"When a woman was seen having a hot flash, she was rated as less competent and less likely to be chosen as the leader.”

That’s one of the research findings shared by Dr. Alicia Grandey - Organisational Psychologist and Professor at Penn State University - in the latest Episode of The Workplace Podcast.

In this conversation, William and Alicia explore a topic that is still rarely discussed openly at work: menopause and leadership.

Menopause affects half the population, yet many workplaces still struggle to talk about it or support employees navigating it. Drawing on decades of research and interviews with senior leaders, Alicia explains how stigma influences perceptions of competence, leadership opportunities, and workplace culture.

Key insights from this episode:

• Why naming menopause can reduce bias in leadership decisions • How stigma and silence can push experienced women out of leadership pipelines • The surprising ways many women become more confident and resilient leaders during this stage of life • What compassionate leadership actually looks like in practice • How organisations can create cultures that support people through major life transitions

This conversation also builds on a previous discussion on menopause in the workplace with Loretta Dignum (Episode 46).

If you care about leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, and supporting women in mid-career, this is an important conversation.

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless speaks with Dr. Nicki Macklin about the strategic power of organisational kindness.

Often dismissed as “soft,” kindness is frequently misunderstood in leadership. But research featured in Harvard Business Review - co-authored with Amy Edmondson and Thomas Lee - shows the opposite: kindness drives performance.

In this conversation, they explore:

• Why kindness is not the same as niceness

• The real cost of workplace incivility

• How managers lose up to seven weeks a year dealing with poor culture

• How to measure kindness using metrics you already track

This is a practical, research-backed discussion for leaders who want to balance performance with humanity — and understand the real business case for culture.

In this episode of The Workplace Podcast, William Corless is joined by Mark C. Crowley - bestselling author and leadership expert - to explore why employee wellbeing has become one of the most critical leadership issues today.

Drawing on insights from his latest book, The Power of Employee Wellbeing, Mark explains why traditional engagement approaches fall short, how wellbeing directly impacts performance and retention, and why belonging plays such a powerful role in how people show up at work.

Together, William and Mark discuss burnout, leadership boundaries, emotional intelligence, and the small but meaningful actions leaders can take to create healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

This episode is a practical, research-informed conversation for leaders who want to build teams that don’t just perform, but thrive.

Find out more about the work Mark does here: Mark C Crowley - Heart 2.0 - New Book Is Coming - Mark C. Crowley