Inside Job

Welcome to the final episode of 2025. In this episode, we thought it would be a good time to revisit a topic we actually covered around this time a few years ago. Episode 142: Proust Questionnaire - The Inside Job Edition is one of our most popular episodes, and we think part of that is because so many of you listeners used the questions in that episode as conversation prompts. As you know from our recent series about conversations that count, we're big believers in using conversations as a tool for self-understanding, better relationships, better management, and for better culture at work. In fact, we're such big believers that we've created our very own tool for conversation starters that we're giving you a preview of today. And don't worry. While we will be taking a little bit of a break for the holidays, we'll be back with new episodes in 2026. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We all know that deepening our knowledge in certain areas related to our work is a good idea, but how many of us have several articles saved to read later or classes we've signed up for but haven't yet completed? This topic came up for us because we realized recently we'd both been struggling to make time to focus on a few things we'd been wanting to learn, and knew we weren't alone in that struggle. This week, we're making time to talk about learning and how we make time, or don't, to learn as professionals. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

There's a reason stress reduction is a billion-dollar industry. There's so much stress right now that a lot of our clients have lost the ability to tell what stress is working for them and what stress is working against them. We're in the homestretch of the college application process with our kids, and the stress that comes along with the entire process is a perfect example of why we wanted to talk about this topic on the podcast this week. If you've been feeling stressed, burnt out, or overwhelmed, this episode is for you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Are you borrowing someone else's life plan? We often set goals or make decisions based on the path we think we should be on without giving much thought to what we truly want out of life. We see others doing certain things or achieving admirable goals and think we should be doing the same. But, what if we don't actually want to do those things? Our topic this week came to us from a few different directions, but we wanted to bring it to the podcast because our clients almost always raise this topic at some point in our work together. Is a life plan necessary? Do Nayla and Eric even agree on the answer to that question? Tune in to this week's episode to find out. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Inspiration can be found anywhere and, if you're Eric, that can even include a skeleton in your front yard. A lot of us believe we're supposed to feel thrilled, excited, energized, and inspired by our work. While it would be great if that were true all the time, we tend to panic in the moments when it feels like our inspiration in our work is drying up. So, in this episode that was recorded shortly before Halloween, we're exploring what we refer to as the inspiration paradox by discussing what it looks like to lose inspiration in the workplace, whether or not we need to feel inspired in order to be productive, what we can do about a lack of inspiration, and more. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Not a single one of us hasn't made a mistake in the workplace. We've said the wrong thing to the wrong person. We've delayed something inadvertently, and it had big consequences for our team. Knowing these mistakes won't be our last, we thought it would be a good idea to explore how we can handle the tension between acknowledging our humanity and the likelihood that each one of us will make mistakes of consequence in our careers and lives and the need to be accountable. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

For eight weeks now, we've been offering perspectives on using the tool we have of how we talk to each other at work as a way of paying more attention and making more deliberate choices to drive the kinds of results and relationships we want to have. Now that we've reached the final installment of our series on conversations that count, we've realized the one we did not address is how we talk to ourselves. The conversation we have with ourselves throughout the day is the most potent, useful, and damaging conversation we can have in the workplace. So, quiet that inner critic for a moment and join us on our final conversations that count deep dive. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Why is it so difficult to ask for something you want or need at work? In this continuation of our series on conversations that count, we're talking about a conversation that's actually not happening. When we ask our clients to plan ahead for our coaching conversations, this topic is probably one of the top three that comes up. So, let's dive into why we're not speaking up about our wants and needs, what the common points of resistance are, and some pathways to get around those resistance points. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

If you have to tell someone who works for you that they're underperforming, do you know how to make that conversation impactful and useful? If you're unsure, this next installment of our series on conversations that count is sure to provide you with some clarity. Tune in as we focus on this messy, but necessary, topic of conversation that shouldn't be avoided. In this episode, Tara joins us as we talk about how to be the dissenter in the conversation. Listen in as we dive into what holds us back from voicing our opinions and how we lean forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In the latest installment of our series on conversations that count, we're talking about talking. Tara Traeder holds a Ph.D. in Communication Arts & Sciences with an emphasis in health communication from Penn State University and a master's degree in Health Communication from Emerson College. She has nearly 20 years' experience in communication consulting, training, and research, with an emphasis on the impact of health messaging on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral response. In this episode, Tara joins us as we talk about how to be the dissenter in the conversation. Listen in as we dive into what holds us back from voicing our opinions and how we lean forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In this continuation of our series on conversations that matter, we're digging into what is probably the most requested topic from our clients and listeners. Most employees feel like they're not having great conversations about career development in the workplace. Leaders often feel they're not doing a good enough job leading these conversations. So, how can we improve the experience on both sides of this crucial conversation? Check out this week's episode to find out. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Everything we're doing on the podcast this season impacts the way that we talk and listen to one another at work. If we think about the days in which we worked on larger teams ourselves, or even the teams we've come to visit as coaches, a lot of those conversations take place in meetings. Despite the fact that we know deep down that meetings can be useful, most of us dread them. Yet, our calendars are all jammed full with them. Meetings are such a big part of the conversations we have on a daily basis that we wanted to bring in an expert to help us tackle this specific topic. Daniel Stillman designs conversations for a living and insists that you do, too. He's an executive coach for leaders who want to facilitate real change. He's also the host of The Conversation Factory podcast and author of Good Talk, a handbook for changemakers and innovators. In our conversation with Daniel, we talk about how to make meetings a place of connection rather than just a place of information dumping. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

The format of our podcast may have changed slightly, but don't worry. You'll still get your weekly dose of banter about the weather and Pearl Jam. You'll also get a deep dive into why leaders struggle to give good, actual feedback. As a manager or a leader, feedback is one of the most important levers we have. Everyone wants to know where they stand in their organization, and most of us would likely say we don't currently receive the kind of feedback that would change how we perform our jobs. This topic is the number one thing we get brought in to talk with teams about, so we thought it would be the perfect way to really dig into our current series about conversations that count. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We're back, and we're not going to lie … we missed you all while we were gone. In this first episode back, we're dusting off the recording equipment, sharing our thoughts about the sabbatical we took, and explaining how we'll be shaking things up here on the podcast moving forward. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

This week, we're discussing what's next for us, the most common question we're asked, and how those two things are connected. Tune into this finale episode of 2024 to find out when we'll be back with new episodes and how you can stay connected with us in the meantime. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Here in the United States, it's Thanksgiving this week and that usually means focusing on what we're grateful for and spending time with family. It also usually comes with a long list of to-dos, and we don't want to add to that. So, instead of giving advice about how to spend the holiday weekend, we thought we would instead offer an opportunity to reflect on an idea or two that we'll be doing some reflecting on ourselves. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

In an episode we released almost exactly two years ago, we specifically told you you don't have to get shit together. Do we still feel the same or is it, in fact, time to get your shit together? Take a listen as we explore how our perspective on this topic has changed over the past two years, the barriers you'll face when trying to get your shit together, what your goal should be when you're trying to get your shit together, and more. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

We tend to work with a lot of people who believe they're incredibly self-aware, and it can be a little hard to break through when they're actually not as self-aware as they think they are. As result of this, we've realized that taking personal responsibility is one of the more difficult things to coach our clients on. So, we figured it was time to bring this topic to the podcast in case you're maybe not as self-aware as you think. In this episode, we want to dive into the topic of taking personal responsibility by showing you how to see the different ways you may be contributing to a problem, how to not get in your own way, and how to not be that person. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Are our fantasies our actual goals or do they represent something deeper? Whether it's drooling over #vanlife renovations on Instagram, or daydreaming of reading a book in our private library while overlooking a picturesque garden, or being jealous of the CEO on the cover an industry-leading magazine, we all have fantasies about the life or things we wish could have. Sometimes those fantasies grow from a want to what feels like a need. But, does that mean we should burn it all down and chase after those daydreams? In this episode, we explore the idea of what our daydreams and fantasies are really telling us, how we can gain clarity around them, and whether or not we should try to make them a reality. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

"I don't want to be a jerk, but …" This is a phrase we've said both at work and in our personal lives. At this point, it's become a default phrase in our vocabularies, and we're guessing the same goes for you. On the Inside Job podcast this week, we're diving into why we call ourselves a jerk for doing things that really aren't that bad, whether or not we're actually being a jerk when we stand up for something or we represent an alternative point of view, and where our opportunity is to correct our behavior if we are truly being a jerk. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Eric Johnson, Nayla BahriShould we really leave our emotions at the door? The inspiration for this week's episode comes from one of Nayla's clients who feels angry and frustrated after a recent merger and feels like she can't take those emotions into the workplace. At the end of the day, work is personal. So, we want to take a deep dive into the topic of sharing your feelings at work in case you've had similar struggles with knowing how to handle emotions in the workplace. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Is a lack of clarity costing you dearly? This week's topic is one of Eric's favorites. It's something that's been brought up a fair amount on the podcast while discussing other things, but we want to make it the focal point now. Specifically, we want to dig into what we mean by clarity, how to generate better clarity for yourself and others, and what might be the obstacle to asking for or offering clarity. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

A "hostile" chat about dried fruit kicks off our episode this week and leads us into a conversation about difficult discussions. We know from our experiences with our coaching clients, that many of you are likely either avoiding having a difficult conversation or are unsure how to go about having the conversation. We want to help you overcome whatever is holding you back from finally having that difficult conversation by doing a deep dive of some of the principles we use in these situations. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

What do you do when your new hire seems like a perfect fit during the hiring process but it's clear it's not working out when they get into the role? Or, you put all your eggs into the career track basket you thought would get you promoted, but you find yourself plateauing? Or, you've invested significant resources into launching a new product and the reception is underwhelming? We all like to think we know how to handle things when our plans go sideways, but our experiences and those we've coached our clients through have repeatedly proven that's not the case. So, we're taking the time this week to dive into the various ways we can respond to setbacks, the questions you can ask yourself to help you reframe the situation, and what you can learn from those experience to help you in the future. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email

Horror movie franchises, Florida State University's 2024 football season, and prioritization might seem like they have nothing in common, but the connection leads us into our discussion this week about how to feel okay if you find your priorities changing. When we set long-term career goals for ourselves, we might find that our priorities have changed by the time we see those realized. Do you owe it to the prior version of yourself who put in the work to achieve that goal to see it through? Do know how to evaluate if you're truly making a decision about your priorities based on what you want or based on the influence of others? What does it mean about you if your career is no longer your main priority? We dig into all these questions and more in this week's episode to help you begin the process of reprioritizing in a way that feels good to you. Listen in and join the discussion on LinkedIn ( Eric | Nayla ). Inside Job is brought to you by Nayla Bahri and Eric Johnson. To learn more about the ideas and resources discussed in this episode, us and our work, and to join our mailing list, visit the show notes at insidejobthepodcast.com . You can also continue the conversation with us through your favorite social channels: LinkedIn Eric | Nayla Instagram Facebook Email