The Gen Mess with Tess
The Gen Mess with Tess
Podcast Description
Are generational divides in the workplace and in life driving you crazy?The Gen Mess with Tess is here to help! Hosted by Tess Brigham—certified coach, licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, author, and mom to a Gen Zer—this podcast tackles the challenges and complexities of navigating life and work across multiple generations. From the unique struggles of Gen Z to the evolving perspectives of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, Tess brings her expertise to the table, offering practical advice, expert insights, and real conversations to bridge the generational gap. Whether you're trying to communicate better with colleagues, understand your kids, or just get a clearer perspective on the "mess" of it all, The Gen Mess with Tess is your go-to resource for understanding how different generations think, work, and live. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes such as generational divides, burnout, and workplace communication. Examples include episodes discussing the unique challenges faced by Millennials and Gen Z regarding burnout, and practical strategies for improving generational communication in the workplace. The show also highlights societal expectations and personal perspectives, aiming to bridge the gap among Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.
Are generational divides in the workplace and in life driving you crazy?
The Gen Mess with Tess is here to help! Hosted by Tess Brigham—certified coach, licensed therapist, TEDx speaker, author, and mom to a Gen Zer—this podcast tackles the challenges and complexities of navigating life and work across multiple generations. From the unique struggles of Gen Z to the evolving perspectives of Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers, Tess brings her expertise to the table, offering practical advice, expert insights, and real conversations to bridge the generational gap. Whether you’re trying to communicate better with colleagues, understand your kids, or just get a clearer perspective on the “mess” of it all, The Gen Mess with Tess is your go-to resource for understanding how different generations think, work, and live.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Episode 50 of The Gen Mess with Tess, Tess explores a dynamic that quietly derails high performers at every level: the moment work starts to feel like a test.
When every meeting feels evaluative and every decision feels like it determines your worth, anxiety rises, and performance often drops. Tess unpacks why this happens and why the solution isn’t caring less, but redefining what actually belongs to you.
Drawing from her clinical work with emerging leaders, she breaks down:
- Why over-focusing on outcomes increases anxiety and self-consciousness
- The psychological difference between effort and approval
- How new managers get stuck trying to predict reactions
- Why Gen Z struggles uniquely in a metrics-driven culture
- The mindset shift that restores confidence, clarity, and flow
From a first-time manager learning to lead without control, to unexpected lessons from Olympic figure skating and competitive design, Tess illustrates one central truth:
Your job is the effort. The outcome was never yours to manage.
For HR leaders and executives, this episode is also a leadership lens. When organizations unintentionally create constant evaluation environments, employees tighten up — and innovation suffers. If you’re navigating pressure, perfectionism, or performance anxiety — this episode will help you rethink control and reconnect with your best work.
Chapters with Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome: When Work Starts to Feel Like a Test
02:00 – Why Anxiety Increases When Outcomes Feel Personal
04:30 – What “Letting Go of the Outcome” Actually Means
06:00 – Effort vs. Approval: The Critical Distinction
07:30 – Case Study: Brittany’s Transition to Management
11:00 – The Office Hours Experiment
13:30 – Changing Your Relationship to Response
15:30 – Performance Pressure & Young Professionals
18:00 – The Gen Z Metrics Trap
21:00 – Why Measured Lives Create Outcome Attachment
23:30 – Flow State & Releasing Control
26:00 – Care Deeply About What’s Yours
28:30 – Final Reflection: Own the Effort, Release the Rest
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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