The Office Politics Podcast with Fexingo: Workplace Dynamics, Influence, and Getting Things Done cover art

The Office Politics Podcast with Fexingo: Workplace Dynamics, Influence, and Getting Things Done

The Office Politics Podcast with Fexingo: Workplace Dynamics, Influence, and Getting Things Done

By: Fexingo
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Office politics isn't just about maneuvering for promotions; it's the invisible current that determines whether good ideas get traction or die in committee. Lucas and Luna, the two co-hosts of Fexingo Business, examine the real mechanics of workplace influence: how decisions actually get made, whose voices carry weight, and what strategies turn a proposal into policy. Drawing on organizational psychology, case studies from companies like Pixar and Bridgewater, and the latest research on network theory, each episode dissects a specific dynamic—whether it's managing up without sycophancy, building coalitions across warring teams, or navigating a toxic culture without becoming toxic yourself. The show is for the mid-career professional who has seen good projects stall and bad ideas advance, and wants to understand the underlying rules of the game. Lucas brings the journalist's skeptical eye for data and precedent; Luna counters with the practitioner's instinct for what actually works in a Monday morning meeting. Together, they avoid the usual advice of 'just be authentic' or 'play the game' in favor of something more useful: a map of the hidden terrain between you and getting things done. What's the difference between influence and manipulation, and how do you know which side of the line you're on? #OfficePolitics #WorkplaceDynamics #Influence #GettingThingsDone #OrganizationalBehavior #CorporateCulture #PowerDynamics #CareerStrategy #LeadershipLessons #CoalitionBuilding #ManagingUp #ToxicWorkplace #PixarCulture #BridgewaterPrinciples #DecisionMaking #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved. Economics
Episodes
  • How to Use the Anchoring Bias in Office Negotiations

    How to Use the Anchoring Bias in Office Negotiations
    Jun 28 2026
    In this episode of The Office Politics Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the anchoring bias—a cognitive shortcut that can make or break your workplace negotiations. They break down a real-world example: a salary negotiation where the first number put on the table—whether it's $75,000 or $95,000—shifts the entire conversation by up to 20 percent. Lucas explains why the bias works (our brains latch onto the first piece of information) and shares a counter-anchoring tactic used by a procurement manager at a mid-sized logistics firm. Luna offers a trick for low-power negotiators: pre-loading your own anchor with market data. They also discuss ethical guardrails—anchoring is not lying. By the end, you'll know how to set the anchor in your next meeting without feeling manipulative. #AnchoringBias #OfficePolitics #Negotiation #SalaryTalk #WorkplaceDynamics #Influence #Careers #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #TheOfficePoliticsPodcast #CognitiveBias #Hiring #CounterAnchor #MarketData #Procurement #Walmart #BehavioralEconomics #GetThingsDone Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • How to Use the Law of Scarcity in Office Politics

    How to Use the Law of Scarcity in Office Politics
    Jun 28 2026
    Episode 78 of The Office Politics Podcast explores how the Law of Scarcity — the principle that people value what's rare or limited — can be a powerful tool in workplace influence. Lucas and Luna break down a real scenario from a mid-size tech company where a product manager named Sarah successfully used scarcity to get her stalled project prioritized. They discuss why over-availability weakens your political capital, how to create genuine scarcity without manufacturing fake deadlines, and the difference between strategic scarcity and being a bottleneck. The episode also touches on the risks: if you cry wolf too often, you lose credibility. Specific, actionable advice for anyone who feels their work is being taken for granted or needs to shift how their contributions are perceived in a crowded office environment. #OfficePolitics #LawOfScarcity #WorkplaceInfluence #Careers #ScarcityPrinciple #ProductManagement #Prioritization #PoliticalCapital #StrategicScarcity #Availability #Credibility #Bottleneck #PerceivedValue #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #LucasAndLuna #WorkplaceDynamics #Influence Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • How to Use the Contrast Principle in Office Politics

    How to Use the Contrast Principle in Office Politics
    Jun 27 2026
    Lucas and Luna explore the contrast principle—a cognitive bias where we judge options relative to each other rather than on absolute terms—and how it can be strategically deployed in workplace negotiations, budget proposals, and performance reviews. They anchor the discussion in a real 2025 study from Harvard Business School showing that job candidates who presented a deliberately weaker option first were 34% more likely to have their target offer accepted. Lucas breaks down three practical applications: anchoring salary negotiations with a high reference point, framing a project budget by showing an inflated alternative, and sequencing performance feedback to make constructive criticism land softer. Luna pushes back on ethical boundaries and when the tactic backfires. They also revisit a classic example from the 2008 financial crisis: how investment banks used contrasting collateral requirements to make aggressive lending terms seem reasonable. The episode closes with a quick, low-key listener support mention—buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo—and a final reflection on the difference between strategy and manipulation. #ContrastPrinciple #OfficePolitics #Negotiation #CognitiveBias #WorkplaceStrategy #CareerAdvice #Influence #Persuasion #BehavioralEconomics #SalaryNegotiation #PerformanceReviews #BudgetProposals #HarvardBusinessSchool #DecisionMaking #EthicalInfluence #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    7 mins
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