This is Help Wanted, the show that makes your work work for you.

I'm Jason Pfeiffer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine.

And I'm money expert Nicole Lapin.

On Tuesdays, Jason and I answer the helpline and help callers solve their work problems. And on Thursdays, I give you one way to improve your work and build a career or company you love.

And it starts now.

You hate awkward conversations. I mean, I guess does anyone like them?

Anyway, maybe you just had one, or you're a dreading or avoiding one, or you're just in a room where you don't know anyone.

You try to hide your awkwardness, but that only makes things worse.

It's like being a teenager again.

Today, I will give you a simple antidote to this.

It'll diminish your awkwardness, boost your confidence, and make uncomfortable situations a lot more comfortable. The trick is this. It'll diminish your awkwardness, boost your confidence, and make uncomfortable

situations a lot more comfortable. The trick is this. Lead with your awkwardness. Because here's the

thing. Awkwardness is our great human equalizer. And when used properly, it helps us relate to and

connect with others.

So let's get into it.

And we're going to start with an awkward conversation in the making.

Now, this comes actually from Help Wanted.

There's an episode that we ran on November 5th, 2024.

The title of the episode, you can go find it, is Tall Poppy Syndrome, How to

Navigate Your Co-Workers' Jealousy. And in that conversation, Nicole and I talked to a listener

named Mari, who is getting shunned at the office. A quick refresher, if you haven't heard

the episode, Mari got promoted above her friends. And now she is their manager

...