Workplace Psychology with Dr. Martha Grajdek

Psychological Ownership: Getting Employees to Treat Work Like “Theirs” Without Exploiting Them Psychological ownership can drive initiative, pride, and higher-quality work, but it can also slide into ...

Compassion Fatigue in Leaders and Helping Roles When your role requires supporting others’ stress, the emotional cost can accumulate into compassion fatigue. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explains what...

Workplace Friendships: Healthy Connection vs. Drama, Favoritism, and Boundary Mess Workplace friendships can be a protective factor, but they can also create cliques, favoritism perceptions, and messy...

Psychological Detachment: Why People Can’t “Turn Off” After Work If your body leaves work but your mind remains at work, recovery doesn’t happen and burnout becomes more likely. In this episode, Dr. G...

Incivility at Work: The Small Cuts That Destroy Engagement Not all workplace harm is overt bullying—incivility is quieter, more common, and often more corrosive over time. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek...

Workplace Grief: Bereavement, Loss, and How Organizations Get It Wrong Grief shows up at work in ways leaders often misunderstand. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek covers multiple forms of loss and explai...

Layoff Aftermath: “Survivor Syndrome” and the Hidden Culture Shift In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores what happens psychologically and culturally after layoffs. She addresses “survivor syndrome” an...

Trust Repair After Public Mistakes: Apologies that Actually Work A weak apology prolongs the problem, whereas a good one accelerates repair. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek breaks down the psychology of ...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines the relationship between sleep, shift work & cognitive performance. It is no secret that when schedules fight human biology, accuracy, mood, and safety suffer...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines how designing limits can unlock innovation. Although it may seem counterintuitive in nature, smart limits may actually fuel better ideas. Dr. Grajdek explains the...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek discusses how to turn silent risk into useful signal by building a credible speak-up system with actual “no-retaliation muscle” to back it up. She examines the psychology ...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines successful onboarding practices. It is no surprise that new deals, such as bringing new talent onboard, are more likely to succeed long-term when everyday behavio...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines the effectiveness of workplace timekeeping as it relates to accountability. She explains that time data should illuminate flow and balance workload, and not be us...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek discusses how decision making and execution slow down when role clarity and decision rights ownership are fuzzy. As a result, progress slows and morale dips. Dr. Grajdek i...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek unpacks the quiet psychology behind knowledge hiding and shows where it surfaces in the workflow. She discusses how to flip the script by introducing contribution receipts...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek lays out practical etiquette for working alongside AI so quality, safety, and trust don’t get left behind. She helps to define who owns what when a model helps produce wor...

Responsiveness doesn’t equal reliability – and treating them as being the same burns people out. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek separates that which is perceive as urgent from what is seen as important....

Sabbaticals & Extended Recovery: Career Sustainability Beyond PTOHigh performers don’t need more snacks. They need structured restoration. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek makes the business and psych...

Workflow designs are intended to make things easier for employees. However, all too often, workflow designs become too complex, complicated, and convoluted. As a result, they can lead to stress and bu...

Performance systems can grow people, or they can teach them to play defense. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores common rater errors, and suggests how to replace vague competencies with behavior-anc...

Hybrid work quietly rewards face time unless employers design for equal access to opportunity. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores proximity bias and hybrid work equity. She discusses proximity bias...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek reveals why the best hire might be the talent you already have, and how psychology shapes whether internal moves feel fair or political. She unpacks self-efficacy, expecta...

Chronic over-commitment is a process problem, not a personal failing. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek teaches teams to visualize demand vs. capacity with Kanban and WIP limits, prioritize, and renegotiat...

Knowledge Transfer & Institutional MemoryCritical know-how too often lives in one person’s head. When they leave, knowledge and information leaves with them. Whether this is part of regular turnov...

Ethical Dilemmas And Moral Injury At WorkIn this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores ethical dilemmas and moral injury at work. When people feel pushed to act against their values, the harm lingers beyond s...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how globally distributed teams often stumble not on skills but on mismatched norms, such as direct vs. indirect feedback, time-zone fairness, and distance. She de...

Invisible Work & “Office Housework”: The Non-Promotable Task TrapIn this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores invisible work and “office housework” in terms of their necessity, contribution, and burden. ...

Meeting Science: Fewer Meetings, Better Outcomes, More Deep WorkIn this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores replacing the overload of too many meetings with a science-based redesign where only meetings rela...

Job Crafting: Redesigning Your Role Without Changing Your Job TitleIn this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how employees can tailor tasks, relationships, and mindsets to better align with strengths and ...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines how publishing pay ranges reshapes trust, motivation, and team dynamics, separating true fairness (process) from perceived fairness (outcomes). She unpacks real r...

This episode, Dr. Grajdek explores the often-overlooked role of workplace rituals – the intentional practices that go beyond routine to create connection, stability, and shared identity. From onboardi...

In an age of prolonged screen time and nonstop notifications, digital overload is quickly eroding attention, productivity, and well-being. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek breaks down how hyperconnectivit...

Employee activism is reshaping how workplaces respond to social and ethical concerns. In this episode, Dr. Grajdekinvestigates why employees are speaking up more than ever, how purpose and values driv...

Open office designs aim to foster collaboration, but for sensory-sensitive employees, they can be overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how noise, lighting, and other environmental facto...

Not all workplace hierarchies are formal. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek unpacks how perceived status influences everything from speaking up in meetings to how credit is distributed. She examines how su...

When too many voices weigh in – or when no one takes the lead – teams can get stuck in a state of indecision. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores decision paralysis in collaborative environments, ex...

Stories aren’t just for marketing – they’re a powerful internal tool that shapes meaning and motivation. This episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how corporate storytelling enhances employee engagement by c...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek uncovers the powerful impact of microbreaks on focus, productivity, and well-being. From neuroscience to practical examples, Dr. Grajdek explains how short resets can coun...

In today's remote and hybrid work environments, much of communication happens through screens, where tone and intent can easily be misinterpreted. In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores the concept of ...

Going above and beyond at work – known as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) – can sometimes lead to burnout when extra efforts become expected rather than simply appreciated. In this episode, ...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek addresses the cost of perfectionism in high-performing organizations. She examines the signs of organizational perfectionism, its impact on creativity and mental health, a...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines the nature of humor at the workplace. Humor can be a powerful force for building bonds and reducing stress at work, but it can also alienate or offend when used p...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek examines psychological contracts and their influence on employee satisfaction and engagement. She discusses how these contracts form, how breaches damage trust and motivat...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek shines a light on the often invisible and undervalued burden of emotional labor (or emotional burden) – the effort employees expend to manage their emotions in professiona...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores organizational restructuring and its potential to trigger anxiety, grief, and uncertainty among employees, often leading to lowered morale and engagement. She dis...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek explores how unconscious cognitive biases influence daily decisions in the workplace, from hiring practices to team collaboration. She breaks down common biases, showing h...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek discusses the fact that many employees struggle with saying “No”, fearing it will harm their reputation or opportunities for advancement. She points out that the inability...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek discusses workplace energy. Energy levels in the workplace can be contagious – in both positive and negative ways. Dr. Grajdek explores the impact of individuals who drain...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek considers toxic positivity at work. She reminds us that although a positive mindset is often encouraged at work, excessive or forced positivity can lead to emotional suppr...

In this episode, Dr. Grajdek discusses how to make the most of your personality traits in order to have the best workplace experiences. Whether that means strengthening, changing, or eliminating a per...