On the Up and Up

Here’s 1 of the 398,402 things nobody teaches you when building a brand and becoming a leader:Your external brand ≠ your internal company culture. Just because the world sees your brand in a certain light doesn’t mean your team has to march to that beat behind the scenes.Few people know this better than Kailtyn Parker of Copy Uncorked. Her business’s brand is strategically drenched in wine culture, but don’t let that fool her – their internal culture isn’t exactly what you’d expect.Tune in to hear Kaitlyn’s approach to leading a team that's as intentional and well-thought-out as her iconic brand. Bring your favorite glass because she’s pouring up insights on:🍷The critical role of culture-driven hiring, especially when your brand and your culture aren’t one in the same 🍷The role of personality tests, method acting, and mirroring in effective leadership🍷How “remaining in choice” steadies the wild ride of entrepreneurship🍷Lessons in leadership from her days at Lululemon🍷Putting a premium on Subject Matter Experts when hiring a lean teamWe always knew Kaitlyn is a wordsmith, but dang – the wisdom she drops in this episode is *CHEF’S KISS* for anyone trying to step up their leadership game. ABOUT KAITLYN AND COPY UNCORKED:Kaitlyn Parker is the founder/CEO, brand strategist, and wine enthusiast behind Copy Uncorked - a full-service copywriting & creative agency pouring up personality-fueled sales copy to help brands grow. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kaitlyn holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications and has worked with 200+ clients worldwide in her 8+ years of industry experience. She's also developed Copy Uncorked's suite of educational products for non-copywriters—collectively known as CU Edu. Each program is designed to help emerging entrepreneurs develop their brand messaging, write their own website copy, and every piece of copy after that.LINKS MENTIONED:Connect with Kaitlyn on Instagram @copyuncorked or visit copyuncorked.com.

Psst…I don’t know who needs to hear this, but:It’s time we move past the old-school belief that real work only happens when we’re all parked in office chairs. That mindset is as outdated as the office cubicles tech giants are trying to herd their talent back into (oops! Guess I do know who needs to hear this!) Do remote work relationships crash and burn sometimes? For sure. But it’s not always about the distance. More often than not, it’s about the people and the policies, or lack thereof, that are supposed to have their backs. As leaders in this “new normal” way of working, it’s crucial we adapt. So let’s talk about the 3 things to focus on in your remote work policy to empower those who thrive in the virtual workspace.Timestamps:00:38 The Fallacy of Remote Work02:49 Misconceptions about Remote Work03:55 Failures in Remote Work Relationships05:54 Creating Company Policies For Remote Work07:29 Guidelines For Remote Work Behaviors08:10 Setting Expectations for Remote Work15:33 Using Metrics To Create Tangible Goals21:24 Learning Opportunities For Leaders and Managers in Remote WorkLINKS MENTIONED:Prior To The Hire Guide - we’ll help you think through all the things you didn’t know you needed to think through before making your next hire!

What’s your most unpopular opinion as a manager or people leader?I’m sharing mine this week, and it’s going to ruffle some feathers. It’s about one of my rules for internal communication with my remote team, and it’s one that I think a lot more leaders should adopt. This one small boundary has helped me establish a company culture steeped in respect for my team's space and energy, while aligning the way we work with the my values as a business owner.Come for the hot take, stay for the essentials of effective communication for your own remote team!

Think leading a remote team is just a game of juggling Zoom calls and Slack messages in an effort to herd your team in a march towards deadlines? Think again. It's actually a trust-building marathon, and many leaders are dropping the baton by not establishing trust early or consistently enough with their team, leading to some major backfires.Building trust and accountability with a remote team isn't a 'do it once and dust your hands’ kind of task. It's an ongoing journey and a continuous leveling up of your leadership skills. This isn't just a process; it's an evolution that mirrors your growth as a boss (how badass is that??)This week, let's dive into the world of the unseen – the intangible elements of building trust at work. We'll explore some concrete strategies to plant the seeds of trust and accountability within your team, nurturing them to grow in ways that resonate with your unique leadership style. Listen now!LINKS MENTIONED:People Leader Archetype Quiz: Discovering your leadership archetype will reveal where your strengths are in communication and leadership, and can help you identify how to build trust with your team. Take the quick quiz now and empower yourself to become a better leader!

Ever wondered how people successfully go from solopreneur to CEO with a team?The secret isn't about nailing one specific management style or mastering a recruiting trick. It's really about how your team comes together around your business’s growth goals, starting with an intentional hiring process that paves the way for everyone's success.So why isn’t everyone who hires a team thriving and massively scaling their business?This week we’re delving into one major hiring pitfall many fall into on their journey to team building. This one mistake is so major, it often makes people regret hiring in the first place. Plus, we’ll talk through 4 steps you can take to transform your next hire from a gamble into a guaranteed investment in your business’s success. If hiring is on your mind, don’t miss this episode! Timestamps:5:24 - The biggest hiring mistake revealed14:30 - The 4 steps to avoiding this mistake18:38 - Real-life examples of these 4 steps in actionLinks Mentioned:Getting ready to hire? Download our free Prior To The Hire Guide for a more in depth look at the 4 steps outlined in this episode, including a framework and worksheet you can use to build out the role your business needs to ROI.Full link: https://the-paradigm.com/prior-to-the-hire  

As business owners, people managers, and CEOs, we often overlook the significant impact company culture has on our leadership experience. It's important to realize that culture is not just about creating a fun workplace (though we’re all about making work fun if that’s your vibe!); it's crucial in fostering productivity and ensuring the collective success of your team, which directly influences the success of your business.So, how do you ensure that every new addition to your team not only understands but also integrates well into your company's culture, especially when you’re not in a face-to-face environment?Let’s talk about it! In this week’s episode, we’re honing in on culture-driven onboarding processes, discussing strategies to ensure new team members seamlessly integrate into your team's dynamics and culture. This process starts wayyy before their first day of work, and it’s about soooo much more than paperwork. We’re talking through cultural touchpoints to consider during four stages of a culture-driven onboarding process: the pre-hire or candidacy process, orientation, acclimation to your team, company, and systems, as well as training and development.We’ll also dive into:The impact of your onboarding process on the overall culture of your company.Understanding when onboarding starts and ends.Strategies to prepare your company and team for a new employee, optimizing their success through a culture-driven onboarding process.Debunking common myths about what is permissible to ask during an interview.A universal cultural element we recommend for every organization, regardless of the rest of your culture.Tune in now!

This week, we’re excited to have Meg Evans from Born To Roam Bookkeeping on the podcast to chat all about making that first hire for your business. Meg is a licensed CPA, numbers nerd, and small business bookkeeper. She is the founder and CEO of Born to Roam Bookkeeping LLC, a virtual boutique bookkeeping agency based out of California. She and her team are on a mission to empower and equip female CEOs with the tools and knowledge they need to financially fuel a life of freedom and exploration. We delved into the common fears entrepreneurs face when hiring for the first time (eh ehm, like relinquishing control over certain tasks) and the essential mental preparation needed to bring someone into your business and step into a leadership role.If you’re on the cusp of hiring, whether it's for the first time or the 10th time, there is a lot to be learned from this conversation. Tune in to hear: A transformative experience Meg had while being managed by favorite boss (who, interestingly, is also the one who laid her off) that has profoundly shaped her approach to people management.Meg's journey to realizing why her business needs employees rather than contractors— music to my ears!The key skill Meg believes is vital for managing a team, particularly in a remote setting.Reflective questions to help identify the specific role your business needs to fill next.Practical tips for juggling the dual roles of motherhood and entrepreneurship.This episode is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact we have on our employees and how we can shape their careers in ways we might not even realize.Connect with Meg Instagram:If you’re interested in Meg’s bookkeeping services, send her a DM on Instagram (@borntoroambookkeeping)

When you’re thinking about building and shaping your company culture, you might be tempted to go along with the trends of online business and offer your team allll the flexibility they “want.”But what we’re actually seeing is that too much flexibility isn’t actually as rewarding for people to work within as we may think. Turns out, people don't just need structure to thrive at work—they actually want it. Excessive flexibility can shake the very foundation your team needs to grow and excel, leading to some unexpected pitfalls. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about why people need guardrails (which come in the form of direct and concise policies and procedures) in order for you to get an ROI on your hire.  We'll explore the concept of 'toxic flexibility'—what it is, why it's a problem, and how you can steer clear of it. Plus, we're balancing the scales by discussing Tune in to learn:The 2 most common scenarios where toxic flexibility shows upThe importance of mixing in a bit of 'old school' with the new flex trendsWhat an ‘intrapraneur’ is and how to avoid making hiring mistakesWhat one statistic tells us about how people prefer to workThe 2 key steps you can take as a CEO to avoid toxic flexibility in your company cultureAs a CEO, it's crucial to navigate these waters carefully. So, we're wrapping things up with two essential steps you can take to keep 'toxic flexibility' out of your company culture. Listen now!

Happy New Year! Let’s start 2024 fresh by getting back to basics. Like, realllly basic.In this episode, I'm talking about what we actually mean when we say "HR compliance" and exploring its significance for all businesses regardless of location, size, or industry. HR compliance isn't JUST about adhering to laws and regulations related to employment (although yes, that is its #1 function); it's also about creating a balanced and fair experience for everyone in your workplace, including yourself. We discuss how compliance acts as a vital preventative measure to steer clear of legal pitfalls, and the nuanced role HR plays in safeguarding both the company and its work environment. This episode is all about boiling it down to the basics and covering points like:What HR compliance even means and where it should live within your businessHow labor laws fit into compliancePayroll compliance vs. HR complianceBasic standards of HR compliance that are often overlookedThe ONE must-have policy you absolutely need in your companyIn the spirit of "new year, new you"...this is the perfect time to make sure all your HR compliance ducks are in a row! Fill out the contact form on our website for a free consultation call and discover how we can support your business in staying compliant and On The Up & Up.Links Mentioned:First Hire Starter Pack: Visit the Set To Scale Shop at www.settoscale.com for our First Hire Starter Pack, which provides the minimum viable options for compliance when making your first hire, including a MUST-HAVE EEO clause.Prior To The Hire Guide: Check out our website to download our 'Prior To The Hire' Guide, detailing the essential considerations you need to know before your next hire.

It’s our anniversary! To celebrate one-year since launching On The Up & Up, we've got a special treat lined up for this week's episode.We're switching things up and letting some of our amazing clients take the spotlight. They're here to share the real-deal lessons they've learned while building their online businesses.This episode is all about answering one big question: 'If you could go back in time to when you were just starting out, what business advice would you give yourself?'Our lineup includes 7 incredible online business owners from all stages of business. Whether they've been in it for over a decade, just starting out, running an agency, or even recently sold their business, they've got advice you'll want to hear.This one feels like a heart-to-heart with the business mentor you've always dreamed of having.So grab a notebook, pour a glass of your favorite celebratory bev (it IS our anniversary after all), and tune in! Connect with our contributors!Braden Drake @notavglaw https://notavglaw.com/Kristin Richards @girlbossdesigner @kristinrichards.co https://girlbossdesigner.com/Lauren Loreto @brandgoodtime www.brandgoodtime.comHaley Johnson @propegy www.propegy.comRachael Mueller @heyrachael https://heyrachael.com/Abagail Pumphrey @bossproject https://bossproject.com/Katie Hunt @prooftoproduct https://www.prooftoproduct.com/