Best Kathi Elster Podcasts (2024)

1
Social Media in the Office 9:34

2d ago9:34

9:34

On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine talk about a tricky topic — social media in the workplace. They start with a question from someone whose coworker plays TikTok videos all day long, and the distracting sound and sight of those videos make it hard for this person to concentrate and do her job. During the second part of the podcast…

1
Pets in the Office? 11:51

16d ago11:51

11:51

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a hot topic – pets in the office. They start with a question from someone who is interviewing for a job that seems like a great fit, but learns that pets are part of the office environment. Kathi and Katherine discuss the pluses and minuses of pet-friendly work environments.…

1
Introverts Who Struggle With An Extroverted Workplace 14:06

23d ago14:06

14:06

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about introverts, and the challenges they face in the workplace. They start with a question from an introvert who must attend long meetings and worries that appearing checked out after a meeting could be interpreted as rude by his extroverted colleagues. Kathi and Katherine clarify some of t…

1
Didn’t Get That Promotion? Now What? 10:36

30d ago10:36

10:36

On this My Crazy Office episode, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you should do if you don’t get the promotion that you ask for. They start with a question from someone who applies for a promotion, meets the benchmarks, but doesn’t get promoted. Kathi and Katherine investigate when it’s worth it to hang in there and try again, or when it may be tim…

1
Keeping Secrets During Re-Structuring? 10:09

1M ago10:09

10:09

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine address a provocative topic — How do you keep secrets when your company is re-structuring? They start with a question from someone who is on the executive team of a company that is re-organizing. This person feels increasingly uncomfortable holding the knowledge of who will stay and who will go. …

1
Is Delegating Difficult for You? 9:58

1M ago9:58

9:58

On this epidsode of My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a skill that all managers need to develop, but few managers feel comfortable doing — delegating. They start with a question from a manager who wants to be promoted but knows that it won’t happen without learning to delegate. Kathi and Katherine discuss why delegating is so …

1
Is There a Troublemaker at Your Company? Is It You? 11:01

2M ago11:01

11:01

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a certain kind of role at work – the role of rebel or scapegoat. Rebels (or scapegoats) are those individuals who view themselves as the truthtellers at work. They are willing to challenge the status quo and fight for what they think is right. Unfortunately, they can be labeled by othe…

1
Waiting For a Promotion That Never Comes? 10:55

2M ago10:55

10:55

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you should do if you are promised a promotion, and it never comes. They start with a question from someone who has been waiting for a promotion for two years, but circumstances keep arising that stop it from happening. Kathi and Katherine talk about what you can do if a promised p…

1
Stay In Your Job While You Start Something New 11:23

3M ago11:23

11:23

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about the value of staying in your job while you start something else. They start with a question from someone who has a comfortable but uninspiring job. She has a great business idea, but can’t afford to leave her job. Kathi and Katherine discuss how it’s possible to stay in your current…

1
Afraid That You Might Hire The Wrong Person? 11:50

3M ago11:50

11:50

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss a topic that is important to every manager: How do you know you are hiring the right person? They start with a question from someone who needs to hire an assistant director but has a history of hiring the wrong person in the past. Kathi and Katherine talk about different ways that you …

1
Do You Hate Networking? 14:27

3M ago14:27

14:27

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about a topic that many people hate: networking. They start with a question from someone who loves their job, but knows that in order to get promoted they need to network. Kathi and Katherine talk about all the ways to network, and how to move through networking resistant.…

1
Does Your Physical Appearance Stop You From Changing Jobs? 10:37

3M ago10:37

10:37

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a delicate topic: Does your physical appearance hold you back from changing jobs? They start with a question from someone who knows it’s time to leave their job but hesitates to take action because they feel physically unattractive. Kathi and Katherine consider what you can do if your …

1
Is Your Personal Life Making It Hard to Focus at Work? 9:07

4M ago9:07

9:07

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a problem that everyone faces at one time or another, what do you do when your personal life makes it hard to focus at work? We’ll start with a question from someone who just got promoted into a great new job, but also has to deal with several personal problems — making it hard to focu…

1
Is Your Anger Backfiring with Your Staff? 14:43

4M ago14:43

14:43

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine ask an important question of anyone who manages people: Is you anger backfiring with your staff? They start with a question from someone whose angry reactions to under-performing employees are hurting their reputation at work. Kathi and Katherine discuss what managers can do instead of getting…

1
Should You Give Your Boss a Holiday Gift? 9:40

4M ago9:40

9:40

On this third and final podcast of the My Crazy Office Holiday Series, Kathi and Katherine address a question that many people ponder during this time of year: Should you give your boss a holiday gift? They start with a question from someone whose boss gives lavish gifts to every member of his staff. Is it appropriate to give the boss a gift in ret…

1
Do I Have to Go to My Company’s Holiday Party? 11:12

5M ago11:12

11:12

On this second podcast of MCO Holiday Series, Kathi and Katherine answer a question that many people ask this time of year: Do I have to go to my company holiday party? They start with a question from someone who is up for a promotion and wonders whether she needs to attend her company’s “large, formal, boring Christmas party.” Kathi and Katherine …

1
Are You Tired of Being the Hardest Worker at Your Company? 16:23

5M ago16:23

16:23

Today, on the first podcast of the My Crazy Office Holiday Series, Kathi and Katherine address a common problem for certain employees during this time of year — Being the hardest worker at the company, while everyone else takes time off. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someone who is exhausted from over-working, but feels compelled t…

1
Have You Outgrown the Work You Know How To Do? 14:13

6M ago14:13

14:13

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine examine a common phenomenon that few people talk about: What do you do if you’ve outgrown the work that you know how to do? They start with a question from someone who is a skilled salesperson, but no longer finds sales interesting. Kathi and Katherine go on to discuss what you can do if you r…

1
Are You Doing Your Boss’ Job? 9:23

6M ago9:23

9:23

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a tricky topic: What if you are doing your boss’s job? They start with a question from someone who finds themselves doing their boss’s job – even though it’s clear that the boss is incompetent, and people are quitting because of it. Kathi and Katherine discuss different ways of handlin…

1
What Are You Missing by Not Being at the Office? 11:10

6M ago11:10

11:10

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you may be missing by not being in the office. They start with a question from someone who works remotely and enjoys it, but also suspects that she’s missing out on important conversations and projects. Kathi and Katherine consider why it might be important to show up at the offic…

1
Is Your Boss a Gossip? 14:43

7M ago14:43

14:43

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a tricky topic: What do you do if your boss is a gossip? They start with a question from someone whose new boss is friendly but a little too familiar. This boss shares personal information about everyone in the office and asks probing question about the employee’s personal life. Kathi …

1
Have You Been Unfairly Labeled at Work? 11:39

7M ago11:39

11:39

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about what you should do if you’ve been unfairly labeled at work. They start with a question from someone whose boss keeps saying she needs to “up her game,” and work harder — even though her colleagues describe her as the hardest working member of the team. Kathi and Katherine describe othe…

1
Are You Too Busy Managing Down to Manage Up? 12:40

7M ago12:40

12:40

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine explore a common management challenge — What if you are so busy managing down that you don’t have time to manage up? Kathi and Katherine start with a question from a manager who spends so much time helping her staff complete their work that she misses opportunities to be seen by the people who…

1
Are You Dealing with a Sacred Cow? 13:47

8M ago13:47

13:47

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a very challenging kind of boss — The Sacred Cow. They start with a question from someone whose company CEO recently hired a close friend into the COO position. This individual seems friendly, but lacks the experience and skills to do the job. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to work wi…

1
When Is Enough, Enough? A Manager’s Guide to Firing 16:29

8M ago16:29

16:29

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a tough question that many managers grapple with: When is enough enough? When is it time to fire someone? They start with a question from a manager who has an employee who keeps missing days of work due to personal issues. Kathi and Katherine discuss how to determine whether it’s time …

1
Have You Inherited a Team with Bad Morale? 13:10

8M ago13:10

13:10

On this, My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about a very important topic: staff morale. They start with a question from a new manager who discovers that the people she’s been hired to manage are suffering from very low morale. Kathi and Katherine discuss what a manager can do to turn the low morale of their staff around.…

1
Do You Feel Deserving of a Better Job? 14:04

9M ago14:04

14:04

On this, My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine explore one of the biggest hidden reasons why people don’t apply for new jobs — not feeling deserving. They start with a question from an individual who knows it’s time to leave, has updated their resume and LinkedIn profile, but can’t seem to actually apply for new positions. Kathi and Katherin…

1
Freezing Up at Meetings? 12:51

9M ago12:51

12:51

On this, My Crazy Office Podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a very real challenge for some people at work — Freezing at meetings. They start with a question from someone who’s recently been promoted to a managerial position and finds himself freezing at important meetings where he should be making a positive impression. Kathi and Katherine discus…

1
How To Get Noticed By Your Boss’s Boss 12:11

9M ago12:11

12:11

Figuring out how to get noticed by the people above your boss can be challenging — especially if you sense that your boss isn’t sharing your successes. On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss how to get noticed by your boss’s boss. They start with a question from someone who made the mistake of going over her boss’ head to g…

1
Is Someone You Manage After Your Job? 12:39

9M ago12:39

12:39

On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss what to do if you suspect that someone you manage is after your job. They start with a question from a manager who fears that one of their direct reports is trying to take their job. During the second part of the podcast, Kathi and Katherine consider the same topic from the employee’s per…

1
Taking Over Another Manager’s Team? 18:02

10M ago18:02

18:02

Today on My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss the challenge of taking over another manager’s team. They start with a question from someone who has been asked to take over another manager’s department and worries that the staff will resist her management style. Kathi and Katherine go on to consider how you can assess and re-train a team of e…

1
When Your New Employer Is Laying People Off 13:22

10M ago13:22

13:22

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what you should do if get a new job in a company that may be in trouble. They start with a question from someone who’s leaving a toxic company for a great opportunity but discovers that the new company is laying people off. During the second part of the podcast, Kathi and Katherine con…

1
Is Your Protector Leaving the Company? 11:04

11M ago11:04

11:04

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about the importance of being on the “right team” at work, and how that can change when your boss/protector/mentor leaves. They start with a question from someone who suddenly finds themselves on the wrong team because their boss is leaving the company. Kathi and Katherine discuss what yo…

1
Lack the Confidence to Leave Your Job? 15:46

11M ago15:46

15:46

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about the challenge of leaving a job when your confidence is low, and you’re feeling emotionally battered. They start with a question from someone who wants to leave a toxic work situation but doesn’t feel good enough about themselves to look for a new job. Kathi and Katherine discuss tac…

1
Afraid to Go on Vacation? 7:45

11M ago7:45

7:45

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine consider what you can do if you’re afraid to go on vacation. They start with a question from someone who knows they need a break, but fears coming back to a bigger workload and more problems. Kathi and Katherine discuss the importance of taking a vacation and when you know it’s time.…

1
Remote Working — Are You Double Dipping? 14:35

11M ago14:35

14:35

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine explore a hot topic — How working remotely enables certain employees to work two jobs at the same time. They start with a question from a business owner who suspects that two of his employees might be double dipping. Kathi and Katherine also consider under what circumstances working a side job…

1
Changing Jobs for a Better Culture 15:03

12M ago15:03

15:03

Sometimes a job you once enjoyed becomes a job you can’t stand. Often, it’s because the company’s culture changes. On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine interview someone who successfully changed jobs, moving from a toxic culture to a culture where she is able to thrive. Ready to leave your job for a better culture? Listen here.…

1
Afraid to Speak Up at Work? 10:46

12M ago10:46

10:46

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about an important skill in the workplace — the ability to speak up. They start with a question from someone who recently got promoted to a more visible position but finds it difficult to speak up at meetings or on client calls. Kathi and Katherine consider what stops people from speaking…

1
Career Change, Can I Do It? 13:28

1y ago13:28

13:28

Changing careers or going into a new industry can be daunting. In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss what it takes to move from one industry to another. They start with a question from someone who is in a secure, well-paying job but feels very bored. Kathi and Katherine explore what it takes to move to a new, more creative…

1
Should I Stay or Should I Go? 13:51

1y ago13:51

13:51

On this episode of My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine consider whether it’s smart to stay at a company after you realize it supports people who behave badly. They begin with a question from someone who recently got hired by a senior partner at a high-profile company. Although this top executive aggressively recruited them to join his team…

1
Are You Known as a Gossip at Work? 13:29

1y ago13:29

13:29

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi, and Katherine address a topic that every workplace grapples with — GOSSIP. They start with a question from someone who recently realized that her boss views her as a gossip, and wonders whether that label might hurt her career. Kathi and Katherine go on to describe the best remedy for gossip at work — The …

1
Working for an Indecisive Boss 13:23

1y ago13:23

13:23

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about how to work for an indecisive boss. They start with a question from someone who works at a small company where the owner keeps changing direction depending on the last person she spoke with. Kathi and Katherine go on to discuss how to “manage up” when your boss can’t make up their m…

1
How Do I Negotiate a Higher Salary? 15:51

1y ago15:51

15:51

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about a very important topic: how to negotiate a higher salary. They start with a question from someone who has recently received a job offer but the salary is too low. Kathi and Katherine talk about the key ingredients to successful salary negotiation.…

1
Afraid of Losing Your Best Employee? 12:58

1y ago12:58

12:58

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi, and Katherine talk about what it takes to manage (and keep) your best employees. They start with a question from a manager who has a super-competent employee and fears losing this person. During the second part of the podcast, they address the “star” employee directly — how does a stellar employee determin…

1
Being blamed for your boss’ mistakes? 14:11

1y ago14:11

14:11

In this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine address a tricky topic: Being blamed for your boss’ mistakes. They start with a question from someone who just received a really bad review and wonders whether she’s being blamed for her boss’ incompetence. Kathi and Katherine consider what you can do if you think you may be taking the fall fo…

1
Ever Been Accused of Not Reading the Room? 16:10

1y ago16:10

16:10

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine talk about an essential interpersonal skill called “reading the room.” Reading the room is the ability to read the subtle nonverbal messages that other people convey through body language telling you how your message is being received. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someone who…

1
Need To Leave Your Job But Can’t? 13:51

1y ago13:51

13:51

On this episode of My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss a common phenomenon: why some people who know they need to leave their jobs can’t. They start with a question from someone who works in a horrible situation, but can’t take steps to find a better job. Kathi and Katherine consider what prevents individuals from leaving bad situa…

1
Working with a Sacred Cow 13:43

1y ago13:43

13:43

On this episode of My Crazy Office, Kathi and Katherine discuss how to handle a very challenging kind of employee — the Sacred Cow. They start with a question from someone who recently began working at a corporate research company. He needs the assistance of a long-time employee to do his job, but that person doesn’t want to help him. During the se…

1
Chronically late 17:35

1y ago17:35

17:35

Are you managing someone who is chronically late? Are you chronically late yourself? On this My Crazy Office podcast, Kathi and Katherine discuss the difficult subject of chronic lateness. Some of the best employees suffer from this affliction. Listen to Kathi and Katherine as they address one manager’s struggle with a chronically late office manag…

1
How to Take the High Road When Someone Triggers You 16:24

1y ago16:24

16:24

Today on My Crazy Office Podcast, Kathi and Katherine talk about the importance of taking the high road when irritating people say things that make you want to fight back. Taking the high road involves communicating in a way that moves things forward instead of getting stuck in a power struggle. Kathi and Katherine start with a question from someon…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Kathi Elster Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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