Transform Your Workplace

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 of our business and leads to a true culture of abundance — real dollars and cents value. The more we show appreciation in our personal lives and our professional lives, the more it becomes easy and intuitive to continue to do so. GUEST AT A GLANCE Sarah McVanel is a recognition expert, speaker, coach, and author of Forever Recognize Others' Greatness: Solution-Focused Strategies for Satisfied Staff, High-Performing Teams, and Healthy Bottom Lines. She is passionate about helping businesses build “healthy and recognition-rich” 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.”

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 accomplished author, researcher, and consultant, Karla is passionate about teaching leaders to “revalue” their emotions to create effective communication and deeper empathy in the workplace. Her latest book, The Power of Emotions at Work: Accessing the Vital Intelligence in Your Workplace, is available wherever books are sold. 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.”

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 consulting firm having successfully coached over one million leaders. With expertise in driving change in operating models, results, and culture, Pamela is passionate about seeing leaders connect meaningfully with their teams to create a productive and engaging work environment. 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.”

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.”  

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 in their careers and in the workplace. She also leads a podcast called “Jazzed About 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. Learn more about Xenium HR at xeniumhr.com Follow Xenium on Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.    

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 value, owning your impact, and daring not to know. If leaders have the guts to say that they don't know what to do, it actually incites and engages people to step forward because they want to contribute to solving problems. You learn and grow from a place of discomfort, and part of that is pausing and seeking to understand what really matters. GUEST AT A GLANCE Debbie is a thought leader and expert in leadership and management education. With twenty years of experience in coaching and leadership development, Kate is passionate about helping others reach their full potential in the workplace. Both women are dedicated to seeing companies place increased emphasis on the culture of humanity. 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.  

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 welcome Linda Cohen back to the podcast. Nationally recognized “kindness expert,” speaker, and consultant, Linda is well-versed in how to incorporate kindness into workplace culture. Author of two books, Linda is passionate about seeing leaders and employees walk in kindness, ultimately resulting in business 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 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.  

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 🔊 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.

Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams: A Manual on Benchmarking to Best Practices for Competitive Advantage It’s time to head back to work. Or… is it? Dive into the in-person vs. remote vs. hybrid discussion with our guest, Gleb Tsipursky, author of Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams. In this episode, he and host Brandon Laws talk about how executives can make strategic, sustainable decisions for the good of their employees and, ultimately, the future of their companies.  TAKEAWAYS When deciding on the right return-to-the-office strategy, the key is a willingness to be flexible. Team leaders must keep in mind that the office environment is best-suited for collaboration and individual assignments can be completed by employees remotely.  Companies that are currently forcing their employees back to the workplace place themselves at a competitive disadvantage. The pandemic has taught employees that time is worth somewhat more than money. We tend to feel that other people will share the same opinions that we do, so we don't ask them about their opinions. GUEST AT A GLANCE Gleb Tsipursky is a disaster avoidance expert — a consultant, coach, and trainer for the forward-thinking executive who wishes to “future-proof” their business. With over 20 years of experience and a Ph.D. from Chapel Hill and an M.A. from Harvard, Gleb is a published author and thought leader in strategic planning and 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:  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.