Crina and Kirsten Get to Work

Dealing with assholes

On Crina and Kirsten Get to Work, our dynamic duo talk about those folks who behave in a way that is out of line, beyond the pale and absolutely unacceptable – you know, assholes. Crina shares a recent experience where she and her son encountered a terribly mean woman who was the motivation for this show. While not in the workplace, this story launches our hosts into a discussion of these kinds of behaviors in the workplace and what you can do about it. And you have to have a few laughs about this frustrating folks.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
LINKS
https://firstround.com/review/our-6-must-reads-for-cutting-through-conflict-and-tough-conversations
https://hbr.org/2014/10/how-to-deal-with-a-mean-colleague
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Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to: yougettowork@gmail.com

How to Rock Your Job

In this episode of Get to Work, hosts Crina and Kirsten answer a simple question: what makes a good employee? Previously, they talked about how important it is for employees to identify and ask for those things that they need (or want) to make work meaningful, joyous, and fulfilling. As they discussed the importance of making those requests, one listener was intrigued to know whether there were other qualities that make a desirable worker. If you are asking yourself why another employee is having a better work experience than you are, it may be good to take Crina’s and Kirsten’s advice.
Crina and Kirsten start with the basics of being a great employee: show up on time, do the work you were hired to do, be engaged and be accountable, dress appropriately. Then, they circle back to the importance of asking for things that you need to do your job and to do it well. More specifically, Crina and Kirsten call on employees to be truthful in their requests, as well as to pose potential solutions to any problems presented. In doing these things, you help your employer know how to ensure a satisfying work relationship with you. Other qualities a great employee has are positivity, appropriate curiosity, and the ability to keep work and personal life separate.
Our hosts also discuss the employer’s’ role in making a positive work environment for their direct reports. Employers should be intentional in finding out what their employees need. It is their responsibility to make space and time for their employees to express their concerns and desires. They also must be secure and flexible to provide the opportunity for employees to come to creative solutions on their own. Crina and Kirsten want women in the workplace to show up with their best selves – and ideally in a place where the employer or manager appreciates and encourages full participation.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links:
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

The Crushing Burden: Managing work, Guilt and Competing Responsibilities

In this episode of the Crina and Kirsten Get to Work podcast, hosts Crina and Kirsten discuss “the crushing burden” that often weighs on working women as they find themselves navigating work responsibilities along with community and caregiving responsibilities. They discuss the way in which this burden tends to impact women in particular, who often have to balance work life with such things as the needs of children and spouses, volunteering, and caring for aging parents. They also address their own experiences of schedules filled with various obligations and responsibilities.
After explaining what the crushing burden is, Crina and Kirsten talk about emotions associated with the burden. They focus first (and primarily) on guilt, which is a common feeling experienced in connection with both the challenge of juggling many responsibilities and the choices made as women try to navigate their responsibilities. Guilt, they note, involves a sense of offense and of failing to meet an expectation. It’s distinct from disappointment, anger, and frustration, and is also a socially acceptable emotion, particularly for women. Rather than guilt, some women experience depression and/or anxiety because of the crushing burden.  The emotions are not as social acceptable.
Having diagnosed and examined some of the emotional reactions women often have to the challenge, Crina and Kirsten turn to the response they hope to encourage in their listeners. They desire to see women move beyond feelings of guilt, anxiety and depression, and to release themselves from the expectation that they are everything to everybody, and choose to care well for themselves at least as well as they care for others. Crina, who does not struggle with guilt in the same way Kirsten does, provides insight on how to live without guilt. She and Crina discuss the value of personal well being, and consider the concept of obligations. They ultimately conclude that, while a woman should by no means abandon all responsibility, she should recognize that the obligation to self is as important if not more important than other obligations. So, they advise, treat yourself as well as you treat others.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links: 
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

How to Get What You Want

In this episode of the Crina and Kirsten Get to Work podcast, hosts Crina and Kirsten discuss how women can get what they want in the workplace.  They suggest starting by getting clear about what you want and getting ready to ask for it in the most effective way. They acknowledge that women’s voices are often not well represented or heard. Thus, women in the workplace will likely need to take clear, tenacious, confident steps to make their work experiences as satisfying, joyful, and meaningful as possible.
Crina and Kirsten discuss what must happen before you ask for something in the workplace; first determine what it is that you wants. Kirsten believes in honoring your preferences.  Be clear and know that asking for what you want will provide your employer with the opportunity to create loyalty, retention, and longevity.
What sorts of things can a woman ask for? She can ask for a raise, a job title or description, more benefits, a flexible schedule, training, ways to seek advancement opportunities, physical modifications to the work space, challenging assignments and even such less tangible things as the consideration of her opinion and things that will make her feel effective at work.
Crina and Kirsten talk through challenges that stand in the way of asking, such as fear and the difficulty of talking about money or self worth. Our hosts encourage women to be confident and willing to navigate conversations that are not as easy. They provide advice on how to prepare , how to schedule a meeting with the appropriate decision-maker, to work to understand the perspective of the conversation partner and to anticipate possible objections to their proposals. Given the cost of not asking and the potential for productive workplace change after asking, Crina and Kirsten are confident that women will benefit much from actively seeking the workplace change that they desire.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links: 
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

Let Me Introduce You to Yourself

Being self aware can be a great gift to yourself and your coworkers, but are you being perceived accurately at work? What is your personal brand? Is it accurate? Is it helping you succeed or standing in your way?

Horrible Bosses

In this episode of Get To Work your hosts Crina and Kirsten discuss bad and horrible bosses. A few characteristics that typically marks a bad boss are micromanagement, macromanagement, failure to communicate with staff, not being solution oriented, or being all about oneself.
There are so many difficult behaviors that characterize bad bosses that BambooHR has created a Bad Boss Index. Some traits that were found were: having a condescending attitude, having a mean or bad temper, inappropriate behavior, and harassing the employees. An interesting finding from their research was that women are more annoyed about most behaviors than men, except for a few noted specific behaviors that seem to set off men more. But altogether, what made people the angriest was when someone took credit for his or her work. 
In general, all behaviors that make employees feel devalued are characteristic of terrible bosses. If you find yourself in such a situation, Crina and Kirsten offer solutions. If you decide to leave the current toxic situation , create your exit plan but still do the best work you can. The mindset you have to have is to create the best springboard for your next job. And in the meantime, document your experience. These will enable you to improve yourself, your position, and figure out whether you were right at the time. And if you found yourself as the boss doing the above – please stop immediately.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links:
Check out the BambooHR’s Bad Boss Index
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

Mr. Magoo: Unconscious Incompetence

Today on Get to Work, Crina and Kirsten discuss unconscious incompetence and about what it’s like to have a Mr. Magoo or a Commander McBragg in the workplace. The two hosts also talk about how do you make work meaningful, joyous and fun, considering how long we spend our days in the workplace. We’re not going for mediocre! Everyone is welcome here.
The conversation starts with Crina sharing something that’s been on her mind: dress code. Although this is not the bulk of the episode’s theme, it is worth mentioning. Crina describes a show she was watching where middle school girls were worried about what to wear to a dance. The principal announces, “Don’t forget…nothing short, nothing tight…and we’re gonna have a good night!” What is this saying to young girls? Hide your sexuality, anything that might be found as attractive… and then come? The interesting thing is why the males weren’t being addressed. This topic really got Crina and Kirsten riled up- and could make for a successful new episode!
Next, the two discuss Mr. Magoo. Remember the cartoon with the short bald man? He walks the world with his eyes closed and bumps into things- portraying a hilarious juxtaposition. Are people in your workplace like Mr. Magoo? This is where unconscious incompetence comes in. Crina and Kirsten discuss Noel Burch’s four levels of competency, or lack thereof. 
Sometimes unconscious incompetence is a beautiful place to be. It could be the feeling you have when you start a new job. The unfortunate thing is when someone stays in this phase for too long…especially when it’s your boss. Crina talks about an experience she had when her boss was struggling with this. Crina ended up reaching out to the board letting them know that he needed to move on as there was too much risk.  Think the old, outdated cartoon called Commander McBragg. Luckily, her organization had a 360 Review Process and the feedback was unanimous.  The worst-case scenario is your boss struggling with unconscious incompetence. If your co-worker is the one dealing with unconscious incompetence, it would be a great idea to create a relationship with them. You can offer support and a lot of details. A lot of these situations are not in your control so you will have to decide what works best for you.
Do you have a situation or story to share? Crina and Kirsten would love to hear from you!
Links
Learn more about Noel Burch
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Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com

What is Your Professional Mindset? Scarcity vs. Abundance in the Workplace.

This episode of Get To Work is about finding your own professional mindset. Many find it hard to accept that we have control of our own mindset. In this episode, Crina and Kirsten tell you how you can not only identify yours, but develop it to help you better reach your goals.
Crina and Kirsten’s discussion of professional mindsets centers around the idea of scarcity vs. abundance, not as it is related to money, but in the opportunities you have around you. Crina and Kirsten share how these minds sets manifest themselves in the workplace and impact work. For an abundant mindset, you need to have big ideas, be able to stretch these ideas, and find the time to accomplish them. People with a scarcity mindset have few ideas and are scared by change in their professional life. Other dichotomies our hosts mention that you should consider are proactive vs. reactionary, are you happy vs. are you resentful, or do you create energy in a room or do you drain it. Take time to reflect on how you engage in your life.
The biggest factor that we have control over in the workplace is our own mindset. Reflect and be aware of your mindset. We can choose to let go of our limited mindset and open ourselves up to more possibilities and find how much more we’re capable of in the workplace.
We love to hear and share your stories, so write us at the email address included below!
Links:
Check out The Remarkable Advantage of Abundant Thinking
Tune in and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Send us your stories, questions, feedback, and comments to:
yougettowork@gmail.com