Human Resources For Small Business

We’re long overdue for a candid discussion about mental health and mental illness in the workplace. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Melissa Doman, an Organizational Psychology expert, to talk about the necessity of breaking the stigma and cultivating a culture of transparency when it comes to mental wellbeing. And, as the Great Resignation continues to take its toll on businesses of all industries and sizes, it’s a conversation we can’t afford to ignore. TAKEAWAYS Many employees don’t feel comfortable broaching the topic of mental health in the workplace. Mental health is more than workplace wellness; it is about accessibility, diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, and learning and development across an organization. People are nervous to speak up about mental health issues because they may be misunderstood and compromise their jobs or career paths. We must normalize experiencing and talking about uncomfortable negative emotions. The COVID-

Listen in to the latest episode of Transform Your Workplace, where the conversation is all about effective talent acquisition. Brandon Laws talks with top recruiter and talent acquisition expert, Tatiyana Cure, about her book, Hire to Win: Managers Practical Guide for Attracting and Interviewing Top Talent. Learn about best practices for writing job descriptions, interviewing candidates, and selecting the right hire, all while cutting out the tedious and time-consuming methods that we’ve all grown accustomed to. TAKEAWAYS The biggest cost of a bad hire is your own mental health and productivity. A vague job description attracts a high number of candidates, so hiring managers end up investing too much time scratching the surface instead of determining if it’s the right fit. When interviewing, ask the same questions to all candidates so that you can adequately compare them to one another to find the best for the job. Set aside substantial time to look at resumes instead of glancing at the candidates and making

Returning guest Victoria Dew sits down with Brandon Laws to discuss Dewpoint Communications’ latest report, The New Rules of Employee Experience and Communications in 2022. Get an up-to-date glimpse into what organizations of all sizes and across all industries had to say about the past year and its impact on their people and communication as a whole. TAKEAWAYS We’ve learned that change is a constant and that the need to adapt is not going to go away anytime soon. This new era of innovation means that we get to recreate, reimagine, and reinvent so many aspects of the employee experience, communication, and connection. The silver bullet for the employee experience is embracing chaos and complexity instead of implementing a one-size-fits-all approach. Employees are tired of offering their ideas and opinions only to realize that leaders won’t take action. Being proactive versus reactive when it comes to employee retention is the most strategic, smartest way to run a business.

SHOW NOTES Let’s face it. Remote work can be difficult, especially when it comes to leading teams and facilitating successful collaboration. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Anneke Victorica, HR expert and founder and director of BloomHR. Listen in as the two discuss approaches, resources, and best practices for navigating HR challenges in the ever-changing remote workplace. TAKEAWAYS The key to remote HR is finding great external support and service providers. When it comes to culture, the hiring process plays a critical role because it determines whether new employees will contribute to a positive culture. If new to HR, it’s important to be self-aware and true to your strengths, interests, and struggles.  Relationships will always matter, so those trying to navigate remote HR must be intentional about making and deepening these connections. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

Considering taking a remote position? Or just in need of some tips to boost your remote performance? In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Jill Duffy to talk about Jill’s book, The Everything Guide to Remote Work. Listen in to learn how to maximize the benefits and navigate the challenges of a remote position. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Research says that the more autonomy workers have, the more likely they are to be productive and loyal to their organizations. One prominent challenge in remote work is difficulty in creating boundaries that support work-life balance. Many remote companies offer an unlimited paid-time-off policy, which means that you earn or accrue PTO as time goes on, and you can take time off with manager approval. When working remotely, it’s easy to miss body language and signals, so over-communication is key. A specific job description is critical to the success of the remote employee. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

Brandon Laws is joined by a colleague, Lacey Partipilo of Xenium HR for a bonus episode to share an oral history of the pandemic from their perspectives.  They share their experience at work and at home, and what they believe the future holds for the workplace.  Connect with Lacey Partipilo. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

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

How should businesses deal with communication breakdown among leaders and teams? And where do they begin when it comes to clarifying needs and addressing conflict? According to recent guest Tim Franz, the Workplace Covenant is a time-test method for merging the obligations and expectations inherent in any workplace relationship. Listen in to hear how it works and get some valuable insight about fostering meaningful partnership at work.  TAKEAWAYS To truly listen to others, one must listen to understand and make sense of the feelings that the speaker is experiencing. The Workplace Covenant is a method that makes both the leader’s and the team’s implicit needs and desires explicit so that all can work together. Like any other process, the Workplace Covenant must be posted, reviewed in team meetings, and discussed frequently. The underpinning of the meaningful partnership is empathy, respect, trust, and alignment. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST

Sit down with Brandon Laws as he interviews Jane Finette, author of Unlocked: How Empowered Women Empower Women. The two discuss Jane’s latest book and her years leading a fellowship that helps emerging women develop into powerful and effective leaders. Listen in as Jane provides a fresh take on the unique role of women leaders in the workplace today. TAKEAWAYS Women are born connectors adept at creating meaningful relationships in the companies that they lead. When you empower one woman, you empower another because she will continue to give back to her family and community. Women tend to be much more people-focused, so they enjoy more employee retention and engagement.  Women will tend to build smaller than their male counterparts, but female-led businesses tend to be highly profitable despite the size. When a woman reaches a position of influence, she should use that influence to help someone else seize a career-building opportunity.

Are your communication efforts moving you forward and or are they keeping you stuck in a negative loop? Find out in this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, where Brandon Laws interviews Cheri Torres and Jackie Stavros, coauthors of Conversations Worth Having. The three discuss eye-opening tips for recognizing negative communication patterns and having meaningful conversations that move you and your team forward. TAKEAWAYS Everything we do revolves around conversation either with others or ourselves. The conversations we have either move us in the direction we want to go or keep us stuck in a loop of negativity. Our conversations affect our wellbeing, our productivity, and our engagement. Appreciative Inquiry engages us around what we want to see and where we want to go; it’s about the outcome rather than traditional problem-solving centered around fixing the root of the issue. When we come from a place of destructive, depreciative conversations, we put people in protect-mode and hinder effectiv

As leaders, we must evolve with the world around us, or we risk being left behind. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, we dive into a discussion about leading well in an ever-changing workplace. Hear from Michelle Ray — author, speaker, and entrepreneur — about her new book, Leading in Real Time, and get tips about how to embrace change as you lead your team. TAKEAWAYS If we want to see success in our businesses, our teams, and our own professional lives, we can’t lead in the same way we did even two or three years ago. Leaders must be transparent and acknowledge the feelings and passions that their employees express. Positioning yourself for success means connecting with your people, listening to them, and being open to what they have to say. If you can demonstrate to your people that the part they play has relevance and meaning, then they feel good about making a contribution and, consequently, good about themselves. Leaders must build their credibility so that their people see them as

How can leaders engender respect, empathy, and appreciation in the culture of their businesses? And is it possible to slow or stop the Great Resignation that is dismantling businesses left and right? According to Sarah McVanel, author of Forever Recognize Others' Greatness, it all starts with leaders who are willing to make intentional changes when it comes to noticing and showing appreciation for those around them. The result? A workplace culture with recognition at the forefront and a staff who won’t look elsewhere for purposeful employment.  TAKEAWAYS If people see that a new job can potentially “feed their souls” while feeding their bank accounts, then they are much more likely to look elsewhere for employment. When we give validation and verification that our employees matter, they're more likely to stay. Recognizing greatness is that unwavering belief that every one of us possesses greatness that deserves to be acknowledged. If we can create an ecosystem of appreciation, it filters out into every facet

Dive deep into a transformative discussion of emotions with Karla McLaren — author, researcher, and workplace consultant. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws interviews Karla about her lifelong research focusing on emotions in the workplace. Listen and learn how leaders can foster emotional intelligence, strong communication, and empathy in the workplace. TAKEAWAYS Employee motivation hinges on their sense of autonomy within the organization. It is common for workplaces to hinder discussion of emotion despite the immense need for open dialogue. Each emotion has a specific purpose in cognition, decision-making, and action. The emotions that drain us do so for a purpose: so that we’ll pay attention to them and ask ourselves what's wrong. You can have emotional skills that are focused on yourself, but empathy is where you bring your emotional skills out into the world. GUEST AT A GLANCE Karla McLaren has spent her career delving into the undeniable power of emotions. An accomp

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 Differenc

Let’s face it. Engagement is critical to productivity. But in the post-pandemic workplace, are managers too busy fighting fires to focus on keeping employees engaged? In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Pamela Hackett, author of Manage to Engage: How Great Managers Create Remarkable Results, to discuss the ins and outs of employee engagement. Whether the team is working in the office, from home, or a combination of the two, learn how managers can better motivate and connect with their teams. TAKEAWAYS The pandemic taught us about the under-engaged, disengaged, and those resistant to change. The direct boss has the greatest impact on employee engagement. To engage, managers must be intentional about connecting with employees on a routine basis. Managers must seek to engender confidence in their teams which ultimately leads to a greater sense of purpose and engagement. GUEST AT A GLANCE Pamela Hackett is the CEO of Proudfoot, an international operations consult

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

Is happiness fleeting? Is it possible to find fulfillment? According to guest Beverly Jones, getting “unstuck” is as simple as taking small steps toward your happiness goals. Listen as Brandon Laws and Beverly Jones discuss some simple strategies from her new book, 50 Ways to Get Unstuck, and start on the path to happiness and fulfillment today. TAKEAWAYS   The way we treat people matters, and it can have lasting effects on their career and their future as a whole. Serving a purpose and connecting with others in the workplace contributes to employees’ happiness. If we're disconnected from people, it's hard to be happy at work or anywhere else. When you experience gratitude, it’s hard to be anxious at the same time. Taking a step, no matter how small, is a catalyst for motivation. GUEST AT A GLANCE Beverly Jones — coach, consultant, and speaker — is also the author of Find Your Happy at Work: 50 Ways to Get Unstuck, Move Past Boredom, and Discover Fulfillment. She is passionate about helping leaders thrive i

Ready to inject a little more humanity into your workplace? To progress toward a workplace filled with “better humans,” guests Debbie Cohen and Kate Roeske Zummer say it’s all about becoming conscious of what no longer serves you and having the courage to try something different. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, the authors of Humanity Works Better: Five Practices to Lead with Awareness, Choice, and the Courage to Change expose the systemic roadblocks that hinder humanity in the workplace and provide practical strategies for becoming “better humans.” TAKEAWAYS   In a culture of humanity, employees need to feel like they matter and that they are part of something big, exciting, and fulfilling. When you start to change, the people around you will start to change; if something isn't right in your workforce, you can start choosing to show up differently. In the book, Debbie and Kate walk readers through five different practices that start with creating safety, working together, claiming v

A hard-hitting pandemic spurred an initial, unexpected rise in kindness. But before long, we settled back into our old ways. Could your business use a lesson in ramping up kindness? In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Linda Cohen — expert, author, and speaker — brings kindness back to the forefront of the workplace conversation. Listen in as Linda Cohen shares touching stories and drives home the idea that kindness affects everyone and everything it touches, even a business’s bottom line. TAKEAWAYS If a business’s reputation is affected by unkindness, it inevitably affects the bottom line. Creating a culture of kindness is an opportunity for you and your organization to think about what would elevate your level of inclusivity. When asked what holds them back from being kind, people tend to answer the same way: stress, fatigue, and time. Communication from leadership needs to be supportive and open so that employees feel encouraged to share their thoughts and concerns. GUEST AT A GLANCE

We aren’t likely to see a slowdown in our online interactions any time soon, so why not adjust to the new virtual normal? In our latest conversation with Lauren Sergy, author of Unmute: How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity, we learn how to contend with the greatest seismic shift in business communication since the onset of email: the virtual meeting. GUEST AT A GLANCE Lauren Sergy is a sought-after speaker, coach, and expert in business communication. She is passionate about enabling teams to enjoy effective communication both in the workplace and on the remote front. Her practical insight is evident in her recent book, Unmute: How to Master Virtual Meetings and Reclaim Your Sanity. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST