Transform Your Workplace

This episode contains simple strategies for finding peace and gratitude amidst the chaos of working from home. With the unexpected arrival of COVID-19, many of us were sent home to work, where we have to try to be productive despite challenges like homeschooling our kids, managing our work schedules, and navigating neverending remote work obstacles. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws interviews Cindy Baker, a career and small business coach, about how to approach your new normal as a work-from-home employee. The author of a new self-help book, Rockin’ Life From Home, Cindy is passionate about passing on the knowledge she’s gleaned over years of working from home to the Transform Your Workplace listeners. Takeaways: An approach of gratitude is cultivated by making choices, each and every day, to notice and appreciate the small things. Being intentional about journaling and list-making can bring clarity to your thoughts and your workday. Remaining flexible and being willing to pivot are critical aspects of navigating the at-home workday with success. GUEST AT A GLANCE Cindy Baker is an expert in the fields of human behavior, mindfulness, spirituality, alternative healing, happiness, and success principles. A career and small business coach for over ten years, Cindy is passionate about helping others find lasting happiness through simple time-tested methods. Years of experience navigating remote work and family pressures has culminated in her book, Rockin’ Life From Home: Success Strategies to Balance Family Life and Working From Home. 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.

Andy Storch, a talent development connector, consultant, motivational speaker, podcast host, and recently published author, offers advice for how to stop operating in reaction mode and start taking ownership of your career. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws and Andy Storch dive into the topics discussed in Andy’s first book, Own Your Career, Own Your Life. Own Your Career, Own Your Life. Through his wide-ranging experience, challenges, and victories, Andy aspires to help others “get the absolute most” out of their personal and professional lives. Takeaways: To take ownership of your career, you must take responsibility and action despite challenges. Owning your career begins with genuine reflection on what you’ve been prioritizing and what you value. Change is inevitable, so you need to be flexible with your career plan and goals. A personal brand is critical to your future success. Comparing yourself to others is futile; we are all on our own unique journey. GUEST AT A GLANCE Andy Storch is a talent development connector, consultant, motivational speaker, podcast host, and the author of his debut book, Own Your Career, Own Your Life: Stop Drifting and Take Control of Your Future. His mission is to “get the absolute most out of life and inspire others to do the same.”  LEARN MORE  If this podcast piqued your interest and you’re ready for more, pick up a copy of Andy Storch’s book, Own Your Career, Own Your Life: Stop Drifting and Take Control of Your Future, available on Amazon. He has also created a companion journal to go along with the book and a 90-day guide with morning rituals and evening prompts so that you can track progress towards your goals. If you want to connect with Andy, find him on LinkedIn or Instagram. 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 time to get proactive so that we can navigate these unprecedented times without drowning in fear, uncertainty, and negativity. After all, if we don’t prioritize mental health, we will struggle to lead and serve others effectively in every area of our lives. In this episode, Emily Elrod and Brandon Laws offer their go-to tips and techniques for self-care during the current health crisis. By prioritizing their own emotional health, listeners can find clarity and peace in their personal lives and better productivity in the workplace.  Takeaways: If we don’t get proactive, our negative thoughts will control our emotions and, ultimately, our behaviors. Prioritizing self-care is critical to our success and happiness not only in the workplace but in our personal lives as well. We can care for ourselves by reading, meditating, and finding what “fills up our cup.” Showing gratitude encourages others while also fulfilling the one who gives it away. GUEST AT A GLANCE   Emily Elrod is a corporate consultant for Workzbe, where teaches business leaders how to create safe spaces for real discussions, hold one another accountable, foster human connection, and prioritize self-care and mental health. She is also the host of her own podcast, Unapologetically Bold, where she digs deep into what it means to be a human at home and at work.  LEARN MORE If you’d like to hear even more tips from this conversation, check out the full podcast here. To learn more about Emily Elrod, you can find her and send her a message on LinkedIn. You can also check out the work that Emily is doing at workzbe.com or by listening to her podcast, Unapologetically Bold. 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.

The thing about leadership is it's hard to explain, but when you're in the midst of good leadership, everyone in the room can see it and feel it. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, guest Chance Stewart defines effective servant leadership and gives real and raw advice about how to know whether you’re actually leading or you’re simply “in charge.” The goal of this podcast: to do away with our preconceived notions and learn how to lead with love. Takeaways: Just because one holds a position of authority, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is an effective leader. Authoritarian leaders may be missing the point by trying to manipulate teams into doing what they want instead of focusing on what the team needs. A genuine leader needs to be someone worth following. Leading with love means valuing relationships with those who follow you. Some of the best leaders don’t hold an “official” position of authority. GUEST AT A GLANCE Chance Stewart’s leading-with-love approach is informed by his grandfather, an ironworker who lived to love people. Chance’s grandfather taught him that if we're not taking care of people, then the rest of our efforts to “do something” in this world really don’t matter. As a servant leader and speaker on leadership development, Chance now carries on his grandfather’s legacy in both his personal and professional life. When it comes to the workplace, he’s passionate about helping organizations turn a culture of dysfunction into a culture of success.  Find out more about Chance Stewart and leading with love by going to his website, chancedstewart.com. You can also find him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. He invites all of you to have a chat with him or send him a good meme. 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.

When it comes to workplace obstacles, awareness is the first step to overcoming them. In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws talks with leadership author, expert and consultant, Errol Doebler, who provides thoughtful leadership anecdotes and guidance for listeners. From his time as a Navy SEAL and FBI Special Agent to his current work as a leadership consultant, Errol shares commonalities in the path toward effective leadership, including recognition of challenges and changes to team behavior. Takeaways: Awareness is the first step toward cultivating effective leadership. Behavior, not ideas, drives performance. If we want to see a change in culture, we must first address the behaviors that hinder. Leaders must establish clear expectations before they can hold a team accountable for undesired behavior. A detailed process is critical for true transformation. GUEST AT A GLANCE This episode’s guest, Errol Doebler, is a man of many skills and much experience. From his time as a Navy SEAL and FBI agent to his work in leadership consulting, Errol knows what it is to face immense challenges and build processes to overcome them. He’s the founder of his own leadership firm, Leader 193, and the author of The Process, Art, and Science of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Confidence and Clarity in Combat, in the Boardroom, and at the Kitchen Table.  LEARN MORE If you want to learn more about Errol Doebler’s process for cultivating effective leadership, check out his website at leader193.com or find him on Instagram or Facebook: @Leader_193. You can also find his book on his website or Amazon.com. 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 Brett Cooper and Evans Kerrigan, authors of Solving the People Problem, about how to build positive and effective workplace relationships. Co-founders of Integris Performance Advisors, a firm specializing in employee engagement and efficiency, Brett and Evan tackle the topics that all organizations grapple with daily. They also provide valuable insight and resources that help teams boost morale and increase productivity. Takeaways: The “people problem” is our struggle to work effectively with others in the workplace. We must first become self-aware, and then we can seek to understand our colleagues’ perspectives, approaches, strengths, and habits. Soft skills like empathy, resilience, and the ability to work with a team are critical in today’s changing workforce. Specific language is needed to effectively talk about emotional intelligence --- with common terminology, we can understand each other. When feedback becomes an expectation, real growth can begin. GUESTS AT A GLANCE  Brett Cooper and Evans Kerrigan are the best-selling authors of Solving the People Problem and co-founders of Integris Performance Advisors, a firm specializing in employee engagement and efficiency. They are passionate about facilitating genuine workplace relationships — relationships “that really work” — among the teams they help each and every day.  If you’re interested in hearing more from Brett Cooper and Evans Kerrigan, go to their website and download their field guide (free for a limited time) or take their free survey here.  Also, be sure to check out their book, Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s 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: 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, Charlotte Wiseman recounts her experience with workplace burnout and her eventual path to mental fitness. After years of work and study on the topic of healthy work-life balance, Charlotte decided to make a career of helping others with their own similar struggles, eventually founding a consulting firm of her own. Through her discussion with Brandon Laws, Charlotte redefines self-care and provides insight for the “Transform Your Workplace” audience so that they can experience genuine, long-lasting fulfillment in their careers. Takeaways: Workplace burnout is classified by a sense of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. The switch to remote work can increase your odds of burnout. Work can be a problem, but a healthy approach to work can be a part of the solution. Prioritizing self-care is critical to a healthy work-life balance.   GUEST AT A GLANCE  Charlotte Wiseman knows what it means to be exhausted by the intensity and expectations of her career. About 10 years ago, she found herself on the brink of mental collapse, so she enlisted help to wade through the questions about what went wrong and where she needed to make changes with regards to her career and personal life. Years of work and study on these critical topics led Charlotte to make a career of helping others on their paths to mental fitness and wellbeing. So, how can you find this work-life balance that Charlotte talks about in this podcast? Go to charlottewiseman.com. There you’ll find a wellness blog and some resources that can help you avoid or overcome burnout. 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.

Want to bridge the communication gap between your team members? If so, join Brandon Laws as he and his guest dive into the critical topic of workplace communication, a key component to the success of any team. In this episode, Alissa Carpenter, multigenerational workplace expert and author, discusses tips and methods for open communication that will ultimately build a culture of inclusivity and the freedom to share ideas. A few takeaways: Identifying employee strengths can be the key to helping your team feel heard and valued. Diversity and inclusion are just words unless leaders make room for each voice at the table. Employees must feel safe in sharing their ideas.  Be cognizant of your go-to, knee-jerk responses, and be open to innovation even if it’s uncomfortable. 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.” GUEST AT A GLANCE  Alissa Carpenter is the owner of Everything's Not OK and That's OK, a leadership training company, and the author of How to Listen and How to Be Heard: Inclusive Conversations at Work. Alissa is passionate about helping teams implement effective communication techniques, stay connected, and celebrate diversity. LEARN MORE There’s so much more to this important conversation about inclusivity at work. If you want to get a copy of Alissa Carpenter’s book, How to Listen and How to be Heard: Inclusive Conversations at Work, you can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold. You can also check out her website at www.notokthatsokcoach.com. 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.

We all just want to have fun… but is the workplace really the right setting? In this unique episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws gets the lowdown on the benefits of a playful workplace. His guest, Paul Lopushinsky, is a workplace play advocate and the founder of Playficient, a consulting company dedicated to helping companies invest in their employees. Even though it may have a bad wrap, Paul insists that when workplace play is implemented correctly, it can have a significant impact on productivity, morale, and the overall employee experience.  4 Takeaways: A bottom-up approach is ideal when it comes to creating a playful workplace environment. Play in the workplace leads to a boost in employee morale, productivity, and retention. Companies should be wary of implementing “forced fun” or “mandated play.” A buddy system can be an effective tool in facilitating playfulness at work. LEARN MORE If you want to learn more about Paul Lopushinsky’s ideas about play or learn about your play personality, check out his blog at www.playficient.com. If you want to hear the full conversation, check out the Transform Your Workplace blog. 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.

Have you ever felt that you, as an individual, your team, or the entire organization are working incredibly hard, but there's not much progress to show for it? Craig Lemasters calls this the "circle of stuck." In this episode with Craig Lemasters, author of Unstuck: How to Unlock and Activate the Wisdom of Others, you'll learn how to recognize when you're stuck and how to get out of the cycle of being stuck.  What we cover: What is the circle of stuck Examples of companies getting stuck Stuck vs. unstuck How meetings and email play a role in being stuck How to ask for what you need How to break the cycle of stuck About Craig Lemasters After leaving public company CEO life, Craig chose to dedicate his time to helping senior leaders get unstuck on tough challenges. He's passionate about sharing this process with other leaders because he has seen the success it can produce first hand. At GXG, they are committed to solving traditional consulting’s execution problem by curating intentional, focused conversations with expert operators who share the advantage of their knowledge and experience. These insights empower their clients to activate the best-fit solution and demonstrate measurable success. He's also convinced that this learning model has broader applications because we all get stuck sometimes. His first book, Unstuck: How to Unlock and Activate the Wisdom of Others, was released in October 2020 and offers practical tips for anyone facing the unknown on their path to a goal. Learn more and get the book   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.