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Unf*ck It

Unf*ck It

Written by: WRKdefined Podcast Network
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 Work is f*cked. We call it out, rip it apart, and talk about how to make it better—with voices bold enough to say what you’ve only thought. Unf*ck It: the conversation you wish your boss would have.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Why Companies Keep Promoting Bad Managers

    Why Companies Keep Promoting Bad Managers
    Apr 21 2026
    Most companies promote people into management roles based on performance, not leadership ability. That decision quietly drives turnover, disengagement, and poor team performance. In this episode, Kara Yarnot explains why only a small percentage of people are naturally wired to lead, how organizations keep missing great leaders, and what needs to change in hiring, development, and career pathing.The conversation breaks down the real reason people leave jobs, how the “Peter Principle” shows up in modern workplaces, and why companies need to rethink both manager selection and individual contributor career growth. It also explores how better assessments, early identification of leadership traits, and alternative career paths can fix broken systems without losing top performers.If you’ve ever left a job because of your manager, wondered why great employees become bad leaders, or struggled with how to grow without managing people, this episode answers those questions clearly and practically. Key Takeaways - People don’t leave companies—they leave managers, yet true leadership ability is relatively rare - Promoting top performers into management often backfires; performance ≠ leadership potential - Strong leaders are identified by traits and competencies, not just visibility or past results - Not everyone should lead—training helps, but companies need parallel paths for individual contributors - Clear expectations, honest branding, and room for feedback/failure are key to building and keeping strong leadersTimestamps 00:00 – Why manager selection is broken 01:30 – Research on why employees leave jobs 03:00 – The Peter Principle explained simply 05:00 – Natural leadership vs trainable skills 08:00 – Are leaders born or developed? 10:00 – Why companies miss future leaders 14:00 – Scaling organizations and leadership gaps 16:00 – Using assessments to identify leadership potential 19:00 – Rethinking hiring and succession planning 22:00 – The problem with promoting top performers 24:00 – Career paths for non-managers 27:00 – Titles, compensation, and retention strategies 31:00 – Building better leadership systems 34:00 – Employer branding and manager quality 36:00 – Generational shifts in work expectations 41:00 – Learning from leadership mistakes 44:00 – Why failure is necessary for growthKeywords bad managers, why employees quit jobs, leadership development, Peter Principle explained, promoting employees to management, leadership vs performance, talent management strategy, employee retention strategies, career paths without management, hiring for leadership potential
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    46 mins
  • Why Employer Branding Fails at Work

    Why Employer Branding Fails at Work
    Apr 7 2026
    Summary: This episode explains why employer branding often fails inside organizations and how to fix it. You will learn how to shift from being seen as an order taker to a strategic partner, how to connect employer brand work to real business outcomes like revenue and retention, and how to build trust with stakeholders. The conversation also covers how to ask better questions, align with business priorities, and avoid common mistakes that damage credibility with candidates and employees. Key Takeaways: - Employer branding should be treated as a strategic driver tied to revenue, retention, and performance—not a support function - Credibility comes from understanding business goals, asking thoughtful questions, and truly knowing your audience beyond surface-level perks - Misalignment between messaging and the real employee experience erodes trust—alignment and cross-team partnership are key - Taking initiative, listening well, and tracking missed opportunities helps demonstrate long-term impact Timestamps: 00:00 – Why employer branding is misunderstood 02:20 – The problem with being treated as an order taker 04:45 – Why HR and TA struggle to prove business value 06:00 – The myth of needing a “seat at the table” 08:05 – How to tie employer branding to business outcomes 10:50 – Rethinking employer brand beyond hiring 12:40 – The power of asking better questions 15:05 – How to build trust in a new role 29:00 – Defining your target candidate clearly 35:20 – Aligning employer brand with business changes Keywords:employer branding strategy, how to improve employer brand, talent acquisition strategy, HR business alignment, employee experience strategy, recruitment marketing mistakes, building trust at work, strategic HR leadership, connecting HR to revenue, employer brand best practices
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    50 mins
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