Fixable

Studies show that companies would benefit from having fewer and better meetings. So how can you turn your workplace gatherings from time-wasters to productivity boosters? In this episode, Anne and Frances are joined by Priya Parker—acclaimed speaker, facilitator, and best-selling author of The Art of Gathering—to unlock the true power of bringing people together. They brainstorm helpful tips for planning and facilitating great meetings, emphasize the importance of asking good questions, and explain why being “chill” is often detrimental to leadership. Follow Hosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Guest: Priya Parker (Instagram: @priyaparker) Links https://anneandfrances.com/ https://www.priyaparker.com/ The Art of Gathering book Subscribe to TED Instagram: @ted YouTube: @TED TikTok: @tedtoks LinkedIn: @ted-conferences Website: ted.com Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Learn more about TED Membership here! Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re bringing you a special episode from What It's Like To Be... a podcast from Dan Heath where he explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. Dan is speaking with Dr. Hindatu Mohammed, a veterinarian from Austin who opens up about the tough, yet crucial, decisions she helps pet owners make regarding their pets’ health care. It’s a fascinating look at how empathy and expertise come together in the world of veterinary medicine. You can listen to more episodes of What It's Like To Be... at https://link.mgln.ai/fixabledanheath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for a job can be frustrating and exhausting. Unsolicited Advice is back and this time Anne and Frances are helping YOU find work you actually want to do. They share useful tips and tricks for anyone facing today's daunting job market — from navigating rejection burnout to standing out in interviews. They also give employers advice you didn’t ask for on how to find great candidates who will elevate your team. What problems are you dealing with at work right now? Call or text 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. This episode originally aired September 23, 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you build a working relationship after you’ve gotten off on the wrong foot? In this episode, Anne and Frances coach a caller who has been brought in to support a team that doesn’t want his help—and doesn’t trust his organization. Together, they brainstorm ways to reset the partnership, offer genuine support, and fix a broken system from the inside out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know Taylor Swift as an international pop superstar—her albums shoot to the top of the Billboard charts, and her recent Eras Tour grossed over $2 billion. But what can we learn from Taylor the businesswoman? In this episode, Anne and Frances sit down with Kevin Evers, author of There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, to dig into the vision, entrepreneurial instincts, and bold decision-making that built Swift’s global empire. Follow Hosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Guest: Kevin Evers Links https://anneandfrances.com Subscribe to TED Instagram: @ted YouTube: @TED TikTok: @tedtoks LinkedIn: @ted-conferences Website: ted.com Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers’ tricky problems in under 30 minutes. One listener asks for tips on stepping into a first-time leadership role with confidence, the next wants to motivate her disengaged peers, and a final caller worries about navigating their company’s growth strategy when it’s not at all clear who is in charge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The resurrection of Barnes & Noble is one of the most remarkable turnaround stories of the modern business era. Chief revival architect and CEO James Daunt joins Anne and Frances to discuss the unconventional leadership strategies that helped him navigate through the pandemic and keep bookstores alive in the age of Amazon and e-books. They explore James’s non-hierarchical approach to team building, dive into the challenges he faced on his mission to revitalize the company, and discover the principle at the heart of his strategy: being nice. Follow Hosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Guest: James Daunt (Instagram | LinkedIn | Website) Links https://anneandfrances.com/ https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/management/james-daunt/ Subscribe to TED Instagram: @ted YouTube: @TED TikTok: @tedtoks LinkedIn: @ted-conferences Website: ted.com Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you spot workplace practices that seem less-than-fair, what can you do to stand up for better treatment of someone else? In this episode, Anne and Frances guide a troubled caller who wants to help fix the lopsided pay structures in her organization and advocate for higher compensation for her junior colleagues. Together, they design a plan to gather data and make a rigorous and optimistic case to the higher-ups while supporting those affected in the meantime. Follow Hosts: Anne Morriss (@annemorriss | LinkedIn: @anne-morriss), Frances Frei (@francesxfrei | LinkedIn: @francesfrei) Links https://anneandfrances.com/ Subscribe to TED Instagram: @ted YouTube: @TED TikTok: @tedtoks LinkedIn: @ted-conferences Website: ted.com Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers’ tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener wants to prepare herself mentally to become a senior leader in her organization, the next struggles to move on from a past conflict with a coworker, and a final caller wonders if it’s time to call it quits on their small business. Follow Host: Anne Morriss (Instagram | LinkedIn), Frances Frei (Instagram | LinkedIn) Links https://anneandfrances.com/ Subscribe to TED Instagram: @ted YouTube: @TED TikTok: @tedtoks LinkedIn: @ted-conferences Website: ted.com Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Establishing trust with customers and constituents is the cornerstone of a healthy organization—but frontline teams must learn how to do it. In this episode, Anne and Frances help a concerned caller who worries that her team isn’t handling the public’s concerns with enough empathy.​​ Together, they brainstorm actionable ways to improve her team’s trust-building skills by celebrating wins, leaning on each other to solve problems, and using the tried-and-true “trust triangle” framework to better understand the costs of their communication patterns. For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parenthood and leadership have a shared mission to set other people up for success. Renowned “parenting whisperer” Dr. Becky Kennedy (@drbeckyatgoodinside) joins Anne and Frances to discuss the lessons that parenthood and leadership have to offer each other, from how to repair damaged relationships to the importance of embodying your authority and leading with sturdiness.​​ They also dig into some of the advice in Dr. Becky’s bestselling book Good Inside, and reflects on how childhood experiences can affect your adult relationship with conflict. You can find transcripts for Fixable at ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When an organization lays people off , those who remain are often left scrambling to find their footing – and hold other people up – in an environment that no longer feels stable. In the wake of ongoing tech layoffs and the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the public sector, Anne and Frances are back with a new Unsolicited Advice segment to set the record straight about what layoffs mean for an organization — and the responsibility leaders have to own what went wrong. For Fixable transcripts, please visit https://www.ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers’ tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener searches for the best way to level up his small business, the next plans to approach their manager about a dramatic role change, and a final caller is interviewing for a new leadership position that would require him to manage problematic colleagues. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. You can find transcripts for Fixable at ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re bringing you a special episode from Rapid Response featuring Frances in conversation with Bob Safian the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company. Frances and Bob dive into one of the biggest workplace debates today: the real impact of return-to-office mandates. Together, they challenge conventional wisdom about in-person work, reveal the unspoken motivations behind pro-RTO leadership decisions, and share practical strategies for running more efficient meetings — whether remote or in-office. Plus, Frances unpacks how AI is reshaping corporate life in ways that might surprise you. Rapid Response features candid conversations with top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. The pace of change in business is faster than ever — and leaders need to adapt just as quickly. So tune in to Rapid Response for sharp insights and actionable strategies for innovators, creators, and decision-makers. Subscribe to Rapid Response on YouTube: youtube.com/@RapidResponseShow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do the most powerful people in the world do after they've achieved success? Jared Cohen is a history buff and a presidential historian. His latest book, “Life After Power,” is a fascinating exploration about what seven American presidents did after leaving the most influential job in the world. In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, Adam and Jared discuss the psychology of the founding fathers, debate the pros and cons of pursuing a legacy, and share what these historic figures can teach us all about pursuing and finding purpose. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts For more, follow ReThinking with Adam Grant wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should you do when Cupid's arrow strikes at work? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Anne and Frances are digging into the complicated dynamics of office relationships with the help of Tia Silas, HR expert and the new Chief People Officer at MrBeast, after having served in people leadership roles at some of the most influential companies in the world. Together, they discuss best practices for disclosing a new workplace relationship, how to approach your office crush respectfully, and the challenges that romance can create in organizations. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When negative feedback shakes your confidence, it can be difficult to get back to feeling like yourself at work. In this episode, Anne and Frances help a struggling listener who has spent years toning herself down in the workplace after being told that she was too assertive — now, she feels that her modest approach is holding her back. Together, they use Anne and Frances’s “trust triangle” framework to explore how empathy, authenticity, and logic can help you rebuild confidence and trust with your colleagues, and share helpful confidence hacks for getting comfy with discomfort. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the only way to win is by finding the courage to lose. This week, Anne and Frances want you to “dare to be bad” in order to free up capacity to excel at more important things. They share insight on the power of strategic “no”s, the value of ruthless prioritization, and how Steve Jobs and Apple delivered breakthrough innovation by strategically underperforming. Frances explains why you can’t always trust your own instincts, and Anne reflects on the lessons she learned in her early days of parenting. What problems are you dealing with at work? Text or call 234-FIXABLE or email fixable@ted.com to be featured on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like something about your identity was getting in the way of your success? This week, a listener needs help pushing through the resistance she’s facing as a woman navigating a male-dominated workplace. Anne and Frances discuss what you can do when someone else’s bias is standing in your way. Together, the three uncover how you can find your agency in unexpected places – and why you must use it unapologetically. This episode originally aired January 29, 2024. Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient care. After hearing from Kelli about the larger problems at play in the healthcare space, Anne and Frances discuss the link between communication and transparency and guide Kelli into taking matters into her own hands. This episode originally aired on April 3, 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.