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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

Maya Kadar Kovalsky

Workplace Weirdness

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.