Read Liane’s tips on how to start a meeting effectively, and by doing so you’ll be setting up the whole rest of the meeting for success.

If Your Team Agrees on Everything, Working Together is Pointless
While it feels nice to agree with your teammates on everything, it’s not particularly productive. In fact, conflict is where we get innovation. Read Liane’s commentary on why it’s useless for your team to get along all of the time, and why it’s important to embrace productive conflict.

How to Tell the Difference between Venting and Office Gossip
It’s okay to vent if you’re frustrated, but where does it cross the line? Office gossip can be very dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. Read Liane’s opinion on how to recognize and shut down office gossip before it goes too far.

Stop Trying to Sound Smart when You're Writing
It’s tempting to throw big words into anything that you’re writing. Although it seems like a good idea to sound smart, sometimes it can backfire. Here are Liane’s thoughts on why it’s important to stop trying to sound smart when you’re writing.

How to Put the Right Amount of Pressure on your Team
Every team has a sweet spot – not too much pressure, but not so little that nothing gets done. Read Liane’s advice on how to find the right amount of pressure for your team.

Polite Ways to Decline a Meeting Invitation
It may seem productive to be involved in as many meetings as possible. In actuality, this can just take away from your performance. If you need to decline a meeting, try Liane’s tips on how to do so politely.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Structuring Better Meetings
Are your meetings feeling a bit pointless? Are you struggling to make them productive for everyone? If so, then try Liane’s guide on how to structure a better meeting and make sure that it benefits everyone.

Reduce Passive-Aggressive Behaviour on Your Team
It’s easy to be passive-aggressive – but it can be dangerous for your team. If you’re struggling with passive-aggressive teammates, read Liane’s advice on how to control things and keep your team safe from this type of behaviour.

You Can Learn and Do Work at the Same Time
Do you want to expand your knowledge but still get work done at the same time? If so, read Liane’s tips on how to do both things effectively.

A Mental Trick to Help with Challenging Conversations
Every team has to deal with challenging conversations. But, they don’t have to be so hard. Try out Liane’s mental trick to help deal with difficult conversations.

Your New Idea is Worthless Unless you Know how to Sell It
You may have a gleaming new idea, but it won’t do your team any good if you don’t know how to sell it. If this is something you’re struggling with, read Liane’s thoughts on the issue, and see if you can figure out how to sell you new idea so it adds value to your team.

Helping a Coworker Who's Stressed Out
When someone you know is stressed, what do you do? If you don’t know how to help, try out this advice from Liane on how to deal with a coworker who is stressed. Your support might benefit them a lot in the long run.

Deliver Feedback that Sticks
Feedback is tricky for both the delivering and receiving parties. It’s especially tough when you don’t feel like your feedback has really landed with the other person. If this is something you experience, read Liane’s take on how to deliver feedback that sticks

Pitfalls to Avoid when you Inherit a Team
Inheriting a team that’s already been developed can be very hard, and there are many mistakes that are easy to make. Read Liane’s recommendations for what moves to stay away from when you first inherit a team.

Handling Emotional Outbursts on Your Team
Emotions are not a bad thing, contrary to the many myths. In fact, if they are handled properly, they can be easily dealt with. However, most people feel unequipped to deal with an emotional outburst. If you’re one of these people, read Liane’s advice on how to handle emotions in the workplace.

What to Do When Your Boss Doesn't Like You
It can be extremely uncomfortable at work if your boss doesn’t like you, but there are ways to deal with it. Take a look into Liane’s thoughts on how to behave if you aren’t getting along with your boss.

How to Motivate Someone You Don't Like
When you don’t get along with someone, being pleasant to them can seem impossible. But, with the right tools, you can learn how to be civil to someone that you can’t stand. Here are Liane’s tips on how to motivate someone you don’t like, despite your feelings about them.

Surviving in an Open Office Space
Open concept offices can be deadly – but they can also be no problem at all. Use Liane’s tips to help if you’re finding yourself in an open concept office.

What Do I Do When I Hate My Colleagues?
How do you handle it when you don’t get along with your colleague? While it can be difficult, it can be dealt with. Here are Liane’s tips on how to move forward when you don’t get along with a coworker

Good People do Bad Things in the Afternoon
Afternoons are difficult for many people. But sometimes, they can be more dangerous than just a pain. Read Liane’s take on why you shouldn’t go through important tasks in the afternoon – and why it can be potentially detrimental to your team if you do.

Managing Two People Who Hate Each Other
It’s hard enough to manage people, but when you’ve got two people who hate each other, it can feel downright impossible. Here are Liane’s tips on how to handle it when you’re managing two people who don’t get along.

What Do I Do When I Hate My Colleagues?
Strategic thinking isn’t easy, but it can be learned and practiced, much like anything else. If you think about your strategy as a muscle that you need to use, then you need to learn how to exercise it. Here are Liane’s tips on how to do it.

Conflict Strategies for Nice People
Conflict isn’t pleasant for anybody, especially when you want to be nice in your confrontations. While it’s not necessarily effective to be polite through all of your conflicts, here are Liane’s tips on how to have conflict, even while being nice.