True Stories at Work: fresh from HR

This episode of True Stories at Work features a conversation with Caroline, an executive recruiter who began her career in the tumultuous year of 2010, navigating the challenges of the recession-hit job market. Hosted by Michelle Aronson, a recovering HR executive and certified coach, this podcast dives into the human aspects of working in HR and recruitment, sharing anecdotes ranging from dealing with dress code violations to the intricacies of negotiating job offers, including unusual perks like private jets. Caroline's story transitions from her unexpected start in recruiting to her role in executive search, highlighting the evolving dynamics in recruitment, the importance of feedback, and practical advice for job seekers on negotiations. The discussion also touches on the profound impact HR professionals can have on individuals' lives, the changing power dynamics between employers and candidates, and the need for companies to adapt their recruitment strategies. Interested in learning more about some of the topics discussed on the show? Here are some links to get started: 9 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2024 and Beyond (hbr.org) 2024 Talent Acquisition Trends Led by GenAI, Skills-Based Hiring (shrm.org) How to negotiate your salary according to an ex-Google recruiter (cnbc.com)   00:00 Introduction 02:34 Caroline's Story 04:17 Stories at Work 22:06 Workplace Confession 24:39 Haiku for Caroline   Haiku for Caroline Caroline asks for… the benefits and money… and the private jet.   Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me!   Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Listen to the show Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins

Did you know that HR professionals are the true crime detectives of the corporate world? From solving the case of the mysterious naughty photographs to catching protesting poopers, this True Stories at Work episode features jaw-dropping stories from Nicole as she shares her most memorable investigations and leaves no case unsolved. Learn how Nicole landed her first HR job (as a director) without even applying. Gain insight into the unpredictable and often strange investigative work that HR conducts. Reflect on when it might be the right choice to bend or break the rules for the greater good. 00:00 Introduction 01:58 Stories at Work 10:16 Nicole's Story 16:02 More Stories at Work 30:24 Haiku for Nicole Resources Curious about great HR leadership + Bending the Rules at work, here are some links to get started: What Separates Great HR Leaders from the Rest (hbr.org) HR Ethical Dilemmas (shrm.org) Bending The Rules | When it's Right to do the Wrong Thing | Rice Business Wisdom When to Break the Rules at Work – And How to Do It (linkedin.com) Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins   Haiku for Nicole Nicole proudly solves, workplace mysteries with a bit of rule bending

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with your coworkers on the ocean for 8-months each year? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Lauren. Who wanted to be a pirate, astronaut and is now an HR leader on a cruise ship. Michelle Aronson hosts Lauren, who aspired to be an astronaut, however ended up in HR after a health issue crashed her aerospace engineering dreams. Lauren talks about her practices in addressing HR issues and the unique challenges she faces living and working on a cruise ship, including dealing with staff from 30-40 different nationalities, overseeing personal issues that become HR matters, and handling romantic relationships on board. HR is personal, as Lauren recounts a heart-wrenching incident of an immigration scam involving one of her potential hires. The episode wraps up as Lauren shares how she changed her approach to HR after laying off an entire hotel staff at the beginning of the pandemic… and how she makes HR personal and connected to improve her workplace. 00:00 Introduction 02:09 Lauren's Story 07:19 True Stories at Work 36:25 Workplace Confession 40:05 Haiku for Lauren   Resources Curious about cross-culture challenges + how to connect more deeply with colleagues at work, here are some links to get started: How Cultural Differences Can Impact Global Teams Forming Stronger Bonds with People at Work Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession   Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins   Haiku for Lauren Lauren is not a pirate. But achieves her HR dreams... as she sees (seas(;)) the world.

How does an HR professional build a connected, inclusive, and tech-forward culture? Find out in our latest podcast episode with Karen, who considers herself an accidental tourist in HR! #HRLeadership #InclusiveWorkplace #Podcast In this episode, Karen shares her experience crafting a culture to support high-growth companies. She discusses the importance of creating an inclusive culture and how to align the executive team and care for the HR team. We discuss how to keep culture (and humans) in focus as you implement technology for your HR practices. Karen shares that “employees want to know that tomorrow will be better than today and that they have a say in it.” 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Karen's Story 05:45 Stories at Work 32:02 Workplace Confession 37:29 Haiku for Karen Resources Curious about culture and tech at work, here are some links to get started: 4 Ways AI Will Disrupt the HR Function in 2024 (shrm.org) Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace (shrm.org) Talent Management in the Age of AI (hbr.org)   Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession   Haiku for Karen Karen understands... Connection is essential in work and in life.   Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins

What happens when you choose to face your fears and be vulnerable at the work? This episode of True Stories at Work shares how well these tactics worked for Adam, as he moved from a $10/hr contractor to running global programs in the London headquarters of a multinational insurance company within 8 years! Adam shares the importance of honest communication, sharing your half-baked ideas, and taking risks at work. We discuss vulnerability, mentorship, radical candor and managing your fear at work. Adam shares his journey of falling-out of a PhD program and into human resources. You'll hear great stories of humility, risk-taking, continuous learning, and the importance of open communication. The Workplace Confession is from a coworker of Michelle's who used his knowledge from a sexual harassment training to avoid her investigation! #CareerGrowth #AuthenticLeadership #Vulnerability Timeline: 00:01 Introduction 01:22 Adam's Story 16:05 Stories at Work 33:09 Workplace Confession 38:50 Haiku for Adam Curious about vulnerability at work or writing better job descriptions, here are some links to get started: Want To Write A Better, More Effective Job Description? Follow These 14 Tips (forbes.com) How to be vulnerable at work without spilling everything, from Brené Brown | (ted.com) HBR: How to Build Confidence About Showing Vulnerability   Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Ask a question+ make a suggestion   Haiku for Adam Adam knows that growth… Comes with fear, risk and sharing... Uncomfortable truths.   Host: Michelle Aronson Editor: Bella Hutchins

This True Stories at Work episode begins where my last podcast episode dropped off, with Lauren on the brink of her first leadership role and her first sexual harassment investigation (at the same time!). Lauren shares a few of the ‘insane moments’ she has experienced during her career and how reveals how these experiences have shaped her into a better HR professional. We discuss the many challenges that HR faces, the shifting expectations of employers, and how HR is often the junk drawer for everyone else’s people problems. The episode wraps up with a workplace confession (and debate) from a former colleague of Michelle’s that increased his empathy toward Michelle and pets left in cars. Timeline 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Lauren's Journey to HR Leadership 02:31 Lauren's First Sexual Harassment Investigation 03:33 The Aftermath of the Investigation 05:49 Lauren's Reflections on Her HR Career 06:11 Lauren's Most Insane HR Moment 15:43 Lauren's Workplace Pet Peeve 18:31 The Changing Landscape of HR in a Post-COVID World 22:41 Workplace Confession 29:44 Thanks for Listening Resources Curious about the topics discussed on the show, here are some links to learn more: Company Culture Is Everyone’s Responsibility (hbr.org) 3 Myths About Hiring People with Criminal Records (hbr.org) Guns in the Workplace: What Has Changed, and What Can Employers Expect? (shrm.org) Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your culture and strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Ask a question+ make a suggestion

Have you ever had to handle a rift in your department? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Lauren, who hit “all the desks” in HR to grow her expertise… but nothing prepared her for the mistake of rehiring a former employee, creating a “scorched earth” moment and a lot of leadership growth. We also talk about boundaries, and how you we keep them with our teams and employees. Lauren shared so many stories that I had to split her stories across 2 episodes. In this episode, you’ll learn about Lauren’s background and how her career aspirations to be creative are fulfilled by working in HR.  ”HR is artistic because you have to literally be able to handle things at the drop of a hat unique situations.” For the Workplace Confession, you will hear a story from a former coworker, who wants to share some stories that still make him laugh and cringe from working with me. This one is from a leadership coaching conversation where he gets distracted by a squirrel… and I pulled the coaching recording to find out how that squirrel entered our coaching session. Additional research on topics discussed in this episode: Should You Rehire an Employee Who Left Your Company? (hbr.org) How to Be Friends with Someone Who Works For You (hbr.org) I need your workplace confession, so if you have every done anything wrong at work, please share your story with me by going to physicsatwork.com/podcast and leave me a voice message (anonymously and easily) from your phone or computer. Make a Workplace Confession Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me! Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story!

How would adding children at work up the stakes as an HR leader? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Jason, who, despite the law, doesn’t believe in Central Jersey! We discuss the ways that his bartending skills transfer to HR, how to de-escalate a peanut hostage situation, and the unique challenges he faced when employees, parents and kids are your customers. Curious about de-escalation at work? How to De-Escalate an Argument with a Coworker (hbr.org) Schools – Managing Peanut Allergies (peanutallergyfacts.org) Central Jersey exists, it even has a website: Central Jersey exists: NJ Gov. Phil Murphy signs tourism bill (mycentraljersey.com) Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Haiku for Jason Jason keeps it real... For employees, parents and Kids, and remains calm.

HR leaders have difficult conversations, around an incredible range of topics “It would just be easier to say, we don't want you around than to say, hey, I need you to wear a bra to work.” Welcome to True Stories at Work, where we discuss the best things about working in Human Resources. The people, the stories, and the things that happen at work that we didn’t know even about… workplace confessions! I’m a recovering HR executive, certified coach, and business school professor who knows that THE BEST stories happen at work, from heartbreaking to heartwarming, from hilarious to outrageous. In a past role, I was a member of a magical HR executive committee, pulled together by a Group Purchasing Organization to represent a variety of members from each region of the country.… and I loved going to the meetings to connect with them, learn what they were doing, and hear their great stories! Today, you get to meet Michael, who was a member of that executive committee. You will get to hear his journey into and out of HR. As an attorney, he shares “The importance of ripping off the Band-Aid and having difficult conversations, even when they are uncomfortable” and even when they don’t go as planned.  “It's actually hard to do the things when you're in the moment and experiencing it as a human as well” He shares a story that demonstrates the impact that subtle, non-verbal behaviors can have on feelings and perceptions “even if I'm not saying it, or even if it's not intentional, simply the, the chair I pick is sending a message.” The approach he took to teaching people how to treat his HR team, and how he reinforced  “that HR is not just a punching bag”. Micheal shares a great practice to keep your leadership team connected to the people in your company who are impacted by your decisions “It's easy to start thinking about people as simply numbers or FTEs as opposed to remembering that real people are losing their jobs, and those are having real impacts on their life.” At the end, you get to hear a workplace confession, something that happened at work that never made it through the doors of HR. This one is about me… a director sharing a story about me that he wanted to confess on my behalf, how generous! Curious about how to improve your skills with difficult conversations? Here are some links to get started: How to Handle Difficult Conversations Gracefully | Psychology Today Things to Do Before a Difficult Conversation (HBR) How to Create a Strong Culture (shrm.org) Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Haiku for Michael Michael knows that growth, Requires difficult words to... Be shared with kindness. #HumanResources #Podcast #TrueStoriesAtWork #Career #Culture

In this episode of True Stories at Work, we introduce you to Aileen, who has spent the majority of her career in Talent Acquisition at a professional services firm and is now a career coach. Join us as we share true stories about following your passion, networking into the best jobs, and the importance of taking career risks. Aileen graduated college with aspirations to become a Russian-speaking foreign policy expert (and maybe even high potential Karaoke-queen) but accidentally entered HR after hating her first job as a technology data analyst. She started her HR career in executive search, which she describes as “an amazing training ground.  You're basically thrown to the wolves.” Aileen shares how she successfully networked her way into HR at a professional service firm (twice) and her favorite stories about: the importance of taking risks in your career journey, personal + client, and the value of networking how searching for a job is like dating how important it is to be aware of and overcome unconscious bias to hire the BEST talent. Aileen has taken big career risks, even fulfilling her calling to become a Chicago Public School teacher, for one year… wait until you hear what she saw when she saw happening behind her back in her classroom when she reviewed her Student Teaching video! “I could review my own video. So that night I brought it home and reviewed it and saw it and I was like, oh my gosh, I think I'm gonna get an F on this video.” Aileen encourages you to follow your passion and energy to find the job you LOVE. “Don't be afraid to follow your passions. Don't think that it's just a nice to have, or it's, it's a dream job. It'll never come true. It is possible. You just have to be thoughtful.” At the end, you will hear my workplace confession, the biggest thing that I did wrong at work… which I still believe was right in the end. It is a story of insubordination in my quest to update our dusty and dated values, and how I took a big risk to ask for forgiveness, not permission. And how no one even noticed?! Resources Suggested Aileen Curious about how Aileen preps her clients and some of her favorite job search tools? Check out these links to get started: Create an elevator speech + have 3-4 behavioral interview stories, check out this resource to set you up for interview storytelling success. Optimize your resume with jobscan.co . Best job boards for seekers: LinkedIn and BuiltIn. Want to reflect on what career path makes sense, check out 16personalities.com - which is a free Myers Briggs resource. Or contact Aileen directly at joblinkllc.com. Stories are what we remember and how we connect, so please share yours with me! Let's talk about your people strategy Tell a story! Make a Workplace Confession Drop Your Wisdom Connect on Linked In. Listen to the show   Haiku Aileen takes her own Career advice by choosing Work that brings her joy!