In this bonus episode, Nicole Blevins discusses the concept of "catfishing" employers who misrepresent jobs and company culture to candidates during the hiring process. This leads to disappointment and distrust when the reality doesn't match up. She shares a personal anecdote of friends calling her about mismatching expectations and work conditions. The key takeaways are: employers should accurately portray roles and culture to align candidate expectations, provide transparent communication, and focus on improving internal culture and employer branding consistency.   TAKEAWAYS Employers sometimes "catfish" candidates by misrepresenting jobs and culture during hiring. This leads to disappointment when reality doesn't match up. Transparent communication and accurately portraying roles and culture is key to setting proper candidate expectations. Employers should focus first on improving internal culture consistency before external employer branding and recruitment marketing efforts.   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.”

Josh Merrill, CEO and Founder of Confirm, discusses the transformative nature of integrating Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) into performance reviews, focusing on talent distribution, the importance of eliminating bias, and using ONA to identify top talent.

In the latest episode of Transform Your Workplace, bestselling author Daniel Strode provides valuable insights into fostering corporate culture and navigating the pace of change in the modern workplace. He shares practical tips from his book, The Culture Advantage, highlighting the role of culture in driving innovation, the significance of a growth mindset in leadership, and the importance of putting your people first.   TAKEAWAYS Culture is "the way we do things around here, especially when no one is looking or listening." The rapid change in the modern workplace is driven by societal and technological shifts, making adaptation crucial for any business’s survival. It's not just about the amount of money, time, or resources a company has, but rather the culture of innovation that sets successful companies apart.  Building a culture that encourages and supports innovation is key to staying competitive. Changing a company's culture is a process that requires both immediate action and patience.  Effective leaders listen and guide employees to find their own answers, which fosters psychological safety and contributes to a growth mindset within the company. Leading by example is a key driver for cultural change within a company.   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.”

Dr. Steven Rogelberg, Chancellor's Professor, discusses the importance of 1:1 meetings for leaders in his book 'Glad We Met'. He highlights the benefits, such as improved engagement and retention. Practical strategies for effective 1:1s include building agendas, adjusting meeting frequency, and leveraging asynchronous documents for follow-through.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws catches up with Josh Durham, Founder of Gamut Project Solutions and a veteran in the construction scene. Drawing from his extensive experience managing billion-dollar projects for over seventeen years, Josh shares insights on genuinely exchanging thoughts and ideas versus falling for the illusion of communication. The episode doesn't just talk the talk — it serves up practical strategies to amp up your professional communication. Tune in if you're serious about boosting this crucial workplace skill.   TAKEAWAYS All humans share an inherent desire for survival, belonging, and personal growth. Fear triggers defensive reactions, hindering direct and clear communication. Active listening is the cornerstone of quality communication, and listening with empathy is the key to fostering understanding. Leaders must cultivate a workplace where employees feel psychologically safe to voice concerns and ideas, and doing so minimizes explosive conversations and encourages open dialogue. “Blame language” triggers defensive reactions, hindering the recipient's ability to absorb the message. Disagreements can offer us opportunities to self-reflect and reconsider our position.   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.”  

Nicole Blevins, expert in creating meaningful connections, discusses the importance of vulnerability, active listening, and meaningful dialogue in remote or hybrid work environments. Employers can support connections through activities like virtual lunches, resource groups, and providing conversation starters. High-quality connections build trust, leading to productivity and engagement.

This episode of Transform Your Workplace features a deep dive into insights from Curtis Bateman’s co-authored book, Change: How to Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity. The episode explores the most common reactions to change — Move, Minimize, Wait, Resist, and Quit — and the leader’s role in understanding and managing these reactions as they move forward. Don’t miss this timely discussion on how leaders can spearhead positive change in a constantly evolving workplace.   TAKEAWAYS Move, Minimize, Wait, Resist, and Quit are all natural and common reactions to change in the workplace.  Leaders must recognize and manage these diverse reactions instead of moving forward without employee buy-in. Each reaction has its strengths and limitations, and leaders can effectively tap into and leverage the strengths during times of change. A well-crafted case for change facilitates alignment and engagement throughout the organization. Leaders need to discern where their team members are in their journey through change and tailor their approach accordingly, and this requires a deep understanding of people's feelings, thoughts, and actions in the midst of change.   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.”

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, guest Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, shares insights into the power of play. And while we may think of play time as exclusively for kids, adults can also learn a lot about themselves and others through play. Tune in to find out how our guest was inspired to champion the cause of play and how play can make a difference in your relationships, your perspective, and ultimately, your business.   TAKEAWAYS While it's evident that kids benefit from play, adults can also learn valuable lessons through play in the areas of team building, socialization, and overall personal development. Play is a crucial avenue for learning teamwork, curiosity, and conflict resolution.  Adults, especially leaders, should actively participate in play to break down barriers and build trust in the workplace. Opportunities for play cannot be forced; instead, players should be invited to participate of their own accord.   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.”

In this bonus episode of the Transform your Workplace podcast, we're joined by returning guest Nicole Blevins. Nicole and Brandon discuss pay transparency and how being open about compensation can reduce workplace drama and help employees focus on their jobs instead of worrying about what others make. They talk about regularly reviewing market data to keep pay structures current, addressing pay compression when needed, and being thoughtful about overall compensation philosophy. Consistency, fairness, and clear communication are key.   TAKEAWAYS Pay transparency reduces drama so employees can focus on work instead of compensation comparisons Regularly review compensation data to keep pay structures competitive and address compression Clearly communicate comp strategy so employees understand philosophy and consistency   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.”

There’s no better time than the present to talk about AI. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, guest Jennifer Dulski, CEO of Rising Team, offers insights on the recent and transformative role of AI in the modern workplace. Jennifer shares her firsthand experiences, emphasizing how AI, when combined with human passion and connection, becomes a powerful tool in shaping compelling visions and driving business success. Although it can be scary to embark on the unknown, embracing AI today is key to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape.    TAKEAWAYS AI, when combined with human passion, can be an enormous asset in shaping a compelling vision. While AI excels in various tasks, leaders must focus on what AI can’t do: foster empathy, deep trust, and connection with their teams. Leaders don't need to be tech-savvy to leverage AI; they just need to be trained on prompting. AI's ability to suggest alternatives by considering a vast amount of data can be invaluable in decision-making.  While AI may replace some jobs, it will also create new opportunities in the workplace.  Leaders must embrace AI now to stay competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape.   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.”