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Work PunksIs there such a thing as too much autonomy?Empowering your team and giving them autonomy is good. It increases motivation and engagement, and will improve performance especially when the context is complex and volatile. But not all employees respond well to having autonomy. And for managers the feeling of not being 'in control' lurks in the background. Our Punks share their thoughts on how to navigate these tensions in this 15 minute blast.2025-07-0114 minWork PunksI am dragged into too many boring meetingsSome people reportedly spend more than 80% of their work in meetings, 90% of which they consider pointless. If you are one of them, how do you cope with that? Have you found the key to avoiding those meetings? Or have you managed to introduce ways to make those meetings productive and exciting? In this episode, our Punks share their views and suggestions on how to put your foot down and become more discerning in which meetings you grace with your presence. And provide some tips on how to spice things up a little. 2025-06-0415 minWork PunksAll the schemers get promotedYou excel at your job but you get overlooked for promotion, while those colleagues who are willing to 'play the game' pass you by on the career ladder. Sounds familiar? What can you do about it? Do you have to sell your soul, or are there other ways to overcome this injustice? Don't management see that they are promoting less competent people and are wasting great potential? Or is there another explanation? Our punks address these sticky questions and provide their usual spin on it.Have you experienced this conundrum too...2025-05-2115 minWork PunksWe all hate the annual appraisalsMost companies above a certain size have some sort of standardised appraisal process, often to be carried out on an annual basis. It involves a template (or app) containing many questions to be answered, ratings to be handed out, percentages-completed to be filled in, you know the drill. And we all dread it, both managers and employees alike. So why do it? Just to get it over with? Or should we fight it, to get it changed into something useful? Listen to this episode on what our Punks think of it. 2025-03-1411 minWork PunksI want to be a trusting boss, but...How do you deal with team members who have been trusted to deliver but are not performing to the required standard? That is the question our Punks are debating on this episode. Should you abandon your empowering management style and come down on them like the proverbial ton of bricks? Or could there be good reasons why your staff are underperforming? We give you our usual orginal and irreverent perspectives, drawing upon our own experiences as managers, consultants and coaches.2025-02-1312 minWork PunksMy team relies on me for decisions. How can I encourage them to take more decisions themselves?Colin Newlyn (Decrapify Work), Ben Simpson (VitalOrg) and Paul Jansen (Trust Works) have turned into Agony Uncles, and give their irreverent, refreshing and original views on how to deal with challenges at work. Today's episode: "The members on my team are lining up to have me make all decisions. It is driving me mad. How can I encourage them to take more decisions themselves?"2025-01-1609 minWork PunksHow can I quickly build trust with my new team member?Colin Newlyn (Decrapify Work), Ben Simpson (VitalOrg) and Paul Jansen (Trust Works) have turned into Agony Uncles, and give their irreverent, refreshing and original views on how to deal with challenges at work. This episode: How can I quickly build trust with my new team member?2024-11-1310 min
How We CareHow We Care: Episode 27: Burnout and RustoutThe opening passage read by Paul is from a LinkedIn post written by Colin Newlyn (Decrapify Work) posted 17/10/24. Colins insights into workplace culture and employee well-being are well worth checking out. You can find more here https://decrapifywork.substack.com/Later on Paul quotes from a linked in post by Chance Marshall from 18/10/24 regarding the new UK Labour governments plans to 'encourage' people with serious mental illness intro work.Check out our many related episodes on self-care for helping professionals and Episode 25 on how our beliefs affect our work. ht...2024-10-251h 13Work PunksHelp, I'm butting heads with my finance manager!Check out our latest episode of Work Punks, in which your trusted Punks have turned into Agony Uncles. We are responding to a query that begins "Help, I'm butting heads with my finance manager!" with our usual mix of irreverence, spikiness and wisdom, drawing upon our personal experience (boy, have we been there!) and knowledge.2024-10-2208 minWork PunksNatasha Bye on strategy and comedy - Episode 20 Our guest for this episode is Natasha Bye, also known as the Strategy Doctor, who has made a name for herself by bringing comedy into the boardroom. So what is the link between strategy and comedy? Do you get better conversations by wrapping it into a joke? How many people does it take to fix a lightbulb in your organisation? This and more will be topic of conversation in this month's Work Punks episode.Some useful references:- On Natasha Bye: https://strategydoctor.co.uk/- "The future doesn't just happen; the future results from t...2024-09-1338 minWork PunksShort-termism and broken working practices - Episode 19 - 18 July 2024Our Punks try to get behind the root causes of why working practices seem to be broken in so many companies. Is short-termism behind it all, and if so, what is causing this behaviour in the first place? Are there examples that buck that trend and what can we learn from them? Join us for this episode and share your experiences of broken or trend-bucking organisations in the comments. As always, here are some links for further contemplation: - Bill Anderson - the former CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals and currently heading the working revoluation at Bayer - on...2024-07-2034 minWork PunksMichael Pattinson on meetings and career movesOur guest for this episode is Michael Pattinson, a 'tech enabler' formerly of Network Rail and PwC, who recently decided to go it alone in his new venture The One Hour Sprint Company. In this lively conversation we try to unpick what it takes to make a drastic career move, explore the power of meetings as key tool to change organisations, and amble past many related observations in the process. Worthwhile references as well further reading on the topics touched upon: - Michael Pattinson: / michael-pattinson-8713464 - Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable About Solving the Most Pai...2024-06-2544 minWork PunksMental health in the workplaceAt the occasion of Mental Health Awareness Week our punks explore what role our working environment plays when it comes to our mental health. Despite billions spent on measures to reduce work related stress, employees report higher than ever rates of burnout and are leaving the workplace altogether en-masse. And this concerns younger generations as well as older. Is there something fundamentally wrong with how companies lead, manage and organise work? And what role do new technologies play in all this?Join us for this episode and share your thoughts in the comments. Here are some references...2024-05-1641 minWork PunksHow organisations lose their way Inspiration for this month's episode has been Boeing's slow but steady slip from great engineering firm to hesitant choice for your next holiday flight. How the actions and words of a few people at the top drive the behaviours and decisions throughout the organisation. With real impact for customers and workers alike. Can organisations on a cultural decline be turned around? Do we as individuals also need to have a good look in the mirror? Join us for this episode for a few spiky views.As always we quote some people much smarter than us. Here are the r...2024-04-2240 minWork PunksRebecca Cullum on future-fit leadership behavioursOur guest in this episode is Rebecca Cullum, who earned her stripes in leadership development in the IT and mobile phone sectors. Now operating independently, Rebecca supports leaders and their teams in establishing the culture, behaviours and mindsets that are required for 2024 and beyond. No surprises that these include being open to flexible working practices, encouraging learning and experimentation and accepting that what worked in the past may not work in the future. Some of the references from this episode: - Professor Saras Saraswarthy explains ‘Effectuation’, how serial entrepreneurs approach new ventures, including the principle of ‘Afford...2024-03-1344 minWork PunksHenry Stewart on creating a happy workforce - Episode 14 - 15 Feb 2024Our special guest on this episode is Henry Stewart, who not only named his company 'Happy', he helps other companies become happy too. It took a Damascene epiphany for Henry to change from self-confessed micro-manager into a CEO who makes no decisions. Since then, Henry has transformed his company into one that not only practices what it preaches, it positively ploughs the furrow by experimenting with new ways of working and challenging accepted wisdom when it comes to creating effective, productive and most of all happy workplaces. Henry and Happy are well-known for their programmes for l...2024-02-2033 minWork PunksGeoff Marlow on adaptive and agile organisationsOur special guest on this first episode of 2024 is Geoff Marlow, well-known for his work with large organisations on getting them to become more innovative, agile and adaptive, and for the Five Fatal Habits he identified as key when organisations fail in their attempts to become more nimble. Both in his education and his early career, Geoff realised that being empowered and encouraged to explore, experiment and learn suited him better than adopting so-called best-practices and (re)produce what others told him was best. It turned out this insight helped him greatly when organisations starting asking him for...2024-01-1747 minWork PunksThe Toxic BossAre you struggling with a toxic, overbearing boss, to the extent that you have sought professional help to deal with it? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, our Punks reflect on a recent study that identified one-third of workers requiring therapy to deal with their work situations. Why is that? Are you perhaps one of those bosses? And how could this be overcome? Sources mentioned: - Article about workers with toxic bosses requiring therapy and the Sunday Scaries. https://africa.businessinsider.com/ca.... - It links to the Harris Poll - Toxic Bosses Survey...2023-12-1734 minWork PunksTowards a progressive MBA In this episode our Punks discuss Ben's ambition to create a progressive MBA programme, one that leaves the formulaic traps of established MBAs for dust and prepares the leaders of the future with the skills that the 2020s demand. After all, with large parts of the workforce working flexibly, AI looming large over everyone, and Gen Z entrants to the labour market no longer interested in climbing the corporate ladder, traditional leadership skills (whatever they are) no longer fit the bill. Listen to our mavericks' debate on the subject and let us know what key skill you would w...2023-11-1634 minWork PunksCharles Towers-Clark, the WEIRD CEO Special guest in this episode: Charles Towers-Clark, writer of "The WEIRD CEO" (and the CEO of the title). Artificial Intelligence has gone mainstream lately, with ChatGPT and other tools now firmly in the public eye. Years ago, Charles concluded that in order to prepare his company POD Group and its workforce for the advent of AI, a radical rethink of how work is organised was called for. And so he went about introducing concepts of autonomy and self management to his company. What it takes to do this well, he summarised in the menomonic WEIRD (Wisdom, Emotional Intelligence, In...2023-10-1739 minWork PunksHoliday specialThis week we wrestle with the issue of holidays. We all agree that we need holidays and they have a postive impact on our health and our performance, yet there are very mixed messages from employers. We discuss different norms in US and Europe, whether people should decide for themselves how much holiday they take (the Netflix approach) or should we be insisting they take the holidays they are given. We look at how organisations consider holidays and whether they allow for them in their planning and their expectations on employees. The issues around holidays are a microcosm of...2023-09-1335 minWork PunksDamian Mears joins us to talk about the future of the officeAs the tug of war continues between companies demanding employees come back to the office and workers choosing organisations supportive of flexible working arrangements, one key question concerns the future of the office. In this episode of Work Punks our guest Damian Mears sheds light on this conundrum, and what it means for the design of the future workplace.2023-08-1838 min
Psych Health and Safety PodcastReturn to the Office? - with Colin NewlynIn this episode, Australian hosts Jason and Joelle chat with Colin Newlyn, Founder of Decrapify Work. We discuss the much-publicised push to return workers to office-based work. Colin shares his views on who are the main drivers behind this push, reasons why employers might want their workforce back in the office, and the potential benefits and pitfalls of having people return to the office full-time. Colin then talks about the benefits of hybrid and asynchronous work.
https://www.youtube.com/@workpunks7889
https://decrapifywork.substack.com/2023-07-3142 minWork PunksLizzie Benton on Change, AI and moreColin Newlyn (Decrapify Work), Ben Simpson (VitalOrg) and Paul Jansen (Trust Works) discuss news, developments and innovations from the world of work. This time with special guest Lizzie Benton of Liberty Mind. The 2023 Gallup survey on employee engagement rears its head in this latest episode, and make Lizzie and our Punks wonder why we in the UK fail to learn from better performers. Changing our ways seems hard but why is that, and which approaches would be more likely to succeed? And should Artificial Intelligence be seen as a threat or a potential ally in...2023-07-2436 minWork PunksGood Leaders and Bad SurveysDoes it help to be 'a little bit narcissistic' if you aspire to be a good leader? A recent survey says so, but you can trust our Punks to tear this piece of research to threads.So what does good leadership look like? This episode covers such ingredients as authenticity, personality traits versus skills, roles versus positions, and how to encourage a diversity of candidates to step into the limelight.Some recommended sources on the topics discussed: "Leading from the Heart with Mark C. Crowley" podcast episode "Jim Harter: Gallup’s Guidance On Leading In...2023-06-1327 minWork PunksHR - Victim or Perpetrator?In "HR: Victim or Perpetrator" our punks discuss the unenviable position HR professionals find themselves in while working practices around them are changing at a rapid pace. Should they cling on to the policy-making, company-protecting interpretation of their role? Should they bring in new ways of working more in tune with the hybrid wave and Gen-Z's expectations? Or is a completely new interpretation of their role called for, and is the whole concept of 'HR' anachronistic?2023-05-1630 minWork PunksOn Employee OwnershipIn this episode our old punks sink their dentures into the question whether Employee Ownership is the route staff engagement and therefore to success. They discuss: The woes of the John Lewis department store and whether its employee ownership model is at risk of being undermined by possible new measuresThe perils of picking one or two incentives from the employee ownership world, without going all the way. Those unintended consequences strike again...How democratic decision-making processes are increasingly supported by new technologies to benefit from the knowledge of all employeesThat employee-owned doesn't always mean employee-centricSome recommended r...2023-04-1828 minWork PunksThe Squeezed Middle ManagerIn this episode our old punks are debating (and expressing some sympathy for) the position of the middle manager. In particular:Why in all those years of management training and leadership development so little progress has been madeWhat of the recent developments in work have made the role of the middle manager even more challengingWhat systemic change is required and where we might look for alternativesHow remote monitoring technology in this age of working from home has proliferated, and the next generation of tools is knocking on our doors, for better or for worseSome recommended...2023-03-2134 minWork PunksSize mattersUnder the headline 'Size Matters' in this episode our old Punks are debating:Team size and Social Loafing: myth or something to worry about?The benefit of good conversational skills (and what are they?)Why is poor mental health an issue especially in large companies? Some recommended reading on topics discussed:Why Less is More in Teams, Mark de Rond, HBR August 2012The rational manager: A systematic approach to problem solving and decision making by Charles H. Kepner & Benjamin B. TregoeTo find out more about VitalOrg's “Teams in Flow” intervention check out: https://vitalorg.co.uk/index...2023-02-1930 minWork PunksThe Punks get startedColin, Ben and Paul each bring a topic up for discussion, which then gets booted around and generally deconstructed. Colin kicks it off with the 4-day week, Ben rants about Bullshit Jobs and meaningless work and Paul finishes off with the issue of psychological safety.2023-01-1929 min
Make It Thrive: The Company Culture PodcastIt's time to Decrapify WorkIn this episode I’m joined by Colin Newlyn from Decrapify Work. Colin is a variously described as a sage, critical friend, optimistic realist, independent thinker, coach, mentor and pirate. He writes, blogs and speaks regularly on leadership, teams, the future of work and the insanity of the organisations. He helps people start mutinies, break rules and make good trouble. Together we talk about what needs to be done to ‘Decrapify Work’.
This season is sponsored by Breathe Culture Pledge; https://www.breathehr.com/en-gb/culture-pledge
Find more about Colin;
https://decrapifywork.wordpress.com/2022-10-0344 min
Candid CraicDecrapifying work Colin NewlynIn this Candid Craic, we talk to Colin Newlyn about his mission to decrapify work.
Colin explains how, despite the rhetoric, we seem to be moving away from the trust and autonomy of the working conditions he experienced in his early career to a more command and control structure, often infected by bullying and toxicity, and replete with technologies, practices and processes that seem to hinder productivity and innovation.
He explains how he has begun to take the concept of self-organisation increasingly seriously, seeing it as a holistic toolkit that can create better organisations if...2022-02-0857 min
#techlondonColin-NewlynOn this episode we hear from Colin Newlyn ()I know what it’s like when work is good. And I also know what it’s like when work is crap.Sadly, it’s crap for way too many people and that’s completely unnecessary, counter-productive, and just plain wrong! In My Life - The Crapfication of Work: https://decrapifywork.substack.com/p/in-my-life?r=3bk3h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=emailConnect with them online atLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinnewlyn/Subscribe to our podcast and find out more...2022-01-2523 min
Activate your IntrovertHow to decrapify work, considering introversion.In this week’s show Leadership tip of the week: Being Authentic A discussion with Colin Newlyn: Colin’s a popular guest on the show and is on a mission to decrapify work. Contact Colin at http://decrapifywork.com/ Question of the week: How do you spot an introvert? This week is an audio sign to watch out for. There’s more about this at https://introvertinbusiness.co.uk/spotting-an-introvert-hiding-in-plain-sight/ What question would you like answered about introversion? Leave it at activateyourintrovert.com and I’ll answer it on the show.2021-11-0520 min
Fixing The Broken World Of Work PodcastFixing the broken world of work podcast with Colin Newlyn 🏴☠️Fixing the broken world of work podcast with Colin Newlyn & Danny Denhard Thanks for listening today! This is a great conversation with Colin, you will want to listen if you are looking to improve your workplace, making positive change with yourself and how to challenge the status quo by thinking like a pirate. The Conversation includes: Decrapyifying work The top tips to decrapify work How leadership is about leading Why we should be more pirate Should we rethink the whole work week, should we even have a commute? Policing from managers Wh...2021-09-1649 minActivate your IntrovertIs future work decrapified?In this week’s show Introvert myth of the week: Introverts are anti social. Err, no! Let’s just look at recent return to work surveys showing that 30% of introverts didn’t state a preference for home or office and 50% like the idea of flexible working. Leadership tip of the week: 5 ways to better understand introverts, so you can boost productivity in your firm without wasting your time. In your team there’s probably a mixture of amazing people, some are always talking extroverts, and some are much quieter introverts. It’s quite possible you find the introverts harder to g...2021-06-1015 min
90 Minutes Or Less Film Fest20. The Shout with Mark JenkinSam Clements is curating a fictional film festival. He'll accept almost anything, but the movie must not be longer than 90 minutes. This is the 90 Minutes Or Less Film Fest podcast.
In episode 20, Sam is joined by Mark Jenkin, director of new film Bait (89 minutes) which received an incredible response at the 2019 Berlinale and is in UK cinemas from 30th August.
Mark has chosen Jerzy Skolimowski’s 1978 British horror film The Shout (86 Minutes) starring John Hurt, Susannah York, Alan Bates and Tim Curry.
Sam and Mark talk about the joys of shooting films on fi...2019-08-3046 min
The Film ProgrammeColin Firth, Ralph FiennesColin Firth and Francine Stock indulge in some Bridget Jones's Baby talk, and the actor admits that he is partly to blame for the out-dated stereotype of the reticent Englishman.Ralph Fiennes explains why he spent two months learning Russian for his role in Two Women.Francine follows the continuing adventures of Alastair Till and Suzie Sinclair who left the Big Smoke for the sea air of Cornwall, and built their own cinema, without any previous knowledge of the film business. The Newlyn Filmhouse has been open for six months, so is it still a...2016-09-1529 min