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WorkLife Stories from School of WorkLife

Carmel
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Character-Driven WorkLife Stories That Shift How You Think Short, character-driven stories about real WorkLife challenges — how we communicate, lead, make decisions, and navigate what happens at work. Each story shows a moment where something shifts: a conversation changes, an idea lands, a different approach opens up.  Working examples you can recognise and use — designed to be useful immediately. The stories explore five themes, each a different lens on the same essential question:  How do we create WorkLives that matter? Self-Discovery — understanding what truly matters to you.  Book Club Books — learning from the wisdom found in great books.  The Art of WorkLife Storytelling — crafting your distinctive narratives.  Character Traits — enhancing your natural strengths.  Mental Health and Wellbeing — navigating workplace wellbeing challenges. Every episode is complete and free to listen.  Each story connects to a full Story Lesson — a deeper, structured resource with frameworks, reflection, and practical application.  And for those who want to go deeper still, Story Lessons connect to Guided Programmes — comprehensive learning journeys available at School of WorkLife. New episodes every Tuesday.

  1. New: The Evelyn Practice: How to Develop Systems Thinking and Solve Complex WorkLife Problems Online Live Class

    2h ago

    New: The Evelyn Practice: How to Develop Systems Thinking and Solve Complex WorkLife Problems Online Live Class

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES The Evelyn Practice: How to Develop Systems Thinking and Solve Complex WorkLife Problems is the newest School of WorkLife Book Club online live class. It draws on Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — and a framework exploring what systems thinking actually asks of us, not when problems are obviously connected, but in the moments when they keep returning and complicating each other in ways that solving them individually never quite resolves. It's a class for anyone who has ever fixed a problem — and watched the same problem come back somewhere else. Here at the details for how to reserve your place: https://schoolofworklife.com/school-of-worklife-live-classes/  Scroll Down on School of WorkLife Live Classes to Reserve Your Place Support the show

    2 min
  2. The WorkLife Question: Marcus

    1d ago

    The WorkLife Question: Marcus

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES Today's Question: How do you bring your story full circle? How do you bring your story full circle? In this episode of The WorkLife Question, I explore what Marcus discovered about circular story structure — not just in his own story, but in the three client stories he helped bring full circle. The ending isn't a return to the beginning. It's the recognition of how far the journey has travelled. RESOURCES Today’s question is from Creating Three Fundamental Stories That Define Your Identity: Success, Failure and Passion Stories Question Bank — from the section Building Memorable Endings. Marcus is the main protagonist in the Story Lesson: How to Transform Expertise Into Genuine Understanding Through Storytelling.  His story is featured in the episode: The Stories Behind the Stories: Marcus.  Marcus's story was told in WorkLife Stories: How to Transform Expertise Into Genuine Understanding Through Storytelling. (Free to listen). Deepen the practice with the WorkLife Compass Guided Programme:The Art of WorkLife Storytelling: Creating Three Fundamental Stories That Define Your Identity Programme Crafting Success, Failure, and Passion Narratives with Powerful Beginnings, Engaging Middles, and Memorable Endings Support the show

    5 min
  3. The Stories Behind the Stories: David

    2d ago

    The Stories Behind the Stories: David

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES The Stories Behind the Stories: David Nina didn't know her questions were creating clarity.  Marcus didn't know his instinct was preventing crises.  Lisa didn't know her planning was giving others the safety to take risks. Aisha didn't know her ability to find common ground was a strength she could own. They had been doing all of this for three years.  And none of them knew.  Until David named it. In this episode of The Stories Behind the Stories, I go deeper into observation as a character trait — not only what it does for David, but also what it does for the people around him. And why naming a character trait changes not just how far someone goes — but the impact they have on every person they work alongside. RESOURCES The Storytelling Newsletter (Free) Short, focused, and grounded in real WorkLife situations — how we communicate, lead, make decisions, and navigate challenges at work.   WorkLife Stories from School of WorkLife (Free). How to Recognise Your Natural Character Traits and Transform Your Professional Impact. Character-Driven WorkLife Stories That Shift How You Think Story Lesson How to Recognise Your Natural Character Traits and Transform Your Professional Impact Turn competent management into character-driven leadership through recognising the traits you’ve been taking for granted.   Guided Programme The Longest Way Round: A Journey of Character — How Embracing Your Natural Traits and the Wisdom of Great Storytellers Can Transform Your Path to Purpose  Your Character Trait Takeaway What character trait do you express so naturally you've never thought to name it — and what does it bring to your work that nothing else does? What is it already creating for the people you work with — And what else could it enable for them? And what is it already making possible for your organisation — and what more could it make possible if you chose to develop it intentionally ? A Note to Listeners Every Thursday a new episode of The Stories Behind the Stories continues. From May 2026 — each new episode will be free for one week. After that it goes behind the subscriber paywall. One week to listen. One week to experience the learning. One week to build it into your working life. If an episode resonates — pass it to someone who would find it useful. A colleague. A client. A friend. That’s how this work finds the people it’s meant for. After one week each episode joins the back catalogue — available to subscribers only. Support the show

    12 min
  4. How Strategic Opening Lines Transform Leadership Communications

    4d ago

    How Strategic Opening Lines Transform Leadership Communications

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES: WorkLife Stories from School of WorkLife Episode: How Strategic Opening Lines Transform Leadership Communications Learning how strategic opening lines transform leadership communications is what separates messages that build culture from ones that get politely read and promptly forgotten. Declan had been sending company-wide messages that employees dutifully read and promptly forgot. This is the story of the moment a leadership retreat showed him that the problem wasn't what he was saying — it was how he was opening. RESOURCES MENTIONED The Storytelling Newsletter (Free) Short, focused, and grounded in real WorkLife situations — how we communicate, lead, make decisions, and navigate challenges at work.   Story Lesson: How Strategic Opening Lines Transform Leadership Communications Learn how to turn corporate announcements into cultural catalysts through connection-first leadership opening lines. Guided Programme The Art of First Impressions: Mastering Opening Lines That Captivate Your Audience How to Create Immediate Engagement Using the Six Elements of Powerful Openings  Commissioned learning resources, speaking engagements, and organisational partnerships: carmel@schoolofworklife.com schoolofworklife.com The stories I write are based on real WorkLife challenges, obstacles, failures and successes. Persons and companies portrayed in the stories are not based on real people or entities. Carmel O’ Reilly Support the show

    11 min
  5. New: The Remains Practice: How to Strengthen Professional Judgement and Develop Discernment at Work Online Live Class

    Jun 6

    New: The Remains Practice: How to Strengthen Professional Judgement and Develop Discernment at Work Online Live Class

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES The Remains Practice: How to Strengthen Professional Judgement and Develop Discernment at Work is the newest School of WorkLife Book Club online live class. It draws on Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day — and a framework exploring what professional judgement and discernment actually ask of us, not in situations of obvious deception, but in the ordinary moments where something doesn't quite add up and where looking more carefully makes the difference. It's a class for anyone who has ever sensed something was incomplete — but couldn't quite name what they were missing. Here are the details for how to reserve your place:  Scroll Down on School of WorkLife Live Classes to Reserve Your Place Support the show

    2 min
  6. The WorkLife Question: Emma

    Jun 5

    The WorkLife Question: Emma

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES Today's Question: How do you create emotional connection? How do you create emotional connection? In this episode of The WorkLife Question, I explore what Emma discovered about emotional connection — not in her opening, not in her close, but in the middle of three pitch conversations where the right question changed everything. Not through performance. Through making space for what people actually needed to say. RESOURCES Today’s question is from Creating Three Fundamental Stories That Define Your Identity: Success, Failure and Passion Stories Question Bank — from the section Creating Engaging Middles. Emma is the main protagonist in the Story Lesson: How to Unlock Hidden Strategic Value Through Storytelling.  Her story is featured in the episode: The Stories Behind the Stories: Emma.  Emma's story was told in WorkLife Stories: How to Unlock Hidden Strategic Value Through Storytelling. (Free to listen). Deepen the practice with the WorkLife Compass Guided Programme:The Art of WorkLife Storytelling: Creating Three Fundamental Stories That Define Your Identity Programme Crafting Success, Failure, and Passion Narratives with Powerful Beginnings, Engaging Middles, and Memorable Endings Support the show

    4 min
  7. How Historical Fiction Strengthens Perspective-Taking and Develops Cultural Intelligence

    Jun 2

    How Historical Fiction Strengthens Perspective-Taking and Develops Cultural Intelligence

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES: WorkLife Stories from School of WorkLife Episode: How Historical Fiction Strengthens Perspective-Taking and Develops Cultural Intelligence Learning how historical fiction strengthens perspective-taking and develops cultural intelligence begins with recognising that the coordination problems in your international team may not be coordination problems at all. Andy had been leading distributed software development teams across three continents for years — metrics strong, systems sound, results consistently praised. He was reaching the problems. He wasn't reaching the people. This is the story of the night a novel showed him why — and changed how he understood every person he led. RESOURCES MENTIONED The Storytelling Newsletter (Free) Short, focused, and grounded in real WorkLife situations — how we communicate, lead, make decisions, and navigate challenges at work.   Story Lesson: How Historical Fiction Strengthens Perspective-Taking and Develops Cultural Intelligence Learn how stories that explore cultural inheritance and historical perspective can deepen cross-cultural intelligence and change how you understand the people you lead. Guided Programme The Power of Fiction: Developing Character Traits Through Reading –Discover how literature strengthens empathy, perspective, and moral judgement — essential traits for thoughtful leadership.  This story was inspired by my book, WorkLife Book Club Volume One Shoreditch by Carmel O’ Reilly — following members of a London book club as they navigate WorkLife challenges through the wisdom found in the books they read together. Commissioned learning resources, speaking engagements, and organisational partnerships: carmel@schoolofworklife.com schoolofworklife.com The stories I write are based on real WorkLife challenges, obstacles, failures and successes. Persons and companies portrayed in the stories are not based on real people or entities. Carmel O’ Reilly Support the show

    11 min
  8. New: The Life of Pi Practice: How to Build Resilience and Lead Through Uncertainty Online Live Class

    May 30

    New: The Life of Pi Practice: How to Build Resilience and Lead Through Uncertainty Online Live Class

    Send us Fan Mail SHOW NOTES The Life of Pi Practice: How to Build Resilience and Lead Through Uncertainty is the newest School of WorkLife Book Club online live class. It draws on Yann Martel's Life of Pi — and a framework exploring what resilience and adaptive leadership actually ask of us, not in stable situations, but in the moments when plans stop working and the ability to adapt makes the difference. It's a class for anyone who has ever worked harder to control a situation — and found it becoming more fragile, not less. Here are the details for how to reserve your place:  https://schoolofworklife.com/school-of-worklife-live-classes/  Scroll Down on School of WorkLife Live Classes to Reserve Your Place Support the show

    2 min
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Character-Driven WorkLife Stories That Shift How You Think Short, character-driven stories about real WorkLife challenges — how we communicate, lead, make decisions, and navigate what happens at work. Each story shows a moment where something shifts: a conversation changes, an idea lands, a different approach opens up.  Working examples you can recognise and use — designed to be useful immediately. The stories explore five themes, each a different lens on the same essential question:  How do we create WorkLives that matter? Self-Discovery — understanding what truly matters to you.  Book Club Books — learning from the wisdom found in great books.  The Art of WorkLife Storytelling — crafting your distinctive narratives.  Character Traits — enhancing your natural strengths.  Mental Health and Wellbeing — navigating workplace wellbeing challenges. Every episode is complete and free to listen.  Each story connects to a full Story Lesson — a deeper, structured resource with frameworks, reflection, and practical application.  And for those who want to go deeper still, Story Lessons connect to Guided Programmes — comprehensive learning journeys available at School of WorkLife. New episodes every Tuesday.

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