• 15 - The Hidden Costs of Workplace Politeness with Harriet Waley-Cohen

  • Dec 15 2024
  • Length: 33 mins
  • Podcast

15 - The Hidden Costs of Workplace Politeness with Harriet Waley-Cohen

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  • Episode 15 - The Hidden Costs of Workplace Politeness with Harriet Waley-Cohen With a background in psychology, a decade of experience in investments, and a further decade coaching senior women on confidence and leadership, Harriet Waley-Cohen is a speaker, facilitator, trainer, and coach specialising in supporting companies within traditionally male-dominated industries, including financial services, property, and tech. She works with organisations to attract, recruit, and retain top female talent at all levels, fostering a culture of exceptional allyship and driving a measurable return on investment (ROI) from gender-focused DEI initiatives. Her services range from one-off workshops designed to spark fresh, impactful conversations about DEI to comprehensive series of workshops, programmes, and consultancy aimed at breaking through the diversity glass ceiling. Additionally, she delivers in-house confidence and leadership programmes for senior and “rising star” women, alongside allyship initiatives. Each year, she also offers bespoke 1:1 coaching to a select number of clients, providing tailored support to meet their unique development needs. What we talk about: 2:56 – “Too Polite” DEI Conversations: Harriet reveals the gap between organisational policies and lived experiences, highlighting NDAs, sexual harassment, and the protection of “high-performing predators.” 9:07 – Impact of NDAs: NDAs silence women, preventing them from speaking to friends, family, or therapists, causing emotional and psychological harm. 10:33 – Gossip as a Survival Tool: Harriet reclaims “gossip” as a vital tool for women’s safety and information-sharing. 12:31 – The Complicity Problem: Reflecting on the Jimmy Savile case, they discuss how complicity and silence enable abusive behaviour. 16:05 – Legislation vs. Lip Service: Harriet argues that legislative change, like Iceland’s gender laws, is essential for true cultural change. 17:16 – “Stop Fixing Women”: Confidence programmes aren’t enough. Companies must shift the systems that hold women back. 20:23 – Why Girls Struggle at Work: Traits that help girls excel in school work against them in the workplace. 23:39 – The “Game” Backfires: Playing into hyper-femininity often leads to a lack of respect in the workplace. 27:43 – DEI’s Blind Spots: Harriet calls out DEI’s failure to address antisemitism and reflects on online backlash. 30:05 – Final Question: Harriet invites listeners to ask, “Is it her, or is it the system around her?” Follow Harriet on social media: Website - https://www.harrietwaleycohen.com/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-waley-cohen-speaker/ Follow Michelle on social media: Website - https://www.michelleminnikin.com/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodgirldeprogramming TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@michelleminnikin Buy Good Girl Deprogramming Ebook and Paperback available at all good bookshops (and Amazon - https://amzn.to/3AQHuFf) Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0D9MKBDBW/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-406719&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_406719_rh_uk Take the Good Girl Quiz Find out if you’re a Good Girl at https://goodgirlquiz.co.uk/ If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends!
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