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Discover introspective and empathetic lessons for work—while getting a fresh take on communication, pop culture, and media—in our monthly newsletter, Workplace Matters.?

Written by Hanan Harb Sahourieh ?? ?? (aka Your Work BFF), this unique op-ed series dissects work, life, and everything in between.?

As shown below, Workplace Matters explores lessons found in popular songs, children’s books, and tv shows/movies that we can use to thrive in the workplace.?

The series also examines ways we can leverage soft skills—better known as power skills—and how different generations shaped the workplace today.?

Songs

• Beyoncé shared her views on the employee experience in her 2022 hit, “BREAK MY SOUL.”?
• Dolly Parton exposed the inequities of the 80s workplace with “9 to 5.”
• Harry Chapin cautioned us against being distracted working parents in the 70s with “Cat’s in the Cradle.”

Explore popular songs about work, what they tell us, and how these messages are relevant today.

Children’s Books

• Clean up your mess.
• Share.?
• Play fair.?
• Be kind.
• The Golden Rule.

What lessons can we apply at work that we learned from Good Night Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Giving Tree, and other classic children’s books??

And what lovable book character exhibits conscious leadership traits??

Uncover lessons from classic children’s books that apply to today’s workplace.

Movie/TV Characters

• Jim, the Original “Quiet Quitter,” from The Office.
• Mike and Sully, two unlikely whistleblowers and work BFFs, from Monsters, Inc.?
• Miranda Priestly, the scary yet fashionable boss from The Devil Wears Prada.

These characters from our favorite movies/tv shows have plenty to teach us.

Ever had a “a case of the Mondays” like the folks in Office Space? Or experienced imposter syndrome like the teenager-turned-fashion-executive in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead??

Follow your favorite characters through their workplace lessons learned.?

Power Skills

What are power skills, and how can we use them to prepare for the workplace of the future??

Power skills encompass empathy, authenticity, active listening, curiosity, growth mindset, kindness, effective conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and communication skills— everything we need to thrive at work and beyond.

After 50-plus years of being called soft skills, Josh Bersin re-christened them in 2019 after hearing a speaker at a conference advocate for a name that reflected the power earned by those who master these skills.?

Learn more about power skills and how you can leverage them in any role: C-suite, managers, leaders, and individual contributors.

Generations

As Bob Marley said, “In this great future, you can't forget your past.”?

Look back at generations of the past century—the silent generation to baby boomers to Gen X to millennials and now Gen Z—to spot the patterns.?

As each generation entered the workplace, they demanded change based on their circumstances.?

Take a stroll down memory lane and discover how the different generations made today’s workplace.

Discover how each decade shaped today’s workplace.

About the Author

Hanan’s been analyzing the nuances of the workplace through the lenses of English literature and psychology for 20 years and counting. With professional experience spanning roles in research, marketing, and learning & development, Hanan is fascinated by people and their dynamics. A pop culture buff and mom, Hanan’s also an avid writer, champion of communication best practices, and editor of books and articles on conscious leadership.

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