Transform Your Workplace

In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, we talk with guest Vince Molinaro about his latest book, Accountable Leaders: Inspire a Culture Where Everyone Steps Up, Takes Ownership, and Delivers Results. When it comes to best practices for effective leadership, Vince has the experience and track record for results. If you’re ready to learn more about leadership accountability methodology that won’t get lost in translation, give this episode a listen. TAKEAWAYS Most organizations never set clear and measurable expectations for their leaders only to be frustrated when those leaders don’t perform. To maximize leadership accountability, companies should create explicit contracts for leaders so that they can read, understand, and sign their names to their roles and responsibilities.  Just because a leader has signed the contract, that doesn’t mean they've got the capabilities they need to be successful; support for these leaders is essential to success. Companies must demonstrate zero tolerance for leaders who behave in a toxic way.  When we avoid tough conversations or negative feedback, we weaken not only the person in the position of leadership but their team and the business as well. ABOUT THE GUEST Vince Molinaro, Ph.D. is the New York Times best-selling author of The Leadership Contract and Accountable Leaders: Inspire a Culture Where Everyone Steps Up, Takes Ownership, and Delivers Results, among several others. He is also the Founder and CEO of Leadership Contract, Inc. and has consulted with leaders from all over the world. He is passionate about inspiring leaders to be accountable to themselves, their businesses, and their 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.” 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.

What does a good leader do when the team is overwhelmed with anxiety, burned out, or depressed? Responsible leaders must recognize the signs of declining mental health in their employees and empower them to take hold of help. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, guest Lacey Partipilo addresses the timely and relevant topic of mental wellness with practice tips for business leaders. Lacey is a veteran when it comes to providing solid wisdom and insight to the Transform Your Workplace podcast audience. TAKEAWAYS Instead of trying to take on the burden of their team’s mental health, leaders should work to understand the benefits that the organization offers for mental wellness and encourage employees to take advantage of them. Leaders need to take care of themselves before they can care for their team.  Leaders must recognize the challenges that employees face and strategize how the business will play an active part in addressing them. Leaders should help break the stigma by not only talking about mental wellness in an open format but also emphasizing that seeking help is a healthy first step. ABOUT THE GUEST Director of HR and Client Success at Xenium HR, Lacey Partipilo is our go-to source when it comes to business advice and HR expertise. She is all about relationships, building connections with not only her team at Xenium but also her many business clients.  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.

In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws interviews Meghan Gerhardt, author of Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce and expert in how to effectively implement age diversity in the workplace. You’ll learn how to connect with, teach, and learn from those both older and younger than you. The result? Instead of working against each other, employees can finally bring their varied skills and experience to the table, all for the betterment of the team. It’s all about building a team poised for whatever the next generation has to offer. TAKEAWAYS Employees of all ages have insight to offer, so those of different age ranges should have a seat and a voice at the table. Age bias has been called one of the last socially acceptable biases, but bias of any kind in the workplace is a hindrance to a team’s success. Studies show that, despite differences in approach, Boomers, Gen Z, and Millennials share the same core values. If leaders want to foster trust between employees of different generations, they must create opportunities for intergenerational connection and collaboration. ABOUT THE GUEST Meghan Gerhardt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Iowa. Years of research and time in the field have taught her that intergenerational cooperation is a necessary yet overlooked aspect of an effective team. She is passionate about providing team-building strategies and workshops to help leaders maximize the potential of a multi-generational team. 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.

Let’s face it. We’re all busy. We pack our calendars, pour ourselves into work, volunteering, and family affairs, and then crawl into bed drained at the end of a jam-packed day. This is our norm. But is busyness something we just have to accept? Is it even possible to become (un)busy and still be successful? These questions and more are answered in this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast. Dive into a discussion about busyness and get some tips about how to create some space in your calendar (and your mind) with Garland Vance. TAKEAWAYS The problem: we not only think that being busy is a good thing, but we believe that when we're not busy, that something is intrinsically wrong with us. When we compare our true selves to our ideal selves, we conclude that we’re not good enough, so we need to do more which drives us into this non-stop culture of being busy, a feeling like we have to be productive all the time. Getting (un)busy starts with taking inventory of our commitments and deciding which of them can be removed from our calendar or delegated to someone else. If you’re leading a team, make “busy” a bad word in the workplace, and treat it as such. ABOUT THE GUEST Garland Vance is the author of Gettin' (un)Busy: 5 Steps to Kill Busyness and Live with Purpose, Productivity, and Peace. After years of destroying his body and mind with constant overcommitment and little self-care, Garland got a wake-up call and began to study the effects that busyness was having on his body and mind. A leadership consultant and coach, Garland Vance is passionate about helping others find peace and purpose in the workplace and every area of their lives. 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.  

Having worked with over 100,000 leaders in 35 countries, Carolyn Taylor knows what it means to affect change in the workplace. She brings her experience as a culture and accountability advisor, author, speaker, and podcast host. Here to discuss her latest book, Accountability at Work: How to Make and Keep Promises and Have Others Do the Same, Carolyn is a dependable source of inspiration and practical advice for any leader hoping to transform their workplace.  TAKEAWAYS The relationship and communication between two roles, the asker and the giver, is critical to establishing accountability. The asker wants something and the giver is in a position to deliver it. To establish and reach a goal, communication between the asker and the giver must be clear and open. Research has shown that there is a strong link between accountability and psychological safety.  An ideal scenario is one in which the asker gets what they're looking for, and the giver feels that the promise was built on their word. ABOUT THE GUEST Having worked with over 100,000 leaders in 35 countries, Carolyn Taylor knows what it means to affect change in the workplace. She is the author of Accountability at Work: How to Make and Keep Promises and Have Others Do the Same and Walking the Talk: Building a Culture for Success, both of which have been a source of inspiration and practical advice for other leaders across the globe. SHOW SPONSOR The Escape Game: Book your virtual or in-person escape room game for 10% off. 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.

Brandon Laws interviews Patty Beach about the art of getting employees aligned behind a good idea and leading them effectively toward a vision or goal. The two discuss leadership best practices for setting direction, creating “clockwork,” and empowering employees. Learn how to give your employees a voice and use the “wisdom of the group” to correct misalignments and move forward as a united front. TAKEAWAYS Unlike traditional top-down leadership, alignment in the workplace is analogous to interlocking gears turning together. If leaders create a psychologically safe environment, employees will be empowered to voice their thoughts, concerns, and questions. Tapping into “the wisdom of the crowd” not only allows leaders to make more informed decisions but also keeps employees engaged in the plan to move forward. After “setting direction,” leaders should have regular conversations with employees to increase buy-in, alignment, and ultimately, forward progress. ABOUT THE GUEST Patty Beach is a leadership development consultant and author of the book, The Art of Alignment: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Leadership. With over thirty years of experience coaching and training leaders, Patty’s expertise is helping emerging leaders align their teams toward a common goal. 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.

Get ready for an incredible story of what it really means to “seize the day.” In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Caroline Boudreaux recounts an evening in May of 2000 where she visited an orphanage in India. Caroline was struck not only by the poverty but also by the untapped potential that she witnessed in the over 100 orphaned children. That very evening, Caroline decided to found the Miracle Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing access to education, nutrition, health, and protective services to children in need. This is Caroline’s compelling story of sacrifice, heartbreak, and fulfillment — a story that is still being written. Sign up for the Xenium Beyond Compensation Survey - Deadline May 15, 2021 ABOUT THE GUEST After leaving a career in advertising, Caroline decided to take a trip around the world. What she found there led to her decision to found the Miracle Foundation, a non-profit that, since its inception, has improved the lives of over 15,000 children in need. Caroline is passionate about measuring real success at each orphanage and streamlining the processes to make sure every child has access to the services they so desperately need. 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.

Brandon Laws interviews Xenium’s own Sara Bradley, an HR Account Representative and solid resource for learning how to pursue a life of wellness. The two cover topics such as self-care, work-life balance, and workplace initiatives to promote wellness in the lives of employees. Your busy schedule doesn’t have to dictate your wellness. Listen in to learn how to balance it all with no burnout. TAKEAWAYS Wellness isn’t just related to our physical well-being. We must be willing to take stock of all areas of our lives if we want to experience holistic wellness. Employers do have a critical role in promoting employee wellness, but employees must hold themselves accountable for it as well. Finding work-life balance starts with identifying priorities and setting boundaries. If employers want to promote wellness among their teams, they must be willing to give employees space and time to take advantage of wellness services. Sign up for the Xenium Beyond Compensation Survey - Deadline May 15, 2021 ABOUT THE GUEST The guest of this podcast episode is one of Xenium’s own, Sara Bradley. Sara is an HR Account Representative and is passionate about delivering the best service to her clients. She is a coveted member of the Xenium team and an expert in all things HR. 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.

In this unconventional episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, we take on a topic frequently requested by our audience: best practices for onboarding new employees. Brandon Laws interviews our latest new hire, Gabrielle Cohen, to get her take on her onboarding experience with Xenium. We cover the good, the bad, the tried, and the true so that you can take what worked (and avoid what didn’t) as you hone your new-hire onboarding experience. Sign up for the Xenium Beyond Compensation Survey - Deadline May 15, 2021 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.

It’s all in the name of growth, and sometimes the only way to grow is to challenge the status quo. This episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast features guest Lilith Christiansen, Chief Strategy and Product Officer of SilkRoad Technology, and her reflections on the transformative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on unsuspecting businesses. There’s no doubt that the pandemic exposed workplace weaknesses, but what better response than to learn from the challenge? Listen to learn how you can make the right changes for the future of your business, no matter what obstacle arises next. TAKEAWAYS: If we want to be the best business leaders we can be, we must reflect on the weaknesses that the pandemic exposed and learn how to remedy them. Employees across the board reported that the pandemic resulted in a significant increase in job responsibilities. Employees stated that role confusion and unanswered questions were also common in the weeks and months following the onset of the pandemic.  Despite the many challenges that the pandemic presented, many businesses saw increased productivity, resulting in a willingness to continue a work-from-home or hybrid home/workplace model for the future. ABOUT THE GUEST: Lilith Christiansen is the Chief Strategy and Product Officer of SilkRoad Technology and an industry expert, author, and speaker. With an extensive background in talent strategy and business management, Lilith is passionate about helping her clients realize their potential, implement relevant strategies, and grow their businesses. 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.