Working Conversations

Dr. Janel Anderson
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Join Dr. Janel Anderson for actionable insights on leadership, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. Rooted in UX Thinking, these episodes help you lead by design—not default—with practical strategies to boost your clarity, effectiveness, and influence in today’s fast-changing, tech-driven workplace. Tune in for practical strategies, cutting-edge trends, and fresh perspectives that help you lead better, work smarter, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

  1. #248: Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Bold Predictions for 2026

    3D AGO

    #248: Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Bold Predictions for 2026

    Episode 248: Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Bold Predictions for 2026 In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson shares her three bold predictions for 2026, focusing on the evolving landscape of leadership under uncertainty. She anticipates more frequent system outages in large cloud infrastructures, a greater need for partnerships with HR and legal teams as AI blurs the line between real and synthetic evidence, and a shift toward valuing slow, deliberate decision-making in leadership. Dr. Janel also recaps her accurate predictions for 2025 and offers practical advice for leaders who want to navigate complexity thoughtfully. This episode provides timely insights for anyone guiding teams through rapid change. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/248

    24 min
  2. #247: Unleashing Your Creativity with The Artist’s Way

    12/22/2025

    #247: Unleashing Your Creativity with The Artist’s Way

    Episode 247: Unleashing Your Creativity with The Artist’s Way In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the transformative power of Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way. She walks listeners through its process aimed at unlocking creativity and designing a more intentional life and work experience. From the discipline of daily morning pages to the joy of weekly artist dates, she shares practical ways the book fosters creative breakthroughs, whether you’re an artist, leader, or simply seeking new ideas. Drawing on decades of personal experience, Dr. Janel Anderson illustrates how embracing creative maintenance can lead to greater fulfillment and innovation, both personally and professionally. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/247

    25 min
  3. #246: Culture Redesign: Instagram Eliminates Meetings and PowerPoint

    12/15/2025

    #246: Culture Redesign: Instagram Eliminates Meetings and PowerPoint

    Episode 246: Culture Redesign: Instagram Eliminates Meetings and PowerPoint In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson unpacks Instagram’s bold organizational redesign. Moving far beyond a simple return-to-office mandate, Instagram is canceling most meetings, ditching habitual PowerPoint use, and ramping up prototyping as a core driver of collaboration. Dr. Janel Anderson explores how these changes are designed not just to foster productivity but to create a truly engaging in-person work culture. Listeners will gain fresh insights into reimagining company culture, reclaiming creative time, and encouraging psychological safety, ideas leaders in any industry can use to build teams that thrive on collaboration and innovation in today’s evolving workplace.   Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/246

    25 min
  4. #245: The Best Email I Ever Wrote (Just Three Sentences)

    12/08/2025

    #245: The Best Email I Ever Wrote (Just Three Sentences)

    Episode 245: The Best Email I Ever Wrote (Just Three Sentences) In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson unpacks the art of crafting ultra-effective, ultra-brief emails that get rapid, thoughtful responses, even from the busiest executives. Sharing a real-life example from her executive coaching practice, she breaks down why her three-option, 10-second check-in email worked so well and how you can apply user experience principles to internal communication. Listeners will discover actionable strategies for reducing cognitive load, preserving politeness, creating psychological safety, and strengthening professional relationships. Whether you manage teams or communicate with overloaded colleagues, this episode offers practical tips to transform your emails into tools for clarity, kindness, and faster replies. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/245

    25 min
  5. #244: Late, Over-Budget, and Totally Worth It: Behind the Scenes on a Big Project

    12/01/2025

    #244: Late, Over-Budget, and Totally Worth It: Behind the Scenes on a Big Project

    Episode 244: Late, Over-Budget, and Totally Worth It: Behind the Scenes on a Big Project In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson takes listeners behind the scenes of her recent website and demo reel project, sharing three powerful lessons learned along the way. From scrapping an entire first draft to making tough choices for the sake of clarity and working with exceptional partners, she outlines how pursuing excellence often means embracing the messy middle. Dr. Janel applies her experience in user experience and design thinking, offering practical insights for anyone undertaking a major project. No matter your role or industry, this episode provides hard-earned wisdom to help you navigate challenges, make bold decisions, and create outstanding results. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/244

    22 min
  6. #243: Embracing Healthy Disagreement for Stronger Teams and Sharper Decisions

    11/24/2025

    #243: Embracing Healthy Disagreement for Stronger Teams and Sharper Decisions

    Episode 243: Embracing Healthy Disagreement for Stronger Teams and Sharper Decisions In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the strategic benefits of healthy disagreement in teams. Drawing on research and real-world examples from leaders like Jeff Bezos and experts in psychological safety, she highlights how thoughtfully managed disagreement leads to better decisions, sharper thinking, and stronger collaboration. Dr. Janel shares practical approaches for designing disagreement into team culture, from establishing norms to structuring debate and modeling calm dissent. Whether you’re a manager or a team member, you’ll learn actionable principles for turning conflict into a catalyst for innovation and building high-performing teams that thrive on constructive debate and diverse perspectives. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/243

    27 min
  7. #242: Master Microshifting: How Flexible Work Bursts Are Shaping the Workday

    11/17/2025

    #242: Master Microshifting: How Flexible Work Bursts Are Shaping the Workday

    Episode 242: Master Microshifting: How Flexible Work Bursts Are Shaping the Workday In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores the concept of microshifting—breaking the traditional workday into flexible bursts tailored to individual energy cycles and life demands. She explains how microshifting emerged from post-pandemic work trends and highlights its benefits, such as improved well-being, autonomy, and global collaboration. However, she warns that without intentional design, clear communication, and trust, microshifting can fragment focus, create coordination chaos, and erode boundaries. Drawing on research and practical examples, Dr. Janel offers actionable principles for organizations to successfully implement microshifting, providing valuable insights for leaders, teams, and anyone seeking greater work-life balance. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/242

    28 min
  8. #241: Adapting to Unannounced Change

    11/10/2025

    #241: Adapting to Unannounced Change

    Episode 241: Adapting to Unannounced Change In this episode, Dr. Janel Anderson explores how rapid, unannounced changes in technology—like unexpected software redesigns—can create frustration even among those who embrace innovation. Drawing on her own volatile experiences with changes in her bookkeeping and email software, she highlights the importance of key design heuristics: visibility, consistency, and user control. Dr. Janel connects these principles to leadership, noting that the way change is introduced makes all the difference in whether people adopt or resist it. Whether you’re a leader or a product designer, you’ll find actionable advice for rolling out changes that respect users’ needs and foster smoother transitions. Find show notes at https://janelanderson.com/241

    18 min
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About

Join Dr. Janel Anderson for actionable insights on leadership, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. Rooted in UX Thinking, these episodes help you lead by design—not default—with practical strategies to boost your clarity, effectiveness, and influence in today’s fast-changing, tech-driven workplace. Tune in for practical strategies, cutting-edge trends, and fresh perspectives that help you lead better, work smarter, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Janel Anderson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    250
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Working Conversations