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
- Website https://www.mayakadar.com/
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayakadar/
Workplace Weirdness
- Email: info@workplace-weirdness.com
- 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.