Transform Your Workplace

Mental health awareness has grown more than ever today. But managers, employers, and leaders still have a long way to go in helping their employees get the support they need to deal with mental illness especially in the workplace. How do we help our people feel better and live better? How do we shift their thoughts to make positive choices at work and in life? Join me today as I talk to Karen Millsap on how you can strengthen your mind, change your thoughts, make positive choices and walk a purposeful path so that you can help your employees do the same. Karen is the The Grief Consultant and CEO of Egency, a firm that helps organizations create a human-centric culture with compassion and empathy. She was a former guest on the podcast where she shared how she turned her pain into a purpose to help others. In this episode, Karen is back to share her wisdom on how we can train our brain to stay focused, aware and calm so we can live a better life. She also talks about the STOP & SHIFT models, what is it, and how she applies it to others to change their thoughts and strengthen their mental wellbeing! In this episode, you will learn about: Why you need to help yourself before you can start helping other people How to have a healthy mindset Silencing negative thoughts that are eating away at you The STOP & SHIFT models and how to put them into practice Strengthening your awareness practice Separating yourself from your thoughts to effectively choose what response to give Why society is more open to talking about mental health now 51 Mental Strength Exercises The 5 Day Digital Detox Training your brain  Karen’s thoughts on people who tend to carry around the weight of other people’s issues What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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. More about Karen Karen Millsap, also known as, The Grief Consultant, began her career in human resources and talent acquisition where she leads countless training, new process, and change initiatives. At a young age, she suddenly became a widow when her husband was tragically murdered which completely changed the trajectory of her life. After experiencing a domino effect of other losses, she became acutely aware of the overall lack of support in our society for grieving people. We are all connected through our struggles, from the death of loved ones to life-altering illnesses, divorce, even job loss. This realization ignited Karen's desire to turn her pain into purpose and pay it forward to help others.   Karen’s work has been featured in SHRM Magazine, on Good Morning Washington, MSNBC, and many others! She is a TEDx keynote speaker who inspires audiences to embrace compassion and empathy to help alleviate other’s suffering by becoming advocates for their own adversaries.  This experience opens minds and hearts to revive connectivity.   She received her undergraduate degree in Communication from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is also a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist through the Grief Recovery Institute in Los Angeles, California. Connect with Karen Karenmillsap | website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook   Resources mentioned in this episode: Free Download: Get 51 exercises to start building a healthier mindset today The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer Thrive Global Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Walker PhD, Matthew Transform Your Workplace: How Compassion Can Change Your Culture 5 Healthy Morning Habits

As social beings, we are wired to connect. It’s part of our DNA. And communication has never been easier than now with the introduction of the internet and social media that allows us to be more interconnected.  Despite all of that, many still feel isolated and disconnected, especially in the workplace. How do we take action and create more engagement at work and connectedness with others? Take the first step in connecting and approaching others in a friendly way as Dr. Melanie Katzman reveals how through her new book “Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work ”. Dr. Melanie Katzman is a business psychologist, advisor, consultant to the world’s top public and private companies, government agencies,  and nonprofits. She is also the founder of Katzman consulting and the founding partner of the social enterprise Leader’s Quest. In this episode, Dr. Katzman shares 52 actions you can do to forge deeper bonds with your colleagues. These steps are the same techniques she used with leaders and employees from top companies around the world. We’re also going to know the reason why she decided to write the book and why Connect First is the cheapest transformation program any HR person or Manager will ever come across! This episode is jam-packed with ideas that are actionable and easy to implement. So make sure you go grab a pen and a paper to write them all down!   Grab a copy of Dr. Katzman’s book here! In this episode, you will learn about: The reason why Melanie decided to write Connect First Bringing emotion into the workplace  Why Connect First book is the cheapest transformation program that you’ll ever come across  Taking a pause and checking your own emotional state Smiling and establishing respect How the word thank you can transform the way we interact with people Different ways we can acknowledge others Appropriate touch Abundance mindset vs. a scarcity mindset Becoming a magnet person Melanie’s thoughts on aging at work --- What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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. --- More about Melanie Katzman: Dr. Melanie Katzman is a business psychologist, advisor, and consultant to the world’s top public and private companies, as well as governmental and nonprofit institutions. A sought-after expert in executive development, group dynamics, and leadership diversity, she founded Katzman Consulting in 1999 and has worked with businesses--including Accenture, Bain Consulting, Goldman Sachs, MTV, PwC, and Viacom--in 31 countries. A busy speaker, Katzman is also a founding partner of the global nonprofit Leaders’ Quest, which serves a community of 12,000 members and facilitates cross-sector strategic discussions on pressing economic and social problems. Katzman was a Senior Fellow at The Wharton School’s Center for Leadership and Change Management and has held faculty positions in psychiatry at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center, the University of London, and the Chinese University in Hong Kong. Katzman co-created and was co-host of the show Women@Work on Business Radio Powered by the Wharton School on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, channel 132. She has been featured in the New York Times, Financial Times, South China Morning Post, Vanity Fair, O Magazine, and on ABC, CBS, and Lifetime. Connect with Melanie: Twitter LinkedIn Melanie Katzman Resources mentioned in this episode: Katzman Consulting

Are you successful but strangely feeling empty? Why is it that high-achieving and successful people - despite making great amounts of money and have the respect of their colleagues - still feel unfulfilled? You may be at a certain point in your life where you feel like you’re stuck and you need to get out but for some unknown reason, you don’t know how. In this episode we will dive into how you can reclaim your life back as Maki Moussavi, a transformational coach, speaker, and writer talks about how you can begin your quest to fulfillment, get out of the rut, and bring back the zest that you had when you were just starting and reaching out for your dreams. Maki is the author of the book “The High Achiever’s Guide: Transform Your Success Mindset and Begin the Quest to Fulfilment”. We talk about what it’s like to feel stuck in a rut in spite of being successful. As a former corporate career professional, she knows what it feels like to feel stuck, un-restless, and unfulfilled. She shares through her book the tools and processes to thrive and transform your life. Plus, she also gives important personal development tips you can apply on yourself and share with your employees. Order your copy of The High Achiever’s Guide now! Click here   In this episode, you will learn about: The reason behind Maki writing The High Achiever’s Guide book Set of behaviors and ways of thinking in people who are achievement-oriented Avoiding toxicity - How to look out for toxic people and relationships at work and in our lives Honoring your intuition over logic Gaslighting and Disempowerment Appreciating your worth and acknowledging you emotions Venting, why do we do it and why it’s unhealthy Why high achievers should stay in their lane True connection --- What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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. --- More about Maki Moussavi: Maki is a transformational coach for high-achieving men and women who feel stuck in some aspect of their lives and need help uncovering what they desire and need to live an empowered life. She has a passion for helping people see their true potential and supporting their journey to raising the bar for their lives, help people create fundamental change in the pursuit of fulfillment. Connect with Maki: Facebook Maki Moussavi Resources mentioned in this episode: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

According to a report done by Accenture’s Reworking The Revolution, 46% of the executives surveyed said that traditional job descriptions are obsolete as machines take on routine tasks and as people move to project-based work. While 29% of leaders report that they’ve extensively redesigned jobs. The way we’re doing business and work now has totally changed. We can surely say that we are entering a new era of work where people aren’t staying in the same company for a long period of time, many have side hustles, and employers are opting to hire freelancers and contractors. How do we survive all this change and create an adaptable organization for long-term success?  How should we take this talent mobility revolution and turn it to an opportunity? In this episode of Transform of Your Workplace, Brynne Kennedy joins us to talk about strategies and tactics to seize the coming talent mobility revolution through her new book, Flat, Fluid, and Fast: Harness the Talent Mobility Revolution to Drive Employee Engagement, Accelerate Innovation, and Unleash Growth. Brynne is an entrepreneur and the founder of Topia, a talent mobility company that helps businesses move their employees between locations. She’s a candidate for US Congress in California’s Fourth Congressional District.  Make sure to listen to this episode as we cover everything on how you can adapt to this new world that we’re in so that your company, workplace, and career becomes flat, fluid, and fast! Giveaway alert!! If this episode piqued your interest, you can grab a copy of Brynne’s soon to be released book, by sending me a dm on LinkedIn and I’ll tell you how you can get your copy for FREE! In this episode, you will learn about: The way businesses and work is rapidly changing at a quick pace What the new workforce is going to look like Challenging old ways of thinking in organizations as well as the government The talent mobility revolution, what is it all about and what are the pros and cons? Workforce planning to move people to the right roles The skills and talent graph How your company can adapt to this talent mobility revolution 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. More about Brynne Brynne Kennedy is an entrepreneur and candidate for US Congress in California's Fourth Congressional District (CA-04). She is the Founder of Topia, a relocation and talent mobility company in California, used by customers worldwide. While CEO she grew the company to global operations, raised $100 million and helped tens of thousands of families transition to new jobs and communities.  While leading Topia in California, Brynne also founded Mobility4All, a charitable initiative that supported refugees during the Syrian War. Brynne has also worked with TechNet to advise California State and Federal lawmakers on policies for economic growth and entrepreneurship. Brynne holds a B.A. in History from Yale and an MBA from London Business School.  Connect with Brynne Twitter LinkedIn Resources mentioned in this episode: Flat, Fluid, and Fast: Harness the Talent Mobility Revolution to Drive Employee Engagement, Accelerate Innovation, and Unleash Growth by Brynne Kennedy Reworking the Revolution | Accenture Report

Admit it. Most business meetings suck - It sucks your time and productivity, especially when run poorly. But it shouldn’t be that way. Meetings are supposed to be opportunities for leaders to shine and lead the team to achieve their targets and improve performance. According to Steven Rogelberg’s research, only 20% of leaders receive training on how to run meetings properly. And so it’s no wonder ineffective meetings are being conducted every time in the workplace. How can we conduct better meetings and utilize time more efficiently? Join me as I speak with Steven Rogelberg, the author of the book “The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance." In this episode, you'll learn how to run better meetings for your team. Grab a copy of Steven’s book now and start conducting meetings effectively! Click here to know more. In this episode, you will learn about: The reasons behind poorly conducted meetings How to make sure meetings are effective Having intentional leaders and stewards that care about other’s time Incorporating silence in brainstorming Efficient ways to collect data when running a meeting   --- What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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. --- More about Steven Rogelberg: Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg holds the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte for distinguished national, international and interdisciplinary contributions.  He is a Professor of Organizational Science, Management, and Psychology as well as the Director of Organizational Science. He has over 100 publications addressing issues such as team effectiveness, leadership, engagement, health and employee well-being, meetings at work, and organizational research methods. He is the Editor of the Journal of Business and Psychology, and the Talent Management Essentials book series.  Connect with Steven: Steven Rogelberg’s Website Twitter LinkedIn

We are not built the same when it comes to receiving feedback in the workplace. What might seem as open and direct to one person can seem completely harsh and really sharp to another. Feedback can sometimes break or make someone. How you deliver it matters greatly. When done in the right way it can be the most effective means of communication and performance for you and your organization. Join me today as we redefine what feedback is with M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Dowling Grealish, the authors of the book Feedback and Other Dirty Words - Why We Fear It, How to Fix It. In this episode, Tamra and Laura explain how feedback got such a negative connotation. They share how we can minimize the bad emotional and physical reactions that destroy trust and halts communication. They also offered helpful solutions, suggestions, as well as new definitions to create a better framework for feedback. We can’t totally get rid of no feedback but we can always redefine it! In this episode, you will learn about: Why feedback is such a huge component to the growth of a business, its people, and organizations The problem with the way feedback is being portrayed right now Re-imagining feedback as a fluid ongoing conversation, free of angst and judgment The 5:1 ratio  Actionable suggestions to improve feedback Tamra and Laura’s take on Carol Sandford’s ‘No More Feedback’ book The fine art of noticing Short feedback and long reflections The ‘Shit Sandwich’ method of giving feedback and why it’s not advisable to resort to it How to get better at feedback?   --- What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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. --- More about Tamra & Laura: Tamra is the CEO and co-founder of PeopleFirm, a talent management and organizational performance consultancy that has earned consistent recognition as a top place to work. She has been named twice as one of the top 25 consultants in the US by Consulting magazine. Laura is a management consultant at PeopleFirm and was a previous Director of Consulting Services at Orion Advisor Services. She has deep experience in designing high-performance teams and has over 20 years of leadership experience under her belt when it comes to helping clients create strategic alignment, talent management, performance management, succession and leadership development programs. Connect with Tamra & Laura: Tamra Chandler - LinkedIn Laura Dowling Grealish - LinkedIn Resources mentioned in this episode: Feedback (and Other Dirty Words): Why We Fear It, How to Fix It by M. Tamra Chandler and Laura Dowling Grealish Transform Your Workplace: More Consciousness, Less Feedback with Carol Sanford PeopleFirm

As an employer, you might have a lot of questions about what potential employees look for in a company before they apply. And you may also wonder where to find the best possible candidates. In this episode, HR Generalist Paige Tamlyn returns to the podcast to answer questions people have about recruiting employees and the common questions asked in the workplace. Finding potential candidates for a job and hiring them can be quite a feat, but knowing what potential employees are looking for in a job can make this task easier and reduce the number of people that aren’t qualified for the position. In this episode, you will learn about: What “Ghosting” is all about Things employees look out for in a Job How to create a company handbook The best place to find candidates Whether or not to put a range of pay on your job ad How to deal with Millennials and loneliness at work   About Paige Tamlyn: Paige Tamlyn is an HR Generalist and a project manager on the side. She is a freelance stylist in her free time.  Her interests in addition to HR is Social Media and Marketing. You can find her moonlighting on Xenium's Podcast or keeping up with the latest trends in social media.  LinkedIn ### What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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.

Diversity is the future. When an organization has a diversified workforce, this meant better productivity, creativity, and stronger company reputation. It puts the company in a competitive edge that can lead to greater reach in the future. This is why many are seeking to employ people from different backgrounds. Regardless of a company's good intentions, diversity efforts still falter if the ones with privilege won't allow others equal access to power. How can we break this norm and shift others into building a sustainable culture of inclusion? How can we establish a commitment and match our intents with our impact? In today’s episode, La’Wana Harris, the author of Diversity Beyond Lip-Service joins us to talk about her book and the topic of diversity and inclusions. We also talk about how organizations can make it safe to have conversations around diversity and inclusions and be aware where we are at and where we want to go. Grab your copy now and learn how you can build a sustainable culture of diversity and inclusion within your organization. Click here to get your copy!   In this episode, you will learn about: Superficial layers of engagement around diversity and inclusion Gaining awareness Micro-aggression Creating a safe place to talk about backgrounds The problem with diversity programs The gap between the intent and the impact Diversity and inclusion as part of the corporate culture, not a program Using your privilege to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging How to deal with your unconscious bias What does the commit model stand for? How can people utilize it? La’Wana’s personal experience and how she was treated during her professional career as a black woman   Connect with La’Wana: La’Wana Harris, Diversity and Inclusion Strategist LinkedIn Twitter Facebook   Resources mentioned from this episode: Diversity Beyond Lip Service: A Coaching Guide for Challenging Bias by La'Wana Harris Action Guide for Diversity Beyond Lip Service by Harris La’Wana   Connect with Us: What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. 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.

Today, August 29th marks the 200th episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast and it also happens to be Brandon's 34th birthday. In this episode, Angela Perkins, VP of Sales & Marketing at Xenium HR, join Brandon while he's wrapping up his month-long sabbatical to talk about how the sabbatical is going, learnings from the sabbatical, and how employers might think about using this unique benefit in their workplace.  What did you think of this episode? Give us a 5-star rating and write a review on Apple Podcasts, or take our survey. 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.

You’re super busy at work — your phone's blowing up from the overflowing inbox of notifications, reminders, and chats. There’s so much interruption that you’ve got no time to think. And when you do, you have to stay stuck at the office, working more than 40-hours a week or force yourself to pull an all-nighter to meet unrealistic deadlines.  You don’t even have time to sleep because of your packed schedules and endless meeting.  When weekends come, instead of spending your precious me-time relaxing and having fun, you have those Sunday-afternoon emails to worry about, waiting to be read and dealt with. It’s just crazy!!! But hey, work doesn’t have to be crazy.  It’s true. We can still deliver a fantastic job without making ourselves miserable and insanely working like crazy to meet those so-called “goals.” We can have a productive work environment that lets people do their work in the best way possible. Basecamp is setting a great example of what it’s like to have a calm and productive workplace! How can we achieve a productive workplace without sacrificing long hours and avoid getting burned out? In today’s episode, I’ll talk about the book “It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work” with David Heinemeier Hansson, the author, CTO, and co-founder at Basecamp. We will also discuss the topic of the constant state of businesses, overworked employees, and the fact that we’re working more hours but still come out as unproductive.  David argues that you can still have that million-dollar business without requiring your employees to work insanely long hours and he’s going to tell you how. He will also share a lot of useful advice and action ideas you can apply back to your organization!  Grab your copy now! Check out the book here. In this episode, you will learn about: What crazy means in the workplace The reason behind the long work hours Hustle Mania and the obsession with growth Burned out and overworked employees Setting your goals the Basecamp way Achieving the state of calmness The negative consequences of introducing technology and rejecting the “present person” practice The reason why Basecamp doesn’t do shared calendars inside the office How David coaches his people not to be distracted by constant interruptions from people internally and externally? Office hours and part-time managers David’s thoughts on work-life balance Out of the office benefits vs. In office Connect with David: Twitter Email: david@dhh.dk Resources mentioned from this episode: Basecamp It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson Remote Office Not Required by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson Henry Ford   What did you think of this episode? Share a review on Apple Podcasts or take our survey. 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.