How to Balance Workforce Trends With Employee Expectations and Why Leadership Development Programs Fail

The pandemic has accelerated the shift from lifelong employment to demands for purpose, safety, and inclusion, creating new challenges for organizations. In this episode, Rachel Cooke, former HR Director at American Express and host of the Modern Mentor podcast, highlights significant workforce trends and evolving employee expectations. She tells personal stories, like her friend who commutes an hour each way only to sit in a phone booth for Zoom calls, illustrating the absurdities of some hybrid work policies. Rachel critiques California’s Assembly Bill 2751, arguing it tackles the wrong issues of burnout and emphasizes the need for genuine DEI practices beyond quotas. She also explores why many leadership development programs fail, pointing to organizational dysfunction and lack of practical application, and shares strategies for creating more effective training. This episode is packed with insights for leaders looking to boost team performance and adapt to modern workforce demands.

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