The People Strategy Podcast (Traci Austin)

Orientation is a big topic for new hires and managers alike because a good orientation process really does set new hires up for success. Tess Heissner is a Human Resources Generalist at Baker Manufacturing based out of Wisconsin, and she joins me today to talk about the importance of a good orientation process. Listen in as Tess discusses some of the challenges of orientation and some of the key things that she has done at Baker to make sure that new hires have an amazing experience.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3co06Op

Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief strategy consultant, she has over two decades of experience creating and building HR departments for small businesses. Traci specializes in employee development, consulting, and coaching and creates fulfilling work environments that align employee aspirations with business goals. She also hosts The People Strategy Podcast.

In this episode…

Work environments are built on various interconnected relationships nurtured by appreciation, gratitude, and trust. How can leaders maintain healthy relationships with their teams to boost organization-wide engagement?

According to people strategist Traci Austin, trust is the foundation for every relationship, allowing individuals to work together to achieve organizational goals. Cultivating this trust requires identifying employees' unique behavioral and emotional needs through psychologically safe environments. These workspaces allow individuals to express themselves openly; to support this, you can have your team identify each other's strengths, relationship dynamics, outcomes, and shared purposes. Through these exercises, your team can promote honesty, vulnerability, clear expectations, and accountability. 

In The People Strategy Podcast’s latest Team Retention series episode, co-host Chad Franzen meets with Traci Austin to discuss the role of trust in employee engagement. Traci shares how executing your mission, vision, and values contributes to employee appreciation and gratitude, how to measure the impact of psychological safety exercises, and the common barriers to organizational trust.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Pre-boarding is what happens between when the offer is made and when the individual starts.

We want to ensure that the applicant journey into the employee journey is something that they imagined and hoped for...that's when Preboarding becomes impactful.

We want to connect during this Preboarding process, that the individual feels ‘belong’ and brought in as they feel part of the organization.

You can find Show Notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TOE132

Do you feel like your organization is suffering from turnover? The reason why may surprise you! Identifying great candidates is easier said than done, yet it is one of the keyways to ensure a great team. Join me in today's episode as we talk about what defines a great candidate and how a great hiring process can get the results we need. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO127

How do we inspire people to perform? And how do we also inspire ourselves as we align with the mission, vision and values of our organization, and really use that as a litmus test?

If we're going to inspire people to perform, we need to be on the same page as to what the expectations are. The next point that we really had around inspiring our people to perform with those is looking at, what are our goals and checking in to ensure that we stay aligned and creating that long-term plan for both the organization and the employee within the talent pathway plans.

Join me in this episode as we dig into the steps to elevate performance with coaching.

https://hrinnovates.me/TOE133

There are times where we, as leaders and as employees, get frustrated with being asked to complete a specific task, and then being asked to complete another for an individual inside of the organization at the exact same time. During these moments it can be difficult to decide what is the top priority and what isn’t. Today I examine how to face these multiple competing priorities and more specifically how they can be used to elevate your team to build better solutions and inspire your staff.

Additional Resources:

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Predictive Index

12 Tips to Determine What Needs Action First

ETC / INSPIRE

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Matt Sunshine is the Managing Partner and CEO of The Center for Sales Strategy, a sales performance consulting company helping B2B organizations attract, retain, and develop the highest performing salespeople. Matt developed and launched the company’s inbound marketing division, LeadG2, which helps businesses establish thought leadership and lower lead costs. He’s also a writer, speaker, and moderator offering lead generation, inbound marketing, and sales process expertise.

In this episode…

When employees are accustomed to excelling in their roles, it can be challenging to transition to a leadership position. By outlining expectations and cultivating intentionality, companies can nurture their leaders’ strengths. How can you create a culture of intentional growth?

Although it may seem counterintuitive, growth and leadership advocate Matt Sunshine maintains that leaders can grow professionally through a combination of freedom and responsibility. This involves encouraging leaders to take ownership of their career trajectories. Yet freedom must accompany clear expectations that define role success, core values, and culture. Through rigorous mentorship and culture alignment, employees can transition effectively from being top performers in their roles to leading others in their career growth.

Tune in to the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast as Traci Austin hosts Matt Sunshine, the Managing Partner at The Center for Sales Strategy, to discuss driving organizational culture and growth. Matt describes the role of trust, accountability, and belief in professional growth, his unique approaches to culture integration, and The Center for Sales Strategy’s innovative growth trajectory.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Rob Grady is a passionate and insightful leader of a top-tier hydronics rep firm that prides itself on serving better than anyone else. He joins Traci Austin to dive deep into the people-first culture that Rob fosters at Mulcahy, exploring how empowering and supporting their team has been pivotal in driving growth and meeting customer needs. They dissect how Mulcahy actively aligns its core values with its business decisions, from hiring practices to geographic expansion, creating a strong foundation that guides the company's trajectory.

Rob also shares invaluable insights into Mulcahy's people strategies. They'll discuss the importance of understanding your employees, aligning core values with everyday decisions, and the profound impact of employee appreciation. So, whether you're an executive, a team leader, or just someone interested in nurturing a thriving workplace, this episode is packed with practical strategies and heartfelt advice.

Additional Resources

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn

Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting

Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

Learn more about Mulcahy Company

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Every single person is created perfectly the way that they are. However, not every single person is created perfectly for every job or organization. That is why it is essential to ensure your staff are in the right roles where they will feel passionate about what they are doing and thrive every step of the way. To help us discuss this topic more in depth and share his knowledge about bringing passion and purpose into the workplace is Steve Browne.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3wwLg0O 

Get ready to have some fun and gain valuable insights on the crucial and timely topic of pay transparency! Our guest today is Erin McAdams Franzblau from Freeborn & Peters Law Firm in Chicago, and she is an expert on management-side employment issues. Listen in as she shares her thoughts on pay topics, and, in particular, how pay can impact organizational culture and employee retention.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3DEkSXg

In this episode, host Traci Austin discusses the importance of clarity in defining roles and expectations for new employees. She shares valuable insights on aligning goals, behaviors, and core values when hiring and managing talent. Her compelling story about the challenges and successes of hiring a marketing coordinator, shed light on the significance of defining essential job duties, setting clear onboarding goals, and managing performance through structured scorecards.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Ep 158: Nurturing Individual Potential with Jonathan Reynolds
Book: Who
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One of the key issues for many leaders is succession planning, particularly when it comes to backfilling roles from outside their organization. How can you maintain the company culture that you’ve worked so hard to create when you are hiring from the outside? That’s what we’re diving into today as we look at the importance of culture when it comes to planning talent pathways.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Krv7QP

As HR professionals, we talk so much about how to create an environment where people are fulfilled in their work, but one area we often miss is how we can support our people even when we don’t know what’s on their plate—while also meeting business outcomes. Retired Navy captain and former CEO of Sparton Corporation, William Toti, joins the show today to discuss how we can optimize for a very specific group reintegrating into the workforce: our veterans. William has been doing the work of serving organizations and veterans in the reintegration process, so tune in to learn from his impressive knowledge and wisdom!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Hdt43s

A coaching culture is all about creating a positive place for your team to be who they are whilst also elevating each other. As a former corporate executive turned corporate coach, Donna Star knows a thing or two about implementing a coaching culture into a business. Today she joins the show to discuss how you can ensure your employees are the best employees they can be by creating an environment where they can thrive as individuals and feel secure in speaking their minds or asking for help.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ohmFK4 

When you look at the culture inside of your organization, how are you supporting folks in quietly quitting? This means you are allowing your staff to stop doing the things they said they were going to do. In this episode, we'll dive into how your organization's culture actually plays a significant role in how your staff navigates their responsibilities, including the decisions that lead them to quit or power through challenging situations.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3SPsUlj 

What is a self-managing team? Where are they effective? And where are they not? These are all questions I’ll be exploring in this episode because, to be frank, self-managing teams are phenomenal in the right organization or team—but they don’t work for everyone. However, if you want team leaders to be able to focus on the ‘why’ and specific results, this may be a great route to take.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2VJ5FBn 

How are you and your team approaching debriefs and planning as we near the end of 2021? Debriefing (or reflection), as we have previously discussed, is an important tool to utilize when hoping to make positive changes within an organization. So, in this episode, Dr. Alicia Schatteman, Director at Center for Nonprofit and Associate Professor at Northern Illinois University, will be joining the show to share how you can tackle appropriate debriefing and planning to ensure your organization is set up for success in the new year.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3E0sWz3 

Today I want to inspire you to be creative about how you lead your team, including those new members of your leadership team. It can become overwhelming when you are trying to check off every single box by yourself, but what you may not realize is that things will run much smoother if you work with your team. So in this episode, I will be discussing how to pay attention to the specific needs of your team while remaining authentic to yourself.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3mIL4Gz 

As human resource professionals, it's important to support the mental health of our staff. In this episode, we'll discuss some key ways to do that with Azizi Marshall, a Creative Arts Psychotherapist, award-winning Corporate Mental Health Trainer, and Workplace Wellness Consultant. Listen in to learn what steps we can take to support the mental health of our staff and help create a happier, more productive workplace.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BA8CpN

When we create self-managing teams, there are generally three key points to consider: purpose, process, and people. But how do we implement this into our organization to ensure the success of our team? Our guest today will be helping to break down the answer to this question and more. Assad Mirza, president of Infinity Operational Excellence, is a business transformation expert, and he will be giving us his tips for creating a productive, self-managing team.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/36q18FR 

In this episode, Traci Austin will be discussing the importance of getting to know your people incredibly well and creating an environment that allows them to thrive. We'll explore how implementing systems and processes can sometimes hinder productivity instead of enhancing it, and why building strong relationships and trust within your organization is crucial. Join us as we uncover key strategies shared by organizational leaders from around the world, who will shed light on reducing turnover, increasing staff productivity, and fostering high levels of alignment and teamwork. We'll also delve into the significance of core values, feedback mechanisms, and effective use of people data in shaping a successful people strategy.

Additional Resources: 

• Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Elevated Talent Consulting
• Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
• Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Today we are going to continue our conversation about onboarding and orientation, this time with the help of Nicole Smithback, a Certified Patient Experience Professional and healthcare administrator with a passion for the patient experience. In this episode, we will be discussing how to create a shift in your employees’ perspectives so they are motivated to provide better work for their organization, as well as how to ensure your organization’s values are recognized and accepted by your employees.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/3bWMcT6 

How do you ensure that you’re moving people forward in your organization in a way that meets their needs, as well as the needs of the organization? That’s what we’re talking about today with Nchopia Nwokoma, the Principal Assessment and Succession Consultant at Korn Ferry. Listen in as we paint a picture of what internal talent pathways are, how we lay them out, and how we utilize the resources at our disposal to move people forward in the organization in a way that best serves everyone.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3L3T1SE

We all want to see our organizations grow and scale, and HR professionals have a unique opportunity to affect that growth by developing the people within their organizations. Barbara Rea is the COO at Arden Logistics Parks and Founder of Rea Advisory Group, and has built and scaled several businesses, both from within and through consulting as a third party. She joins the show today to share her thoughts on how organizations can ensure their people feel fulfilled in the work that they do while also ensuring that the business goals are met.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3zrfFRn

Today we will be diving deep into the topic of hiring for your organization with the best in the business, Ryan Festerling. Ryan is the President at QPS Employment Group, where he blends vision and strategy with a passion for creating high performing teams and strives to leave businesses better off than he found them. In this episode, we will be discussing the most important aspects to look at when optimizing talent and what truly defines your company culture.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3kWMQTr 

From the classroom to the superintendent's office, Dr. Tom Mahoney has charted a transformative journey through the educational landscape, drawing on deep personal and professional experiences. Currently steering the Oregon School District towards innovative educational practices, Tom joins host Traci Austin on the People Strategy Podcast to explore pivotal strategies in education and leadership. In this episode, Tom lays bare the crucial difference between transactional relationships and true partnerships in educational settings. He shares his firsthand experiences of overcoming challenges with leadership turnover and implementing effective governance to enhance student and district outcomes.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Tom Mahoney
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The way you hire has a big impact on your organization's results. Effective recruitment will enhance your company’s reputation (and culture), and it will ensure that the very best talent is identified, engaged, and brought into the business. Here to help us discuss this topic is Candy Underwood, HR Leader for QPS Employment Group. In this episode, she will explain the importance of truly knowing what your organization needs to make the right hire.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3v3uHbj 

Matthew Schneider is a visionary entrepreneur deeply rooted in his middle-class upbringing. Fueled by a passion for financial inclusivity, Matthew has risen as a champion of change, setting out to bridge the chasm that separates the middle class from the powerful currents of capital growth.

Traci and Matthew dive deep into the alignment between organizational culture and personal values, the grassroots passion for democratizing real estate, and the evolution of roles within a startup. They explore the challenges of determining the right team composition as a company scales and the significance of cultural alignment and coachability in building a successful organization. Join us as we unpack the essential elements of creating a people strategy inside a startup organization.

Additional Resources

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn

Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting

 Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn

Learn more about e-States

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Elevating others requires elevating ourselves, first and foremost. In this short but sweet episode, we reflect back on the importance of aligning our personal and professional lives so that our work is meaningful, and we’re also able to lift up the people within our organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3jLYV1p

Great communication gets the message out and connects the dots for your employees. Leaders have to be great communicators to inspire and motivate those they lead to ensure the best results possible. To help us dive into this topic further is Matthew Kovnesky, Employee Health and Benefits Consultant for Marsh & McLennan. In this episode, he will explain the importance of understanding how your employees want to be communicated to and how to ensure your employees feel heard.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3v1nTdG 

Welcome to Talent Optimization, the go-to podcast for CEOs and HR Professionals wanting to bridge the gap between the strategy and tactical implementation of talent optimization within their organizations. Each week, your host, Traci Scherck, will bring you interviews and share personal experience to guide you from both a CEO and HR perspective to truly create The Dream Team for your organization. In this opening episode, Traci shares what she calls the ‘easy button’ for connecting your business strategies to your business results inside of your organization. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3uDNeLi 

Performance management should be about having regular, open and honest conversations. It is an opportunity to learn how someone is doing, assess how they might progress to the next level in the organization and figure out how to improve a specific skillset in order to meet goals. In other words, it doesn’t have to be negative. To help us discuss this topic and dive into how to keep performance management positive is Michele Haugh, Co-Founder of EarlyHR Solutions.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BQb6xX  

This is the perfect time to reflect back on the last year and dream of what 2023 can hold. So, in this episode, I have Michael Alexander, Founder and CEO of Talent Leaderboard Systems, with me to help us do just that. Michael helps ambitious companies build and implement actual strategies for creating and improving enterprise value. Today we’re diving into what the most successful companies are doing to increase employee engagement and happiness, as well as why you should be looking at how you can inspire your employees every day of the year.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3FNUKcD

Tarek Kamil, CEO and Founder of an internal communication software, Cerkl, is passionate about using AI and big data to transform how organizations communicate, engage, and understand their audiences. In this episode, Tarek draws parallels between Netflix's personalized content delivery and the need for similarly tailored communication in the workplace, illuminating the path to enriching employee engagement and organizational growth. Tarek champions AI and predictive indexes as key to crafting relevant and targeted messaging, cutting through the noise of excessive, unproductive emails. He and host Traci Austin discuss the careful balance of need-to-know versus want-to-know information and its impact on efficiency and trust within the workforce.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Tarek on LinkedIn
Learn more about Cerkl 
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Bobbie Sue Wolk is the first International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Coach in Alaska and has coached clients on every continent except Antarctica! Also a certified executive coach, business consultant, author, and entrepreneur, Bobbie Sue joins the show today to share her approach to working with executives to maximize their potential. Listen in as she dives into how she helps people, both personally and professionally, and provides them with the knowledge to create an excellent coaching culture.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3oSYp1e 

The People Strategy Podcast provides an ongoing coaching experience that the C-suite can leverage to align their people to more effectively execute the business strategy. The show challenges leaders to create a talent strategy roadmap that will increase profits and boost employee engagement.  Host, Traci Austin, invites purpose-driven leaders to join her for deep-dive conversations on present challenges across the employee lifecycle. Listeners walk away with insights and strategic action steps to move them and their people forward. Episodes are ideal for Human Resource and Executive Level Managers to better understand how to create a strategy to best serve their organization best.

Additional Resources:

• Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Elevated Talent Consulting
• Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
• Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Is your organizational culture impacting employee retention? That’s the question that we are answering today as we discuss the ever-changing job landscape and how your organization’s environment can affect not just retention, but also employee recruitment. Listen in as we explore the importance of not only valuing your employees but celebrating them as well.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/3Zj5ms3

Do you really understand what your employees need? When we have our finger on the pulse of what is really going on in our organization, we can meet the needs of our staff and address challenges head-on. In this solo episode, Traci shares how to diagnose what is happening in your organization and how to use that data to build trust with your employees.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3I4h4zH

Step into the world of innovation as we chat with Ben Mones, the visionary CEO and founder of Fama. In this electrifying episode, Ben and host Traci Austin explore the dynamic fusion of technology and human potential in the workplace. Ben captivates us with his profound insights, revealing how strategic use of technology can amplify professional effectiveness and boost profitability. Uncover the hidden psychological hurdles obstructing your path to achievement and learn why fostering inclusivity and diversity is paramount for propelling your company towards greatness.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn 
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Learn More about Fama Technologies Inc.
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Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Farmers are in the business of management—they manage the growth and performance of living things. However, they do things fundamentally differently because they know that their crops will grow to their fullest potential as long as they provide an environment in which they can thrive. That is the model we need in business management. So, in this episode, Jason Lauritsen will be sharing how you can cultivate great relationships with your staff and then use those relationships to impact and motivate. It all comes down to the three keys to cultivating employees: (1) Giving people permission to care, (2) providing a structure for how to check in on your staff, not their performance, and (3) being crystal clear on expectations.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3lnnUVY 

When considering taking on a new hire, finding the right fit for your organization can be scary and time-consuming. So today Becca Peterson, Sales Executive for QPS Employment Group, joins the show to discuss the right way to go about searching for new talent and how to utilize your network so that you know you are bringing in people who will fit in with your team.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3t21I64 

We all know that people don’t quit their jobs—they actually quit their bosses. In this episode, we’re continuing our conversation on organizational culture with John Broer and Sara Best of Real Good Ventures and diving into how to create a great culture by preventing ‘bossholes.’ Listen in as we break down why culture is not a thing that you aim to create, but rather who you are at the core level as an organization and what you do to optimize and lift up your people.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3ght075

Self-care. Yup, we all say we do it. Yet, as HR professionals and business leaders how often do you walk the talk when it comes to taking care of yourself? When HR professionals are dealing with the stress of everyday life it can be easy to overlook self-care and today, I want to address that. I am joined by special guest Nicole Greer on the show, and she is an expert in coaching and consulting as well as the Executive and Leadership Coach and Consultant of Vibrant. Listen in as we talk about building healthy habits for HR leaders and how communicating your experience can benefit the organization as a whole. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO123

Planning for the future may not always seem like the most exciting task, however, this is an essential step towards business (and personal) success. Through proper planning, you can ensure your business is on the right track to meet its goals and you are taking the necessary steps to make your dreams a reality. To help us discuss this topic today is Damon Clark, Talent Optimization Consultant for Talent Optimizers.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3E9KGss  

One of the things we know with certainty is that every single business problem in an organization is a people problem. So how do we diagnose areas of our organization that are not working so well, and also celebrate the areas that are? Andrew Bartlow has been in HR for 25 years working with organizations in many different industries, is the co-author of Scaling For Success, and leads Series B Consulting helping businesses articulate their people strategy to accelerate their growth. He joins the show today to discuss how HR can play a strategic role in solving the problems found within an organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3OTte0O

As we look at our organizations from the executive level, it’s important to evaluate whether people are in the right seat or the right role. Specifically, it is important to be looking at your talent and whether they are in the right position for where the company is going to go. To help us break down this topic today is Amy Stalker, Sr. Director of People Operations for GPN. In this episode, she will be sharing her thoughts on how to efficiently and appropriately move talent throughout your organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2RH3ix6 

In this episode of the People Strategy Podcast, Coye Harrett, president and owner of Prairie Rivet, shares his insights on expanding a business and putting customers first with Traci. Coye talks about his strategies to allow key people to have decision-making authority and creativity to get the job done in the best way possible. By letting go of the vine and trusting his team to reach the desired outcomes, Coye is creating a transparent environment that embraces both successes and mistakes as learning opportunities.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Coye Harrett on LinkedIn
Prairie Rivet Website
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Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Talent management is so important for the growth of your company, and when we’re talking about recruitment and retention, we need to think strategically and long term. So how can we create a more inclusive and diverse culture within our organization so that employees feel they are not only contributing, but also valued? To help us discuss this topic today is Toby Egbuna, Co-Founder and CEO of Chezie.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3BOybBG 

How can you climb the ladder within your organization, and what exactly does it take to work your way into the dream position that you want? So often our team members are left wondering which direction they are heading within our business, and this generally comes down to a lack of communication. In this episode, I will be sharing how to create a talent strategy so that your employees have a pathway to follow on their journey to success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/34j2QHS 

Building a dream team of engaged and hardworking employees who can propel a business forward requires organizations to create a welcoming culture that fosters trust and cooperation. So, today we are going to be talking about what it looks like to create that dream team within your organization, what the benefits are for the employees to be on a dream team and how organizations will profit from this, as well.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3x3w5vl  

Despite the many differences in execution and strategy, a lot of organizational problems can be traced back to a few of the same things. Fortunately, there’s a simple place where you can begin to help alleviate many of the major organizational problems at once: improving your leadership’s mental health. So, in this episode, we are going to be talking about how trauma and our leadership can impact our business. Here to help break down this topic is Amee Quiriconi, an author, leadership coach, and consultant.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2YEKTUJ 

From IT director to strategic innovator, Adam Gruszcynski the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, has masterfully reinvented the onboarding process and organizational culture within his team. Adam joins host Traci Austin, as he shares his transformative journey in implementing an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) strategy that significantly attracts high-quality candidates and enhances job satisfaction.

Additional Resources: 

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Coaching flows through every area of our lives, and it is such a needed skill for anyone in leadership positions. By creating a coaching culture, as well as ensuring there is a level of accountability with your staff (and leadership team!), you’re able to help your employees exceed their job responsibilities. Your staff will feel confident in what they are doing, and the executives will feel confident that their teams are going above and beyond for their company. So, here to help us dive further into this conversation surrounding the need for dynamic coaching in organizations is Connie Whitman, CEO of Changing the Sales Game.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/34WsR3i 

We have been chatting so much about the hiring process, and how important it is to hire the right people for the role. We also have a great renegotiation taking place in regard to what people want when they come to work. Today I am once again joined by Dr. Mandolen Mull. Listen in as we talk about the great renegotiation and the impact that it has when it comes to hiring new folks into our organization. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO130

From onboarding new hires to building a culture of accountability, Traci Austin delves into the intricacies of leadership in this special solo episode of the People Strategy Podcast. Traci, the Chief Strategy Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, shares her top three insights from her conversation with Adam Gruszcynski from Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, which touch upon the importance of clear communication, team engagement, and defining organizational success. Through an engaging personal story about learning to back into a parking stall, Traci illustrates the four types of coaching methods and how they apply to leadership development.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn 
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

In today's episode, Traci Austin reflects on the year 2023 and the importance of goal setting. She shares her personal experiences with setting and achieving goals, emphasizing the significance of reflecting on the impact and outcomes of these goals. Traci provides valuable insights into the "SMARTY" goal format and how it can be applied to both personal and organizational goals. She stresses the importance of aligning goals with core values and finding intrinsic meaning in them. Join her as she dives deep into the power of goal setting and the impact it can have on our lives and organizations. Thank you for tuning in, and let's make 2024 a year of achieving meaningful and impactful goals! 

Additional Resources

• Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
• Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
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Have you ever had a leader in your organization who was doing such an amazing job at inspiring your team members that you wished you could clone them? That is exactly what we will be talking about today with our special guest Joy Duce, a business executive with 20 years of experience helping organizations enable their strategic business objectives through talent management. In this episode, Joy will be sharing what truly defines great leadership and why it is what you do behind closed doors that really counts.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/2RPQvrR 

Good processes allow us to get things done, as long as they don’t take more time!  In HR, there are two types of HR, in our opinion, Foundational HR and Transformational HR. A good audit and process allows us to have a strong foundation so that we can focus on the transformation of HR that ties to the people strategy. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO124

Mark Vincent is the founder of Design Group International, which includes a growing community of consultants who serve a variety of organizations to help leaders elevate to their highest possible level. He is also the founder of the Society of Process Consulting, offering education, credentialing, and a framework of professional ethics for process consultants. In this episode, we discuss the importance of leadership development to the growth of organizations, as well as why personal and professional development is key not only for business growth, but also for talent retention.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2R01gHy

Andrew Barnes is the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, the world’s leading organization changing the future of work by implementing a four-day workweek initiative. As a serial entrepreneur, he has promoted market-changing innovation and industry digitization by leading and transforming companies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Andrew is recognized as the pioneer and architect of the four-day workweek movement, working with companies and national and international governments to change how populations work. In 2019, he wrote The 4 Day Week, a how-to guide for reducing work hours and increasing productivity.  

In this episode…

Statistics show that people in the UK and Canada are only productive for 2-3 hours a day, and it takes approximately 22 minutes to return to total productivity following an interruption. With distractions mounting as the distinction between personal and professional becomes increasingly blurred, how can organizations elevate productivity and engagement among their employees?

Hailed as the pioneer of the global four-day workweek movement, Andrew Barnes has observed a 40% increase in employee engagement, recruitment, retention, and team cohesion in organizations that have implemented this model. Employees are often more productive when given less time to complete tasks, with US companies observing a 36% increase in productivity. A four-day workweek also allows employees more time to engage in community-building activities that enrich their personal lives, leading to greater satisfaction and fewer absences in the workplace. 

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Andrew Barnes, the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, who discusses restructuring the conventional workweek. Andrew shares how companies can recruit and retain top talent with this model, how to measure productivity effectively, and how companies can foster a work-life balance.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Transitioning from incarceration to corporate leadership, Michelle Cirocco has forged a unique and impactful career trajectory, demonstrating the transformative power of meaningful employment. As the CEO of Televerde Foundation, Michelle actively champions the cause of providing employment, training, and educational opportunities to incarcerated women as a gateway to successful reentry into society. In her conversation with host Traci Austin, Michelle sheds light on the importance of offering individuals with criminal records the prospect of a second chance, mirrored through her personal journey and the significant work of Televerde.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn
Learn about Televerde Foundation 
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If you want your team to perform well and consistently reach their goals, you must have a manager who excels at leading. Today we are talking with an expert on the topic of great leadership, Erich Kurschat, owner of Harmony Insights LLC. In this episode, Erich shares his advice on how to strengthen professional and personal relationships so we can not only better serve our team, but also better serve ourselves.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3esUNNg 

Every business problem is a people problem. So how do you diagnose people problems within your organization so you can work to solve your business challenges? Nate Larson is an HRIS Analyst, and he joins the show today to talk about how you can leverage analytics in your business to solve people problems, and at the same time, solve your business problems.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3b7Th5D

Embellishments to look better?  Ever happen when you are trying to enroll someone in a decision?  Yep, it happens in recruitment.  There are times putting a filter on what our organizations are like sounds like a great idea.  Yet, this has a negative impact once a person is hired and realizes that this is not the culture they were looking for.  Join Danielle Diel and I as we chat about using marketing effectively for recruiting your next employee.  You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/TOP116

Get ready to continue our conversation about how HR professionals can optimize employees, this time with one of our very own Elevated clients! Andrea Grant is with Jackson’s Chips, and we helped to recruit her into the organization as their very first HR and Purchasing Specialist. She joins the show today to share what the recruitment process was like, what she has learned along the way, and how going through the program has benefited her—and Jackson’s Chips!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QnISTu

Today we are talking all about culture and how culture plays into talent pathway planning for women. Jenny Moebius is a top marketing executive and leader with a track record of building powerful brands and categories, generating demand, and creating mission-driven cultures. She joins us on this episode to discuss how to rock the boat with integrity, how remote work has impacted talent pathways for women, how to challenge career-limiting assumptions in the workplace, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3DU247i

When looking at your organization, do your staff understand exactly what they need to do in order to move to the next position that may be on the horizon for them? Do they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them? It’s important for our staff to know what they are responsible for and to have processes in place to give them effective feedback when they are not performing up to standard. So, in this episode, Harrison Kim will be joining the show to share how to give constructive and efficient feedback, as well as his advice on how to receive feedback, too.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QKJr9A 

Jeff Mould, once a reluctant leader has gracefully embraced the mantle of leadership as president and CEO of Stoney Creek . Alongside host Traci Austin, he delves into the perks of a “think week,” aimed at personal and professional rejuvenation. In this episode, Jeff unravels the efficacy of positive tension at the strategic table, the EOS model's role in steering through challenges, and the nuanced art of delegation and empowerment. He shares a narrative of fostering a thriving culture—where values aren't just wall decorations, but lived experiences that define every organizational facet.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Jeff
Learn more about Stoney Creek Hospitality
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

January is one of those special months because it’s the start of something new, and today we’re continuing our topic of mentoring with Suzanne Lucas. Also known as the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne has made it her mission to demystify human resources. In this episode, we’re diving into the importance of mentoring and discussing how you can use improv strategies to really connect with your mentee so that they are more likely to make an impact as a result of your mentorship.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Xs0bpz

Stress around finances can hinder our employees' self-confidence, making it hard for their unique talents to shine through in work and life. So, how can we help them gain financial security so that they can show up as their best selves every single day? Jeanne de Cervens, Director of The AgingWell Hub, joins the show to share her advice regarding financial wellness, including what people seem to be struggling with the most financially, how to support them, and how to boost education around this within your company.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/3eVuWl2 

Most of us can agree that poor communication or a lack of teamwork among team members is the main cause of many workplace failures. If your team is unaligned with the brand strategy and unable to communicate what the goal of the organization is, that will add more confusion and inadequacy in the company. So, how can you effectively communicate with your team so that everyone is on board and you can achieve your desired results? In this episode, I will be sharing my tips for leading your team to success.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2QCqNab 

Interested in how proper compensation systems can benefit your organization? 

You can find show noted and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/40R5913

From personal development workshops to influential education leaders, Brad Zimmerman and Tom Willis have carved impactful paths in transforming organizational culture especially within school districts. On the People Strategy Podcast with host Traci Austin, they share vital insights into the art of coaching, emphasizing the significance of listening and asking meaningful questions. As seasoned professionals working with CEOs and educational leaders, their combined efforts aim to nurture social-emotional learning and build environments that thrive on engagement and purposeful work.

Additional Resources: 

Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Connect with Tom on LinkedIn
Connect with Brad on LinkedIn
Learn about Phoenix Perform
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

In this episode of the People Strategy Podcast host, Traci Austin, shares a real-life example of working with a rapidly growing renewable energy company, highlighting the importance of aligning business goals with a clear people strategy roadmap. She emphasizes the significance of believing in the attainability of goals, defining what "winning" looks like at all levels of the organization, and ensuring that the right people are in the right roles. Traci provides insights into leveraging tools such as predictive index and addressing potential areas of misperception and disengagement within a growing organization.

Additional Resources:
Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
Strategy Roadmap Webinar
Learn about Elevated Talent Consulting
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Keeping our employers and employees happy and supported throughout their careers is essential to the success of our organizations. So, how can we support our staff and organizations through financial wellness? And what does financial wellness entail as it relates to the workplace? Surya Kolluri, Managing Director of Retirement Research & Insights for Bank of America, will be joining the show to discuss the connection between financial wellness and the race for talent, as well as his advice for how businesses can support their teams moving forward.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3bHh24S 

Have you ever started a job and thought to yourself how much easier it would have been if you had someone there showing you the ropes? Mentoring is an essential part of any successful business and is an exceptional way to retain quality staff. As the Director of Business & Workforce Development at CCI, Heather Dobson works with the leadership team on project tracking, building client relationships, and ensuring the team has the right mentors in place. In this episode, she will be joining the show to share how to start a mentorship program within your organization, as well as how to support those mentors.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3sSKcEw 

Matt Poepsel is known as “The Godfather of Talent Optimization." Vice President of Partner Growth for The Predictive Index,  Matt has a very interesting background in becoming a people leader in organizations, which led him to creating the framework of “talent optimization.” Today he joins the show to explain what talent optimization is and how to implement this strategy into your business.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/30Q373z 

Hiring is one of the most important pieces of your organization's success. By hiring the right person, your business will move in a positive direction and you will pave the way for future growth. So how do we optimize the talent in our organization at the very beginning? Today we will be discussing how to hire successfully, as well as how to prepare internally for success in this area.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3qu2czU 

Turnover Problems in the first 90 days?  On today’s show we talk about the importance of slowing down to speed up in hiring and retaining the right staff in the first 90 days of employment.  There is an impact on supervisors and staff when turnover in the first 90 days is extremely high.  When this problem is fixed, Human Resources gains credibility as well as becoming a partner with organizational leaders, as they will have the team they need to succeed. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO121

Mentorship programs are a wonderful way to set your team up for success and ensure everyone is on the same page within your organization. However, there are many ways that a mentorship program can be discriminatory or exclusive. So, how do we keep our programs inclusive and within the legal limits? Our guest today is Bob Gregg, co-chair of the Boardman & Clark Employment & Labor Law Practice Group, and in this episode, he will be sharing several pitfalls of mentorship programs from a legal perspective—and how to avoid them.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3KhEdzj 

There are times where we, as leaders and as employees, get frustrated with being asked to complete a specific task, and then being asked to complete another for an individual inside of the organization at the exact same time. During these moments it can be difficult to decide what is the top priority and what isn’t. Today I examine how to face these multiple competing priorities and more specifically how they can be used to elevate your team to build better solutions and inspire your staff. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO118

Does the design of your organization have an impact on how your leaders lead? Absolutely! How our organizations are designed has a tremendous amount of influence over the motivation of our teams, including our leaders. So, how can we ensure that there is clarity around our organization's values and motives? In this episode, I will be sharing how to create an organizational design that up-levels your people to where they are doing their best work all the time.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3wJ9DcZ 

Oftentimes we don’t create opportunities to chat with employees within our organizations about what their perspectives are. However, if we give our employees the chance to share their thoughts and speak their minds, we create a space for them to grow as individuals and for our organizations to grow as a whole. So, in this episode, we will be speaking with Dave Workman from Amwood Homes about his experience leaving the company and then returning, including what encouraged those decisions along the way.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3jaRAVx 

Is it possible to intentionally create a great culture inside of our organizations? Within our Talent Optimization framework, we are very specifically looking at how we connect our business strategy to our business results, but it is not always so simple. Here to help us bring clarity to this topic is Micahel Noack, co-founder of Blue Lake Consulting. In this episode, he will be sharing how to get your team to open up, how to be more inclusive within your company, and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3sKeYMt 

Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief strategy consultant, she has over two decades of experience creating and building HR departments for small businesses. Traci specializes in employee development, consulting, and coaching and creates fulfilling work environments that align employee aspirations with business goals. She also hosts The People Strategy Podcast.

In this episode…

Creating a culture where people can thrive is vital, yet with various team dynamics at play, it can be difficult to foster collaboration and cohesion. How can you align your organizational strategy with individual contributions to achieve a unified goal?

Individuals in high-performing teams are passionate, accountable, and clear communicators who make decisions based on the team’s best interests. With experience building these efficient teams, Traci Austin says you must identify optimal performance levels for both the team and the individual and align them with your desired organizational outcomes. She also recommends implementing KPIs that measure milestones and achievements, ensuring the team remains on course. This allows you to communicate potential missteps and build lasting trust within the organization.

Tune in to another episode of The People Strategy Podcast as Traci Austin is interviewed by co-host Chad Franzen of Rise25 about creating high-performance teams. Traci talks about the importance of goal alignment and strength assessment, sharing tools for assessing team behaviors and identifying shared organizational strategies.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Brianna Goodwin is the President & CEO of Ver-Tex Construction, a specialty window treatment company that has been revolutionizing the industry since its inception more than 30 years ago. Throughout her career, Brianna has advocated for gender equality in the workplace, frequently being cited as an influential voice in the fight for women’s leadership across industries and her community. Today she joins the show to discuss how to identify what needs to be changed inside of your organization, while also diagnosing what’s going well and improving upon your team culture.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/2XXJGHL 

Having a process and training our team on that process make it better for the applicant journey, employee journey, and you as the HR leader. If you have a system where the interviews are scheduled, and you can automate some of the follow up, do so. Yet, ensure you have the personal touch. If you meet them in person - make sure they get a personal follow-up call, email etc. Handwritten notes go a long way. Join me in today’s episode as we talk about conducting an interview and how a great process can ensure everyone’s goals are aligned. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://hrinnovates.me/TO128

When we have the right processes in place, our people should be able to thrive in their positions. If your staff—whether high level or not—are not exceeding in their positions, it's so important that we are able to diagnose that problem correctly. So, in this episode, I will be discussing high potential mentoring programs, specifically how we can implement these in our organizations and the benefit of having them in the first place to avoid "people issues" down the line.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Gu8NTM 

When we are bringing new members into our organizations, it's essential to ensure that they will align well with our culture and values. One way that an organization might go about this is by having their employees support the community in some way. This could be a blood drive, community work, or some other scenario. Here to help us dive into this topic and share how even the smallest organizations can make an impact is Sara Horein, business owner and American Red Cross volunteer.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/362JpY3 

Everyone is susceptible to burnout. Our highly-engaged top-performing talent, the individuals sitting in our leadership positions and even ourselves. Regardless of how we want to show up for work, things happen and the list of tasks begins to pile up. So, how can we learn to give ourselves and our staff the breathing room needed to ensure we are all showing up as our best selves? In this episode, I will be sharing how to put the appropriate systems in place so that you are taking care of yourself every day.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/37Zispo 

We know that leadership is a process in which an individual influences the behavior and attitudes of other people. Unfortunately, not all influence is positive. So, is there a way to ensure the leaders within our organization are setting up our employees with the right tools to succeed? In this episode, Kelly Renz, CEO of inVantage, joins the show to discuss the art and science behind running a business and how to build accountability to achieve results.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/3yHFauD 

Can you remember back to your childhood and the newness and excitement of the 'back to school' season? Have you wondered how you could harness that 'back to school' mindset as an adult? In this episode, I’m sharing one way to cultivate that mindset in your professional life and use the momentum it creates to make a significant impact within your organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Sg0pO5

There is so much involved in designing a culture within an organization where we show gratitude towards our staff day in and day out. One of the ways we can do that is through our policies and our benefit plans. Here to help us dive deep on the topic of gratitude is Rachel Leader, an employee benefits consultant at Johnson Financial Group. She works to demystify and simplify employee benefit plans so that employees and staff always feel valued, and she breaks down this topic for us today.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HgKt8G