Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization Show

A toxic culture has ten times more impact on attrition than compensation, according to MIT’s Sloan Review. In this episode, Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, discusses culture killers and how to stop them. She also shares strategies for building community at work, holding leaders accountable, and investing in lasting change.   Resources: MIT Sloan Review: Toxic Culture Is Driving the Great Resignation Brown Table Talk Podcast

Where have all the workers gone? When will labor shortages ease? What can companies do to access and retain qualified and skilled employees? For over 20 years, Ira S Wolfe has been forecasting The Perfect Labor Storm. It’s no longer coming. It’s arrived. A record number of vacant jobs, historic waves of resignations, and widening skill gaps are disrupting everything from production floors and operating rooms to classrooms and supply chains. These labor shortages are not a blip on the radar but long-term labor patterns. This storm will not blow over and solutions will not appear by themselves. Businesses and workers are playing in a new sandbox. Future of Work Global Thought Leader Ira S Wolfe reveals how we got into this mess and what companies must do to fill open positions despite The Perfect Labor Storm.

What employer wouldn't want to save $11,000 per employee? That is just one of the benefits associated with embracing remote work. But Kate Lister, President of Global Workplace Analytics, recognizes 100% remote work may not be feasible for all organizations which is why she says a hybrid approach is the perfect compromise. In this episode, Kate discusses the upsides of adapting what work looks like. As you listen, you’ll learn how to navigate the challenges of remote work, maximize productivity, and leverage technology. Resources:  Telework savings calculator Whitepapers and research from Global Workplace Analytics  

There is nothing worse than having a conversation with someone and feeling like they wish they can be doing anything besides listening to you? Admit it. Whether it’s your boss, customer, spouse, or kids, we’ve all been there. So what do you need to do to get people’s undivided attention, to put down their phones (plus a gazillion other distractions) and want to listen to you? During this episode, we get right to the heart of brain science with our guest Dr. Ali Atkison, one of the foremost authorities on how the adult brain learns. She will reveal her secret sauce for connecting and communicating better as well as dispelling a few communication myths such as attention span and multitasking.  Dr. Ali (Friederichs) Atkison is the president of ROI Communication Solutions, which provides speaking, consulting, and training services in professional communication skills backed by the science of how the adult brain learns.

Do you feel stuck? Just going through the motions? Living someone else’s dream? Everyone knows that when you want to improve your physical health, lose weight, and get ready to show off that beach body as you head into summer, you head to the gym, right? Physical exercise is even recognized as a great way to get rid of stress - and we certainly have our share of stress to carry around these days. But where do you go to tune up your mental health, live the best version of yourself, or as Cory Chadwick calls it,  “Live Your 10?”  While training at his Crossfit gym, Cory had his “aha” moment. If you can work out with a group, why not a mental gym for your mind? What’s a mental gym? Where do you learn to be great? What do you really want out of life?  Cory joins Geek Geezers and Googlization to help our listeners and members of Googlization Nation take back control of their lives, and stop living a default future.

What does the best academic science say about how people and companies operate together? Here to tell us is Marc Effron, Founder and President of The Talent Strategy Group, and co-author of Harvard Business Review books One Page Talent Management and 8 Steps to High Performance. In this episode, Marc shares his top learnings on talent management, the difference between high performance and high potential, and even his best coaching tip. As you listen, you’ll learn how to scale talent management, set better goals, and accelerate your high-potential employees. Resources: One Page Talent Management by Marc Effron 8 Steps to High Performance by Marc Effron Articles, videos, and research by The Talent Strategy Group

Transitioning from in-person work to work-from-anywhere teams is undoubtedly different. Building culture, connectivity, collaboration, and engagement can be awkward. How can businesses create the space to collaborate, connect, and communicate in a remote and hybrid workplace? Scott Novis, Founder of GameTruck, believes we need to be intentional about playing together and that the disconnection and loneliness that remote workers feel can be flipped through fun and games. During this episode, Scott shares what leaders can do to be more intentional about sustaining culture, connecting, collaborating, and communicating with remote teams.

“Relationship building is the number one skill set you can have and being involved in community is the core that builds systems for you to really make the most of that skill." Nikki Lewallen is a partnership and relationship growth expert. As Founder and Chief Meaningful Work Officer at PeopleForward Network, Nikki knows just how important a sense of community is during these very disconnected times. In this episode, Nikki, Jason, and Ira discuss how to build meaningful relationships and find meaningful work. As you listen, you’ll be inspired to start connecting with like-minded people so you can best achieve your goals. Resources: The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly Ikigai

More than 50 years the futurist Alvin Toffler described a future human condition called “future shock”: a shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.” Welcome to 2022, when SHIFT seemed to hit all our plans, leaving many of us all FCDD*up (*Frustrated-Confused-Disappointed-Distracted). During this episode, hosts Ira S Wolfe and Jason Cochran will explore a few of the trends reshaping business and personal lives, from The Perfect Labor Storm, toxic cultures, stress, and burnout to hybrid work. Jason and I are joined by award-winning journalist and Dig Life Deep podcast host John Aidan Byrne, who introduces his new weekly workforce segment which puts Ira Wolfe on the Future Shock 2.0 hot seat to discuss critical workforce and workplace trends. Listen to the 1st segment here (about the 5:00 mark).

The New Normal will be Never Normal, VUCA is our kryptonite, and adaptability will be our superpower. Our future isn’t just about digital transformation and how digital you are but how you are digital, says this episode’s guest Greg Verdino.  There is a whole generation of new workers who are embracing Web3 as a model. It's almost like gig workers on steroids, where they are building their own day job across 5 or 6 or 10 Web3 projects. Some are working for cash, others for crypto and tokens. To what extent will there be an ecosystem of workers rather than employees in a company? To grow and thrive, we (business and people) need to address not just digital but economic, social, cultural, environmental, political, and even biological disruptions. Greg shares what he believes is the real goal for any business transformation, why adaptability will be our superpower, his playbook for change: The Adapt Manifesto, and what he believes will be the next Never Normal disruption. Greg is a founder of The Alpha Collective, a premium community that helps executives unlock the value and opportunities in the business of Web3–the next iteration of the internet and the next disruptive driver of business transformation. He is also a partner in VERDINO, a consultancy that helps technology companies engage buyers and drive demand through powerful brand stories and compelling content marketing.