this is work

In this episode Shell is joined by organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber, who shares about how she hit rock bottom in 2024 in the depths of burnout. Her new book, The Energy Game provides anyone experiencing burnout with a practical science-backed guide for regaining energy bit by bit without needing to completely press pause on life. They chat about:

👉🏼 the "getting hit by a bus" fantasy

👉🏽 Amantha's burnout and the w...

Are you feeling a bit stuck or lost in your career? Shell and Glen talk about when they've felt this way and share 5 steps for navigating a career crisis.

Shell & Glen’s book 'Sort Your Career Out & Make More Money' is available here: https://amzn.to/4k3YSrr

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-johnson/

If you lead teams, check out Shelley’s business, Boldside: https://www.bol...

In this episode Shell unpacks 3 big ideas that have been on her mind lately. She talks about:

👉🏼 who do you need to become in the ever-changing world of work?

👉🏽 what physics has to do with your career

👉🏾 how to deal with conflict effectively & the art of repair

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-johnson/

If you lead teams, check out Shelley’s business, Boldside: https://www.bolds...

In this episode from the vault Shell explores what sets high achievers apart in the workplace and unpacks five key traits that are commonly found in individuals who consistently excel and achieve outstanding results. These are the essential qualities to cultivate if you're looking to take your career to the next level.

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-johnson/

If you lead teams, check out Shelle...

Sometimes making just one small change to how you work can significantly boost your productivity, and today's episode from the vault is loaded with practical ideas! Annabelle Bishop from Boldside joins Shell on the show to share what she does to optimise her time and energy at work, touching on:

👉🏾 managing your inbox

👉🏿 carving out time for deep work

👉🏻 finding your flow state

👉 establishing helpful habits

👉🏼 having a powe...

Is your workplace toxic, or does it just have high expectations? A work dynamic could appear as one thing until you look a little closer. In this episode, Shell unpacks the subtle but crucial distinctions between:

👉 a toxic workplace vs a a demanding workplace

👉🏽 confidence vs arrogance

👉🏾 hard work vs hustle

👉🏿 empathy vs enabling bad behaviour

👉🏻 clear leadership vs controlling leadership

Radical Candor by Kim Scott: h...

In this vault episode from season 6, Shell unpacks the #1 skill you need in your career!

Resources mentioned 👇

📒 Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb: https://amzn.to/3UoiWLI

📒 Emotional Agility by Susan David: https://amzn.to/47Wz9Lm

📒 The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday: https://amzn.to/3vYhFAV

🎧 The Confidence Chronicles podcast episode by Erika Cramer:

Listen on Spotify

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Connect with Sh...

Shell's biggest communication fail happened in front of 100 people at age 25 and the lesson she took from it changed how she thinks about every message she's ever delivered since. In this episode she shares those lessons and breaks down a three-step practical framework for communicating with influence. She touches on:

👉🏼 the career fail

👉🏽 thinking about your audience rather yourself

👉🏾 preparing without over-preparing

👉🏿 w...

Management can be a hard gig! In this throwback episode from the vault, Shell and Shane Hatton unpack your questions about leadership, touching on:

👉🏼 what's the first thing a new leader needs to learn?

👉🏽 asking for better feedback from your team

👉🏾 micro-managing

👉🏿 you don't have to have all the answers

👉🏻 support systems

👉 learning and contributing

👉🏼 hiring people better than you

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: ht...

In this episode of this is work, Shell's channelling some tough love that we all need to hear at least once.

Drawing from real conversations and moments from Shells career, she shares eight hard truths for your career and leadership - from why embarrassment is actually a sign you're growing, to why discipline will always beat desire and why choosing comfort now almost always leads to pain later.

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: ht...

Let's chat about one of the biggest killers for your career - people pleasing. In this throwback episode from the vault Shell is joined by Grace Murray, Vice President of Strategy at Fohr who shares how she's learned to overcome people pleasing as a leader.

📒 Radical Candor by Kim Scott: https://amzn.to/3SP8wDE

Listen to Grace's career story 👇

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Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: https://ww...

On this weeks episode of this is work, we cover some listener questions — and this week, they're spicy.

Shell tackles some of the hardest conversations in leadership — with practical tools you can use straight away.

In this episode we cover:

• How to tell someone they lack self-awareness
• The five types of defensiveness and how to handle each one
• Leading people who are older or more experienced than you
• Working for a bos...

In this episode of 'this is work' from the vault, Shell breaks down the seven strategies used by high performers to stay sharp when the stakes are high. Whether you're dealing with conflict avoidance, a fear of feedback or just feeling the weight of your own expectations, this episode's for you. Shell covers:

👉 finding your edge - what elite performers do that most people avoid

👉🏼 self-reflect to course correct - Ray Dalio's o...

What do you think of when you hear "personal brand"? If you get the ick from those two words alone, then this episode is for you. Shell delivers a one-on-one workshop on building your personal brand, including a clear five-step framework for defining your brand on a page.

Grab your notes app. This one's a working session.

Connect with Shell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-johnson/

If you lead teams, check out...

Leadership is not easy! In this episode from season 7, Shell unpacks some of the most common challenges that leaders face and how to navigate them. She touches on:

👉 leading well even when you're exhausted

👉🏼 building a sustainable high-performance culture

👉🏿 making the jump from team member to team leader

👉🏻 the difference between information sharing and true communication

👉🏽 creating psychological safety for courageous co...

Ever felt like a fraud at work? Good. In this episode of this is work, Shelley and Emily cover three big leadership topics — reframing imposter syndrome, dealing with unspoken conflict on your team, and how to nail your first 90 days as a new leader.

In this episode:

• Why imposter syndrome is a green flag, not a red one
• The ODD framework for surfacing unspoken team conflict
• How to use silence strategically in tough convers...

In this week's episode of this is work, Shelley and Emily dive into weaponised incompetence in the workplace — everything from how to spot it and the exact words to use when addressing it, right through to what happens when it flips and your own competence gets used against you.

In this episode we cover:

• What is weaponised incompetence
• Playing to your strengths vs weaponising a weakness
• Scripts and one liners to address i...

The world feels pretty chaotic right now — and if you're someone who prides yourself on high performance, that chaos can quietly push you toward burnout before you even see it coming.

In this episode, Shelley sits down with mental fitness and leadership specialist, Joel Pilgrim to talk about what it actually means to stay well when everything around you feels uncertain.

In this episode we cover:

• Why mental fitness is...

In this episode of this is work, Shelley Johnson and Emily Bowen answer real listener questions about:

• Supporting someone stuck with a toxic boss

• What to do when a team is dysfunctional in every way

• Switching from a poorly paid corporate job to a start-up

• Whether leadership roles and fewer hours can realistically coexist

If you're navigating workplace dysfunction, considering a bold career move or stepping into leadershi...