How Work Actually Works

Joe Marques with KayLee Hansen
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Work isn't supposed to feel like this. And most people know it. How Work Actually Works is for the people ready to close the gap between what work could be and what it actually is. Hosted by Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen, the show explores what it really takes to build cultures where people don't have to pretend, where leaders shape environments worth showing up to, and where the work itself means something. Real stories. Honest conversations. Practical ideas to make it happen. 🎧 New episodes every other week. 💡 More at AuthenticUnlimited.com

  1. 7 APR

    The People-First Sales Leader | Episode 14

    Most sales teams are built on pressure. Hit the number. Check the pipeline. Watch the leaderboard. And when the numbers slip, push harder. But what if pushing harder is exactly what's breaking the team? In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen sit down with Graham Nordin, VP of Business Development and Sales at Latitude Wines, a leader with 18 years of progressive leadership across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the UK. Graham has built and rebuilt high-performing sales teams across industries and borders, and he's done it by leading with people first, not performance metrics first. Graham makes the case that leaders can hold a high standard and still be deeply invested in the people doing the work. He calls it separating standard from style: the targets don't change, but how you help someone get there can be flexible, personal, and human. He shares the story of being promoted to lead the very team he was on, calling the most senior person first, and what happened when he said the six words most new leaders are afraid to say: I can't do this without you. Joe and KayLee dig into what happens when the leader above you doesn't lead this way, how to manage up without putting yourself at risk, and why the old leaderboard culture of who's winning and who's losing misses everything that actually drives long-term results. Graham challenges the idea that focusing on outcomes is the fastest path to outcomes, arguing that training the process and uncovering friction is what builds teams that sustain. They also explore what it really takes to make the shift from top performer to leader, why that transition is one of the biggest gaps in leadership development today, and how the move from execution to empowerment changes everything about the way a team operates. Key Takeaways Why the first 60 seconds of a one-on-one matter more than the forecast reviewHow to separate standard from style and hold both at the same timeWhat managing up looks like when your leader is pressure-forwardWhy great leaders don't ask for updates, they uncover frictionHow consistency in small moments builds a culture that outlasts any single leaderWhy the transition from top performer to leader is one of the most underdeveloped skills in businessPeople don't perform for pressure. They perform for people who see them, believe in them, and build something worth showing up for.

    42 min

  2. 24 MAR

    Three Reasons People Stay (or Don't) | Episode 13

    People don’t stay because of one big thing. And they usually don’t leave because of one big thing either. They stay, or start to drift, based on three everyday experiences at work: Do I feel seen here? Do I feel like I belong here? Am I still growing here? In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen break down the three human conditions that shape whether people stay connected to the work or slowly start checking out: being seen, belonging, and growth. They explore what each one really means in practice, how leaders tend to overestimate how well they’re doing, and why people often begin leaving internally long before they ever resign.  Joe unpacks why being seen is about more than recognition. It’s about knowing someone’s strengths, understanding what energizes and drains them, and caring enough to see the person behind the output. KayLee reflects on how even small moments of being remembered can change the way someone shows up and why people work harder when they feel genuinely known.  They also dig into belonging as something deeper than inclusion on paper. It’s the feeling of being part of something, being trusted, being included in decisions, and knowing the team has your back. They talk about what happens when that kind of leader leaves, how quickly belonging can collapse, and why connected teams can handle hard conversations better than disconnected ones.  And on growth, they challenge the usual organizational clichés. Growth is not just access to training or a list of courses. It’s whether the work is stretching you, whether someone sees what’s possible in you, and whether development is built into the work itself rather than pushed off to personal time.  They also share a few practical ideas leaders can use right now, including: how psychometric tools can help people feel more seentwo simple questions that reveal what matters personally and professionallywhy teams need a “soft reset” after change, reorganization, or turnoverBecause retention doesn’t start when someone gives notice. It starts much earlier, in the daily experience of whether this place still feels like somewhere I matter.  Key Takeaways Why recognition is not the same thing as being seenHow belonging is built through trust, shared beliefs, and real connectionWhy people can be productive and still feel deeply unseenWhat happens to culture when the “glue” person leavesWhy growth has to live inside the work, not outside of itHow leaders can re-recruit great people before they ever think about leavingPeople stay where they feel known, connected, and still becoming.

    35 min

  3. 10 MAR

    3 Trade-Offs People Make When Trust Is Gone | Episode 12

    When trust breaks down, people don't just disengage. They adapt. They go quiet in meetings, cc: six people on every email, and stop asking questions they actually need answered. They trade truth for peace, ownership for CYA, and curiosity for safety — not because they're weak, but because they're surviving. In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen unpack what happens when people stop feeling safe at work — and the invisible trade-offs that follow. Joe shares a metaphor that hit him after two friends described their breaking points: a frozen lake in springtime, where every step feels uncertain and the only goal is not falling through. They break down each trade-off — why people stop speaking up, why "just confirming" emails multiply like rabbits, and why no one admits they don't know something. Joe tells the story of the McDonald's CEO whose team let him post a cringe-worthy burger video because nobody felt safe enough to say don't. KayLee shares a technique where she handed out job descriptions from other departments and told her team to solve problems as if they were the CFO. They also get into the parking lot moment — that gut-check when you turn off your car and stare in the rearview mirror, rehearsing how to survive another day. And why that feeling is the clearest signal a leader could ever get. Key Takeaways Why people affirm things they don't believe in — and how to invite the truth backThe difference between blaming first and leading with curiosity when someone misses a deadlineHow "what did we learn?" changes everything about how a team handles failureA self-check: Do people tell the truth early, take ownership quickly, and ask questions freely?Why appropriate professional vulnerability is the fastest way to build trustThe "even better if" question that replaces deficit-thinking with creative momentumTrust isn't a value on the wall. It's what people feel in the parking lot.

    40 min

  4. 24 FEB

    Why You Should Facilitate, Not Present | Episode 11

    Most meetings follow the same script. Someone builds a deck, reads the slides, asks "any questions?" at the end, and calls it a success if nobody pushes back. But getting through your slides isn't the same as getting through to your audience. In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen break down the real difference between presenting and facilitating — and why borrowing even a few facilitation tactics can transform your next meeting from a monologue into a conversation that actually moves things forward. They cover why presentations feel safe (and how that safety works against you), what happens in your brain when someone takes you off-script, and why the most powerful thing you can do in front of a room is stop talking. KayLee shares her go-to questions for creating engagement on the spot, and Joe explains why the order you ask those questions matters more than most people realize. They also get into the practical stuff: where to stand, how to handle silence without panicking, what to do when someone gives you the wrong answer, and why "what questions do you have?" works better than "any questions?" Whether you're leading a team meeting next Tuesday or presenting to senior leadership, this episode gives you small shifts that make a big difference. Key Takeaways Why presenting protects the speaker but loses the roomThe 70/30 rule for turning a presentation into a conversationHow to use silence as a tool instead of fearing it as a threatQuestions that create real engagement — not just head-noddingWhat to do when someone challenges you or gives the wrong answerOne planning question that changes how you build every presentationYour slides aren't the point. The room is.

    44 min

  5. 10 FEB

    5 Invisible Threats You're Creating at Work | Episode 10

    Every interaction moves people in one of two directions. Toward threat. Or toward safety. Most leaders don't set out to put their people on the defensive. But it happens anyway—in the meeting where someone gets publicly corrected, in the rumor that goes unaddressed, in the project that went to someone else without explanation. In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen break down the SCARF model—a neuroscience-backed framework developed by David Rock and the NeuroLeadership Institute that explains both why people shut down and what makes them come alive. They walk through all five drivers—Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness—exploring what puts people on guard and what creates reward. Joe shares a brutal story about a leader who told employees their location was like "the company's right arm"...weeks before security showed up and the whole place was eliminated. KayLee brings a legendary Ritz-Carlton story about a room attendant who booked a plane ticket to Hawaii just to hand-deliver a guest's forgotten laptop. They also tackle the return-to-office tension, why "connect before you lead" matters more than proving you earned the promotion, and what happens when fairness gets confused with equality. And yes—there's a cutout face taped to a conference phone. You'll understand. Key Takeaways Why silence unsettles people more than bad news ever couldThe difference between certainty (knowing what's coming) and autonomy (having a say in it)How new leaders cause damage by trying to prove competence before building connectionThe "10-second certainty boost"—a simple way to put people at easeWhy focusing on one letter of SCARF per week beats walking around with a mental checklistPeople are always scanning for threat or safety. You choose which one you create.

    41 min

  6. 27 JAN

    Reframe, Don't Reset | Episode 9

    There's a difference between resetting and reframing. Most organizations treat a new year or new quarter like a magic eraser—turn the page, set new goals, pretend last year's struggles disappeared. But people don't forget what they experienced just because the calendar changed. And that "fresh start" energy? It often feels more performative than real. In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen challenge the pressure-filled rituals of goal-setting and explore what it actually takes to build momentum that lasts. They unpack why clarity beats speed, how trust erodes fastest under pressure, and what happens when leaders confuse a beautiful plan with real progress. Joe shares a story about flipping engagement planning on its head—putting it in employees' hands instead of leaders'—and what his team reflected back that he'd never seen himself. KayLee brings the sports analogies (Blue Jays heartbreak included) and a square dancing reference you didn't know you needed. They also introduce the "15 Minute December Look Back"—a simple exercise that helps teams define what a great year actually feels like before it's already over. Whether you're in a final push or staring down a fresh planning cycle, this episode offers a different way to approach goal-setting—one that honors what happened and focuses on what actually matters. Key Takeaways Why resetting ignores reality while reframing builds from itHow trust breaks down when leaders only show it during easy timesThe danger of planning with false certainty—and why beautiful plans give you dopamine without progressOne question that shifts goal-setting from KPIs to real intentionHow to ask your team what they don't want to loseBetter years don't start with turning the page. They start with telling the truth about what's already written.

    39 min

  7. 13 JAN

    5 Questions That Make People Feel Seen at Work | Episode 8

    There's a difference between being watched and being seen. Most workplaces have mastered watching—monitoring performance, tracking metrics, observing output. But seeing? That's the part that gets missed. And it's the part that actually matters. In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen explore five practical questions that help leaders move from surveillance to connection. These are the kinds of questions that shift one-on-ones from status updates to real conversations—and create the conditions where trust and engagement can actually grow. KayLee shares her “magic questions” approach, including the story of the Hot Wheels Lamborghinis and why knowing someone’s exact coffee order matters more than most leaders realize. Joe adds perspective on why recognition often misses the mark, how motivation goes deeper than money, and why the first, polished answer people give is rarely the real one—until you slow down and dig a little deeper. They also talk about how to introduce this approach without it feeling performative or forced—especially if this isn’t how you’ve led before. Whether you’re a new manager or a seasoned leader looking to reset how you connect with your team, this episode gives you questions you can use immediately. Key Takeaways Why being watched feels very different from being understoodTwo questions that reveal how people actually want to be recognizedHow to move past surface-level answers to uncover real motivationWhat most leaders get wrong about feedback—and how to fix itOne culture question that works like a mini pulse surveyBetter leadership doesn’t start with better answers. It starts with better questions.

    40 min

  8. 30/12/2025

    What Makes People Want to Follow You | Episode 7

    What actually makes people want to follow a leader? In this episode of How Work Actually Works, Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen break leadership down to its simplest—and most misunderstood—ingredients. Using an unexpectedly sticky metaphor (apple pie), they explore why leadership isn’t about confidence, competence, or ambition alone—and why those traits, without something deeper, often fall flat. They unpack a practical “recipe” for real leadership: Self-awareness — knowing your strengths and your blind spotsHumility — being willing to learn out loud and invite others inCare — the true multiplier that turns authority into followership Along the way, they challenge common leadership myths, talk candidly about fake care and performative humility, and share real workplace stories that show how trust is actually built—or quietly broken. You’ll leave with: A clearer distinction between leadership and followershipSimple, actionable ways to gauge your own self-awarenessQuestions you can use with your team immediatelyA sharper lens on why people either lean in…or check out Simple ingredients. No shortcuts. And no cinnamon-by-the-cup mistakes.

    36 min
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About

Work isn't supposed to feel like this. And most people know it. How Work Actually Works is for the people ready to close the gap between what work could be and what it actually is. Hosted by Joe Marques and KayLee Hansen, the show explores what it really takes to build cultures where people don't have to pretend, where leaders shape environments worth showing up to, and where the work itself means something. Real stories. Honest conversations. Practical ideas to make it happen. 🎧 New episodes every other week. 💡 More at AuthenticUnlimited.com

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Marques with KayLee Hansen
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Joe Marques with KayLee Hansen
  • Show Website
    How Work Actually Works