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 this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Emmy Thomas, VP of Brand and Marketing for Logical Position, a premier PPC management company and digital marketing agency. Emmy talks about her career with LP and how the company has tackled challenges brought on by the pandemic and an ever-increasing remote workforce. Listen in and learn how to engage employees, ramp up clear communication, and lead effectively, whether your team is in-office, hybrid, or remote.   TAKEAWAYS The pandemic caused companies to have to fill unexpected ‘holes’ left by the switch from in-office to remote work.  The remote work environment has leveled the playing field of the employee experience since all employees receive the same communication at once. The remote onboarding experience must be dynamic and engaging — not just talking to employees through a screen all day.  The LP leadership team has open ears for feedback from all levels of the company. Through frequent employee surveying, LP leadership can get a pulse on how employees are feeling and areas of potential improvement and expansion.   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 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.

Our most recent guest, Jackie Insinger, believes in the power of the positive. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, she and host Brandon Laws talk about the science behind Positive Psychology, especially when it comes to the workplace. Looking to transform your team? Listen in and get an inside glimpse into Jackie’s new book, Spark Brilliance, all about how leaders can effectively implement Positive Psychology at work.   TAKEAWAYS In business, we can’t stay in the neutral, but instead must push forward and maximize the potential in the positive. Positive Psychology is about “building what’s strong, not just fixing what's wrong.” The Platinum Rule is to treat others how they wish to be treated, a mindset that positive leaders must adopt.  Growth and innovation happen when leaders lay a foundation of safety that encourages people to take risks. Positive leaders have the power to “spark brilliance” in the people around them by deciding how they want to show up 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.

SHOW NOTES It’s time to give your people what they need — a career with purpose and meaning that transcends their job titles. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws sits down with Julie Winkle Giulioni, career development expert and author of Promotions Are So Yesterday: Redefine Career Development. Help Employees Thrive. Listen in to learn about some common misconceptions when it comes to career growth and how to incorporate employee development into everything you do. TAKEAWAYS The dysfunction surrounding career development is due to a lack of an expansive definition for the concept itself. Employees who don't perceive growth opportunities are 7.9 times more eager to leave, even if they like their job. Employees need a career growth roadmap that takes them from experience to experience. Employers need to seize the opportunity to create a custom growth experience that will speak to the unique needs of each employee. Conversation and relationships are the keys to finding out where the employee’s passions lie — and they are critical to retention during these difficult times. 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.

Craving connection at work? According to our most recent guest, Charmaine Hammond, personal connection is critical to mental health and the overall health of a business. Listen in to learn some best practices for increasing opportunities for meaningful connection among in-office, remote, and hybrid workers alike.   TAKEAWAYS Workplace conflict increases as employees navigate frequent change and uncertainty. With the rise of remote work, teams are missing impromptu or informal connection in the workplace. Informal connection is critical to workplace culture and team elements like building trust and maintaining relationships. When employees can see only names and black squares in a Zoom meeting, assumptions and miscommunications abound. Even though we’re connected virtually through different platforms and tools, many say that the quality of that connection is not as meaningful. Meeting norms, courtesies, or rules of engagement help employees know how to “show up” to business meetings. 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.

When it comes to the well-being of employees, how much responsibility should an employer take on? According to guest Ravi Swaminathan, a growing number of companies are doing more than just giving lip service regarding employee wellness. In fact, they’re taking action by offering some unconventional benefits. One such benefit is TaskHuman, an app that gives users virtual one-on-one access to experts in virtually every category of wellbeing. Listen in to learn about this exciting new offering and how it may help you attract and retain top talent.    TAKEAWAYS Wellbeing is simply the state of who you are and how you feel. Your wellbeing can change depending on what you’re going through physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Companies engender employee loyalty by choosing more areas of your personal life to support.  Supporting employees with new and unconventional benefits helps companies attract and retain the best talent. TaskHuman allows employees to access live, unlimited one-on-one coaching from all over the globe.   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.

Having trouble scaling your business when it comes to HR? According to our most recent guest, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with HR aficionado Matt Tanner. The two discuss common HR blunders that business leaders make when trying to keep up with company growing pains. Ultimately, Matt explains that whether you outsource or hire, passing the “HR Hat” to an expert is vital to the growth of your business. TAKEAWAYS In smaller organizations, it’s not uncommon for someone to wear the “HR Hat” who isn’t trained or lacks the experience to do the job effectively. Many small businesses are terrified that they are “missing something” when running HR, putting them at risk for being sued. Employees are often wearing many hats, but oftentimes, the HR Hat is one of the last that small teams pass off. Once a business has an official employee, an HR expert is necessary. When untrained or inexperienced employees are wearing the HR Hat, they tend to lean toward staying out of trouble instead of working with a specific strategy in mind. 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.

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.

If you’re a business owner, you know that scalability is crucial to a company’s success. Listen in as Brandon Laws interviews Chris Ronzio, author of The Business Playbook, and learn what you can do to ensure that your company grows in healthy ways. Gain a fresh perspective on how to document and delegate when it comes to your company’s profile, people, policies, and processes.  TAKEAWAYS Owners shouldn’t be stepping in to do every job in the business; instead, they should create and implement solid systems. Leaders and employees must be aligned because consistency equals growth. A complete business playbook is made up of the company’s profile, people, policies, and processes. A business playbook isn’t a top-down assignment to be passed off to employees but rather a living set of documents that leaders and employees alike can own. Scalability is about giving employees clear expectations and letting them take ownership of improving their area of the business. 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.