Squeaky Wheels at Work

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🎙️ NOT SO BREAKFAST SHOW

Episode Show Notes: Squeaky Wheels at Work

Before we get into today’s topic, a couple of updates…

Sacha’s headphones have made a miraculous recovery. After a dramatic fall into the moat (yes, actual tears were involved), she pulled them apart, dried them out in the sun, and somehow brought them back to life. A lesson in resilience and maybe not giving up too quickly when things go wrong.

Meanwhile, Ish has just returned from the US, navigating eerily quiet airports on the way out and packed flights on the way over. A reminder that even when things feel uncertain globally, the world is still moving, just in slightly unpredictable ways.

Today’s topic.

Ever worked with (or been) the “squeaky wheel”? You know—the person who always has something to say, something to flag, something to fix.

In this episode, Ish and Sasha unpack the double-edged sword of speaking up at work:

• Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease…
• Sometimes it gets replaced.

So how do you know the difference?

This conversation explores the tension between valuable feedback and constant noise, and how both leaders and team members can navigate it more effectively.

🔑 What We Cover

• Why not all “squeaky wheels” are a bad thing
• The hidden value behind complaints (the “rule of 50”)
• Signal vs noise: how to tell what actually matters
• Why over-communicating can make people stop listening
• How leaders can respond without shutting people down
• Practical ways to coach “squeaky” team members
• Setting boundaries without ignoring real issues
• Turning complainers into problem-solvers

If you haven’t come across it yet, Working Genius is one of the simplest, most practical models I’ve seen for helping teams understand how they actually get work done. Not personality. Not fluff. Just clarity on where people thrive — and where they get frustrated.

If you’re planning your next team day, offsite, or work event, I’d love to bring this to your crew.

Find out more at IshCheyne.com