Confidence vs. Competence

In the latest episode of Workforce, Dr. Grace Lordan takes us on an intriguing journey through the behavioural science of workplace success. The conversation opens with a bold statement: confidence often carries more weight than competence when it comes to career advancement, but is this fair? And more importantly, is it beneficial for individuals and organisations in the long run? Grace and her expert guests delve into the historical context of confidence as a signal for competence, discussing its evolutionary roots and its shaky relevance in today's complex professional landscape. They also shine a light on the power of rivalry as a motivator and how technology can help identify true competence, leveling the playing field for all job seekers.

Listen, learn, and let's transform the workplace together. Subscribe, rate, and review Work FORCE on your favourite podcast platform and join Dr. Grace Lordan in dismantling the "bullstuff" that holds us back. Visit www.gracelordan.com for more insights and to share your thoughts on future topics. Produced by Decimal Creatives, this is Work FORCE – where we work smarter, not harder, for a workplace that works for all.

Work FORCE is a podcast hosted by Dr Grace Lordan (www.gracelordan.com), author of Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want and professor at the London School of Economics. You can buy Think Big Here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Big-Small-Steps-Future/dp/0241420164/kacey123-21

Work FORCE unravels the behavioural science behind things that happen in the workplace that impact your success and wellbeing, blending academic evidence with real life experiences.

Follow Grace on X or Instagram @profgracelordan; on LinkedIn drgracelordan

Joining the WorkFORCE discussion are:

Jonah Oliver

Jonah is one of the World’s leading performance psychologists having worked with some of the World's most elite athletes and executive leaders. With expertise in sports psychology and neuroscience, he offers a unique, effective approach to optimising performance. Over two decades, he's assisted PGA Major winners, Olympic gold medalists, executives, and surgeons, fostering success on grand stages. Trusted by multinational corporations, he currently aids global companies to facilitate peak performance in the finance, construction, and technology startups sectors. Known for simplifying complex theories, Jonah delivers engaging presentations and continues to publish and speak internationally.

For more information about Jonah’s work head to https://www.northframework.com/

Frida Polli

Frida Polli, PhD, MBA, is a Harvard and MIT-trained neuroscientist and entrepreneur. She's the CEO and co-founder of Pymetrics, a talent-matching platform using behavioural science and AI to improve workforce decisions. Pymetrics has global clients like BCG, Kraft Heinz, and McDonald’s, matching hundreds of thousands to ideal jobs while reducing bias. Frida is a leading voice on ethical AI and HR tech, featured on CNN, BBC, CNBC, and more. She speaks at events like WEF's Annual Meeting in Davos and has been published in scientific journals and popular press including HBR and FastCompany. Recognized in lists like Inc's Female Founders 100, Entrepreneur's 100 Powerful Women, and Fortune's Most Powerful Women NextGen, she's also won awards like the MIT 100K Entrepreneurship Competition and Harvard Business School Life Science Award.

Find out more about Pymetrics at

Dive into the world of workplace dynamics with Dr. Grace Lordan in this eye-opening episode of Work FORCE. Grace and her guests dissect the subtle yet pervasive culture of mediocrity and conformity in the corporate landscape. With insights from behavioural scientist Teresa Almeida and distinguished guests Dr. Margaret Heffernan, Manfred Kets de Vries and Petra Velzeboer, we unravel the psychological underpinnings that push employees toward average performance and the profound impact this has on innovation and organisational success. Tune in to discover strategies for breaking the mould and fostering a culture of excellence.

Listen, learn, and let's transform the workplace together. Subscribe, rate, and review Work FORCE on your favourite podcast platform and join Dr. Grace Lordan in dismantling the "bullstuff" that holds us back. Visit www.gracelordan.com for more insights and to share your thoughts on future topics. Produced by Decimal Creatives, this is Work FORCE – where we work smarter, not harder, for a workplace that works for all.

Work FORCE is a podcast hosted by Dr Grace Lordan (www.gracelordan.com), author of Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want and professor at the London School of Economics. You can buy Think Big Here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Big-Small-Steps-Future/dp/0241420164/kacey123-21

Work FORCE unravels the behavioural science behind things that happen in the workplace that impact your success and wellbeing, blending academic evidence with real life experiences.

Follow Grace on X or Instagram @profgracelordan; on LinkedIn drgracelordan

Joining the Work FORCE discussion are:

Manfred Kets de Vries

Manfred is the co-founder of KDVI. Bringing to bear his knowledge and experience of economics, management, and psychoanalysis, he scrutinises the interface between international management, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and dynamic psychiatry. He is Professor of Leadership Development and Organisational Change at INSEAD and was the Founding Director of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre. The Financial Times, Le Capital, Wirtschaftswoche, and The Economist have judged Manfred as one of the world’s leading thinkers on leadership. Manfred is a global consultant in executive leadership development to leading US, European, African and Asian companies. As an educator and consultant, he has worked in more than forty countries. Manfred is the author, co-author or editor of more than 50 books and has published over 400 scientific papers. He is a regular writer for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Business Week, The Economist, Financial Times and International Herald Tribune.

For more information head to www.kdvi.com

Dr. Margaret Heffernan

Dr. Margaret Heffernan spent 13 years creating BBC programs before venturing to the US, where she led multimedia endeavours for Intuit, The Learning Company, and Standard&Poors. She held executive roles at InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation, and iCast Corporation, earning recognition as one of Streaming Media magazine's "Top 25" and The Hollywood Reporter's "Top 100 Media Executives." With six authored books, her work, including "Willful Blindness," hailed by the Financial Times as a pivotal business text, has garnered acclaim. Her TED talks, reaching over fifteen...

In this episode of Work FORCE, host Dr. Grace Lordan explores the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on employment. With a diverse panel of experts, Dr. Lordan delves into the complexities of AI integration and its implications for the future of work. Grace navigates the complex intersection of technology and creativity, shedding light on the transformative potential and ethical considerations of AI adoption.

Listen, learn, and let's transform the workplace together. Subscribe, rate, and review Work FORCE on your favourite podcast platform and join Dr. Grace Lordan in dismantling the "bullstuff" that holds us back. Visit www.gracelordan.com for more insights and to share your thoughts on future topics. Produced by Decimal Creatives, this is Work FORCE – where we work smarter, not harder, for a workplace that works for all.

Work FORCE is a podcast hosted by Dr Grace Lordan (www.gracelordan.com), author of Think Big, Take Small Steps and Build the Future You Want and professor at the London School of Economics. You can buy Think Big Here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Big-Small-Steps-Future/dp/0241420164/kacey123-21

Work FORCE unravels the behavioural science behind things that happen in the workplace that impact your success and wellbeing, blending academic evidence with real life experiences.

Follow Grace on X or Instagram @profgracelordan; on LinkedIn drgracelordan

Joining the Work FORCE discussion are:

Caitlin Bentley

Caitlin Bentley is a Lecturer in AI Education, actively shaping the future of responsible AI through education. She is a member of the Delivery Team on the UKRI Responsible Artificial Intelligence UK (RAI UK) programme and co-director of the UKRI Safe and Trusted AI Centre for Doctoral Training. Previously, she served on the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Hub Skills Committee, Syllabus Lab, and EDI working group. Caitlin’s multi-disciplinary academic background includes includes a PhD in Human Geography, ICT4D, from Royal Holloway, University of London, a Masters in Educational Technology from Concordia University, and a BA in Computer Science from McGill University. Caitlin has been researching how professionals across various sectors will need a variety of technical, professional and strategic skills to be effective.

Find out more about Caitlin Bentley's work at King's College: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/caitlin-bentley

Chris Pissarides

Sir Christopher Pissarides is the Regius Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, and co-chairs the Institute for the Future of Work. He specialises in the economics of labour markets, economic growth and structural change, especially as they relate to market imperfections, where his work has been especially influential. He has recently worked extensively on the employment implications of automation and artificial intelligence and on the implications of covid-19 for the future of work. In 2010 Sir Christopher was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on the labour market, sharing it with Dale Mortensen of Northwestern University and Peter Diamond of MIT. He has since been honoured with several other awards, Prizes and Society fellowships. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. He is a frequent keynote speaker or panellist on the future of work and other issues related to employment, unemployment and structural change.

Find out more about Chris and his work at

Piotr Mirowski

Dr. Piotr Mirowski works as a research scientist in machine learning at a leading AI lab and is a visiting researcher...