Truth, Lies and Work

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. We are brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals.

This week on This Week in Work, we uncover the hidden psychological motives behind return-to-office mandates, discuss why charisma might actually be a leadership red flag, and look at the real reasons UK job satisfaction has dropped to an all-time low. Plus, we explore whether emotional intelligence truly makes better leaders, and solve three listener dilemmas in the Workplace Surgery.

Meet up with Al at GROW, happening 16th November 2026 in London
HubSpot Grow Europe: https://www.hubspot.com/grow-europe

Join our leadership and management training programme in January. Listen to find out how to get a £350 discount!
Keystone: https://keystoneleaders.co.uk/

News Roundup

🔥 Stories covered

Narcissism behind return-to-office mandates

New research co-authored by Wharton's Adam Grant reveals that leaders with higher narcissistic tendencies are far more resistant to remote working. The drive to force teams back to their desks is heavily influenced by a manager's desire for personal power and visible status, rather than genuine productivity or culture.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597826000300

Why charisma is a red flag

Psychiatrist Alex Curmi warns that high charisma should make us more sceptical rather than easily persuaded. Charisma is often a learned performance technique that can mask a lack of substance, making it essential to evaluate a leader's actual track record rather than their charm.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/nov/01/why-you-should-treat-charisma-as-a-red-flag

The UK's "dissatisfaction drain"

Job satisfaction across Britain has fallen to its lowest level since 1989, with fewer workers willing to put in discretionary effort. The Resolution Foundation found the shift is not caused by laziness, but by stagnant pay, poor flexibility, and growing worker insecurity.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/nov/03/uk-job-satisfaction-record-low-frustration-pay-flexible-working-insecure-employment

🧠 Truth or Lie: Do emotionally intelligent people make better leaders?

Daniel Goleman popularised the idea that emotional intelligence matters more than IQ for business success. We examine the scientific evidence behind EQ, exploring how it influences relationship styles, the massive difference between self-reported quizzes and ability tests, and whether being good at reading people actually translates to bottom-line performance.

💬 Workplace Surgery

This week we answer three listener questions:

Moving from peer to boss: How to be firmer on accountability without damaging your team culture.

Combating founder burnout: The single best boundary to set when running a business starts taking over your life.

Managing younger teams: How to navigate Gen Z overwhelm and communication challenges without resorting to micromanagement.

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture. This week, we explore why high performers burn out in healthy organisations, why burnout is blameless, and how subtle workplace mismatches drive chronic exhaustion.

Imagine working with a supportive boss, great teammates, and zero company toxicity, yet you still find yourself dragging through every day running on empty. Returning guest Cait Donovan, author of Mismatch: Why Good People Burn Out in Good Organizations and host of FRIED. The Burnout Podcast, joins us to explain why the problem isn't bad apples or personal failure—it’s an accumulation of mismatches.

Cait compares a mismatched role to wearing a designer blazer that is one size too small: no matter how good it looks on paper or how much it cost, you feel uncomfortable every minute you wear it. Over time, that constant friction turns into exhaustion, disengagement, and burnout.

What We Cover in This Episode

The Blameless Burnout Reframe
Why finger-pointing prevents solutions. When organisations feel blamed, they get defensive; when individuals feel blamed, they enter shame spirals. Viewing friction as morally neutral removes guilt and allows both sides to fix the alignment.

Beyond Workload: Skills, Resources, and Autonomy
Workload is rarely just about hours. We break down the impact of being under-skilled or over-skilled, the friction of lacking basic tools, and the three distinct dimensions of workplace autonomy: decision-making autonomy, time autonomy, and process autonomy.

Why Your Team Doesn't Have an Accountability Problem
Cait shares a real case study of a C-suite team convinced their organisation lacked personal accountability. In reality, employees were being starved of the decision-making and process autonomy required to own their outcomes. Fix the structure, and accountability follows naturally.

The 75% Rule: Why Perfect Matches Don't Exist
Chasing 100% alignment across every area of work and life creates isolation and loneliness. Cait explains why we should aim for "mostly sort of pretty good" (roughly 75%, or a solid passing grade) while accepting natural compromise.

Your Monday Morning Action Plan
If your role feels misaligned, start by examining your own coping patterns, like people-pleasing or hyper-independence. Next, make one clear, direct ask to your manager without hinting. Finally, treat their response purely as objective data to decide your next move.

Connect with Cait Donovan
Pre-order Mismatch: https://caitdonovan.com/mismatch
Listen to FRIED. The Burnout Podcast: https://caitdonovan.com/podcast
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitdonovanspeaks/

Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.

This week, Al and Leanne are joined by guest host Alexis Zahner, author of Real: Reconnecting to Yourself in a World of Likes and Lies. We dive into the latest global research on social media and mental health, Australia’s push to let users switch off algorithms, and whether "being authentic" online is actually just performance art. Plus, we tackle three sticky scenarios in the Workplace Surgery.

Stories covered

Is social media really making us miserable?
Gallup’s 2026 State of the World’s Emotional Health Report examined social media use and emotional wellbeing across 97 countries, with surprising results. Moderate users (30 minutes to 2 hours per day) actually reported higher wellbeing than non-users, while heavier use (2+ hours) correlated with elevated stress, sadness, and loneliness. Alexis, Leanne, and Al break down why time spent is the wrong metric, the danger of doomscrolling, and why what you consume matters far more than screen time.

Australia wants to let you switch off the algorithm
Australia is proposing legislation to let users toggle off algorithmic recommendations entirely, reverting to a purely chronological feed of accounts they follow. Is this empowering digital autonomy, or is it government censorship as critics in the US claim? Alexis explores why platforms weaponise engagement to drive ad revenue and questions whether users will actually flick the switch.

Truth or Lie: Does being authentic online mean sharing everything?

Alexis busts the myth of total online authenticity. Drawing on sociological research and identity theory, Alexis explains why posting online is always a contextual performance. Treating authenticity as an engagement strategy often leads to manufactured vulnerability and curated transparency rather than true connection.

Workplace Surgery

This week, Alexis joins Al and Leanne to answer three workplace dilemmas:

1. The reluctant founder: "Everyone says I have to be the face of the business, but posting online feels like playing a fake character."

2. The Instagram snub: "An employee refused my social media follow request. Should I confront them?"

3. Doom scrolling at work: "My employee treats every world tragedy as more important than his job. How do I balance compassion with accountability?"

Connect with our guest, Alexis Zahner
Book: Real: Reconnecting to Yourself in a World of Likes and Lies — https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/shop/general-self-help/real-reconnecting-to-yourself-in-a-world-of-likes-and-lies-p-9781394445714

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexiszahner/

Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com

What if AI was not coming to take your job, but to take away all the parts of it you hate?

In this episode, Noel Andrews, CEO of JobRack, joins Al and Leanne to talk about how AI is reshaping the way we work, hire, and manage remote teams. Rather than replacing humans, Noel shares how he uses AI tools, from Claude Code to custom agents, to eliminate "gunk" like tedious admin, extra clicks, and operational friction so his team can focus on real human connection, high-level judgment, and significantly higher output.

We explore the reality of AI-driven recruitment, how candidates are using tools to apply for roles at scale, and how leaders can tell genuine capability from AI-polished resume fluff. Plus, Noel shares actionable steps for using ChatGPT and Claude to streamline your daily workflow, automate what you dislike, and build a more fulfilling work environment.

Key Topics Covered

Introduction to Noel Andrews and JobRack
How JobRack connects US and UK clients with remote talent in Eastern Europe, and why human connection matters more than ever in the age of AI.

Busting Gunk in the Business
Identifying repetitive friction, extra clicks, and manual admin that slow your team down, and using AI to eliminate it.

Human Connection and Feedback at Scale
How AI helps extract constructive, personal candidate feedback faster without removing human judgment.

Navigating the Flood of AI Applications
With applications up four to five times, how to spot lazy AI application hacks versus true candidate AI fluency.

10x Output vs Headcount Reduction
Why forward-thinking business owners use AI to empower existing teams to achieve massive growth rather than cutting staff.

Practical AI Workflows for Leaders
How to run a gunk audit, build custom tools, and use ChatGPT Voice Mode as a personal sounding board to streamline your workday.

Connect with Guest: Noel Andrews
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelandrews/
– Website: https://jobrack.eu/

Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture.

This week we explore Gen-Z slang entering the office, the hidden operational signals behind high turnover roles, and a high-profile executive fallout over women in leadership.

Plus, we put the infamous 70% imposter syndrome statistic under the microscope and answer questions about poor management setups, bad hires, and wellbeing allowances in the Workplace Surgery.

🔥 Stories covered

The rise of the "Larper" in the workplace
Have you ever met someone who talks like an expert but lacks the actual experience?

Leanne breaks down new Gen-Z/Alpha lingo highlighted by Zak Asgard in The Times. Originating from "Live Action Role-Player", calling someone a LARPer means they are pretending to adopt a persona or lifestyle that doesn't match reality—from sommelier wannabes to fake chefs. In the context of work, as youth unemployment figures rise, many young people adopt the identity of a role when actual career opportunities remain hard to reach.
Source: https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/larper-larping-t9tm0vmkt

The job nobody stays in
Why do certain roles in an organisation have a revolving door?
Al discusses an op-ed by robotics founder Matthew Chang, who targets turnover before looking at factory machines. When multiple people leave the exact same role after a few months, the common factor isn't bad hires or flawed recruitment—it's the structure, status, and design of the job itself.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stop-trying-retain-employees-changrobotics-k4xce/

McKinsey partner demoted after LinkedIn row over the "Glass Cliff"
A senior partner with 27 years at McKinsey has been stripped of his leadership roles following a public dispute on LinkedIn with author Julia Carreon. After dismissing the "glass cliff" phenomenon—where women are appointed to leadership roles during periods of crisis—as "a very convenient way to always be a victim in the rain", McKinsey launched a conduct review over comments that fell short of firm standards.
Source: https://truthliesandwork.com/288/ | Julia Carreon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-c-carreon-8318674/

🧠 Truth or Lie: Do 70% of us have imposter syndrome?
This week we examine the wildly popular statistic that 70% of people suffer from imposter syndrome.

Leanne clarifies that psychologists refer to it as the "imposter phenomenon" rather than a clinical syndrome. While studies in high-pressure environments (like neurosurgeons and healthcare workers) yield figures over 60–90%, broader career-spanning data, survey selection biases, and moving diagnostic cut-offs show that the true figure across the general population remains uncertain.

Sources:

Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1

Gravois, J. (2007, November 9). You’re not fooling anyone. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/youre-not-fooling-anyone/

Hill, A. P., & Gotwals, J. K. (2025). A meta-analysis of multidimensional perfectionism and impostor phenomenon. Journal of Research in Personality, 118, Article 104639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2025.104639

Omar, Y. M., Khattab, Y. A., Abdelmageed, A., Messak, M., Mandour, Y., Shabeeb, A. E., Zakaria, A. M., & Abouelmagd, M. E. (2026). The impostor phenomenon construct in medical education: A meta-analysis of its prevalence and a critical appraisal of its measurement. Advances in Health Sciences Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-026-10513-3

Price, P. C., Holcomb, B., & Payne, M. B. (2024). Gender differences in impostor phenomenon: A meta-analytic review. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 7, Article 100155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2024.100155

Sakulku, J., & Alexander, J. (2011). The impostor phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science, 6(1), 75–97. https://doi.org/10.14456/ijbs.2011.6

Salari, N., Hashemian, S. H., Hosseinian-Far, A., Fallahi, A., Heidarian, P., Rasoulpoor, S., & Mohammadi, M. (2025). Global prevalence of imposter syndrome in health service providers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychology, 13, Article 571. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02898-4

Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale: https://www.clanceimpostorphenomenonscale.org/

💬 Workplace Surgery

This week we tackle three listener dilemmas:
• Am I a bad manager, or is the role set up to fail? Dealing with role conflict, responsibility without authority, and competing priorities from leaders.

• Did I hire a great interviewer rather than a great employee? How to spot candidates who "talk the talk" during selection and avoid likeness bias.

• What would you spend a £100-a-month wellbeing allowance on? Ideas across physical, psychological, social, and financial wellbeing—from cleaners to experiences.

📬 Connect with Al & Leanne
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork
– Al Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott
– Leanne Elliott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
– Email: hello@truthliesandwork.com
– Book a call: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Mental health support
UK & ROI — Samaritans Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
UK — Mind Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
US — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org
Australia — Lifeline Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au
Global helplines
https://findahelpline.com