Doing good work is important, but it is rarely enough to build the career you want.How Work Really Works is a weekly management and career coaching podcast for professionals preparing to lead and new managers learning how to succeed. Drawing on his experience as a senior executive, adviser, and mentor, Steve explores the workplace challenges that often determine whether people move forward or get stuck.Each episode tackles one practical issue, from communicating with senior leaders and handling difficult conversations to building credibility, influencing decisions, leading teams, and taking control of your career. Expect candid advice, real experiences, and specific actions you can put to work immediately.Because career success is not just about working harder. It is about understanding how work really works.I like this name because it feels approachable and creates curiosity. It also gives you room to discuss communication, leadership, workplace dynamics, organizational politics, goals, and career advancement without boxing the show into one narrow category.
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Your manager can support your development, recommend you for opportunities and help open important doors. But they cannot take responsibility for your career.In this episode, Steve explores why doing good work is not always enough to move forward. Drawing on his own experiences with supportive leaders, empty…
Episode details and show notes →Technical expertise can earn you a leadership role, but the habits that made you successful as a technical specialist can make managing people surprisingly difficult.In this episode, Steve shares his own transition from hands on technical work into leadership, including his struggle to surrender control, del…
Episode details and show notes →When every decision, approval and answer has to pass through the manager, the team slows down and the manager becomes the bottleneck.In this Manager Minute, Steve explains how to delegate with clear guardrails, help employees develop better judgment and stop rescuing people before they have thought through t…
Episode details and show notes →Your career can look successful on paper and still feel completely stuck.In this episode, Steve explores why capable people get passed over for promotions, including invisible ambition, the competence trap, limited opportunities and genuine readiness gaps. Drawing on his own experience of watching colleagues…
Episode details and show notes →When is it really time to leave your job?A bad week, a difficult manager or one disappointing decision does not necessarily mean you should resign. But staying because change feels uncomfortable can quietly cost you years.In this episode, Steve explains how to tell the difference between a temporary problem,…
Episode details and show notes →Everyone makes mistakes at work. What often matters most is what you do next.In this episode, Steve explains how to respond when something goes wrong, take responsibility without destroying your confidence, communicate effectively and rebuild trust through consistent action. He also looks at how good manager…
Episode details and show notes →What should you do when an employee wants a promotion before they are ready?In this Manager Minute, Steve explains how to encourage ambition without rewarding impatience. Learn how to communicate readiness gaps clearly, establish practical development goals and turn an uncomfortable promotion conversation in…
Episode details and show notes →Technical knowledge may get you hired, but it is rarely the only thing that determines how far your career progresses.In this episode, Steve explores the important career skills that organisations depend on but seldom teach. You’ll learn why judgment, prioritisation, clear communication, reliability, busines…
Episode details and show notes →Office politics exists whether you choose to participate or not. The good news is that you can navigate it without becoming manipulative, fake or the person mysteriously copied on every email.In this episode, Steve explains how workplace influence really works, why strong performance alone is not always enou…
Episode details and show notes →Avoiding a difficult conversation rarely makes the problem disappear. It usually gives it time to become a much bigger problem.In this Manager Minute, Steve explains how managers can address performance and behavior concerns early, keep the discussion focused on facts, and create a clear path forward without…
Episode details and show notes →Managing up is not about flattery, agreeing with everything your boss says or suddenly developing an enthusiastic interest in their weekend golf stories.In this episode, Steve explains what managing up actually means and how to build a productive relationship with your manager without becoming a professional…
Episode details and show notes →Starting a new role can feel like being handed a map after the journey has already begun. Everyone else seems to know how things work, while you are still trying to find the right meeting room.In this episode of How Work Really Works with Steve, we explore how to make your first 100 days count. You will lear…
Episode details and show notes →What do you say when an employee expects a promotion they are not ready for? Steve explains how managers can support ambition while being honest about readiness, identify development gaps and create a practical path towards career advancement without making promises they cannot keep.Send us Fan Mail
Episode details and show notes →Why do people at work say “Let’s circle back” when they really mean no?In this episode, Steve explores why workplace communication becomes vague, indirect, and confusing, and how to say what you mean without sounding rude or reckless. Learn how to read between the lines, ask better questions, give clearer fe…
Episode details and show notes →What should you do when an employee becomes difficult to manage? In this Manager Minute, Steve explains how to address problematic behavior, have a direct conversation, set clear expectations and give someone a fair opportunity to improve without allowing the problem to continue indefinitely.Send us Fan Mail
Episode details and show notes →Doing great work does not always lead to recognition or promotion. Steve explains how career advancement really works, why workplace visibility and professional relationships matter, and how to communicate your value without sounding like you are boasting. Learn practical ways to build credibility, demonstra…
Episode details and show notes →How Work Really Works with Steve is a weekly podcast offering practical career advice, management coaching and leadership lessons. Learn how to communicate better, handle difficult workplace situations, lead with confidence and advance your career through useful guidance, real executive experience and a litt…
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