Management Muse

Ep 52 - How to Rethink Risk and Make Smarter Decisions

Are you taking smart risks or are you gambling when you should be hanging on to your precious chips? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the psychology of risk and loss aversion and explore why we often make irrational decisions when faced with uncertainty. Whether it’s staying in an unfulfilling job, avoiding tough conversations, or making questionable business bets, our perception of risk shapes our careers and lives more than we realize.
Cindi and Geoff break down the hidden forces that drive our appetite for risk (or lack thereof) and offer practical strategies to make smarter choices. They discuss why we cling to bad decisions, how loss aversion influences workplace dynamics, and the difference between reckless risks and strategic moves.
Tune in to learn how to rethink risk, avoid costly mistakes, and make smart bets on yourself.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why we notice losses more than gains—and how that impacts our decision-making
The hidden psychological traps that cause us take bad risks
How to improve our risk assessments
Why leaders and employees reflexively think change is risky and how to overcome the belief
A simple framework to make more confident, calculated decisions
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/mRdTOfpVCmQ
 
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Ep 51 - How to Break Free from Either/Or Thinking and Make Better Decisions

Are you unknowingly limiting your choices when making important decisions? In this episode, Cindi and Geoff uncover the dangers of narrow framing, a mental shortcut that causes us to reflexively limit our decisions. Whether it’s choosing between two job offers, deciding whether to take a promotion, or making high-stakes business choices, the way we frame our options can show us new possibilities or potentially limit us with narrow alternatives.
Cindi and Geoff break down common decision-making pitfalls and offer practical strategies to help leaders, managers, and employees expand their thinking. They discuss how to spot when you’re falling into the trap of "this or that" thinking, how to generate better alternatives, and why the best decisions often come from broadening your perspective.
Tune in to learn how to think bigger, make better choices, and create opportunities you didn’t realize were possible.
 
Episode Highlights:
The dangers of narrow framing in decision making and how it limits your choices
The three types of narrow framing and how to quickly recognize them
How to break free from the "this or that" thinking trap
A mindset shift that helps you expand your options and find better alternatives
How leaders and teams can make better decisions by broadening their perspectives
How to use broader thinking to improve decision making in promotions, hiring, and business strategy
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/vSvW4Jq6dNg
 
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Ep 50 - The Secret to Saying No Without Harming Your Career

Saying no at work can feel impossible, but saying yes too often can squander your precious time and energy and possibly lead to frustration and burnout. In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi and Geoff explore the reasons why saying no is often hard, and they introduce the WPN method (Warmth, Priority, Nugget) to help you say no with clarity and confidence while maintaining relational goodwill.
Cindi and Geoff also tackle special cases like when your boss keeps piling on work or when colleagues won’t take no for an answer. Whether you’re a manager struggling to push back on overflowing tasks or an employee swamped with requests, this episode will equip you with the tools you need to protect your time, set boundaries, and say no without unnecessary guilt.
Tune in to learn how to say no the right way and gain more control of your work.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why saying no is so hard 
The WPN framework for saying no without damaging relationships
How to set boundaries when your boss keeps asking for more
What to do when people won’t take no for an answer
Why workplace culture plays a big role in your willingness to say no
How saying no effectively can build stronger long-term relationships
 
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Ep 49 - Feedback That Works

Why is giving feedback so difficult? And why do so many managers avoid it? In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin break down why people resist criticism and how leaders unintentionally dilute their messages. They uncover common feedback mistakes, like sugar coating, delaying, or failing to provide a path for improvement.
Cindi and Geoff share strategies to help managers deliver feedback that drives real change without triggering defensiveness. They explore the importance of follow-up, provide tips on timing, and give strategies to foster a workplace culture where constructive feedback feels natural and productive.
Tune in to learn how to make feedback a powerful tool for growth and success.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why feedback feels uncomfortable—and why most people avoid it
The biggest mistakes managers make when delivering feedback
How sugarcoating weakens feedback and leads to confusion
Simple strategies to make feedback more constructive, effective, and actionable.
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/zCVe9sM80TU
 
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Ep 48 - Why Endings Really Matter at Work and How They Shape Your Success

What if the way something ends matters more than almost everything that came before it? In this episode, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore the peak-end effect, a cognitive shortcut that explains why we overemphasize endings and why that matters. Whether it’s a performance review, a job departure, or a major project, people don’t remember the details, they hang on to the standout moments, high or low, and they remember the end.
Cindi and Geoff break down how the peak-end effect impacts performance evaluations, employee retention, workplace culture, leadership decisions, and more. They discuss why companies often misjudge performance, how final impressions can make or break opportunities and relationships, and why organizations must focus on generating consistently positive experiences and recovering from service lapses.
If you want to better influence how your management and your work are remembered, this episode will show you how to do it.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why endings shape how people remember experiences and decisions
The peak-end effect and how it impacts careers and relationships
How companies may unintentionally rewrite an employee’s legacy based on their exit
Strategies for leaders to improve employee evaluations and retention
The surprising ways people misremember their workplace experiences
 
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/HffpqOdRH5M
 
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Ep 47 Preventing Burnout: Keeping Your Company in Sync with Your People

Are you worried about burnout in your people or yourself? Does it feel like your organization is always changing and never catching its breath? In this episode, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore an idea you’ve probably never heard of—punctuated equilibrium—which describes the natural rhythms of companies that sometimes get out-of-sync. They discuss why constant transformation can lead to burnout, how to time major undertakings more effectively, and why planning for some stability is essential for lasting success.
Cindi and Geoff share practical strategies to help leaders manage change, prevent fatigue, and keep teams engaged while keeping up with a fast-moving world. Tune in to learn how to create a resilient organization that avoids systemic burnout.
Episode Highlights:
How continuous change almost always leads to burnout.
Why surge-pause is the secret to balancing change with stability.
How industry shifts and company life cycles impact employees.
Strategies to prevent burnout in fast-moving workplaces.
What to watch for when timing big organizational changes.
Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/y4P36ry6yvE?si=do9argOnvHU92zxm
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Ep 46 Why Your PTO Policies Might Burn People Out and What to Do About It

Is your company’s paid time off (PTO) policy actually burning out the very employees it’s designed to reward and renew? In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin discuss the unintended consequences of paid time off policies, from employees banking PTO instead of using it to overly complicated PTO systems that encourage people to abuse the system and discourage others from taking their well-deserved vacations. They break down common PTO errors, discuss why cashing out unused time can be harmful, and share strategies for creating a vacation system that benefits both employees and the organization. Cindi and Geoff emphasize the importance of clear, simple policies that minimize the unintended consequences that unfortunately follow many PTO systems.
Tune in to learn how to design a PTO policy that encourages real rest, prevents burnout, and aligns with your company’s long-term success.
 
Episode Highlights:
Why many PTO policies unintentionally prevent employees from taking time off.
The risks of PTO banking and buyout programs and why they often backfire.
How to simplify your PTO system to increase fairness and effectiveness.
The importance of senior leaders and managers taking time off and encouraging  their people to do the same.
Practical steps to create a PTO policy that supports employee well-being and company success.
 
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Ep 45 Why You are Comparing Yourself Against the Wrong People and What to Do About It

Do you ever feel like you’re falling behind because you’re constantly measuring yourself against others? Is FOMO causing you to do dumb stuff? In this episode of Management Muse, hosts Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin dive into the hidden power of reference points—the mental benchmarks we use to measure our success. Spoiler alert: we often have inaccurate comparisons that degrade our work performance, impair our financial decisions, and reduce our overall satisfaction and quality of life in ways we don’t realize. Cindi and Geoff discuss why traditional incentives, like money and titles, don’t always motivate people the way we expect and how upbringing and parental achievements shape our personal benchmarks. They also reveal the dangers of inaccurate comparisons and how choosing the right reference points can lead to a more productive and more fulfilling path.
Tune in to learn how to break free from unhelpful comparisons and set mental benchmarks that truly drive growth and success.
 
Episode Highlights:
How hidden comparisons shape your motivation, choices, and happiness.
Why some people aren’t very motivated by money and how to find what drives them.
The ways that childhood and family influence your markers of success.
How the wrong comparisons can derail your confidence and progress.
Practical strategies to set benchmarks that help you grow.
 
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Ep 44 The Surprising Causes and Cures of Midlife Crises

What really drives midlife crises and how can you navigate one without it upending your life? 
In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin talk about the psychology of midlife crises, from the unexpected sadness that can follow major achievements to the dissonance that arises when life feels out of sync. They explore common triggers behind midlife crises like career plateaus and, counterintuitively, achieving key goals. They also discuss why moments like these often lead to big and bad decisions. Cindi and Geoff share strategies to help you avoid—or at least minimize—midlife crises and avoid overcorrecting in response to temporary uncertainty.
Tune in to uncover how to transform midlife challenges into growth and renewal.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
How goal achievement can unexpectedly trigger feelings of loss.
Why cognitive dissonance often fuels midlife crises.
How career plateaus and unmet expectations  are destabilizing.
How to find your next purpose without overreacting.
Insights on navigating change thoughtfully to avoid unnecessary upheaval.
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Ep 43 Why It’s So Hard to Evaluate Employees Accurately and What to Do About It

In this episode of Management Muse, Cindi Baldi and Geoffrey Tumlin explore why it’s so challenging for managers to evaluate their team members accurately. From early impressions that stick to hidden biases we don’t even realize are at play, Cindi and Geoff reveal the unseen forces that influence how we judge performance, assign feedback, and make decisions.
Cindi and Geoff offer strategies to help managers identify and overcome these biases, creating fairer evaluations and a stronger and more accurate foundation for employee development. Whether you're navigating tricky personnel decisions or seeking to your team, this episode provides the tools and awareness you need to lead with clarity and fairness.
Tune in to learn how to view your people more accurately and to tighten up your perceptions of the people around you.
 
Episode Highlights:
The lasting influence of quick impressions in managerial decisions.
Hidden biases that affect evaluations, promotions, and feedback.
The science of perception, including the fundamental attribution error and confirmation bias.
How misperceptions impede employee development.
Practical strategies for more equitable and effective management practices.
 
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