Transform Your Workplace

_*]:min-w-0 !gap-3.5"> HR expert Nicole Blevins discusses navigating layoffs with humanity and professionalism. She emphasizes exploring alternatives first, creating fair selection processes, having managers lead termination conversations rather than HR, providing resources and support to departing employees, and maintaining transparency with remaining staff to address survivor guilt and preserve organizational culture. Key Timestamps [00:45] - Nicole explains HR's role in layoffs and the importance of handling them with compliance and empathy [02:54] - Discussion of who initiates layoff conversations and exploring alternatives first [05:25] - How to address employee rumors and maintain transparency during budget challenges [08:17] - Nicole's coaching process for clients facing layoffs, including fair selection criteria [10:28] - Best practices for layoff conversations - why managers should lead, not HR consultants [13:35] - Approaches for conducting terminations with humanity and respect [15:33] - Providing resources and support tools beyond the final day [18:36] - Managing cultural impact and survivor guilt among remaining employees [22:56] - Final advice for organizations facing their first layoff situation A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's 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." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. 👉 Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

HR expert Marcia Homer discusses the workplace dynamics between Gen X managers and Gen Z employees. She explains how different generational upbringings create workplace conflicts - Gen X grew up as independent "latchkey kids" while Gen Z is the most connected and supervised generation ever. Homer emphasizes that Gen Z isn't lazy but wants to work differently, seeking purpose, flexibility, and growth over grinding. The solution lies in improved communication, patience, and non-judgmental curiosity from all generations. TAKEAWAYS Different upbringings create conflict: Gen X developed independence while Gen Z grew up highly supervised and digitally connected Gen Z seeks purpose over burnout: They want meaningful work, flexibility, and regular feedback rather than grinding for status Communication is key: Success requires patience, clear expectations, and non-judgmental curiosity from all generations [00:38] - How Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z grew up differently [01:06] - Gen X as "latchkey kids" - independent, unsupervised upbringing [02:30] - Gen X values: resilience, "suck it up" mentality, separating work and personal life [04:26] - Gen Z as most connected and supervised generation ever [04:56] - Impact of major events on Gen Z: 9/11, 2008 crisis, climate change, COVID [06:28] - Workplace conflicts between Gen X managers and Gen Z employees [10:45] - COVID's impact on workplace dynamics and remote work shift [11:22] - Debunking the "Gen Z is lazy" myth [11:53] - What Gen Z actually wants: purpose, flexibility, growth over grind [13:26] - The positive shift Gen Z brings to workplace conversations [14:44] - Advice for Gen Z: slow down and learn the rules of the game first [16:55] - Gen Z prefers real-time feedback over annual performance reviews [19:04] - Gen Z tendency to overshare personal information at work [21:05] - Gen Z's digital tool proficiency and time management skills [22:57] - Career development conversations with Gen Z [25:28] - The core solution: better communication and psychological safety [27:24] - Approaching conflicts with "non-judgmental curiosity" [29:11] - Communicating across multiple generations as a senior leader [31:56] - Key motivators for Gen Z retention and engagement [34:22] - Skills leaders need for 2030 workforce dominated by Gen Z [36:34] - Resources: "Play the Game" book and GenZWorkplaceFixes.com A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's 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." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. 👉 Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

What happens when a brilliant engineer can't explain their ideas to decision-makers? In this episode, Neil Thompson, founder of Teach the Geek, joins Brandon Laws to share his journey from anxious, sweat-drenched presentations to confidently speaking in front of executives—and how he now helps other technical professionals do the same. If you manage or work alongside STEM professionals, this episode offers a practical look at the communication gaps that stall careers and what leaders can do about it. From filler words to presentation strategy, Neil breaks down how better speaking skills unlock both business outcomes and career growth. Key Timestamps Key Timestamp Topics [00:00] Welcome & episode overview [01:00] Meet Neil Thompson and the origins of Teach the Geek [02:00] Early career missteps with technical presentations [04:30] The wake-up call: poor communication = missed opportunities [05:30] Joining Toastmasters and practicing communication [07:00] The real challenge: talking to non-technical audiences [08:30] Why jargon blocks understanding [10:00] Body language, nerves, and delivery mistakes [11:00] The career value of strong communication [12:00] Visualization as a tool to reduce nerves [13:00] Why storytelling works—even for technical topics [14:30] Do organizations train STEM pros in communication? [16:00] The missed opportunity in L&D [17:00] Real-world example from a technical conference [18:00] Reps and practice: building the communication muscle [19:00] How Neil structures technical speaking training [20:00] Designing with outcomes and call-to-action in mind [21:00] Feedback loops and real-time improvement [22:00] Tracking filler words and reducing them over time [23:30] Self-advocacy and career advancement through better speaking [24:30] Who reaches out: HR or individuals? [25:00] Success stories and guest anecdotes [26:00] Why silence is better than filler [27:00] Using feedback surveys to measure speaking progress [28:00] Advice to HR and leaders on training technical teams [29:00] Where to learn more about Teach the Geek A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's 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." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. 👉 Learn more Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

John Rossman, former Amazon executive and author of "The Amazon Way," discusses Amazon's 14 leadership principles and their application to modern businesses. As a fifth-generation Oregonian who worked at Amazon from 2002-2005, Rossman witnessed the company's transformation into a platform company. He emphasizes customer obsession, the importance of simplifying work processes, and ownership mentality. His latest book "Big Bet Leadership" provides a playbook for organizational transformation in the hyper-digital era, focusing on systematic experimentation and long-term thinking. TAKEAWAYS Customer Obsession Beyond Transactions: Practice both tactical customer service and strategic curiosity about customers' broader needs upstream and downstream of current interactions. Simplify Before Innovating: Focus on zero-based redesign and radical simplification of work processes before adding new technologies - most companies have calcified layers that need unwinding. Ownership Mindset for Long-term Success: Think enterprise-wide beyond your role, never say "that's not my job," and refuse to sacrifice long-term value for short-term results. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

In this conversation, Brandon Laws sits down with Fritz Brumder, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of WiseOx, to explore how "AI mascots" are helping organizations move from one-off ChatGPT experiments to secure, organization-wide automation. Fritz explains why legacy chatbots struggled, how large-language-model (LLM) technology unlocks far richer support and HR workflows, and what an 80/20 security model looks like in practice. They also discuss practical first-steps for leaders, new skills employees should cultivate, and a realistic one-, two-, and ten-year outlook on AI's impact on talent and trust at work. If you're AI-curious but cautious about compliance, this episode offers a roadmap—and a few reality checks—to get started. Key Timestamps Time stamp Topic 00:00 Welcome, show purpose, and Xenium HR sponsor read 02:00 Introducing Fritz Brumder and the concept of "AI mascots" at WiseOx 03:30 Fritz's startup journey, timing the leap from video tech to GenAI 07:00 Chatbots 1.0 vs. LLM-powered assistants—what changed and why it matters 11:00 Training an AI on SOPs, policies, and compliance docs: HR use cases 15:00 Internal roll-outs first, then customer-facing support and sales assistants 18:00 Beyond chat: email, voice, multilingual interaction, and task automation 22:00 Data privacy & the 80/20 security model (private vector store + LLM) 26:00 Pricing, five-step implementation path, and change-management tips 30:00 Future-proof skills: clear problem-solving, prompt design, creative thinking 33:00 1-, 2-, and 10-year AI forecasts—why pace feels fast but adoption is a decade-long shift 34:30 Workflow examples: AI-driven applicant screening and onboarding 35:30 How to connect with Fritz and learn more about WiseOx; episode close A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more › Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

Matt Wolfe discusses how the StoryBrand framework transforms both marketing and workplace culture by positioning businesses as guides rather than heroes in their customers' stories. This approach creates shared identity and purpose among teams while improving external messaging, leading to better alignment between departments and stronger organizational culture overall. TAKEAWAYS StoryBrand positions businesses as guides helping customer heroes solve problems, not as heroes themselves. Shared brand stories create internal alignment and unified team identity beyond just marketing benefits. Implementation requires team conversations, consistent application across touchpoints, and regular reinforcement. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

Catherine Thorpe, CEO of Nurse Next Door and author of "Bold Kindness," discusses her revolutionary leadership approach that eliminates traditional hierarchies and empowers employees to be self-led. She defines bold kindness as caring deeply about people's development while understanding them as individuals to provide feedback they can hear and act upon. Thorpe eliminated performance reviews and managers eight years ago, instead focusing on real-time feedback and quarterly self-led check-ins. Her philosophy centers on treating employees as adults who know their jobs and can make decisions autonomously, creating a workplace where people can bring their whole selves to work and find genuine connection and purpose. TAKEAWAYS Self-Led Model: Organizations can eliminate traditional management layers by treating employees as self-directed adults who understand their responsibilities, know when to ask for help, and can make autonomous decisions without constant oversight. Bold Kindness Definition: Effective leadership combines caring deeply about someone's development with understanding them personally, enabling leaders to give feedback in ways people can hear, accept, and act upon for their growth. Vulnerability Creates Connection: Leaders who show vulnerability and allow employees to bring their whole selves to work create deeper organizational connections and higher engagement than traditional professional boundaries. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

This HR "Mythbusters" episode features Nicole Blevins quizzing Brandon Laws on common HR misconceptions. They explore myths about HR's role, documentation requirements, overtime exemptions, layoff procedures, performance management, and employee rights. Key takeaways include: HR serves both company and employee interests, culture is everyone's responsibility, and regular feedback beats annual reviews alone. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

John R. Miles, former Fortune 50 executive and military officer, discusses his transformation from corporate success to purposeful living. After experiencing burnout and personal trauma, he developed the "Passion Struck" framework to help people move from lives they "should" be living to lives they "could" be living. He emphasizes that workplace disengagement stems from a "mattering crisis" rather than just workload issues, advocating for intentional leadership focused on helping employees feel valued and significant. TAKEAWAYS The Real Problem: Workplace burnout is less about workload and more about "worth load" - people feeling invisible and that their work doesn't matter to others. Mosquito Audit: Identify and address the three types of "mosquitoes" in your life - invisible suffocators (negative people), bloodsuckers (boundary destroyers), and energy drains that prevent intentional living. Gardener Leadership: Leaders should be "eyes on, hands off" - providing clear vision and goals while empowering employees to find creative solutions without micromanagement. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

HR consultant Daniel Strode discusses AI's impact on human resources, highlighting recruitment and data analytics as prime areas for adoption. He introduces his "5P model" emphasizing policy/governance and people/culture transformation as critical success factors. While AI adoption remains slow—only 25% of adults regularly use tools like ChatGPT—organizations are unknowingly integrating AI through software updates. Strode advocates for proper governance policies ahead of regulations like the EU AI Act, positioning AI as a collaborative tool enhancing rather than replacing human capabilities. TAKEAWAYS 5P Framework: Success requires addressing process enhancement, personalization, predictive insights, policy/governance, and people/culture transformation Governance First: Establish AI ethics policies, bias auditing, and compliance training before implementation, especially with upcoming EU AI Act regulations Human-AI Partnership: Use AI for manual processes while focusing HR professionals on strategic work like employee experience and change management A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 🎙️ Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws "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." — Brandon Laws About Xenium HR Xenium HR transforms workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium empowers growth by simplifying HR and creating environments where employees thrive. Learn more → Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About Brandon Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube