Stuck in the grip of bad habits? Me too. In this episode, we dive into the challenge of altering entrenched habits, starting with my own terrible phone habits, ending with my friend who is shifting her company from a rigid, top-down culture to one driven by collaboration and innovation. Both scenarios highlight a common theme: despite knowing what needs to change, actual transformation is elusive.

Our discussion will center on the science behind motivation and behavior change, drawing on Chip and Dan Heath's influential book, Switch. We'll dissect their "Rider and Elephant" analogy, exploring how our rational and emotional sides interplay. You'll learn strategies to direct the "Rider," motivate the "Elephant," and shape the "Path" to facilitate change.

Resources:

• We’d love to see you at book club! https://www.irenesalter.com/leaders-campfire
• Switch by Chip and Dan Heath: https://heathbrothers.com/books/switch/
• Or check out the 16 minute summary video by the author: https://vimeo.com/191668697
• Leaders' Playground Episodes 6 and 10 discuss cognitive load and working memory capacity
• Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow
• Atomic habits by James Clear: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40121378-atomic-habits
• Positive psychology on the science of motivation: https://positivepsychology.com/improving-motivation-at-work/
• Attuned.ai has a beautiful, easy to read, free white paper comparing extrinsic and intrinsic motivation: https://www.attuned.ai/whitepaper-intrinsic-motivation-download
• Motivation pyramid graphic can be found under podcast resources on my website: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Ready to ditch the "super-mom" cape and toss out those impossible workplace expectations? The newest episode of eaders' Playground" is here to shake things up!

We're diving into the wild world of social norms and asking the big questions: Can anyone really "have it all"? Why do we keep tying ourselves in knots to please everyone? And what does Barbie have to say about it all?

Join us for a fun, science-filled ride (yes, fun and science belong together) as we explore the myths we've all bought into - from the "ideal worker" (hello, 24/7 email responder!) to "ideal success" (TED talk, anyone?). We'll chat about cognitive biases, share stories, and even draw our own "ideal" selves (spoiler: mine looked suspiciously like Legally Blonde's Elle Woods).

So grab a coffee, put your feet up, and let's rewrite those old-school rules together. It's time to turn work into play and find success on our own terms. Who's in?

Resources:

The Barbie movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517268/

America Ferrera’s monologue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBqlDWHkdHk

Psychology 101 primer on social norms: https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-roles.html

All about that persnickety anchoring bias: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/anchoring-bias

Great Forbes article on the bandwagon effect: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brycehoffman/2024/05/26/bandwagon-effect-what-it-is-and-how-to-overcome-it/

Find Brigid Schulte’s fabulous books and TED talk here: https://www.brigidschulte.com/

Why Women Still Can’t Have it All by Anne-Marie Slaughter: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/

William Ouchi’s Theory Z merges Japanese and American management philosophies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_Z_of_Ouchi

If ideals show up for you in the form of impostor syndrome, then check this out: https://www.irenesalter.com/post/how-to-get-good-at-impostor-syndrome

For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast

Can anyone truly become a master, or is it a talent reserved for the naturally gifted? This episode of the Leader's Playground promises to shatter the myth that genius is inborn by drawing upon Robert Greene's book "Mastery" and the lives of icons like Zora Neale Hurston, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Ben Franklin. We'll reveal the hidden truths behind their extraordinary achievements—truths rooted in relentless dedication, practice, and the honing of unique talents.

And of course we'll dive into the neuroscience of mastery! Are new neurons are born in adult brains? How did bird brains help change the minds of an entire field? What actually happens to a master's brain as they hone their craft? How long does it take?

Ultimately, we find that mastery is within reach for all of us.

For complete show notes, transcript, and free downloadable resources go to: https://www.irenesalter.com/podcast