Feeling Powerless at Work? Here’s Where Your Agency Still Lives

Feeling Powerless at Work? Here’s Where Your Agency Still Lives

May 4, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

Jessi Hempel discusses workplace agency and personal growth with leadership coach Aiko Bethea amidst the chaos of modern work.

Work has always been demanding, but lately, it feels like the ground is constantly shifting. Business is moving faster, projects disappear overnight, expectations change without warning. Under pressure, teams see more tension and uncomfortable moments. So how do you stay steady through these times and even use workplace tensions to grow and improve? This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Aiko Bethea, leadership coach and author of Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives. Aiko’s book comes with a forward from Brené Brown, and offers a road-tested framework for navigating modern work with more clarity and intention. Instead of looking outward for stability, she argues that the real work starts within: understanding your values, recognizing your impact, and reclaiming your sense of agency. In this conversation, Jessi and Aiko discuss: Why work feels more chaotic than ever What it really means to be “anchored” in your values—and why most of us get this wrong How to align your decisions and behavior with what actually matters to you A more generous, effective way to think about accountability (hint: it’s not about…

People in this episode

Host: Jessi Hempel

Guest: Aiko Bethea

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: LinkedIn

Books & works: Anchored, Aligned, Accountable: A Framework for Transcending Bullsh*t and Transforming Our Lives

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