This Working Life

Meet Digital Don, the identic AI agent

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You may soon have a digital clone of your work-self that can take care of many of your tasks, make decisions on your behalf, and even give presentati...

Is more annual leave the answer to preventing burnout?

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With burnout and overwork a problem for staff and employers alike, a proposal to add an extra week to annual leave balances for Australian workers is...

Esther Perel on conflict and power struggles at work

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What’s really behind the reaction a colleague has when you disagree with them? And how do you manage a conflict when it arises? Esther and Lisa de...

It's okay, you can take a break

01 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re under the pump, it can feel like taking a break at work is impossible. But that can be habit forming, and bad for your physical and men...

Can I give you some feedback?

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's an important part of monitoring and improving performance, but when feedback is given or received in the “wrong” way, it can damage relation...

Unlock the power of a four day week

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What have we learned so far about reducing working hours without losing productivity, and what are the tips and tricks for ensuring a four day week i...

The ultimate guide to fixing meetings

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our calendars are filled with meetings, but what are they really achieving?Learn how to cut out unnecessary gatherings and make the ones that remain,...

How to start strong in a new job

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

So you landed the job, congrats! Now it's time to start your new role.What steps can you take and what can your new employer do, to set you ...

Reinvent your career in 2026 with Dorie Clark

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re feeling stuck and ready for a change, why not harness the momentum of the new year to turn that around? Whether it’s a new job or a wh...

Lost hope at work? Here’s how to get it back.

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When work feels difficult, practising hope could help you find a way forward. A former chief wellbeing officer at Deloitte shares evidence-based str...

The power of a good night’s sleep

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Four in ten Australians are not getting enough sleep, and work could be a part of the problem.  Whether you work 9 – 5 or irregular hours, lack o...

Stuck at a career crossroad? Here's how to move forward

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Career regret is a common phenomenon, with more than half of people recently surveyed expressing dissatisfaction with their career choice.Why do so m...

Can "leisure-crafting" help you thrive?

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Pick something you enjoy doing and you can 'leisure craft' it! We learn about the benefits of this technique as a way of improving your personal well...

Tired and overwhelmed? Boundaries can help

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a tendency to take on too much, you might want to look at the boundaries you have with your co-workers and your boss.  It seems hard, b...

Are we giving kids the wrong career advice?

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In helping young people prepare for a life of work, asking them what they want to do for a job, or what they’re good at may limit their options. ...

Learn to 'North Star' 2026 with Wankernomics

12 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been bamboozled by the language colleagues use at work? What’s the best way to describe yourself on LinkedIn? Charles and James from Wank...

How to optimise your holiday to start 2026 refreshed

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Should you lie on the couch or go hiking with friends? Discover what to do before, during and after a holiday to get the most out of it.Experts share...

Are you working under a non-compete?

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s estimated that almost half of Australian workers are impacted by some kind of post-employment restraint. The government plans to ban non-comp...

Is your lack of people skills holding you back?

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If your career progression has stalled it may be because you lack emotional intelligence and the ability to regulate your behaviour in the workplace....

Transfer, recall, repetition: what helps you learn at work

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are the best ways to learn at work, and how can you make that new information stick?Understand the science of learning and how online courses an...

Are you on the path to burnout? These are the red flags...

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New research has uncovered early warning signs of burnout that could help you get on top of it, before it goes too far. Learn strategies to identify ...

Westpac work from home decision: what does it mean for you?

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A Westpac employee with parental responsibilities was recently awarded the right to work from home five days a week, by the Fair Work Commission.How ...

How to fix loneliness at work

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever turned up to work and thought...where is everyone?! Empty offices and flexible work is part of the reason why so many people are experi...

Top books for work and life

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa is joined by Panio Gianopolous, co-founder and editorial director of the Next Big Idea Club, as they each nominate three non-fiction books relat...

Restructure and redundancy, with psychosocial safety

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How can reorganisations, restructures and redundancies be managed in a way that works for everyone?With obligations to manage psychosocial hazards no...

Should you bring your 'whole self' to work?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are lessons you can take from the careers of David Bowie and Oprah about identity and authenticity.Being “authentic” in your life and caree...

Try This: declutter your work from home space

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Need help organising your desk or kitchen table workspace? Get decluttering tips that will help clear your mind and your home. Guest:Amy Revell, dec...

Validation is a skill for work and life

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you validate someone, it shows that you’re there, you get it and you care, even if you don't agree with their point of view.Learn the differen...

The power of gossip at work

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you approve of it or not, research shows gossip does have value within organisations, especially when it’s used positively.  Learn how you...

How to nail collaboration between generations

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learn how to build co-operation rather than war, between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.Instead of leaning on stereotypes, there are ways...

Are you learning how to switch off from work?

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We've reached the one year anniversary of the right to disconnect regulations, which now also apply to small businesses. What are the challenges of ...

Could longevity workers save our economic future?

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Soon more people will be leaving the workforce than joining it, but most organisations don't encourage older workers to stay on and thrive.Experts sa...

Try This: psychosocial safety tips edition

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone at work plays a part in preventing psychosocial hazards, including you.We ask an expert how to create a psychosocially safe workplace, and w...

What are we getting wrong about psychosocial safety?

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s confusion about the terms psychological safety and psychosocial safety in workplaces, so what’s the difference? Leading expert on psycho...

Making decisions like a pro

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s estimated we make up to 35,000 decisions every day so how can you make better decisions at work? Before you start drawing up pros and cons li...

Managing up during the Trump Presidency

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We can learn a lot about gaining influence when you don't have power, from those who work on Capitol Hill. A leadership adviser reveals how Congress...

Is your dream job still dreamy?

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been told that if you follow your passion, you’ll never work a day in your life? As it turns out, the research doesn’t support that...

Try This: grief at work edition

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It can be hard to know what to say when your colleague or employee is going through a difficult time. We explore how to support someone who is deali...

How to handle grief at work

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The death of a loved one, a divorce, an illness, a job loss or another challenging personal issue will be experienced by just about everyone in the w...

Is an AI bot getting in the way of your job search?

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Videos of job applicants being interviewed by artificial intelligence avatars are being posted on social media.How can job seekers and recruiters nav...

Feeling meh (still)? How to get your work mojo back

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's mid way through the year and many of us are still asking ourselves, ‘ Why are we here’ ? What is it about the culture of work that’s lead...

Can I give you some feedback?

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's an important part of monitoring and improving performance, but when feedback is given or received in the “wrong” way, it can damage relation...

It's okay, you can take a break

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re under the pump, it can feel like taking a break at work is impossible. But that can be habit forming, and bad for your physical and men...

Try This: sleep tips edition

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you have trouble sleeping, work may be part of the equation. Here’s some expert tips on what works best to get a good night’s sleep, and advic...

The power of a good night’s sleep

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Four in ten Australians are not getting enough sleep, and work could be a part of the problem.  Whether you work 9 – 5 or irregular hours, lack o...

Is your manager spying on you?

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AI tools are making it easier for employers to gather data on where, when and how you're working. But when it comes to workplace surveillance, how d...

Leaders, what are your blind spots?

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Being in charge means making decisions, and whether they’re right or wrong, managers often feel they need to make them in order to display leadersh...

Stuck at a career crossroad? Here's how to move forward

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Career regret is a common phenomenon, so what practical advice is there for people who are at a career crossroads? Guests:  Leah Lambart, Career a...

Networking and the strength of weak ties

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More than 50 years ago, an American sociologist published a game-changing paper that illustrated just how important casual acquaintances are in our w...

Cal Newport on embracing slow productivity to prevent burnout

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you think of productivity as hustle culture, endless multi-tasking, and constant busyness, you might be on the wrong track and you may be on the w...

How do you personalise your work space?

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From pets to pot plants, comfy clothing to noise-cancelling headphones. There have never been more ways to bring a personal touch to your office expe...

Can "leisure-crafting" help you thrive?

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pick something you enjoy doing and you can 'leisure craft' it! We learn about the benefits of this technique as a way of improving your personal well...

How to get on top of AI at work

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From our phones to social media, to search engines, artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday lives.Learn how organisations are inco...

Are you being micromanaged?

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The junior person feels like they’re being micromanaged, but the manager feels like the job is not being done properly. When does good supervision ...

Work origin stories and how they influence us

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What are your memories about your parents and work, and how have they influenced the way you manage your own work-life?  We explore these origin sto...

Try This: performance review edition

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tips and advice on how to prepare for your performance review ahead of time. Plus, how to handle feedback during the meeting and go for that perform...

Can performance reviews 'exceed' expectations?

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you’re having one or doing one, it can feel like the official performance review process is missing the mark.We explore the art and science...

Purpose as the antidote for disengagement at work

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Studies show more of us are looking for purpose and meaning at work. But what if the work we do doesn't fill that need?From group giving activities t...

Tired and overwhelmed? Boundaries can help

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a tendency to take on too much, you might want to look at the boundaries you have with your co-workers and your boss.  It seems hard, b...

Job Sharing 101

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Job sharing could soon be back in vogue as some businesses and governments push for return to office policies.  What are the pros and cons of job sh...

Are we giving kids the wrong career advice?

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In helping young people prepare for a life of work, asking them what they want to do for a job, or what they’re good at may limit their options. ...

Learn to adapt

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us are faced with managing multiple changes in our work lives, sometimes all at once. Learn how to anticipate, accept and grow with change, ...

Succession planning: build it into your DNA

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The CEO is retiring, your team leader is moving interstate, your key IT architect has been poached by a competitor. How do you keep an organisation r...

How to nail a job interview

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dealing with sweaty palms, talking for too long, and fumbling your answers are all possible scenarios that can kill off your chances of getting the j...

Does DEI need a reset?

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

An anti-diversity, equity & inclusion rhetoric is gaining steam in politics.  So why is there resistance to “DEI” in the workplace? Are the...

Tuning into signals at work

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From AI to DEI, we’re looking at the year ahead, and what’s on the agenda for organisations and employees. What are you picking up at work that ...

Want to do things differently this year?

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to plan for the changes you want to make at work this year. What are you trying to do differently, and how are you going to make that hap...

Feeling meh? How to get your work mojo back

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you feeling ready to tackle another year at work? Or are you a little detached and uninspired?  Many of us are kicking off the new year by askin...

How to be a friction fixer

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Friction is everywhere - from our systems to our relationships at work.But there’s good news - not all friction is bad and if you know how, you can...

How your childhood dreams can help your career

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our childhood phantasy careers (different to fantasy with an ‘f’) help uncover our unconscious motivations and can unlock job satisfaction in our...

Making decisions like a pro

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s estimated we make up to 35,000 decisions every day so how can you make better decisions at work? Before you start drawing up pros and cons li...

How to develop 'executive presence'

29 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been in a room with a leader who has you hanging on every word, and leaves you feeling inspired? Some would say that person has  ‘e...

Will jargon ever be 'phased out' altogether?

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Put a pin in it, leverage that, circle back, LMK (let me know) - ugh! Some of us are drawn to use jargon and buzzwords, while others are annoyed by t...

Managing friendship at work

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Close relationships can contribute to personal happiness, and that can extend to work too. But can having besties at work sometimes get in the way of...

Saving your leave for a rainy day? Here’s why that might be a problem.

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Leave entitlements are building up on business balance sheets. At the same time, some employees feel they don't get enough flexibility around when th...

The simple things you take for granted at work

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stepped entry points, heavy doors, images and documents without screen reader access: these are just a few of the things that make work harder for th...

How to build a global career, and still come home

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many returning ex-pats who have worked overseas find it hard to transition back to work in their home country, and feel their overseas experience is ...

Has work taken over your life? Here’s what to do about it.

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may love your work, but are you working too much? Despite awareness of burnout, many of us still see working long hours as a badge of honour.We h...

Hybrid work is here to stay – but have managers caught up?

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The preference for hybrid work is strong among employees and managers alike. So what's the winning formula for communication, workflow and team harmo...

Why the push to get bums on seats in the office?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon wants all staff back in the office, and other return to office mandates are being issued here and abroad. But what is the evidence for that be...

Live at SXSW – 2050: A Work Odyssey

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded live at SXSW Sydney 2024, Lisa Leong is joined by a panel of industry leaders to explore the transformative shifts of managers in the not-so...

Adam Grant on how to unleash your hidden potential

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do we go from wanting to do something to actually doing it, and doing it well?According to Organisational Psychologist and Professor Adam Grant, ...

The power of saying No at work

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Saying "yes" too often can leave you feeling overwhelmed and perhaps a bit resentful. You might hear yourself saying "yes of course I can" when your ...

Work life balance is BS

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Experts say balance may not be the best thing to aim for. So is the concept of work life balance itself, flawed? Learn ways to put life first and ma...

Advice for first time managers

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You’re doing well in your career and are being steered towards the leadership track.  But it’s a common complaint within organisations that new ...

Learn how to think like an entrepreneur, wherever you are.

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Melanie Perkins, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk all have one thing in common. They’ve leveraged the entrepreneur mindset to achiev...

Maybe change isn't all it's cracked up to be

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You've likely been told to disrupt yourself and get better at dealing with change. But what if rapid change isn’t allowing you to do your best at w...

How to avoid ‘death by powerpoint’

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We know that putting up slides with lots of text, and talking about them at the same time, is not a very engaging way to get your point across in a p...

Debunking the bad apple myth: what prevents workplace bullying

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Awareness of psychosocial safety is growing and we know how destructive bullying can be. Yet incidents continue to occur, with performance managem...

To make work better, try subtraction.

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if instead of adding tasks to your long to do list, you considered what you could take away? Professor Leidy Klotz has a theory that can help a...

How to manage neurodiversity at work

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You have staff who are neurodivergent, and you want to help them do their best work. What do you need to understand, and what supports should you put...

What’s the new ‘executive presence’?

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been in a room with a leader who has you hanging on every word, and leaves you feeling inspired? Some would say that person has  ‘e...

Are you paying attention? This is why not.

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Finding it hard to get your brain into gear? You might feel your mind wandering a bit, daydreaming of being somewhere else.To help you get you back o...

Work (and take care of yourself) like an athlete

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The psychology of performance is not just for elite sports, it can also help you do better at work.As the Paris Olympics kicks off, we share some les...

Your role is being made redundant. Now what?

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Like it or not, redundancies are a part of the career cycle for many of us. Whether it’s happening to you or someone you know, hear stories from p...

Back to the future: predictions on the future of work, then and now

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2021 we asked experts to gaze into a crystal ball and give us their predictions for how work would change as a result of a global pandemic.Were th...

How leaders can use humour at work, and keep everyone happy

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Laughter is good for us, but sometimes jokes and funny quips just don't land, especially when they're delivered by your boss.If you're a leader or yo...

Why we love and hate jargon at work

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Put a pin in it, leverage that, circle back, LMK (let me know) - ugh! Some of us are drawn to use jargon and buzzwords, while others are annoyed by t...

Your new team member is an AI and they’re coming to your meeting

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How is the use of artificial intelligence in meetings, recording transcripts, generating notes, listening in (!), affecting your work, and how do you...

Uncertainty at work stressing you out? Here’s how to deal with it

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Job cuts have been announced,  a restructure is imminent, you've got a new boss, AI is about to change your job. These events are all part of regula...