Ghost Posts, Start-up Takeover Glitches and Desk-Perchers

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: [e-mail] 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.