Low Man on the Totem Pole: Recent Episodes
Low Man on the Totem Pole
Low Man on the Totem Pole (LMTP) is a straight-talk talk show that is designed to help anyone that's struggling in their career to stop begging for a promotion and start selling their genius.
We made it through a year that blindsided ALL of us--give yourself a hand and cut yourself some slack for making it to the other side of 2020! In this new year, when we can now see a little more clearly what lies ahead, how do we adjust to the changes that we KNOW are happening; in our industry, in the way we do our jobs, in the resources we use to do those jobs? Heather and Kaytee chat about how to pivot if you find yourself in a struggling industry, or even just struggling in your current work environment. Also: close-up magic and flying cockroaches.
Planning for 2021 is already daunting, given the year we've all just had! Especially if you are a manager with employees remote and onsite--or if you are still WFH while many of your teammates are back in the office--you may have a lot of questions about how you are going to "show up" for everyone, even when you can't, you know... show up.
In this episode, Heather and Kaytee carve out strategies for managing workload, expectations, and fairness in a hybrid work environment. How do you make up for those lost hallway conversations? How do you demonstrate productivity from afar? How do we teambuild and show appreciation and celebrate accomplishments on the dreaded Zoom???
The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations--so why do so many of us hesitate to have them? Guest Kwame Christian is a business attorney with Carlile, Patchen & Murphy LLP, director of the American Negotiation Institute, author of the book Finding Confidence in Conflict, and host of the podcast Negotiate Anything. The free downloadable negotiation guides referenced in this episode can be found at https://americannegotiationinstitute.com/guide.
As pandemic pandemonium continues to affect our jobs, our prospects, our outlook, and... well, pretty much everything, how do move forward? Spoiler: the answer is NOT a positive mindset!
Heather's outta quarantine!! Heather and Kaytee catch up on how Heather is feeling post-Covid 19, + we talk about about actionable ways to support and empower others whose voices need to be heard.
What do Mark Twain, Maya Angelou and the T-1000 have in common? They're all name-checked in this episode's discussion of practicing new pattern recognition to move away from scarcity mentality and into growth and abundance mentality, and to plan out your metaphorical next trip (whether or not any of us are going anywhere for awhile).
Heather and Kaytee are bedazzling our pets out of boredom. Join us for lessons we can learn from this lockdown lunacy. Themes: zooming out and taking the long view; goats.
In this quarantastic episode, Heather and Kaytee chat about how to deal with our current global and career uncertainties. Spoiler alert: our answer is at least partly hinged on diving into Netflix documentaries. Topics include: focusing on what is within your control to affect; making a plan (yes, really, even in our current situation) and working toward it; developing a routine; engaging your empathy; Maya Angelou. Shelter in place and enjoy!
Heather and Kaytee chat about being authentic in the workplace, managing expectations, switching out phone cases, and controlling your face.
Okay, so the 'countdown' part is a bit of a misnomer. But as we close out the year and peer over the ledge at 2020, Heather and Kaytee spend some time reflecting on how we can build accountability, own our own outcomes, and ultimately make sure we're staying accountable to the little voices in our own heads.
Heather and Kaytee get together to talk about what it means to truly thrive, feel empowered, and listen to your gut when it comes to your career.
At long last, Heather and Kaytee are back to discuss delegation strategy: how to delegate effectively and proactively; how to set yourself up for success when you're the delegatee; and how to live your life in a way that doesn't let Lizzo down. (First step: don't call her Lizzy.) Join us as we explore the nuances for who to pick for what tasks that can represent new opportunities, how to delegate when you just need to Get It Done, and how to take your foot off the Driver's Ed emergency brake.
Heather and Kaytee celebrate LMTP's one-year podaversary with some Shania Twain and a deep dive into how to be an Influencer--from identifying your motivations, to welcoming disagreement, gauging others' (and your) level of investment, and getting people onboard by finding and speaking to what's important to THEM.
Heather and Kaytee are back in action, and talking action plans! Heather walks Kaytee through anchoring your strategy to your Pyramid of Purpose, busting out of the cycle of putting out fires and reactionary patterns, and how constantly feeling busy can be a sign that you're standing still.
Heather and Kaytee do some good old-fashioned trust falls this episode! Just kidding. But we do explore what it means to trust the way WE show up to work, before we can trust others. We discuss the four quadrants of establishing effective trust, building relationship capital, authenticity vs imposter syndrome, and much more! In the spirit of keeping YOUR trust, we should warn you that this episode contains spoilers for the 1994 movie Legends of the Fall. Just so you know.
Is it possible to "burn out" on a job, even when you love it? What does burn-out look like for you? How can you combat it so that you keep showing up in your role as your best possible self? Senior Learning and Development Specialist with the Skoda Minotti Advisory Firm, Megan Last, joins us this episode to break down the warning signs of depleted mental and emotional batteries at work; the sneaky ways burn-out can impact your work; and some unique and tailored ideas for breaking the burnout cycle, including tuning in to the strategies that will work personally for YOU. Also: Gladys the Reading Dog. Relax and enjoy!
LMTP OG's--Heather "2 Legit 2 Quit" MacArthur and Kaytee "Independent Contributor 4 Lyfe" Macdonald--spend this episode chatting about what it takes to be an effective people manager in the modern post-industrial workforce, strategies to overcome the challenge (and myth) of "managing up," and switching your focus from titles to talents... all at death-defying speeds and in front of a live audience!
How do your core values show up in the work you do, and the joy you get from it? In this episode, author of the new book, Working Whole, and founder of online spiritual workforce community SimplyService.org, Kourtney Whitehead guides Heather and Kaytee through strategies for mindfully analyzing what isn't working in your work life--and for keeping your spiritual values at the center of your workplace decisions to tackle those challenges while staying true to you. We talk about showing up as your most authentic self, and seeking out a workplace support community to bolster you along your career path. Join us for a fun and inspiring chat about working intentionally, Oprah, and toe socks!
Since we JUST skidded past the Hallmark holiday shoving love down our throats, we're expanding the, "find an excuse to show appreciation to the people in your life” theme into our workplace… Let’s talk about what it means to show kindness at work, and how we can do it.
Happy New Year! IT analyst, program manager, business strategist, and horse whisperer Jocelyn Jazwiec is our guest this episode as we talk about setting yourself up for success in your 2019 professional resolutions! We talk S.M.A.R.T. goals, C.A.T.R.ing to your audience with storyboarded project plans, and being the best Cat Moms we can be. Also: we discover that Heather makes an annual resolution PowerPoint complete with Color for the Year and Theme Song! Listen to find out this year's soundtrack for success...!
'Tis the season for end-of-year Top Ten countdowns, and we're jumping on that parade float! Join us as we review some of the lessons we've both learned this year, and its implications for strategizing a focused and successful 2019. WARNING: It gets weird. Sexy hashtags? Absolutely. LinkedIn dick pics? Sure. Accountability and erectile dysfunction? What? See what all of these things have to do with putting your ego out in front of you (in a good way), knowing and showing your value in the role you play, and conquering your workplace challenges. Happy holidays, and here's to a phenomenal 2019!
Leading career development expert and multi-best-selling author Vicky Oliver (vickyoliver.com) joins Heather and me this episode to dispense tips for networking and building up your online presence on each of the top networking platforms--plus, for those social-media-averse, a great primer on how to get maximum impact out of a basic LinkedIn profile. Join us as we explore how to be ambassadors of our own professionalism online!
Heather and Kaytee dive into some challenging listener-submitted questions, including: Can I leave my job without alienating my mentor? How long do I have to wait before I can flee a bad team environment? and, How do I prove my value to a company ruled by market data merit evaluation?
If YOU would like to submit a question to be answered on the podcast, send us an email at lmtppodcast@gmail.com!
With our special guest Christina Zeller--VP of Human Resources for the Game Show Network--we get into the spirit of the season by pulling back the curtain on the mysterious mysteries of what actually goes on in Human Resources. Christina shares lessons gleaned from a career in HR to impart tips YOU can use for leveraging the talent management tools that may be available to you, as you map out your career path!
HR and podcasting guru Yolanda Webb joins us this episode to lend perspective on some pressing topics: How can creative minds find fulfillment in a less-than-creative role at work? What are the pros and cons of showing up as your authentic self in the workplace? Heather and Yolanda share some insightful strategies. Kaytee mostly sings at everyone. Also: Heather's birthday!!
We're busting out the catchphrases this episode as we explore the concept of bringing your best self to the work you do--no matter what that work happens to be--curating your talents and what makes you unique int he work that you do, and constructing your budget in a way that alleviates your fears, moves you toward your aspirations, and gives you some wiggle room for that cute belted jumpsuit you saw in the window at ANGL.
Starting out with a Money Minute, we dip a toe into the Budget Pool--talking about deciding whether most of your purchases in a two-week period serve your goals or help you avoid your fears. From there, we transition into how to approach budget-building in the workplace--and how to make the case for YOURSELF as a necessary budget item for your team!
Hosts Heather MacArthur and Kaytee Macdonald share some easy and impactful tips to get your resume in front of the right people, and get you talking about what you want to say in an interview!
Join us for the inaugural episode of Low Man on the Totem Pole, with LMTP Author HV MacArthur! MacArthur will walk you through the three basic interpersonal approaches you're likely to encounter in the workplace.