Dr. Sharon Livingston, best-selling author, speaker, and thought leader in qualitative research and career psychology, joins us to unpack how power and influence have evolved in the modern workplace. With over 30 years of experience interviewing more than 64,000 people---including executives at Fortune 100 companies---Dr. Livingston brings an unparalleled understanding of human behavior at work. Her latest book, Power Dynamics: How to Master the Hidden Forces That Shape Your Career, explores how relationships, not résumés, increasingly drive success.
In our conversation, we trace the shift from the "company-as-family" era to today's fluid, network-driven workplace---where visibility, empathy, and adaptability matter more than tenure. Dr. Livingston reveals how remote work and AI are rewriting the rules of influence and shares practical ways to build authentic relationships in a hybrid world. Her insights remind us that confidence isn't just spoken---it's embodied in how we listen, pause, and connect. Above all, she urges us to see this uncertain time not as a threat, but as an opportunity to reinvent how we thrive together.
The Biggest Helping: Today's Most Important Takeaway
Things are changing, and the most important thing is to stay flexible. Allow yourself to evolve in ways that are good for you and for those around you---seeing life as a shared adventure makes it a win-win for everyone.
--
Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.
Resources:
Read Power Dynamics: How to Master the Hidden Forces That Shape Your Career by Dr. Sharon Livingston
Visit Dr. Livingston's website
Visit Dr. Livingston's Substack: careerpowerdynamics.substack.com
Produced by NOVA