In this episode of Workplace Weirdness, host Maya Kadar Kovalsky dives into the peculiarities of office life with guest Menaka Chang, a Fractional Chief People Officer. From an ex-employee treating the office like a personal lounge to navigating bureaucratic slowdowns in startups, they discuss the nuances of building high-performance cultures. They delve into the transition challenges when startups get acquired and how to maintain a performance-driven yet people-first culture. Tune in for insights on maintaining a people-first culture while still being performance-driven!
Key Takeaways
The significance of blending various life and career experiences to enhance leadership and team dynamics in rapidly growing companies
The pivotal role of positive corporate culture in fostering robust employee engagement
Why people-first cultures may conflict with performance-driven environments
The challenges of adapting to a slower, more bureaucratic workplace environment following a corporate acquisition
The importance of adaptability, communication, and humor in the workplace
In This Episode
00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
01:09 - Meet Menaka Chang
08:36 - High Performers and Interview Techniques
14:01 - Weirdest Workplace Moment
16:33 - Week in Work: Ghost Job Listings
25:37 - Listener Question #1: Job Offers
27:52 - Listener Question #2: Startup Slowdowns
36:39 - Workplace Weirdness: Desk Perchers
40:09 - Conclusion and Farewell
Notable Quotes
[09:28] "The zone of genius is when people really find that they are doing work and they almost feel like no time has passed, where you feel like you're in a flow state and you're doing great work." - Menaka Chang
[12:37] " The best companies are performance driven because they are people-first. They treat employees well, they set clear expectations, they reward great work. People perform at their best when those things are happening." - Menaka Chang
[26:16] " You should never feel pressured to sign a contract within an hour. That's a huge red flag. It sounds like a scare tactic or disorganized hiring process." - Menaka Chang
Resources and Links
Menaka Chang
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/menaka-chang
Maya Kadar Kovalsky
Website https://www.mayakadar.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/
Workplace Weirdness
Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com
SpeakPipe http://speakpipe.com/workplaceweirdness
Website https://workplace-weirdness.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/workplaceweirdpod/
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as professional, legal, or workplace-specific advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals for their individual situations.
