Better At Work with Cathal Quinlan

Cathal Quinlan
  • 5.0 (12)
  • CAREERS
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The Better At Work podcast is your new best friend at work. It’s packed with honest, practical advice and science-backed techniques from a diverse range of guests to help you achieve betterness in your work, and life. Better At Work is for everyone striving to be better and feel better. Whether you’re ready to take your career to new heights, or battling with the daily grind, your host Cathal Quinlan is here to help.  By drawing on insights from leading psychologists, neuroscientists and performance experts, and Cathal sharing his own successes and mistakes as a leader, the podcast delivers proven strategies, tools and science-backed techniques to help you achieve betterness in your working life, one day at a time, because when work is better, life is better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3D AGO

    Getting Fired to Harvard Business Review: Project Management Revolution | Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

    Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez got fired for trying to bring project management to a top consulting firm. Today, he's the most published expert on project management in Harvard Business Review and a Thinkers 50 global authority. His new book "Powered by Projects" makes a bold claim: Every organization is project-driven, but the leaders don't know it. IN THIS EPISODE: The Origin Story: - Almost went professional with Real Madrid (broke his knee) - Got fired for pitching project management ("too tactical") - The moment that sparked his mission Getting HBR to Listen: - Chased Harvard Business Review for 5 years - The pitch: "Everyone's a project manager but nobody knows it" - Became their most published PM expert COVID Changed Everything: - 3 days to do what used to take 3 months - Laser-sharp focus on priorities - Then we lost all that knowledge The Project-Driven Organization: - Shift from operations to transformation - AI taking over operations; people work on projects - "Back to normal" doesn't exist Three Dimensions Framework: 1. Organization (culture, structure, governance) 2. Leadership (prioritization, HR, performance) 3. Value Creation (operations, execution) Key Examples: - Haier: Stop projects if no value in 3 months - Fixed to exponential mindset - Lean governance (match intensity to risk) Best Advice: - Do the hardest thing first every day - Care about people (Marshall Goldsmith) - Speak up constructively to leaders KEY QUOTES: "Your projects are your future. If you do them wrong, you put your future at risk." "During COVID we did in 3 days what took 3 months. Then we went back to thousands of projects going nowhere." "There's no back to normal. Change will happen." About Antonio: - Author: "Powered by Projects" & "HBR Project Management Handbook" - Thinkers 50 ranking (2023, 2025) - 25 years corporate (PwC, BNP Paribas, GSK) - Website: antonionietorodriguez.com Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday (+ special Sunday episodes!) Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloan betteratwork.net

    1 hr

  2. FEB 5

    When Your Team Member Hates You + A Thank You Email That Went Viral | Listener Questions

    Q&A episode answering a tough leadership question from Emer, plus Annette's takeaways from Laura Gassner-Otting. IN THIS EPISODE: Thank You Email Goes Viral: Cathal's email praising his daughter's teacher went around the whole school. Miss Smith said "You'd be surprised how little that happens." Why recognition matters more than we think. Annette's Laura Takeaways: - The Four Horsemen of Success (money, title, power, prestige) and why we chase them - The Forces (Calling, Connection, Contribution, Control) - "Refuse not to be happy now" - Balance = being yourself everywhere - Do Laura's quiz Listener Question: New Leader, Difficult Team Member Emer started a new leadership role. Most of her team is on board. But one woman has "taken a total dislike" to her. The woman ignores everything Emer says. Annette's advice: 1. Work as team to agree on values/behaviors (clear is kind) 2. Get to know this person - seek to understand 3. Might be anxiety, trauma, nothing to do with you 4. Build connection and safety Cathal's advice: 1. Start with YOU - is this about YOUR need for validation? 2. Imposter syndrome from previous org? 3. Ask open questions: "How are you finding it?" "Any concerns?" 4. Discuss ways of working 5. Reality check: She might just be difficult/jealous/wanted the job 6. If intractable after doing the work, she might need to go Key Insights: "You'd be surprised how little that happens." - Teacher receiving thank you "Refuse not to be happy now. Balance is being yourself in work and life." - Annette "Let's be real. She might be a piece of work. But we try to be fair." - Cathal Resources: Laura Gassner-Otting's quiz Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday. Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloan

    31 min

  3. JAN 29

    Why Following Your Passion is Bad Advice | Laura Gassner-Otting on Defining Your Own Success

    Laura Gassner-Otting (Wall Street Journal bestselling author) joins Cathal in the London studio to challenge everything we think we know about success. This is Laura's UK/Ireland podcast debut, recorded at Christmas after a mulled wine with incredible energy. IN THIS EPISODE: The Four Horsemen of Success (and why they drive Laura batty): 1. "I'll be happy when..." - Life is short. Refuse to not be happy NOW. 2. Purpose - Your job doesn't need a white hat to have purpose. 3. Follow your passion - The "live, laugh, love" tattoo of career advice. 4. Balance - We need alignment, not balance. Code-switching is exhausting. Need to Make vs Want to Make Numbers: We all have two numbers. Need to make: bills, food, school. Want to make: Claridge's vs Holiday Inn, Rolls Royce vs Hyundai. In between are the sacrifices you'll make. Caroline's Story: Laura wanted to promote her to VP. Caroline said no thank you. She'd just had a baby and wanted to be present. Three years later, she got promoted. Still with the firm 10 years after Laura sold it. Eleanor Roosevelt: "We would worry much less about what other people thought about us if we realised how seldom they did." Whose Goal Is This? We define success at 17-18 before our frontal lobe is fully formed. Laura dropped out of law school - it was her fourth grade teacher's goal, not hers. Give yourself grace to change. Work-Life Alignment > Balance: You're friends with coworkers on social media. It's already integrated. Stop separating work and life. Find alignment instead. Code-switching is exhausting. Feeling Seen vs Feeling Loved: Laura's therapy revelation: She felt loved transactionally (got grades = we love you). But did she feel seen? Could she have said "I don't want law school, I want to be an artist"? Key Insights: "I refuse to not be happy NOW. They retire and have heart attacks." "Follow your passion is the live, laugh, love tattoo of career advice." "I think we're not too busy. We're too busy doing things that don't matter to us." "When you find alignment, you just move from one to the other pretty seamlessly." ABOUT LAURA GASSNER-OTTING: Author of "Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path" and "Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should." 20 years as executive recruiter, sold her firm, now speaker/consultant. Regularly on Good Morning America. Website: lauragassnerotting.com Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday. Hosted by Cathal Quinlan

    1h 1m

  4. JAN 22

    Q&A: Work as a "Friend Factory" + Burnout Advice You Can Use Tomorrow

    Q&A episode with Annette's top takeaways from Russell Beck + critical advice for dealing with burnout at work. IN THIS EPISODE: Annette's 3 Takeaways from Russell Beck: 1. The Rise of Artist Engineers (STEM → STEAM) Why creativity and art matter more than ever in the future of work. Drawing as a tool for thinking. 2. One Size Fits One Managers need to understand how each person works best while balancing the team's needs. 3. Work as a Friend Factory Why having friends at work isn't just nice—it's critical for engagement, retention, and culture. Listener Question: Burnout at a Major Organisation Ellie asked: How do I get out of a toxic workplace without destroying my career? Cathal's advice: - You need at least 2 months off to recover - Consider consulting/contract work instead of another corporate role - Get back to the work you love (not just management drama) Annette's practical daily tactics: - 10-minute morning meditation (Calm app) - Mammalian dive reflex for grounding (2-min exercise) - Schedule 20-min coffee with work friends - Weekend self-care: massage, sauna, nature walks - Career counseling or coaching - Bill Cowan's career transition process Key Insights: "Work can be a friend factory." - Aisha Bousaid "Employees with a best friend at work are 7x more likely to be fully engaged." - Gallup "We take jobs for the salary. We quit because of culture." - Bruce Daisley "Burnout is really real. The longer it goes on, the harder it is to pull back out." - Annette Sloan Resources: Books: "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, "Building a Winning Career" by Bill Cowan Apps: Calm (meditation) Better at Work: Better Careers modules at betteratwork.net Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net Next Episode: Laura Gassner-Otting on "Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody and Carve Your Own Path" Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday. Hosted by Cathal Quinlan & Annette Sloan

    28 min

  5. JAN 8

    Stop Worrying About AI. Start Worrying About THIS Instead | Future of Work 2030

    You won't lose your job to AI in 2026. You'll lose it to someone who knows how to use AI better. Russell Beck (author of "The World of Work to 2030" - Leadership Book of the Year) breaks down what's changing in the workplace and how to stay ahead. IN THIS EPISODE: - Why AI collaboration beats AI competition - How technology democratizes work by destroying skills, not jobs - The 3 skill buckets for 2030: creativity, self-efficacy, leadership - The JFK janitor who said "I'm helping put a man on the moon" - Why your manager impacts your mental health as much as your partner - Active listening: the skill most people aren't using Russell's key insight: "I'm not worried about whether AI is thinking. I'm worried about whether humans are thinking." Russell Beck has worked in 25 countries, was European Head of Talent at Yahoo, and now helps organisations future-proof their people strategies. Book: "The World of Work to 2030" by Russell Beck Website: imaginethinkdo.com Submit your career question: betteratwork.net Better at Work - Making work better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday.

    55 min

  6. 12/12/2025

    Christmas Episode 2025: Help Annette Ban the Word 'Problematic' | Better at Work 2025 Wrap-Up

    Our final episode of 2025! Cathal and Annette wrap up the year with takeaways from last week's Smart Conflict episode - plus Annette has a hilarious problem: she can't stop saying the word "problematic." In this Christmas special, we review key lessons from Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast's brilliant conversation, thank our amazing community, and ask for your help with Annette's vocabulary crisis. IN THIS EPISODE: - Christmas catch-up with Cathal and Annette - Why last week's Smart Conflict episode is perfect for family gatherings - Annette's 3 takeaways from Smart Conflict - The 5 R's framework: Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair - Singles tennis to doubles tennis: Shifting from adversarial to collaborative - Annette's "problematic" word problem - we need your help! - Why "problematic" has become problematic - Thank yous to the team: Phoebe, Harrison, Grace - Thank yous to listeners: Angela Collins, David Monroe, Linda Menos, Jesse - Preview: Russell Beck on World of Work to 2030 (first episode back January) - Christmas wishes and 2026 excitement ANNETTE'S 3 SMART CONFLICT TAKEAWAYS: 1. The 5 R's Framework - Reflection, Regulation, Readiness, Response, Repair. If you're short on time, focus on REPAIR. 2. Singles Tennis to Doubles Tennis - Move from adversarial (me vs you) to collaborative (us vs the problem together). 3. The Decision Tree - Should I have this hard conversation? The book has a decision tree that helps you work through it. THE "PROBLEMATIC" CHALLENGE: Annette has banned herself from using the word "problematic" after realizing she says it constantly. She needs a replacement word that isn't "aligned" (already banned), isn't too rude, and works professionally. Help Annette! What should she say instead? RESOURCES: Smart Conflict Book: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work Authors: Alice Driscoll and Louise van Haast Last Week's Episode: Smart Conflict with Alice and Louise Website: betteratwork.net Instagram: @betteratwork ABOUT BETTER AT WORK: Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. New episodes every Thursday. We're back in January 2026 with Russell Beck discussing the World of Work to 2030. Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net Thank you for an incredible 2025! See you in January 2026. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Cathal, Annette, and the Better at Work team!

    18 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work | Louise van Haast & Alice Driscoll

    Louise van Haast and Alice Driscoll, co-authors of Smart Conflict: How to Have Hard Conversations at Work, join Cathal in-studio for a masterclass in navigating workplace conflict. This is our first in-studio episode with 4-camera setup - and it looks stunning. If you've ever avoided a difficult conversation, taken feedback too personally, or struggled to speak up at work, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: - Where their passion for conflict work began - How they met and decided to write a book together - The two main conflict styles: harmony-seeking vs goal-focused - "Get curious, not furious" - the principle that changes everything - Alice's story: "Feedback isn't that I don't like you" - Ripcord phrases to exit conversations gracefully - Louise's lesson: "Just because you're good at it doesn't mean you enjoy it" - The Conflict Style Quiz (both individual and team) - Practical scripts for hard conversations KEY INSIGHTS: "Get curious, not furious. Whether you're someone who avoids conflict or someone who charges straight in, this principle applies. When you notice you're getting furious, pause and get curious instead." - Louise and Alice "Every time I heard feedback, I was collapsing it into 'you're not good enough.' Then someone finally said: 'You know this feedback isn't that I don't like you, right?' It was a light bulb moment." - Alice Driscoll "Just because you're really good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it. And just because other people think you should keep pursuing it doesn't mean you should have to." - Louise van Haast "I wasn't expecting to have this conversation. I need some time to reflect so I can give you a considered response." - Ripcord phrase for exiting conversations ABOUT LOUISE VAN HAAST AND ALICE DRISCOLL: Louise van Haast and Alice Driscoll are executive coaches, conflict specialists, and co-authors of Smart Conflict. They help leaders and teams navigate difficult conversations with confidence and skill. Louise started her career in advertising where she witnessed high conflict and big egos. She became passionate about finding better ways to navigate workplace tension. Alice grew up as the hyper-aware child analysing family dynamics. She went on to work in human rights NGOs where conflict was constant. Through painful self-awareness moments, she learned how to navigate difficult conversations effectively. Together, they've created practical frameworks for handling workplace conflict without avoiding it or escalating it. RESOURCES: Book: Smart Conflict - How to Have Hard Conversations at Work Website: thepowerhousecompany.com Conflict Style Quiz: thepowerhousecompany.com/quiz Individual and team versions available Coaching Programs: thepowerhousecompany.com ABOUT BETTER AT WORK: Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. We tackle the real challenges of modern work with practical advice you can use immediately. New episodes every Thursday. Guest interviews and listener Q&A episodes. Website: betteratwork.net Instagram: @betteratwork Submit Your Question: betteratwork.net NEXT EPISODE: Listener Q&A with Annette - Takeaways from this Smart Conflict conversation Submit your career dilemma: betteratwork.net

    51 min

  8. 11/27/2025

    Stuck in a Grad Program That Feels Too Narrow? Here's What to Do | Listener's Questions

    A listener on a graduate program asks: "I'm not learning what I expected. The role feels narrow. I want to be an entrepreneur. What should I do?" Cathal and Annette tackle this question with practical advice that applies to ANYONE feeling stuck in a narrow role, not just graduates. Plus: Cathal shares what it was like meeting Dermot Kennedy (and whether he lived up to expectations). IN THIS EPISODE: - Why large organisations are "friend factories" - The 5 things to do when your role feels limiting - How to use "easy" time for work-life balance - Side hustles vs full-time entrepreneurship - Getting involved in company-wide projects - Why you won't know what you learned until later - Meeting Dermot Kennedy: Did he live up to expectations? - The Tig Notaro/Taylor Dayne story everyone should hear ANNETTE'S 5 PIECES OF ADVICE: When your job feels too narrow or not challenging enough: 1. Find your people - Your workplace is a "friend factory." Build friendships that create belonging and resilience. 2. Use the time wisely - If work is easy, use that space for work-life balance, volunteering, or building future skills. 3. Reflect deeply - Name exactly what frustrates you, then counter it with innovation projects or improvements. 4. Find mentors/coaches - Shadow people, join employee action groups, get guidance from those ahead of you. 5. Give it time - You won't know what you learned until you're in your next role. Patience reveals the value. CATHAL'S ADVICE: - Talk to your manager about getting involved in company-wide projects - Consider a side hustle on weekends (test entrepreneurial ideas) - Join internal committees (People Development, Innovation, etc.) - Give it a year before making big decisions - Be proud you got the role - grad programs are incredibly competitive KEY INSIGHTS: "Your workplace is a friend factory. Spend time finding your people and making friends at work. Those friendships build belonging, purpose, and resilience when the day-to-day isn't energising you." - Annette "You probably won't really know what you've learned from this time until the future comes and you go, 'I grew there, I learned about myself.'" - Annette "Give it a year. You're already six months in. Talk to your manager, get involved in other projects, maybe do a side hustle on weekends." - Cathal RESOURCES: Website: betteratwork.net Instagram: @betteratwork Submit Your Question: betteratwork.net ABOUT BETTER AT WORK: Making your work life be

    30 min
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5
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About

The Better At Work podcast is your new best friend at work. It’s packed with honest, practical advice and science-backed techniques from a diverse range of guests to help you achieve betterness in your work, and life. Better At Work is for everyone striving to be better and feel better. Whether you’re ready to take your career to new heights, or battling with the daily grind, your host Cathal Quinlan is here to help.  By drawing on insights from leading psychologists, neuroscientists and performance experts, and Cathal sharing his own successes and mistakes as a leader, the podcast delivers proven strategies, tools and science-backed techniques to help you achieve betterness in your working life, one day at a time, because when work is better, life is better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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