Fixable

In the modern workplace, hierarchy and power differences are often viewed as problems to solve. But Deborah Gruenfeld has a different perspective: hierarchy is not only essential to organizations, but we actually crave it in our relationships and communities. Deborah is a professor at Stanford University and a social and organizational psychologist who studies power and powerlessness. In this episode, she joins Anne and Frances to demystify how power actually works at work, why people underestimate their own power, and how to use the power you already have more skillfully. She also offers practical tips for playing your own power up or down, and shares what she has learned studying power dynamics in marriages and long-term relationships. Anne and Frances put their own marriage to the test, exploring whether their partnership truly is—or even should be—equal. Featured guest Follow Deborah Gruenfeld on LinkedIn Buy Deborah's book, Acting with Power Connect with the team Follow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedIn Watch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPods Visit Anne and Frances’ website Have a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253 Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No matter where you fall on the corporate food chain, you have power at work—you just might not know how to use it. In this new series on Unlocking Your Power at Work, Anne and Frances dig into how to discover, build, and use your power, explore common power dynamics in the workplace, and learn from people who use their full power with honesty and swagger. Kara Swisher is one of the most influential voices in media and has built a career holding the powerful accountable. In this episode, she reflects with Anne and Frances on her own path to power and what she’s learned from watching some people become corrupted by power while others learn to wield it for good. She also argues that people don’t leave jobs early or often enough, and makes the case for pursuing more than just the opportunities that are offered to you. Featured guest Follow Kara Swisher on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads Listen and watch On with Kara Swisher Connect with the team Follow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedIn Watch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPods Visit Anne and Frances’ website Have a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253 Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cold Call is hosted by Harvard Business School Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Brian Kenny. From the history of Hershey to today's biggest AI case studies, Cold Call breaks down the decisions, tradeoffs, and leadership lessons behind some of the most fascinating organizations. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Fixable co-host and HBS professor Frances Frei, and the former co-founder of Kayak and current co-founder and CEO of Boston Venture Studio Paul English. Their conversation explores how English brings new innovations to market. Together they break down the difference between a good idea and a bad one, explain why it’s so important to take a systematic approach to developing new ideas, and explore how English’s creative process dovetails with Frei’s “move fast and fix things” strategy. To listen to more episodes, follow Cold Call on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A great coach can be a powerful ally when it comes to solving problems at work and in life—and the good news is, anyone can learn to become one. In this Toolkit segment, Anne is the one in the hot seat as Frances interviews her about her work as a coach and the key components of a high-value coaching session. They dig into the importance of reflection, embracing discomfort, and recognizing behavioral patterns, and answer a few questions from listeners about how to coach their teammates more effectively. Connect with the team Follow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedIn Watch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPods Visit Anne and Frances’ website Have a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253 Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The act of reflection at work has many names—debrief, post-mortem, after-action review—but no matter what you call it, it’s a wildly powerful tool for making teams better. But are you getting the most out of it? Robert Teschner (whose call sign in the Air Force was “Cujo”) is a former fighter pilot and commander who flew some of the world's most advanced fighter jets before becoming an instructor at the Weapons School. In the Air Force, figuring out what went right and wrong can be a matter of life and death. Today, Cujo teaches business leaders how to bring the awareness, accountability, and rigor of military debriefs to their own teams. Anne and Frances sit down with Cujo to discuss how to conduct a successful debrief, where debriefs can go wrong, and how to get to the root cause of a problem. They also explore the importance of vulnerability and non-judgement when it comes to creating a psychologically safe space for reflection and learning. Featured guest Follow Robert Cujo Teschner on Instagram, LinkedIn, and at https://cujoteschner.com/ Buy Debrief to Win Connect with the team Follow Anne on Instagram and LinkedIn Follow Frances on Instagram and LinkedIn Watch Fixable videos on youtube.com/@TEDPods Visit Anne and Frances’ website Have a question you want Anne and Frances to solve? Email the team at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 234-349-2253 Follow TED on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.