Transform Your Workplace (Xenium HR)

This episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast features Jay Schaufeld, Head of HR and People Operations at HqO, and his thoughts on the looming Great Resignation, the staggering attrition rate anticipated from tomorrow’s workforce. Host Brandon Laws and his guest discuss valuable retention strategies to combat this unprecedented shift and ways companies can engage employees by targeting what matters most.

TAKEAWAYS

• Employees are engaged when they feel that their work is meaningful and purposeful, when they possess significant relationships in the workplace, when they believe in their organization's mission, and when their values align with company culture.
• Post-pandemic talent can no longer be valued by how many hours they stay in the office, but instead on contribution and performance.
• The pandemic has shed a light on what's really important to people — wellbeing and balance, having connection to the purpose of the organization, and loving their work. 
• To retain top talent, organizations must recognize that what really matters is that their people feel heard and supported.

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Jay Schaufeld, Head of HR and People Operations at HqO, has over two decades of leadership experience within the tech and professional services industries. Jay is passionate about implementing sound talent initiatives to help scale growth within tech organizations.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Are you an HR professional who is curious about what it is like to be an in-house HR professional or an HR consultant? 

In the 45th episode of the Human Resources for Small Business podcast, Brandon Laws interviews Jenny Scull and Annie Oxenfeld of Xenium HR about their past experience as in-house HR professionals and how different their current roles are as HR consultants.

Annie and Jenny share their experiences in each type of role by sharing what a typical day is like, the pros and cons to each type of role, what professional development is like, how they manage their work load, their teams and who they work with regularly, and much more. 

Conflict can also be productive and lead to innovative solutions.

Conflict arises from differences, both big and small. Here’s the truth: conflict is unavoidable. After all, you can’t expect others to agree on something all the time.

However, conflict can do a lot of good as well. It can lead us to new ideas, innovative solutions, and ultimately, open the opportunity to strengthen bonds!

But what would you do when agreement and collaboration seem impossible? You’ve tried everything, now, what’s next?

In this episode, I talk with Jennifer Goldman Wetzler, the author of the soon to be released book, Optimal Outcomes: Free Yourself from Conflict at Work, at Home, and in Life, to learn how we can achieve freedom from conflict! Jennifer is a recognized global leader in how CEOs and their teams can optimize organizational health and growth. 

Tune in as she will help us get out of the conflict loop by sharing some of her real-life experiences when it comes to dealing with conflicts to achieve her ideal future results. She will also provide helpful tools, resources, and ideas to achieve optimal outcomes in your work, relationships, business, and life!

Optimal Outcomes is out today, February 25, 2020. Pre-order your copy 👉 here 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• How someone can get stuck into the conflict loop
• How to free yourself from conflict
• Blame and attack, blame and shame, and shutting down
• A pattern-breaking action to get out of the conflict loop
• How to create optimal outcomes
• Conflict resolution
• What to do when your ideal future doesn’t align with others?
• What is ‘shadow values’?

Connect with Jen

• LinkedIn
• Jen's Website

Resources:

• Optimal Outcomes: Free Yourself from Conflict at Work, at Home, and in Life by Jennifer Goldman-Wetzler PhD
• Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher, William L. Ury, Bruce Patton
• Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Roger Fisher

What did you think of this short bonus episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Innovation and business success almost always involve taking risk. But risk is, quite frankly, risky, and everyone handles it so differently. How do we know when to act on our new idea or to procrastinate and wait it out? On top of that, how do we create new ideas or new ventures and how do we unlock our creativity and sustain our originality? Tyler Meuwissen, of Xenium HR, returns to join Brandon Laws in a discussion of the book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant and what it means to be an Original.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Connect with Brandon Twitter | LinkedIn | Email

Learn about Xenium HR

Follow Tyler on Twitter | LinkedIn

Dan Grinfas, a labor and employment attorney at Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP, joins the Human Resources for Small Business podcast to discuss the new proposed changes by the Department of Labor (DOL) to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that would raise the minimum salary for exempt workers. 

In the episode, Dan reviews when the proposed changes take effect, what is actually changing, duties testing and what the practical action items for employers are right now.

Dan Grinfas Bio
Email Dan

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Dr. Steven Rogelberg, the Chancellor's Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Rogelberg shares insights from his book, Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings, exploring topics such as the managerial role in effective 1:1s, the wide-ranging benefits, and practical implementation strategies for this foundational aspect of effective leadership.

TAKEAWAYS

• In his book, Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings, Dr. Rogelberg emphasizes the transformative potential of one-on-one meetings in organizations and for leaders.

• While the agenda should be driven by the employee, managers play a vital role in creating an infrastructure to ensure the effectiveness of 1:1s.

• 1:1 meetings improve employee engagement, retention, team performance, and contribution to inclusion efforts.

• The blueprint for effective 1:1s focuses on building agendas, involving the direct report, and maintaining continuity across meetings to tell the story of the employee's progress.

• For managers handling a large number of employees, the episode suggests practical strategies to focus on quality not quantity — adjusting meeting frequency, reducing time per meeting, and leveraging asynchronous documents for follow-through.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

What’s the key to productivity and engagement in the workplace? According to recent guest Dr. Noelle Nelson, it’s all about making your employees happy. Listen in to get the latest research from her book, Make More Money by Making Your Employees Happy, and get an inside glimpse into how some companies survived and thrived during the pandemic by focusing on employee engagement. Avoid common pitfalls and implement best practices so that you too can ensure your employees feel appreciated and heard.

TAKEAWAYS

• Companies that thrive no matter what are companies who truly appreciate their employees
• Successful companies create a culture where employee feedback is encouraged, rewarded, implemented, and acknowledged.
• In today’s business world, individual preference matters, so leaders should pay more attention to what their employees want.
• The most powerful thing you can do to engage an employee is to catch them in the act of doing it right.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Molly Kelley and Lacey Halpern of Xenium HR, join the Human Resources for Small Business podcast to discuss The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, a novel by Patrick Lencioni.

During the episode, Molly and Lacey discuss the five dysfunctions that cause even the best teams to struggle, and a model that can be used to overcome these obstacles to achieve a cohesive team.

In this episode:

-Building a foundation of trust amongst employees
-How to maintain a healthy level of conflict
-Workplace politics
-How to reach consensus among team members without settling
-The impact egos have on teams  

Host: Brandon Laws, Xenium HR
Guest:Molly Kelley & Lacey Halpern, Xenium HR

Running Time: 18:22

Music Introduction By: “Cut and Dry Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0″ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/”

In this episode, renowned performance psychologist Jim Loehr delves into the crucial topic of decision-making, a unique capability of our species that allows us to shape the direction of our lives. His book, Wise Decisions, offers a research-based approach to intentional decision-making, empowering readers to enhance their own abilities and teach others. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies for making wise decisions that can positively impact your future.

TAKEAWAYS

• Decision-making is a unique feature of our species, as humans have the ability to pause between stimulus and response and consciously choose the direction of their lives.

•  Most of our daily decisions are made without any intentional thought.

• Oftentimes, small decisions often become the greatest levers for the big decisions that will change the trajectory of our lives.

• Your inner voice, not your public voice, reflects your true perspective and approach on all decisions.

• The pause between the stimulus and response is the most sacred space we have as human beings.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

What does a good leader do when the team is overwhelmed with anxiety, burned out, or depressed? Responsible leaders must recognize the signs of declining mental health in their employees and empower them to take hold of help. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, guest Lacey Partipilo addresses the timely and relevant topic of mental wellness with practice tips for business leaders. Lacey is a veteran when it comes to providing solid wisdom and insight to the Transform Your Workplace podcast audience.

TAKEAWAYS

• Instead of trying to take on the burden of their team’s mental health, leaders should work to understand the benefits that the organization offers for mental wellness and encourage employees to take advantage of them.
• Leaders need to take care of themselves before they can care for their team. 
• Leaders must recognize the challenges that employees face and strategize how the business will play an active part in addressing them.
• Leaders should help break the stigma by not only talking about mental wellness in an open format but also emphasizing that seeking help is a healthy first step.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Director of HR and Client Success at Xenium HR, Lacey Partipilo is our go-to source when it comes to business advice and HR expertise. She is all about relationships, building connections with not only her team at Xenium but also her many business clients. 

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Our most recent guest, Greg Slamowitz, may have released his book back in 2013, but it’s still just as relevant in today’s ever-changing workplace. Listen in on Brandon Laws’ discussion with Greg as they delve into his 2013 book, Flip the Pyramid: How Any Organization Can Create a Workforce That is Engaged, Aligned, Empowered, and On Fire, and get some insight on building a framework for company stability and success.

TAKEAWAYS

• There are proven business strategies and tactics available for those who seek them, so there is no need for original thinking to build an outlined organization that can scale.
• When you have a growth-oriented company, you need employees who bring their left brain and their right brain to work every single day. 
• The senior leadership team is responsible for setting three to five objective, measurable goals that the whole company can understand and work toward.
• Communication of company goals is critical to success. Employees should see them everywhere and discuss them daily.

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Greg Slamowitz is a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Ambrose Employer Group, a highly-esteemed professional employer organization. He is a professor, investor, speaker, and author of Flip the Pyramid: How Any Organization Can Create a Workforce That is Engaged, Aligned, Empowered, and On Fire.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

According to recent guest, Shane Kovalsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Glue, meaningful relationships are the lynchpin for authentic employee engagement. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, we take a closer look at the challenges of connecting with others when it comes to the “distributed” workplace. Learn how to gain insight into employee sentiment and make data-informed decisions regarding connection. 

TAKEAWAYS

• If you’re not intentional about fostering a sense of belonging — if you leave it to chance — it won’t happen.

• Employee surveys have significant limitations as employees’ sentiments change quickly and the surveys offer only a glimpse at one “point in time.”

• The big difference between using observability and input data versus survey data is it allows leaders to see early indicators of disengagement and be proactive about solutions.

• Making meaningful connection is about converting similarity into familiarity.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

In this episode, occupational therapist Sheela Ivlev shares insights into supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace. As companies bring workers back into the office, it's important to understand the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals and foster an inclusive environment. Sheela provides practical tips for accommodations, communication strategies, using tech tools, and more to help neurodivergent employees thrive.

TAKEAWAYS

• Defining neurodivergence and why it's Important for leaders to understand
• Challenges neurodivergent employees face coming back to the workplace
• Accommodations like sensory-friendly spaces, communication modes, and schedule flexibility
• Inclusive strategies leaders and peers can adopt to support neurodivergent coworkers
• How remote work enables focus for neurodivergent employees

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

It’s time to get honest about what makes a horrible boss. According to executive coach Tamica Sears, a**hole bosses play a significant role in employee attrition and low productivity, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Most horrible bosses are redeemable, and it starts with recognizing the tell-tale signs and committing to change. Listen in to this episode featuring the author of the How to Tell if You're an A**hole Boss: A Humorous, Yet Honest Exposé on Misguided Management Behaviors.

TAKEAWAYS

• Those without leadership skills may start off at that bottom rung, but they “aren’t stuck there” — they are still capable of learning and growing in their leadership roles. 
• Bad bosses are inextricably linked with higher employee attrition and lower productivity.
• Good leaders must take real action on the data collected from employee engagement surveys.
• Succession planning is critical to effective future leadership and employee placement.

This episode is sponsored by Swag.com. Get 10% off your order by going to https://swag.com/tyw and enter promo code TYW10 at checkout.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Is the popular saying “fake it ‘til you make it” really a recipe for success? According to our latest guest, Sabrina Horn, faking it ‘til you make it is actually “the worst business advice ever.” In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Sabrina suggests that authenticity is the answer for those wishing to seize business success. Listen in and gain insight into leading with authenticity in today’s unpredictable business world.

TAKEAWAYS

• The idea of “faking until we make it” has mutated through social media and pop culture, eventually becoming a way to justify dishonesty.
• To stay grounded, it’s important to have mentors who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. 
• Sometimes people “fake it” because they're completely overwhelmed.
• Owning up to your mistakes means you'll recover faster and maintain your integrity.
• We should never stop learning or we’ll stagnate and lose our edge in the workplace.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In this What's Up in the Workplace, Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws discuss how the political views from the mid-term election is impacting the workplace and what it means for employers.

Have a topic for us? Email Brandon Laws at brandon.laws@xeniumhr.com 

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 About the Guest: 

 SPECIAL OFFERS: 

• e-learning courses at Xenium -www.xeniumhr.com/courses - promo code "POD" for 10% off all courses.

How do you approach a coworker or friend with a concern about their body odor? Or negative feedback about their work or attitude? The prospect of an uncomfortable conversation has a tendency to set our heart beating a mile a minute - but it doesn't have to if we take a few simple steps to establish openness and honesty within our relationships, whether professional or personal. Tyler Meuwissen, Xenium's Compensation & HR Analyst and a frequent guest of the podcast, joins Brandon Laws to discuss Shari Harley's book, How to Say Anything to Anyone and share practical advice and examples on getting comfortable with tough communication.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn about Xenium HR

Follow Tyler on Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode of 'Transform Your Workplace', host Brandon Laws engages with guest Ken Coleman, a prominent figure from Ramsey Solutions, to discuss the dynamics of modern workplaces, the essence of Generation Z, and the impact of effective leadership on talent management. Sponsored by Xenium HR, the episode shares the challenges and strategies related to HR, compliance, and building a thriving workplace. Ken shares insights on the hustle culture, the misconceptions about Gen Z's work ethic, and the potential benefits and realistic aspects of a four-day work week. Additionally, Ken emphasizes the importance of communication, adaptability, and leadership skills, discussing inflation's impact on younger generations and the significance of aligning personal values with the workplace. This conversation offers a comprehensive view on developing leadership strategies that cater to the needs of modern employees and fostering an environment conducive to growth, innovation, and satisfaction at work.

In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Réland Logan and Katy Byrtus of Cinder, a staffing agency headquartered in Hillsboro, OR. The group discusses the growing emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives in today’s business world. Instead of just checking the EDI box, learn some best practices for creating an authentic and equitable culture at your business.

TAKEAWAYS

• By beginning with a goal of equality across all people, companies will inevitably become more diverse and more inclusive.
• Allowing employees to air out their grievances allows Cinder to get a deeper understanding of what it is that they need. 
• Leaders must create a common language and understanding because we all come to work with different lived experiences and perceptions.
• One common challenge in cultivating effective EDI initiatives can be leaders who aren’t willing to accept that there are issues that need to be resolved.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In a world where organizations are striving to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, this episode of Transform Your Workplace explores why it’s essential for leaders to acknowledge and address disparities when it comes to gender. Guests Kelsey Pytlik and Rachel Bauer of Gild Collective shed light on the fact that women are still leaving companies at alarming rates post-pandemic, primarily due to a lack of supportive workplace practices and policies after recruitment. Tune in and learn more about how you can provide adequate support to retain your top female talent.

TAKEAWAYS

• Empathy is a critical soft skill for driving change, interrupting bias, and implementing equitable workplace systems.

• While many companies initially embraced diversity and inclusion efforts, resistance and a desire to return to the status quo can hinder their progress.

• Acknowledging and addressing personal biases is challenging, but awareness can lead to meaningful change.

• Women face unequal treatment at work, requiring a shift in how organizations address these disparities.

• Because diverse perspectives drive innovation, companies with greater gender and ethnic diversity tend to outperform their competitors.

• Organizations should avoid one-size-fits-all approaches and instead tailor gender equity initiatives to their specific needs.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Most people are thrown into management positions without any official training.

And because a manager’s role in a company is crucial and affects everyone, this can pose problems in the future.

In this episode with Peter Economy, we tackle the lack of managerial training, poor management practices, and their corresponding solutions.

Peter is a professional writer with 20 years of experience in his belt. He’s a best-selling author and a publishing consultant. He also writes for Inc.com as The Leadership Guy.

If you want to learn how to become a good manager, tune into this episode as Peter shares what his book is all about and how you can lead and run a company better! 

Grab yourself a copy of Peter’s Wait, I'm the Boss?!?: The Essential Guide for New Managers to Succeed from Day One 👉 here! 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Peter’s personal experience in leading without training
• The number one reason why people leave their jobs
• Bad leadership habits: Why they last and how to stop them
• How you can become a good manager
• How to set attainable goals for your employees
• CLEAR goals: What they are and how it can help your organization
• Creating a safe space for learning in the workplace
• When and how to conduct regular checkup meetings 
• Feedback: How often you should give them
• Why money isn’t the number one job motivator
• The best way you can motivate your employees
• Workplace gossip: When you should step in
• The inspiration behind “Wait, I’m the Boss?!?”
• Knowing when to delegate certain tasks and when to do it yourself

Connect with Peter:

• Peter Economy
• Twitter @bizzwriter
• LinkedIn
• The Venture Edge - Peter’s blog

Mentioned in this episode:

• 1001 Ways to Reward Employees by Bob Nelson

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Many businesses are returning to face-to-face operations. As the dust of the pandemic settles, the workplace conflict that we set aside while dealing with the unexpected is, in some cases, bigger than ever. So what is a leader to do? In this episode, you’ll hear from Chris Sheesley and Clare Fowler of In-Accord, a conflict management company based in Portland, Oregon. They discuss pitfalls and best practices for resolving conflict so that businesses can move forward united by purpose.

TAKEAWAYS

• Post-pandemic business leaders are meeting conflict issues head-on, which has resulted in a significant increase in morale.
• The pandemic taught us to humanize each other and prioritize relationships in the workplace.
• Diversity should reflect not only an appreciation for different demographic backgrounds and different cultures but also for neurodiversity and different approaches.
• Today, people are more empowered to share concerns and to raise issues, and that creates more confrontation that must be resolved. 
• If we can help people understand their contribution to conflict, we're not only helping with the immediate problem but we’re also helping to prevent it from returning.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

At Xenium, it’s always been about the people. We can’t support you and your people without taking care of our own. Which is why we’re so proud to announce the Portland Business Journal has awarded us with second place in their Oregon’s Healthiest Employer program.

In this bonus episode, Brandon Laws sits down with the President of Xenium, Anne Donovan, to discuss some of Xenium's wellness program initiatives.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Hiring the wrong people can cost you tons! Not just tons of money but tons of time as well. On the other hand, hiring the right employee not only helps your business but also creates a positive impact in your workplace, resulting in a healthy company culture.

In this episode, hiring and interview expert, David Lee Jensen, joins us to talk about how to hire the right people for your business. He is the best selling author of the book The Naked Interview: Hiring Without Regret and the founder of The Hiring Academy. David is also an entrepreneur and a speaker who travels the world to talk about team building, culture, hiring, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Find out how you can hire the right people for your organization as David shares tips on how to hire the right person, what questions to ask, as well as his approach to the whole hiring process!

In this episode, you will learn about:

• How to choose people correctly
• Questions to determine whether or not your organization has hiring problems
• The truths you need to know about hiring

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Connect with David Lee Jensen

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

Resources

• The Naked Interview: Hiring Without Regret by David Jensen
• The Hiring Academy
• Never Go with Your Gut with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
• Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Avoid Terrible Advice, Cognitive Biases, and Poor Decisions) by Gleb Tsipursky

In the most recent installment of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws talks with Sarah Adler, the CEO and Founder of Wave. The discussion revolves around the recent decline in mental well-being, heightened by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah shares valuable perspectives on how leaders can navigate and respond to the changing needs of employees in today's work environment. The episode provides a deep dive into key workplace issues such as screen time, communication strategies, generational differences, and effective leadership practices, all within the context of mental health. Tune in to gain insights into the pressing matters shaping modern business.

TAKEAWAYS

• The recent decline in mental well-being can be attributed to both pre-existing personal and workplace trends and challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Leaders must adapt to evolving employee needs in the modern workplace, especially within the context of mental health.

• Digital Natives are accustomed to a new type of workplace communication, often putting them at odds with those from older generations.

• Employers must recognize and address the higher incidence rates of mental health issues among Digital Natives.

• Proactive management approaches, such as setting clear expectations and understanding communication styles, foster a positive and supportive workplace environment.

Learn more about Xenium’s Learning & Development Program

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

If you’ve ever wondered why sports metaphors like “slam dunk” are used in business, Travis Hansen is a great reference. He’s succeeded in both worlds, as a former NBA player and founder and CEO of the Tesani Companies. Joining us to talk business, he shares how he’s built award-winning culture into his companies through lessons he took off the court, a values-driven approach and unique ways to keep people engaged.  

SPECIAL OFFER: 

10% off Time Management e-Learning course - use promo code PODCAST in check-out.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

 About the Guest: 

Molly Kelley, PHR Human Resource Business Partner at Xenium HR, joins the Human Resources for Small Business podcast for a conversation on “Improving Organizational Culture through Employee Satisfaction Committees.”

In this episode, Molly Kelley explains what an employee satisfaction committee is, why a company should develop such a committee, and more.

Learn:
-What an "employee satisfaction committee" or "culture team" is
-About the initiatives the committee plans and implements
-About the return an employer should expect from the committee

Host: Brandon Laws, Xenium HR
Guest(s): Molly Kelley, Human Resource Business Partner

Music By:
“Cut and Dry Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0″ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/”

In this episode of What's Up in the Workplace, Brandon Laws and Lacey Partipilo discuss work holiday parties. Should employers host them and if so, what's appropriate and what's not? Listen in on this timely discussion. 

Email Brandon Laws at brandon.laws@xeniumhr.com

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

 About the Guest: 

 SPECIAL OFFERS: 

• e-learning courses at Xenium -www.xeniumhr.com/courses - promo code "POD" for 10% off all courses.

This episode features a crossover show with Jon Thurmond and Wendy Dailey of the HR Social Hour Half Hour Podcast. We discuss how they built such a collaborative HR community on Twitter, which HR conferences they love to attend, and trends they are paying attention to that are impacting workplaces all over.

Resources Mentioned in the Show:

• HR Social Hour Half Hour Podcast
• Jon & Wendy talk to our international SHRM18 Blogger pals part 1
• HR Social Hour Wonder Women 
• Episode 31 - Jon & Wendy talk to Mary Faulkner

What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey.

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

It’s time to change the game when it comes to providing effective feedback in the workplace. In this podcast episode, Brandon Laws sits down with an executive coach, speaker, and author Jen Ostrich to discuss the importance of focusing on strengths, growth, and allyship when giving feedback to employees. It’s about moving beyond simply pointing out ineffective behaviors and painting a picture of what true growth and progress look like.

TAKEAWAYS

• Effective feedback should focus on strengths, growth, and allyship.

• Research shows that strength-based feedback improves well-being and engagement by making employees feel appreciated and seen.

• Be clear about desired behaviors instead of only focusing on the negative.

• Focusing solely on someone's weaknesses without providing guidance on how to improve is insufficient for change.

• Delivering feedback on what more effective behavior would look like provides specific guidance for improvement, which is less likely to trigger defensiveness.

• When leaders show vulnerability by sharing personal stories about tough feedback moments, they build psychological safety among their teams.

Links:

Get Feedback Reimagined

www.growcollective.us

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Many people go into leadership roles without understanding the fundamentals of how to lead effectively and succeed at it. As a leader, your job is and will always be to serve. But many aren’t aware of that. They just simply don’t understand what leadership is supposed to be and what it is not. 

If you’re serious about developing organizational leadership skills, then make sure you listen to today’s episode!

Our guest today, Alain Hunkins, is a sought-after speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach, who is passionate about building influential leaders. He wrote the book Cracking the Leadership Code: 3 Secrets to Building Strong Leaders, where he shares valuable principles and practices that he developed and refined over 20 years working with leaders. 

Unlock your leadership potential and create the best possible results for your team and organization as we crack the leadership code on how to build strong leaders so you can become the effective leader you aspire to be!

Grab yourself a copy of Alain’s Cracking the Leadership Code: 3 Secrets to Building Strong Leaders 👉 here! You can also read the first chapter of the book (FREE) 👉 here! 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The inspiration behind “Cracking The Leadership Code”
• The importance of having the right mindset to lead better
• The “aha moment”
• Influence over authority - understanding what leadership isn’t and what it really is
• 3 secrets to building a strong leader
• How poor leaders are developed
• How access to information causes leaders to grow and lead differently
• Creating the best possible results when leading
• Having self-awareness about everything you say and do
• What Alain learned about empathy
• How to become an effective communicator
• Tactical things we can do to create a collaborative environment

Connect with Alain:

• Alain Hunkins
• Twitter @AlainHunkins

This episode is sponsored by Swanson Health. If you want to try any of Swanson Health’s great products for yourself, use code WORK20 for 20% off on swanson.com.

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

We've all been the new person at a company, trying to get our footing in a new role and within a new industry. It can be a lot to take in, particularly when each company has its own set of acronyms and internal jargon they frequently rely on. "Think out of the box," "I'll ping you," "let's be sure to bake that into the process," "we should avoid any tissue rejection on this specifically," - the list goes on! We're all guilty of it, and we're all likely aware of how confusing it can be for a newcomer. So why do we keep using workplace jargon?

James Sudakow, consultant, speaker, and author of Picking the Low-Hanging Fruit...And Other Stupid Stuff We Say in the Corporate World joins Brandon Laws in a conversation about conversation and what we can all do to clarify our communication.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book and/or take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn about Xenium HR

Learn about James Sudakow | Buy the book

Get ready for an incredible story of what it really means to “seize the day.” In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Caroline Boudreaux recounts an evening in May of 2000 where she visited an orphanage in India. Caroline was struck not only by the poverty but also by the untapped potential that she witnessed in the over 100 orphaned children. That very evening, Caroline decided to found the Miracle Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing access to education, nutrition, health, and protective services to children in need. This is Caroline’s compelling story of sacrifice, heartbreak, and fulfillment — a story that is still being written.

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ABOUT THE GUEST

After leaving a career in advertising, Caroline decided to take a trip around the world. What she found there led to her decision to found the Miracle Foundation, a non-profit that, since its inception, has improved the lives of over 15,000 children in need. Caroline is passionate about measuring real success at each orphanage and streamlining the processes to make sure every child has access to the services they so desperately need.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Email has become one of our chief methods of communication in the workplace, yet one of the biggest thorns in our side in terms of productivity. Several companies are experimenting with limiting email usage, or attempting to do away with email altogether. Is this a progressive choice that represents what’s next in the world of work, or would it do more harm than good? Should we view email as either an all or nothing tool, or are there ways to walk the middle line and make changes to our habits to improve our relationship with it? And how could changing our email habits impact our relationships – both personal and professional? Molly Kelley, Senior Human Resource Business Partner at Xenium, talks all things email and productivity and share resources for any employee or business leader to implement in their own work life and organization.

--

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn about Xenium HR

Follow Molly on LinkedIn

We all know communication is key to successful collaboration at work. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Craig Weber, author of “Conversational Capacity” and founder of the Weber Consulting Group, joins us today to discuss his celebrated approach to work communication. We’ll cover the different communication styles people use and tools that leaders and employees alike can apply to foster effective collaboration, share ideas, respond to tough challenges and ultimately create better work.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Follow Angela Perkins on LinkedIn
6. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About Craig Weber

Craig Weber is the author of the groundbreaking book, Conversational Capacity: The Key To Building Successful Teams That Perform When The Pressure Is On (McGraw-Hill, 2013), and the founder of The Weber Consulting Group – an alliance of experts committed to helping people build more resilient, healthy, and agile organizations. Craig helps an eclectic range of clients improve their performance by treating dialogue as a discipline.

His unique work is the result of his formal education – in Organizational Development at Brigham Young University in Hawaii and Organizational Psychology at Columbia University – combined with nearly two decades of in-depth consulting experience with a wide range of teams and organizations.

Famous for his sharp, inspiring, and engaging style, Craig is a sought after consultant and presenter. In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious Vistage International Speaker Of The Year award, and in 2015 he was named the TEC-Canada Speaker Of The Year.

In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Randeep Purewal, CEO and Founder of Divercial, an all-in-one B2B SaaS solution for building an inclusive workplace culture. Randeep believes that, unlike the subjective human perspective, technology can help remove bias and gather reliable data, with the ultimate goal of engaging employees and boosting productivity. Listen in and learn how to prioritize cognitive diversity and position your employees for success.

TAKEAWAYS

• Divercial is a B2B SaaS platform that specializes in building inclusive workplaces by placing a more diverse group of decision-makers in every aspect and dimension of business.

• Technology is less biased than humans and could be used to make more objective business decisions.

• Using a third-party company for collecting employee feedback protects anonymity as data collected is scrubbed and provided in aggregate form.

• Unlike traditional consulting work where recommendations are given and not always implemented, Divercial provides recommendations based on collected data, prioritizing issues for the greatest impact.

• To put employees in positions of success, it’s important to have a better understanding of their strengths, interests, and approaches to work.

• An inclusive workplace increases employee engagement and productivity, which positively impacts the company's bottom line.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

It’s time to revolutionize leadership development. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws and guest Mick Spiers, founder of The Leadership Project, discuss Mick’s new book, You’re a Leader, Now What?. Get a glimpse into best practices for how to transition from contributor to leader and build effective leadership habits through applied learning.  

TAKEAWAYS

• More emphasis needs to be placed on leader preparation instead of placing contributors into leadership roles without adequate development.
• When it comes to leadership, it doesn't matter what you know but rather how much you care about your people.
• A true leader should be motivated by helping people unlock their best version of themselves.
• Through smart and clever questioning and coaching, new leaders can quickly accelerate through the learning curve.
• The Leadership Project embraces concepts of collaborative or social learning to get people talking, reflecting, and building habits for successful leadership.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The recruiting and onboarding process allow an employer to set the tone and expectations for a new employee's experience with a company. So how do you ensure that it's a successful process that attracts not only someone with the skills for the job, but someone with the right personality for your company? Jenny Berkedal, Director of Employee Experience at Metal Toad Media, joins the podcast to share how she approaches hiring and to offer tips to hire for cultural alignment within a competitive industry.

Click here to sign up today for Xenium's 2017 What People Want From Work Survey.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About the Guest:

Jenny Berkedal is the Director of Employee Experience (HR + Recruiting) at Metal Toad Media. Jenny's career is anchored in the desire to hire great people and then construct the most effective conditions for each person to thrive. She believes that we thrive when immersed in an atmosphere of trust and in a culture that supports us to play to our strengths.

Her passion to grow people is guided by two strengths of her own: strategic thinking that informs decision-making and a drive to learn that helps her constantly improve. She is impassioned to create lean processes and innovate solutions to combat inefficiencies, close skill gaps, promote engagement, and increase performance in the workplace.

We all know it’s important to recruit and hire great talent. But are you doing enough to grow and develop the people you already have? James Sudakow, author and principal of CH Consulting, is back on the podcast with some fresh insights on human capital. We’ll be discussing the ins and outs of talent management, including cost-effective ways to develop your people, the risks of holding on to poor performers and the employee trait you should always look for when making a new hire.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About the Guest:

James Sudakow is the principal and founder of CH Consulting – a boutique consulting firm specializing in organizational transformation and talent management strategies – where he has led engagements with clients ranging from small, entrepreneurial start-ups to Blue Chip Fortune 100 organizations across various industries including healthcare, medical device, technology, finance, and entertainment.

Prior to starting CH Consulting, James began his career at Deloitte Consulting, where he worked for seven years in the Organizational Performance practice. Upon leaving Deloitte, he has held progressively larger roles in multi-billion dollar global technology organizations, most recently serving as the Vice President of Talent Management and Organizational Effectiveness at CareFusion – a medical device and systems organization. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and his master’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Every company experiences it at some point—the changing of the guard. And with the current generational shift from boomers in leadership to Gen-Xers and millennials, there’s never been a better time to talk about succession. Leo MacLeod, executive trainer and coach, joins us to share his thoughts on succession planning—who should do it, when you should start and how to find the right successor. Listen in to get some insights on how to make this change an opportunity rather than a challenge.

SIGN UP  - 2018 What People Want from Work Survey

Email Brandon Laws

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About Leo MacLeod

Connect with Leo

Most of the time, we don’t get to choose who we work with every day. But our coworkers and our relationships with them are crucial to our day-to-day work. Not only can poor workplace relationships be real personal downers, they can also hinder productivity and bring down office morale.

To understand the necessity of positive relationships in the modern workplace, we spoke with Todd Davis, chief people officer and executive vice president at FranklinCovey. Davis’s new book, Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to Build Effective Relationships at Work, is a crash course in building relationships of value across organizations. On this week’s episode, Davis explains why we need to mitigate our emotional responses, how listening instead of talking can be a better way to contribute, and how establishing your own credibility with your coworkers can lead to relationships built on trust.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

SPECIAL OFFER: e-learning courses at Xenium - www.xeniumhr.com/courses - promo code "POD" for 10% off all courses.

About Todd Davis:

Todd Davis is the author of FranklinCovey’s upcoming book, Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to Build Effective Relationships at Work, available for pre-order May 9, 2017, and to be released on November 7, 2017. He is also a co-author of Talent Unleashed: 3 Leadership Conversations to Ignite the Unlimited Potential in People.

Davis has over 30 years of experience in human resources, talent development, executive recruiting, sales, and marketing. He has been with FranklinCovey for over 20 years, and currently serves as chief people officer and executive vice president. He is responsible for FranklinCovey’s global talent development in over 40 offices in 160 countries.

As the former director of FranklinCovey’s Innovations Group, Todd led the development of many of FranklinCovey’s core offerings containing the company’s world-renowned content, and he continues to contribute to the development of new offerings. Davis has also served as FranklinCovey’s director of recruitment and led a team responsible for attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent for the company, which included over 3,500 employees.

For over 25 years, Davis has delivered numerous keynote addresses and speeches at top industry conferences, associations, corporate events, and for FranklinCovey clients, many of which are Fortune® 100 and 500 companies. His topics include leadership, personal and interpersonal effectiveness, employee engagement, talent management, change management, and building winning cultures.

Davis has served on the Board of Directors for HR.com and is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  

In the ever-growing War on Talent, there’s never been more urgency to get it right. To acquire, maintain, and optimize the best talent, leaders have no choice but to dig deep or lose. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Mike Zani, CEO of The Predictive Index and expert on talent optimization. The two discuss the effects of COVID on the current workforce, the War on Talent, and team-building strategies that really work.

TAKEAWAYS

• Leaders must emphasize the data and analytics if they want a full understanding of what helps and hinders their teams.
• Leaders must take employee experience or engagement surveys seriously and act upon them, or their top talent will not hesitate to walk out the door.
• It is up to leaders to create transparency and vulnerability by modeling these attributes themselves.

Participate in Xenium's 2021 What People Want from Work Survey: https://xeniumhr.com/wpwfw

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Mike Zani is a bestselling author and expert on optimizing talent and building successful culture. His latest book, The Science of Dream Teams, is a product of his years of experience in building stellar workplace teams. Mike holds a BS from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

The remote vs. in-office debate continues to rage on and HR isn’t exempt from the discussion.The in-office side highlights what face-time brings to communication and relationships, while the remote side focuses on productivity and cost-savings. Xenium’s Lacey Partipilo and Brandon Laws weigh in—and come to a conclusion that offers the expertise and support of HR with the flexibility and cost-savings of remote work.

Win a free book: Give us a review on Apple Podcasts, take our survey, or share this episode on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram and tag @xeniumhr.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Anne Donovan, President of Xenium HR, joins the HR for Small Business podcast to discuss her career in human resources and the role it played in business leading up to present day. The discussion later turns to the role HR currently has in business and people practices and where the focus of HR is going in the future.

Take our quick survey about the HR for Small Business podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XeniumPodcast

Learn about Anne Donovan at http://www.xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/anne-donovan/

Burnout has always been an issue, but with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic stress has stepped into the forefront of the conversation about mental and physical wellness. In this episode, guest Jennifer Moss, author of The Burnout Epidemic, talks about the importance of recognizing and destigmatizing the chronic stress — worsened by the pandemic — so that we can find peace and productivity in the workplace.

TAKEAWAYS

• The World Health Organization has identified “burnout” as “institutional stress left unmanaged.”
• Employees who are experiencing burnout often feel stigmatized, so they don't speak up.
• During the pandemic, employees were still supposed to hit pre-COVID goals while also working toward stretch goals — this combination was a massive, unidentified chronic stressor.
• A Microsoft Trends report found that much of the global workforce was resigning due to workload and lack of empathy from their employers.
• Leaders must look at budget allocations and bifurcate between wellness and burnout prevention.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws sits down with Josh Durham, Founder of Gamut Project Solutions and a seasoned expert in the construction industry. With over seventeen years of experience managing billion-dollar projects, Josh dives into the principle of agency in leadership and its critical role in professional success. Durham offers valuable insights that can help elevate your leadership skills and workplace dynamics. Don’t miss this essential discussion on empowering yourself and others through agency.

TAKEAWAYS

• Understanding and embodying the principle of agency is crucial for effective leadership and team cohesion.

• Focusing on what you can control helps to reduce anxiety and improve your personal and professional life.

• Leaders who promote agency within their teams create a high-performing and engaged workforce.

• Believing in your own agency and taking ownership of your actions is vital for professional success and overcoming challenges.

• Feeling a sense of control helps us to manage conflicts more calmly and constructively.

• Having well-defined processes in place enhances a sense of control and agency, contributing to better leadership and organizational performance.

• Understanding internal versus external locus of control helps leaders and their team members focus on areas where they can make an impact. 

Sign up for the Annual What People Want from Work Survey by August 16th

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

As a leader, do you find that you’re putting out fires instead of taking intentional steps toward the growth of your organization? If so, this is the podcast for you. While there’s no doubt that the post-pandemic business world has placed increasing demands on the business leader’s time and energy, this episode’s guest says that it’s possible to adapt and rise above the chaos. Listen in and learn from Dave McKeown, author of The Self-Evolved Leader, all about how to approach the faster pace, prioritize what matters, and elevate your focus above what doesn’t.

TAKEAWAYS

• Even after we return to the workplace, the world will continue its rigorous pace, so our leaders need to learn to adapt to this “new normal.”
• When leaders see new information come in, they feel obligated to respond urgently, a demand placed on them from our clients, the industry as a whole, and the leaders above them.
• Many leaders end up leading through active heroism which, over time, builds learned helplessness in our people.
• A self-evolved leader desires rigorous debate and discussion to arrive at a solution rather than implementing a top-down approach to problem-solving.
• Sometimes the greatest leaders have no answers — all they do is ask really good questions and help people come to their own conclusions.

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Dave McKeown is the Founder and CEO of Outfield Leadership, the author of The Self-Evolved Leader, and a leadership strategy coach, speaker, and trainer. With experience in helping organizations achieve scalable growth, Dave is passionate about seeing business teams reach not only their leadership but also their company-wide goals.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

How can asking questions lead to being an effective leader? Let’s find out. Michael Bungay Stanier, author and founder of Box of Crayons, joins us to discuss his latest book, The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Known for his coaching programs that help time-crunched managers develop their coaching skills in 10 minutes or less, Michael breaks down his coaching methodology, the best ways to jumpstart deep conversation and the smart habits that effective leaders embrace.

Buy The Coaching Habit for $0.99 May 23rd through June 1st. Buy the audiobook for $10 May 23rd - 25th.

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Learn about Michael and Box of Crayons

Sit down with Scott Ballard, founder of Confidence Coach, to discuss the ever-present issue of employee engagement. Learn why a staggering 80% of employees are disengaged and how to partner with your people and invest in their dreams, visions, and goals. Ultimately, building your successful business starts with tapping into your greatest resource: your people.

TAKEAWAYS

• To boost engagement, leaders must address the root cause of the issue: the gap between the vision, goal, or dream for the company and the employee’s vision, goal, or dream for their life.

• Leaders must invest in helping employees build their lives while building the company.
• Happiness at work comes not when we reach our destination but as we progress toward the realization of a goal.
• When companies focus solely on business goals and neglect their people, they unknowingly cut themselves off from all the valuable energy, drive, and resilience of their employees.
• A business’s employees are its first customers — they have more knowledge of the business, more impact on the bottom line, and bigger influence than any consumer.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Are you stepping into a leadership role for the first time? If so, those who have gone before have some valuable insight to offer. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Alli Murphy, social impact podcast host and Director of Events and Program Development at Engage for Good, to talk about the 7 things she wishes she had known when taking on her first leadership role.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In the latest episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws dives deep into corporate wellness with Dr. Monica Vermani, a clinical psychologist and author of A Deeper Wellness: Conquering Stress, Mood, Anxiety and Traumas. Dr. Vermani sheds light on the vital role of self-awareness in understanding our symptoms and seeking the right help. With the rise in workplace stress and anxiety, made worse by the pandemic, Dr. Vermani's insights advocate for a holistic approach to mental health, both at home and at work. Tune in for practical advice on overcoming burnout and finding peace, no matter where you are in your professional or personal life journey.

TAKEAWAYS

• Self-awareness helps us comprehend how our symptoms impact our own lives and the lives of those around us.

• Many individuals struggle with articulating their mental health issues, which can hinder proper care.

• Employees are often confused about which mental health professionals to consult for various issues, so understanding the roles of different specialists can help in seeking the right support.

• The pandemic has exacerbated stress and anxiety in the workplace, so comprehensive wellness programs are critical to supporting employees during these challenging times.

• According to Dr. Vermani, suffering has a purpose and can act as a catalyst for personal growth and change. 

• To find true wellness, we must reevaluate unhealthy lifestyle habits and integrate holistic strategies for well-being.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

This episode of Transform Your Workplace features a deep dive into insights from Curtis Bateman’s co-authored book, Change: How to Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity. The episode explores the most common reactions to change — Move, Minimize, Wait, Resist, and Quit — and the leader’s role in understanding and managing these reactions as they move forward. Don’t miss this timely discussion on how leaders can spearhead positive change in a constantly evolving workplace.

TAKEAWAYS

• Move, Minimize, Wait, Resist, and Quit are all natural and common reactions to change in the workplace. 

• Leaders must recognize and manage these diverse reactions instead of moving forward without employee buy-in.

• Each reaction has its strengths and limitations, and leaders can effectively tap into and leverage the strengths during times of change.

• A well-crafted case for change facilitates alignment and engagement throughout the organization.

• Leaders need to discern where their team members are in their journey through change and tailor their approach accordingly, and this requires a deep understanding of people's feelings, thoughts, and actions in the midst of change.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Tune in for a discussion revolving around Aflac’s most recent Workforces Report from its Chief HR Officer, Jeri Hawthorne. Learn about the challenges facing today’s intergenerational workforce and best practices for helping your people feel heard and supported amidst this ever-evolving workplace. Interested in ramping up your customer service? According to our guest, it starts with taking care of your people.

TAKEAWAYS

• Leaders must stress employee well-being and engagement to create a supportive work environment, as stressed employees are more likely to seek other opportunities.

• If employers seek employee feedback, they must be prepared to act on it, as disregarding employee input can lead to frustration and decreased productivity.

• Today, employees face ongoing challenges with financial wellness, so employers should address these concerns to maintain productivity and attendance.

• A comprehensive benefits package that addresses mental well-being can attract and retain talent.

• Gen Z employees are particularly drawn to companies with a purpose beyond profit, seeking organizations that align with their values and contribute positively to their communities.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Conflict, obstacles, differences. In the working world, leaders and their teams face no shortage of challenges. Fortunately, according to Adam Kahane, facilitating effective collaboration is possible. If you and your team find yourself running into dead-ends when it comes to working together, listen in and learn about a fresh approach for removing the obstacles that hinder forward progression.

TAKEAWAYS

• Leaders of all types — managers, team members, coaches, consultants, and more — can benefit from learning how to facilitate breakthrough.
• Both vertical and horizontal facilitation miss the mark when it comes to facilitating effective collaboration.
• Like inhaling and exhaling, both vertical and horizontal facilitation must be used alternately. 
• Effective facilitation is about removing obstacles to equitable connection and contribution.

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Adam Kahane is a Director of Reos Partners, passionate process facilitator, and author of Facilitating Breakthrough: How to Remove Obstacles, Bridge Differences, and Move Forward Together. With extensive experience working in over fifty countries, Adam helps leaders of all kinds address their challenges head-on.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Giving back to the community fills us with joy—but there is perhaps something even bigger at play—it often brings people together and engages us deeply. Organizations have a huge opportunity to mobilize their workforce, particularly around the holiday season, to volunteer time as a group for many great causes that exist in our local communities today. But how do employers choose an organization that aligns with their values and beliefs? How do we treat volunteer time for employees—is it paid time or is it not? And what kind of impact can community involvement have on individual employees within a company, as well as that company as a whole? Will it impact the culture in a positive way?

Rhonda Meadows, Senior HR Business Partner at Xenium HR and Founder of non-profit organizations Project Lemonade and Bridge Meadows, joins the podcast to answer many of these questions and to share her own story of recognizing a need and responding with a solution. Don’t miss this timely discussion on the importance of giving back and the difference it can make in your organization and peoples’ lives.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Connect with Brandon Twitter | LinkedIn | Email

Learn about Xenium HR

Follow Rhonda on LinkedIn | Learn about Tana

The open office is definitely having a moment. One of many workplace trends that’s made its way from Silicon Valley to offices everywhere, it’s meant to fuel collaboration and productivity, increase visibility and knock down hierarchy. But Lindsey Kaufman, a creative director in NYC and Washington Post author of “Google got it wrong. The open-office trend is destroying the workplace,” would beg to differ. Join us as we discuss the downfalls of the open-office layout and the tweaks that could make things better for everyone.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn about Xenium HR

Connect with Lindsey Kaufmaun

Next Level Leadership course courses.xeniumhr.com
Enter promo code "PODCAST" for 25% in August and September 2017

Transcript:

Brandon: Hey, Brandon here, and welcome to a special edition of the HR for Small Business podcast. We have a special announcement today. We’re rolling out, for the first time ever, a web-based course on Teachable.com’s platform called “Next Level Leadership.” And I have Suzi Alligood with me, who is the creator of the content to discuss the course.

Suzi, why did we build the course?

Suzi: We have a workshop that we facilitated for years at Xenium called “Leadership Essentials” and it happens to be one of our highest attended sessions. We wanted to convert that content into an e-learning format—not only because we want to reach more people—but also we have current clients who have employees out of our local area and we wanted them to achieve the same benefits as our live workshop while remaining at their own location.

So we decided to leverage Teachable.com’s platform, and modify our live workshop to be a great user experience on an e-learning platform.

Brandon: What can people expect in this course?  

Suzi: It is a self-guided course, and it is very comprehensive. It might take the average student two hours to complete the course—but they can complete it at their own pace. It incorporates a couple different mediums, including video and video discussion between leader—where we leveraged some of our subject matter experts and actual senior leaders at Xenium to participate in discussion. Also, we have quizzes and self-guided activities for each section. The self-guided activities are the most beneficial, in my opinion, because it provides the student the opportunity to take the information that they are learning from the course and apply it in their workplace, and test it out and make improvements and ultimately gain confidence in how they might become a better leader.

Brandon: Who is this course built for?

Suzi: This course is for anyone who is aspiring to be a leader of others or is current a leader of others—particularly new leaders who made the recent shift from individual contributor to leader. Also it’s great for people who have been in a leadership position for some time and want to brush up and hone some of those skills.

Brandon: This is an exciting time for us as we launch this course in August 2017 for $49. Go to courses.xeniumhr.com to find “Next Level Leadership.”

For August and September only, we’re offering podcast listeners 25% off by entering the promo code PODCAST when you check out.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with workplace culture strategist Jessica Kriegel. The two discuss tech burnout, the downside of employee engagement initiatives, and the struggle to create authentic culture. Listen in and discover how to align on purpose and foster employee fulfillment in the world of remote work.

TAKEAWAYS

• “Collaboration overload” was the first instinct of most organizations that were moving into a remote environment in the early pandemic.” 

• Leaders’ attempts to “intentionally create culture” led to overwhelming tech burnout and increased levels of stress, both of which contributed in part to the Great Resignation.

• The Anti-Work Movement isn’t made up of people who don't want to work but rather people who want to work with intention and purpose.

• Replace the idea of employee engagement with employee fulfillment, which is the extent to which your character and abilities are being fully developed at work. 

• Every leader needs to be the Chief Reminding Officer, starting every meeting by stating the company’s purpose.

• A culture shift is a co-created, co-owned process, but leaders need to pave the way.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Happiness matters. When we’re happy, we are more productive. But when a person is generally unhappy, that person will bring it into other areas of their lives. In the workplace, happier employees translate to increased productivity, better team coordination, and it creates a more positive workplace and culture. 

In this episode, happiness researcher, Nic Marks, joins us to talk about happiness! Nic is the CEO and founder of Friday Pulse, a firm that aims to improve the world of work so that every day, all of us can work happier. 

Find out how you can have a happier workplace as Nic will explain how he measures happiness, it’s drivers, and how leaders/managers can contribute to their people’s happiness. Nic also shares the five ways you need to know to increase happiness at work!

In this episode, you will learn about:

• The state of happiness in light of what’s happening today
• What drives happiness
• What led Nic to study the subject of happiness and how he made it his profession
• The policy side of happiness
• How Nic measures happiness
• Drivers of happiness at work
• Five ways to increase and experience happiness at work

Connect with Nic

• LinkedIn
• nicmarks.org
• Friday Pulse

Resources:

• The Happy Planet Index Nic Marks TEDx talk

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In the latest episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, host Brandon Laws sits down with guest Rob Bier to dive into the challenges businesses face as they scale. Rob introduces common pitfalls that arise as companies expand and best practices for supporting growth, sharing insights from his book, Smooth Scaling: 20 Rituals to Build a Friction-Free Organization. The discussion covers crucial aspects like the need for productive dialogue, the impact of remote work on communication, and innovative strategies to ensure alignment and efficiency as organizations scale. This episode is a must-listen if you want to grow without all the growing pains.

TAKEAWAYS

• Proper scaling maintains the core qualities of a small, efficient organization as it expands.

• Businesses often encounter similar issues at specific stages of growth, particularly as they transition from small to larger teams. 

• Effective communication forms the foundation for strategic decisions, technology implementation, and hiring practices.

• Remote work tools can hinder relationship-building conversations that require trust and are often best conducted in person.

• Leaders should encourage early, open, and trust-building conversations among team members, helping to prevent and smoothly address conflicts.

Sign up for the Annual What People from Work Survey by August 16, 2024

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws sits down with Wendy Ellin, decluttering and organization expert, to learn how disorganization is a massive contributor to both personal and workplace stress. Wendy talks about her 3P Academy and best practices for helping employees find grea ter productivity, performance, and peace of mind.

TAKEAWAYS

• Employees are suffering in silence when it comes to disorganization, and most businesses don’t realize that the problem exists.
• 3P Academy contains targeted strategies for virtually any organizational issue, all aimed at increasing productivity, performance, and peace of mind.
• Many don’t attempt to get organized because they feel that if they can’t reach perfection that their efforts are futile.
• Perfection is impossible; instead, the learner should aim for 80%, an attainable organization goal.
• To get started and stick with it, you must want it and have a specific end goal in mind.

Sign up for Xenium’s annual What People Want from Work survey

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Josh Durham, founder of Gamut Project Solutions, to explore his leadership philosophy and the importance of relationships in the workplace. Durham shares valuable insights on building trust and empathy while fostering psychological safety in the workplace and beyond. Listen in for practical advice on building meaningful relationships and leading with purpose.

TAKEAWAYS

• Relationships are the most important element of effective leadership.

• Self-awareness combined with personal development is essential to building meaningful connections.

• Without mastering key leadership principles such as communication, trust, agreements, and ownership, relationships within teams and organizations will struggle.

• Positive transformation can only occur when basic needs for survival and belonging are met.

• Adopting a positive mindset and spreading goodwill often results in building positive relationships.

• Successful negotiations go beyond facts and figures; they require empathy to understand the other person's broader circumstances.

• Leadership is more effective when leaders focus on guiding and empowering their team rather than trying to solve every problem themselves.

• Fostering trust and psychological safety in teams is best achieved through authentic, purpose-driven leadership, rather than relying on superficial or defensive leadership behaviors.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Eimear Marrinan, VP of Culture & ESG at HubSpot, discusses the company’s post-pandemic transition to a successful hybrid work model. Eimear explains data motivated them to give their people the flexibility of choosing whether to work from home, in the office, or a hybrid of the two — an unconventional approach even in today’s changing business landscape. Listen in to learn about their successes, challenges, and Eimear’s vision for the future of hybrid work.

Sign up for the What People Want from Work Survey 

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Linda Cohen, known as the kindness catalyst, discusses the importance of kindness in the workplace and how it can transform organizational culture. She shares her journey into this field, which began with a personal project of performing 1000 acts of kindness (mitzvahs) in memory of her father. Cohen now works with various organizations, including credit unions, senior living communities, and healthcare institutions, to implement kindness strategies and improve workplace cultures. She emphasizes the impact of small acts of kindness, the need for recognition and communication, and the benefits of creating a culture where kindness is a core value.

TAKEAWAYS

1. Kindness is a smart business strategy that improves employee retention and customer service.
2. Small acts of kindness create a ripple effect, significantly impacting morale and workplace culture.
3. Direct, honest communication is a crucial form of kindness in the workplace, especially during conflicts.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this bonus episode of Transform Your Workplace, Suzi Wear takes over hosting duties and interviews Gina Riley about what's important to understand about the younger generation of employees, specifically those in Gen Z (born after 1990) and Gen Y (ages 26-41). The discussion touches on the concept of a "latchkey workforce" and the importance of understanding the needs and expectations of younger employees in the workplace.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

How do you turn your company culture into something that can build your business from the inside out? It’s all about communication. Victoria Dew, CEO of business consultancy Dewpoint Communications, joins us share her approach to helping small businesses grow through strong culture and employee communication. We get tactical with the communication methods that create strong cultures, how to communicate for maximum impact and the ways employees can get involved and make a difference.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

 SPECIAL OFFERS: 

• e-learning courses at Xenium -www.xeniumhr.com/courses - promo code "POD" for 10% off all courses. 

About Victoria 

Victoria Dew is the CEO of Dewpoint Communications, consultancy dedicated to helping smaller businesses grow faster and smarter through strong culture and employee communication. Victoria has 12 years of global communications experience in businesses of all sizes, and in diverse industries, both in the US and overseas. 

Victoria holds a BA from Skidmore College, an MA from Kings College London, and professional diplomas in both business and communications management from Victoria University, Wellington and Massey University. Victoria is a certified Communication Management Professional (CMP)

Connect with Victoria:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dewvictoria 

Dewpoint Communications

https://twitter.com/DewpointComms 

Every one of us is capable of dishonesty. The reason why many companies and organizations in the past failed is that they simply didn’t practice integrity and wasn’t committed enough to follow ethical principles and values. When companies don’t talk about integrity, it creates an air of ambiguity about right and wrong.

In this episode, we are joined by Airbnb Chief Ethics Officer, Rob Chesnut to discuss the crucial element of the corporate culture - integrity! He is the author of "Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead An Ethical Revolution," where he offers a 6 step process for leaders to foster and manage a culture of integrity at work. He previously led eBay’s North America legal team, where he founded the Internet’s first e-commerce person to person platform Trust and Safety team.

Transform how your business gets done the right way as Robert talks about intentional integrity, common issues relating to integrity and ethics, and how we can guide our people to encourage integrity in the workplace!

Grab yourself a copy of Robert’s Intentional Integrity: How Smart Companies Can Lead An Ethical Revolution 👉 here!

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Why Robert wrote Intentional Integrity
• Robert’s definition of stakeholder and what’s essential for the longevity of a company
• Code of ethics, principles, and rules to protect the company, employees and its customers
• How silence about integrity creates ambiguities
• The issue with Donald Sterling and other workplaces ethical issues
• Most common integrity issues
• Guiding employees on what they should and shouldn’t post on social media 

Connect with Robert

• LinkedIn

Resources:

• Intentional Integrity | Official Website
• Xenium Webinars
• DEI Resource Center
• COVID Resource Center

Rebecca Naatz, Senior Human Resource Business Partner, joins the Human Resources for Small Business podcast to discuss coaching and developing employee performance.

During the episode, Rebecca explains the importance of coaching rather than simply managing, how this method can be used to further develop employees, and how managers can measure their effectiveness.

In this episode:

• Characteristics of a servant leader
• How and when to use various leadership styles
• The role of emotional intelligence in the development of employees
• The important difference between transactional management and transformational leadership
• How managers and leaders can measure their effectiveness as a coach

Host: Brandon Laws, Xenium HR

Guest: Rebecca Naatz, Xenium HR

Music Introduction By:
“Cut and Dry Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons “Attribution 3.0″ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/”

There’s a lot of talk about bias nowadays. But recognizing it is only the first step. Eliminating bias in the hiring process is critical—but it’s not going to be easy. Listen in as we talk with Melissa Dobbins, founder and CEO of Career.Place, as she discusses ways to take action. We’ll cover examples of conscious and unconscious bias, ways that early stages of the hiring process have bias built in and cultural changes in the workplace that can inform how we hire.

Win a free book: Give us a review on Apple Podcasts, take our survey, or share this episode on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram and tag @xeniumhr.

 How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Nicole Blevins and Brandon Laws share tips to boost summer employee engagement. Suggestions include flexible schedules, outdoor team activities, wellness challenges like walking competitions, and providing spaces to work outdoors. They emphasize getting employee input on desired summer perks to create work-life balance.

TAKEAWAYS

• Offer flexible work options like half-day Fridays, compressed workweeks, or remote days
• Plan outdoor team-building activities like picnics, sporting events, or walking challenges
• Create outdoor working spaces and encourage wellness by allowing employees to work outside

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Creating a workplace where everyone is engaged and thriving is no easy task. For Linda Binns, it all comes down to the personal. An energy coach and self-identified introvert, Linda has made a career out of helping people be their best selves at work and improving workplace culture in the process. Listen in as we discuss her approach to engagement and cover some tactics that everyone can use to navigate personal challenges, maintain their energy and thrive in the workplace.   

Register for Step Up and Be Heard: How Your Best Employees May Be Going Unnoticed on June 21st.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Links: 

• Connect with Linda Binns

Does a fulfilling and meaningful career seem like a pipedream? Are you disengaged at work, desperately awaiting Friday and then dreading the next impending workweek? In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws interviews Carson Tate, business coach and consultant, about the topic of employee disengagement. As it turns out, it is possible for us to find fulfillment at work. Listen to find out how.

Takeaways:

• To engage at work, we must know that we are being heard and understood and that our needs are being met. 
• We must “get clear” about what we need from our place of work.
• Those who love their jobs are self-aware — they know what their strengths are, what they need from their employer, and that they have the power to ask for it. 

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Carson Tate, a best-selling author, consultant, and business coach, is all about helping organizations develop leaders, engage teams, and elevate performance. Her latest book, Own It, Love It, Make It Work: How to Make Any Job Your Dream Job, is just one of many avenues through which Carson “equips, empowers, and inspires” business leaders and teams.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, guest Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, shares insights into the power of play. And while we may think of play time as exclusively for kids, adults can also learn a lot about themselves and others through play. Tune in to find out how our guest was inspired to champion the cause of play and how play can make a difference in your relationships, your perspective, and ultimately, your business.

TAKEAWAYS

• While it's evident that kids benefit from play, adults can also learn valuable lessons through play in the areas of team building, socialization, and overall personal development.

• Play is a crucial avenue for learning teamwork, curiosity, and conflict resolution. 

• Adults, especially leaders, should actively participate in play to break down barriers and build trust in the workplace.

• Opportunities for play cannot be forced; instead, players should be invited to participate of their own accord.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

It’s no secret that the key to a good and happy team is a great manager. But what makes a great manager? How would you know if you or your people are ready for the role of leading a team?

In a study published by Harvard Business Review, it showcased that the average age for first-time managers is 30 years old. While the average age when they get their first leadership training is 42. This means that managers aren’t equipped to lead their team. 

In this episode, Scott Jeffrey Miller from FranklinCovey joins us to talk about his new book, “Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team”. He is the Executive Vice President and CMO at Franklin Covey, a company that inspires change and implements proven principles so that people and organizations achieve the results that matter most to them.

Scott talks about why everyone deserves great managers. He highlights the essential skills and practices needed to become a manager so that your organization can thrive!

We also explore the limiting mindset and common managerial mistakes as he shares real problems about the role of managers.

Be sure to listen to this episode and learn how to be the great manager that your team deserves!

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Why managers aren’t ready to become managers
• Why leadership and people is not for everyone
• Your job as a leader
• How to develop a leader’s mindset
• A leader’s approach to giving feedback
• How a manager walks his people through change
• Scott’s advice and tips on how to read Everyone Deserves a Great Manager better application

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Connect with Scott

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller, Todd Davis, and Victoria Roos Olsson
• Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenge to Become the leader You Would Follow
• FranklinCovey
• Harvard Business Review - We Wait Too Long To Train Our Leaders

Humans today are more connected than ever before, and yet isolation and loneliness are at an all time high. Listen in as Brandon Laws and Paige Tamlyn discuss a Q&A with Dan Schawbel from the SHRM Magazine about workplace trends affecting connection. We’ll cover the ways technology and social media are changing personal interaction, the challenges of remote work and how HR and business leaders can encourage more meaningful connections at work.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

 About the Guest: 

Lacey Halpern joins the HR for Small Business podcast to talk about strategic interviewing. In this episode, Lacey gives tips, techniques and best practices for how to become a great interviewer. You will hear such things as what questions to ask, how many interviewers should be in the room, how to conduct remote interviews, how many rounds of interviews should take place, and whether or not anything should be done differently with key hires.

Resources:

• Intelligent Hiring workshop
• Strategic Interviewing workshop
• Interview Etiquette for employers

Tell us what you think: Take the Survey

Guest host Al Nodarse interviews Kendall Miller, owner and president of Interlaken, a premier excavator in Portland, Oregon. The two talk about how Miller got into the construction world, her industry's trials in the pandemic and beyond, and how to get more young people interested in the field. 

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

There’s a shift happening in the business world. Jeff Mike, VP and HR research leader of Deloitte Consulting, joins us to discuss “The Rise of the Social Enterprise”. This new trend shows businesses are shifting from “companies” to “institutions” that are integrated into the social fabric of society. Listen in as Jeff breaks down how this is changing the way organizations work— from the role of leadership to career development to new ways rewards and well-being are playing out in the workplace.  

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

 About the Guest: 

Mathew Simonton joins the Human Resources for Small Business podcast to discuss the book Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott.

In this episode, Brandon and Mathew discuss the concepts in Fierce Conversations and give their overall review on the content.

In this episode:

- The seven principles in Fierce Conversations
- How can we relate this book to our daily conversations with coworkers, family and friends?
- What does "master the courage to interrogate reality" actually mean?
- Words that make people become defensive by nature
- How do we "be here, prepared to be nowhere else?"

Host: Brandon Laws, Xenium HR
Guest: Mathew Simonton

Music Introduction By: "Cut and Dry Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 3.0" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"

When they’re created thoughtfully, employee handbooks can be useful tools for your employees not just when they’re new to your company, but over the course of their careers, too. But employee handbooks aren’t known to be riveting reading. This week, we spoke with Lacey Partipilo, Xenium’s Senior Human Relations Business Partner, on building the most accurate, helpful handbooks for your organization. Listen in to hear us discuss federal policies you can’t leave out, engaging your team with creative handbooks, and creating supplementary materials, like Xenium’s Benefits at a Glance sheet, to break down the onslaught of information. 

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About the Guest: 

Listen in on a recent conversation with Nick Sonnenberg, founder and CEO of Leverage, and the author of the book Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning at Work. He and host Brandon Laws discuss asynchronous and synchronous communication methods, planning and project management, and how companies can best use tools at their disposal to avoid having their employees feel like they're drowning at work. 

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Avoiding the “uncomfortable” has become so common that we have a famous term for it: it’s “the elephant in the room.” But according to guest Sarah Noll Wilson, author of Don't Feed the Elephants, it’s possible to free yourself and your team from that overwhelming awkwardness. In today’s episode of Transform Your Workplace, our guest provides tips on how to address your elephants and create a transparent culture in your workplace. 

TAKEAWAYS

• “The elephant in the room” creeps into the workplace when we avoid talking about or acknowledging something uncomfortable.
• Avoiding honest discussion is a harmful barrier to business success.
• A leader’s response in moments of disagreement or feedback sets the tone for how safe others will feel speaking up.
• Freeing the elephant from the room is a process that happens one conversation at a time, not all at once.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Sit down with Malorie Nicole, a transformational executive coach, as she discusses the challenges that today’s leaders face in achieving personal business alignment. Malorie highlights the importance of scaling a company by keeping the development and well-being of your people at the forefront. And when it comes to boosting team performance, she talks about how CEOs must start with themselves. If you’re a leader of people, you don’t want to miss this conversation on how to create real and lasting change for your team.

TAKEAWAYS

• A significant challenge facing today’s leaders is achieving personal business alignment, or the harmony between an individual's personal values, passions, and goals and the goals and direction of their business. 

• Scaling a business is largely dependent on the development of people.

• Post-pandemic, people don't just want a place to work but rather a place where they feel connection and autonomy.

• When you’re feeling “stuck,” it usually means you forgot to give yourself permission to do something — to change, to let go, or to pivot.

• Top-performing CEOs make strategic decisions instead of micromanaging daily tasks. 

• Emotional intelligence is critical if CEOs want to experience mental freedom, better performance, and stronger team culture.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

"A bravespace workplace is one where people can show up as they are, both perfect and flawed, and do great things together. " — Moe Carrick 

Most workplaces are unfit for human life. Many are still miserable at work. Despite the efforts of good leaders and managers in taking care of their people - investing and training them as well as creating an enjoyable workplace, they still fail. Why is that? 

Something needs to change to create a win-win situation for both the employee and employer. 

This motivated Moe Carrick to write Bravespace Workplace, where she puts everything into perspective. She explores how a lot of employers are treating their employees wrong. She recognizes that people are such a huge component in building a great company. 

Our conversation is centered around her book - Bravespace Workspace. In the book, she talks about real-life stories about how companies and organizations are into bringing out the best in their people. We also discuss technology's role in the workplace, the definition of masculinity and femininity at work, inefficient managers, vulnerability, braveness, and many more! 

Today's episode is jam-packed with ideas for creating a great workplace that's applicable to any organization! 

I encourage you to go grab a copy of her book! It's an excellent book for everyone in the workforce, especially business leaders and managers who are looking into a more thoughtful and human-like approach to leading their people and business. 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Moe’s motivation and inspiration for writing "Bravespace Workplace"
• Why organizations are not as human as they need to be able to get the best out of people
• How the mindset that stems out from the industrial revolution resulted in unhealthy workplaces today
• Profits and economics
• What is a “Bravespace Workspace” and what does it look like
• Brave space workplace vs. toxic workplace
• Why bad managers and leaders are the major cause of a toxic workplace and why companies still hang on to them
• The role of technology and machines in our work
• Defining masculinity and femininity in the workplace
• Are nap pods and ping pong tables really efficient and effective? (like what big companies like Google do to keep their employees engaged)
• The advantages of small and medium-sized organizations over large companies
• Moe's response when people say they love their job
• What's next after the path of Bravespace Workplace 

Win a free book. Tweet or share this podcast on LinkedIn and tag Brandon Laws and Xenium HR. 

Sign up for the What People Want from Work survey

Enroll in Xenium's e-Learning Courses

Connect with Us:

What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey.

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Connect with Moe Carrick:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• com
• Bravespace Workspace

 More about Moe: 

Moe Carrick is the best selling author of the book Bravespace Workplace and also the founder of Moementum Consulting Firm. She believes that people are the ones that make organizations great. She greatly believes that people can and should thrive at work and that when they do, organizations succeed. 

With over 30 years of work in organizations on issues of partnership, leadership, inclusion, strategy, and culture Moe believes that rigorous self-awareness, courage, honest dialogue, active involvement, and empathy are fundamental to building full partnerships based on trust and curiosity. 

Moe is passionate about the role work plays in creating meaning for our lives and in the role business can play as a force for good. She is a regular blogger on topics related to people at work and is a contributor to Conscious Company Magazine. Maven House Press released her first book, bestseller FIT MATTERS: How to Love Your Job, with co-author Cammie Dunaway in 2017. Her second book, Bravespace: Creating Workplaces Fit for Human Life, releases in June 2019. She holds a Master’s Degree in OD, is a Certified Daring Way™/Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, Coach, and administrator of a variety of tools in her trade. 

Learn more about Moe and her work here.

Resources Mentioned:

• Bravespace Workplace: Making Your Company Fit for Human Life
• Workplaces fit for humans | Moe Carrick | TEDx talk
• Dying for a Paycheck: How Modern Management Harms Employee Health and Company Performance—and What We Can Do About It
• Dying for a Paycheck podcast with Anna Meiners
• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
• Fit Matters: How to Love Your Job by Moe Carrick, Cammie Dunaway, and Pat Wadors

If you want to see lasting culture change, you’ve got to fall in love with the process, not the goal. In the latest episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, leadership and culture expert James Ferguson discusses his new role as Director of Culture for the Wurzak Hotel Group. He shares his insights on shaping organizational culture with increased engagement, focus on mission, and employee recognition. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance workplace culture and foster a sense of belonging among team members.

TAKEAWAYS

• Lasting cultural change requires embracing the improvement process rather than just aiming for the end goal.

• Effective internal communication helps team members understand the company’s mission, which is crucial for cultural cohesion.

• Orientation “done right” creates context, connection, and culture, which can significantly reduce turnover and unify the team.

• Wurzak’s recognition initiative celebrates employees daily and weekly for living out the company's brand pillars, reinforcing the value of their contributions.

• “Culture Committees” give employees a voice, building trust and encouraging participation in the company’s cultural development efforts.

Sign up for Xenium’s annual What People Want from Work survey before August 16th - https://xeniumhr.com/what-people-want-from-work/ 

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws 📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

At Xenium, it’s our job to stay on top of the various workplace and HR trends that come our way. And in this podcast, we’ll talk about the belief that HR should be replaced or absorbed into other business departments. Is it a good idea? Listen in to find out. We’ll be discussing the viability of this approach, the role of HR and the real duties of the department. Whether it skews administrative or strategic, we’ll be talking through the ways your HR department can be refocused to do more for your organization.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Connect with Brandon Twitter | LinkedIn | Email

Learn about Xenium HR

Follow Angela on LinkedIn

Not everyone feels appreciated in the same way. In the workplace, many quit their jobs because they don’t feel appreciated.

People express and receive appreciation in different ways; the Same goes for their motivation and encouragement. To improve their performance, leaders, and managers, you must learn to express it in a way that’s meaningful to them, express it in their language.

Find out how to communicate genuine appreciation as Dr. Paul White joins us in this episode to talk about the five languages of appreciation in the workplace! He is a psychologist, speaker, consultant and co-authored the book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace with Gary Chapman, wh, the author of The 5 Love Languages.

Today, Dr. Paul White walks us through the languages of appreciation and how we can use it at work and in our everyday life. He shares about how we can make people aware of our language and what we can do to better enhance our relationship, and ultimately transform the workplace!

Grab yourself a copy of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace 👉 here 

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Dr. Paul White’s motivation for writing the book
• How workplaces and industries are responding to the appreciation languages
• The difference between the five love languages and the language of appreciation in the workplace
• Dr. Paul’s learnings when the book came out vs. now
• Recognition vs appreciation
• How to speak another person’s language of appreciation
• How to use and apply the languages of appreciation in your daily life
• Understanding other’s language of appreciation

Connect with Dr. Paul White

• Dr. Paul White’s website
• LinkedIn
• LinkedIn Group
• Twitter
• Facebook

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Are modern professionals more alone or does it just feel that way? From remote employees to communication technology, many factors are changing workplace dynamics. Megan Leatherman, career coach and HR consultant, joins us to share her own experiences and how it translates to the experience of professionals today. We’ll cover changing relationships in the workplace, the factors most likely to lead to isolation, and measures you can take to ensure solid connections in the workplace.  

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Learn More About or Connect With Megan Leatherman

A lot of us white-collar workers are poor when it comes to managing our health. Due to the nature of our job, which is sitting 9 to 5 staring at a computer screen, it’s no wonder a lot of us gain pounds and increase the digits on our waistlines. 

And so not only are you stressed due to work, but you’re also overwhelmed by the fact that you’re gaining weight and becoming more unhealthy. How do we prioritize our mental and physical health so that we can grow and thrive more in our chosen career?

In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, we are joined by Mark Mohammadpour, an accredited Senior Communications Executive, Certified health coach, and personal trainer and the owner of Chasing the Sun. 

He will talk about how he transformed his life from being a busy, stressed PR person into someone who’s coaching and helping people incorporate fitness, health, and wellness into their lives so they can reduce their stress and thrive.

Get inspired and start taking action on how to be more fit, healthy, and mentally well as mark shares how he lost and kept off 100+ pounds over the ten years. He brings up how his perspective on his PR job changed when he started his fitness and health journey. We also talk about how you can own your calendar, develop healthy habits, and what role an employer plays in all of this.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• How Mark started his transformation to drop his weight and become healthy
• Why PR is viewed as an extremely stressful profession
• Mark’s approach to health and wellness
• Controlling our eating to develop healthy habits
• How the decision we make impacts us in the long run
• Checking your ego and seeing who you inspire
• What Mark did to make his health transformation a success
• Empowerment of people
• The role of the employer concerning the workplace’s mental and physical health, and work-life balance
• Owning your calendar and set up your boundaries

What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey.

Contact Brandon: Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Connect with Mark

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Chasing the Sun - Health Coaching for Communicators, Marketers and 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

You can read Mark’s full transformation story here!

Have you heard the term "employer brand" before? Do you know what it means and why there is a lot of buzz around this concept? In this episode, Lacey Halpern and Brandon Laws of Xenium HR discuss what it employer branding means and why plays an important role in attracting specific types of people to organizations.

During the discussion, you will find out what employer branding is all about, what departments usually play a role in its development and how employers can use employer branding to find people that are a perfect fit for their organization.

Take our quick survey about the HR for Small Business podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XeniumPodcast

Everyone learns differently. So, how do you advance professional development while catering to the many ways people learn? Listen in as five Xenium professionals discuss their favorite learning methods, as well as the pros and cons. Whether you prefer the experiential nature of on-the-job learning or workshops, teaching yourself via books and videos, or the structure of industry certifications, this episode offers professional development inspiration that you and your employees can put into practice.

• Brandon Laws on Self-Learning [00:50]
• Angela Perkins on Peer Groups [9:35]
• Lacey Halpern on Certifications [21:50]
• Suzi Alligood on Workshops & Seminars [29:58]
• Alishia Young on Experiential Learning [47:17]

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Learn about Xenium HR

Your company has fallen on hard times, and you have no choice but to let go of highly skilled, talented employees - who you may have a hard time tracking down or finding qualified replacements for once you're financially able to rehire for those positions. Or is there another way? The Work Share program in Oregon (name varies in other states) offers an alternative that involves an hour reduction for multiple employees, while subsidizing partial unemployment insurance benefits to those employees. Salena De La Cruz, Project Manager at Work Share for the Oregon Employment Department, joins the podcast for a deep dive into the mission of the program, how to go about applying as an employer, what benefits employers and employees alike will receive, and highlights of recent improvements that have streamlined the program.

Give us a review on iTunes and be entered to win a free book!

Take our survey and be entered to win a free book!

Follow Brandon on Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn about Xenium HR

Learn about Work Share

Connect with Salena De La Cruz

Is your team struggling to communicate effectively in the remote or hybrid workplace? According to our recent guest, Renée Marino, we can’t lean too heavily on new school tools, or we’ll find ourselves facing constant workplace miscommunication and conflict. Instead, a balance between what’s new and that “old school” face-to-face interaction is critical if we want to make it in this post-pandemic workplace. Listen in as Renee shares insight from her new book, Becoming a Master Communicator, and find out how to step up your communication game at work.

TAKEAWAYS

• Too much dependence on impersonal tech tools is a recipe for conflict and miscommunication.
• To become master communicators, we need to balance old school and new school communication methods.
• Master communicators know when it’s appropriate to reach out through email versus hopping on a quick Zoom call. 
• We cannot forget that we are human beings, and human beings are meant to connect. 
• One of the most crucial components of being a master communicator is being a master listener, and that means being a complete listener.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

What's the difference between bullying and harassment, and when do they become the same thing? What are the stages of bullying and how can you catch the signs early before it escalates into a real issue that emotionally impacts people, both those involved and those observing? Catherine Mattice, author of Back Off! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying at Work, founder of Civility Partners, international speaker, HR consultant and expert in workplace bullying joins Brandon Laws to discuss the often overlooked issue of workplace bullying and the root cause of the problem of bullying.

How to Support this Show:

1. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc.)
2. Review us on iTunes
3. Take our survey and we'll enter you in a drawing for a free book
4. Follow Xenium HR (@XeniumHR) and Brandon Laws (@BrandonLaws) on Twitter and LinkedIn
5. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

About the Guest: 

• Buy Back off
• Learn about Civility Partners
• Connect with Catherine Mattice

In this episode, we welcome back frequent guest and Xenium Employee Nicole Blevins to discuss HR of 2023. We discuss growing trends of pay transparency, employee benefits, and the rise of remote work or "work from anywhere" culture.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Barbara Rea knows how to build businesses. From her experience leading the ultimately successful startup of BKM Capital Partners to her determination to launch her own advisory company during a global pandemic, Barbara Rea has a track record for results. In today’s episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Barbara reflects on her years of business experience, from the highs to the lows. She offers invaluable advice to current business leaders and those who want to embark on building a new business. 

Takeaways:

• To entice top talent, you’ve got to show them that they will be a part of something bigger than themselves.
• People are critical to the success of any business. They must be bought-in and given the tools to succeed.
• When starting a business, you have a blank slate. Decide who you want to be and then “make it true.”
• Your employees are trusting you with their careers, so you must lead them well.

GUEST AT A GLANCE

Today’s podcast features an interview with Barbara Rea, an expert coach and advisor passionate about helping businesses develop leaders, tools, and processes so that they can really become more efficient and more profitable. With a background in real estate and marketing, Barbara is an expert in optimizing operations and maximizing returns for her clients. Her key focus is to set businesses up for success.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

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On this bonus episode of Transform Your Workplace, guest host Al Nodarse interviews Alicia Chapman, CEO of Willamette Technical Fabricators. Chapman discusses the unique culture at her company, which includes benefits such as unlimited sick days and a commitment to supporting and promoting women in the trades. Despite being a newer company, Willamette Technical Fabricators has experienced rapid growth, reaching over $10 million in revenue within three years. Chapman also shares her experience as a woman and minority-owned business in the manufacturing industry, competing against larger companies for contracts. The conversation aims to provide inspiration and practical insights for business leaders looking to build and improve their workplace culture.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon and Xenium HR: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Lacey Halpern of Xenium HR joins the Human Resources for Small Business podcast to discuss the difference between paid time off (PTO) and vacation & sick time policies.

During the episode, Lacey shares her thoughts on why employers would choose one "time off" policy over the other and explains how each works.

In this episode:

- The advantages and disadvantages of paid time off (PTO) and vacation/sick time
- Making the switch from vacation/sick time to a PTO bank
- Carry-over of unused PTO
- "Going into the negative"
- Which time off policy is easier to track?

Host: Brandon Laws, Xenium HR
Guest: Lacey Halpern, Xenium HR

Running Time: 14:08  

Music Introduction By: "Cut and Dry Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons "Attribution 3.0" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"

In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, host Brandon Laws interviews David Dodson, an accomplished author and successful entrepreneur. David shares insights from his book, The Manager's Handbook, which provides a comprehensive blueprint for effective management, offering practical and data-driven strategies for hiring, onboarding, and day-to-day leadership. The episode provides valuable insights for managers seeking to optimize team performance and achieve business success.

TAKEAWAYS

• Managers must move away from hiring based on gut feelings and move toward hiring based on outcomes.

• In the first one hundred days, the connective tissue is built between the employee and the company, so proper leadership during this initial time is critical to retention.

• Instant performance management with radical candor is essential in developing your people and building trust.

• The exit interview is a secret weapon for greater understanding and development of the manager’s strengths and weaknesses, and it must be conducted effectively by someone who is not the direct report.

• Often, we can confuse busyness with progress — we must ask ourselves whether we’re moving the company forward or just “being busy.”

Sign up for the annual What People Want from Work Survey by Aug 31: https://xeniumhr.com/what-people-want-from-work/

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Can introverts lead well? If so, what makes an introvert a good leader? According to our guest, Berry Kruijning, approximately 30% of workplace leaders in North America are introverts, and their unique approach to leadership is something to be recognized and maximized. Instead of adjusting to a one-size-fits-all standard of expectations, Berry believes that introverted leaders should embrace their introversion and tap into the unique qualities that set them apart as effective leaders.

Give this episode a listen, and learn more about introversion in the workplace from Berry Kruijning, leadership development and communications coach, teacher, and founder of Crowning Communications.

TAKEAWAYS

• Introverts like to become prepared, so you can make virtual meetings more introvert-friendly by sending out an agenda in advance. 
• Introverts can stay in control during “tough conversations” by coming prepared, listening, and asking probing questions.
• Quality, excellence, and productivity are motivating factors for introverts.
• Successful introvert leaders embrace being an introvert, acknowledge that, and build a team around them with people that compliment them in their abilities.
• Culture change starts with recognizing that, in a team, you need both introverted and extroverted people.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Berry Kruijning helps organizations recognize the different approach of the introverted leader. With a background in leadership coaching, communications coaching, and teaching, Berry is passionate about helping introverts “embrace their introversion” and find strength in their unique perspectives.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR

🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws

📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”

Contact Brandon: 

Email Brandon.Laws@xeniumhr.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com

Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.