Human Resources For Small Business

On this bonus episode, return guest and Xenium employee Nicole Blevins talks about corporate jargon, how confusing it can be, and how it can leave your people feeling like they don't understand the messaging or are really isolated in their confusion.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this economy, is it really possible to balance your business’s bottom line while addressing employee financial wellness initiatives? According to Tate Hackert, President and Founder of ZayZoon, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Listen in to learn all about how business owners can retain employees during these trying times by providing Earned Wage Access, a solution for the cash flow crunch between paydays.   TAKEAWAYS Earned Wage Access, now growing in popularity, allows employees the flexibility to access the pay that they've already earned but have not yet been paid. Financial stress causes less productivity which increases the likelihood that a given employee would change jobs. Employers can help increase employee financial wherewithal — through a raise, better education, or other financial perks. Many small business owners already provide advances on employee paychecks, but that creates an administrative burden and an awkward relationship between the employer and employee.    A QUICK GLIMPSE

Times have changed. Whereas HR professionals used to find themselves sequestered to the back of the office filing paperwork, now Chief HR Officers find themselves on the path to company leadership roles. Listen in on this interview with Amy Spurling, Founder and CEO of Compt, and learn how HR leaders can maximize their “seat at the table” in an ever-changing business climate.   TAKEAWAYS Instead of filling out compliance paperwork behind-the-scenes, today’s CHROs are better positioned to take on the CEO role than ever before.  Today’s tight labor market ensures HR’s “seat at the table.” Companies must hire an HR person if they want to build a functional, viable company. The CHRO role should complement the CFO role as they are the only two positions that sit across every department in a business.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Every organization, at one time or another, will face a crisis. But it takes an intentional approach to get through it with grace. How do you organize your leaders, talk to your people, and move forward with empathy? Listen in on this episode of Transform Your Workplace, where host Brandon Laws sits down with Albrey Brown, VP of Strategy and GM of New York at Joonko.   TAKEAWAYS Since crises are inevitable, leaders must prepare for them before they arise. Dealing with a crisis means dealing with “the human side of things” and asking yourself how you can support employees through it. As a leader, your first instinct may be to act quickly, but taking time to reflect helps you to avoid critical mistakes. If you treat employees as you would your customers, crisis intervention plans tend to be much more authentic and effective. Leaders must be willing to spend time on empathy so that employees feel supported over the long term. While empathy is not scalable, the framework for teaching your managers, yo

On this bonus episode, return guest and Xenium employee Nicole Blevins joins us to discuss the labor shortage and "the new normal." The two talk about automation, hiring, retaining talent, and more.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Want your team to move forward as a united front? According to recent guest Michelle Johnston, we can’t lean on our old ways and expect teams to be productive in the new world of work. The hybrid workplace, with all of its advantages, hinders organic connection, so we must be intentional about setting aside time for meaningful conversations among our people. Don’t know where to start? Listen in to learn how.   TAKEAWAYS The hybrid workplace has introduced many challenges to meaningful connection. To boost connection in the workplace, leaders must relinquish control and get personal. When leaders seek to be perfect, they inadvertently foster disconnection in their workplace relationships. Owning and sharing your story builds trust in workplace relationships. Listening is imperative to meaningful connection.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In today’s workplace, filled with countless distractions, it's easy to leave learning and development initiatives on the back burner. But our most recent guest, Ted Blosser, reminds us that employees need learning, skill, and career development now more than ever. If you’re wondering whether you need to prioritize employee development, listen in on a discussion about learning management systems and how you can help your people do more with less.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Listen in on a recent conversation with Nick Sonnenberg, founder, and CEO of Leverage. He and host Brandon Laws discuss asynchronous and synchronous communication methods, planning and project management, and how companies can best use tools at their disposal to avoid having their employees feel like they're drowning at work.    A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Sit down with Scott Ballard, founder of Confidence Coach, to discuss the ever-present issue of employee engagement. Learn why a staggering 80% of employees are disengaged and how to partner with your people and invest in their dreams, visions, and goals. Ultimately, building your successful business starts with tapping into your greatest resource: your people.   TAKEAWAYS To boost engagement, leaders must address the root cause of the issue: the gap between the vision, goal, or dream for the company and the employee’s vision, goal, or dream for their life. Leaders must invest in helping employees build their lives while building the company. Happiness at work comes not when we reach our destination but as we progress toward the realization of a goal. When companies focus solely on business goals and neglect their people, they unknowingly cut themselves off from all the valuable energy, drive, and resilience of their employees. A business’s employees are its first customers — they have more knowledge of the

Listen in on a recent conversation with returning guest Mark Mohammadpour, owner and Chief Well-Being Officer at Chasing the Sun. He and host Brandon Laws discuss the role managers play in talent retention and overall well-being and how new managers can lead with self-awareness and empathy.   TAKEAWAYS A large determiner of attrition comes back to the immediate managers and whether they advocate for those they lead. The first step in taking on a management position is recognizing the role you have. People want to grow and evolve in their careers, and part of that is following those who lead you. Companies must take a broader holistic look at employee well-being. Data shows that companies are offering exceptional well-being benefits, but employees don’t take advantage of them due to a lack of communication.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Get a fresh take on developing and retaining talent in this eye-opening conversation with Natalie Miller, Regional Director of Apprenti. She and host Brandon Laws discuss a new perspective on the age-old concept of apprenticeships but with an unexpected twist. Listen in to learn how your business could take advantage of this innovative employee development initiative.   TAKEAWAYS When we think of apprenticeships, we often think of those for trade jobs, but apprenticeships can also be used for what we call “non-trades,” essentially career paths that we don’t commonly associate with apprenticeships. Among the current talent coming into the workplace, only 30% have four-year degrees. Apprentices allow employees to get on-the-job training — working with managers and a mentor, understanding what works and what doesn't, and eventually being hired into an entry-level role. Organizations that focus on career mobility tend to show increased employee retention. Think about the purpose and functionality of the four-yea

In this bonus episode, guest host Al Nodarse chats with Drake Snodgrass, the CEO of Drake's Seven Dees, a family-owned business that has been around for over 60 years and has been passed down through three generations of the family. During the pandemic, the company was affected like many others, but Drake made a commitment to keep all of his employees on staff. Since then, the company has actually been growing! Listen in on this intimate conversation with CEO Drake Snodgrass.  Sponsor: Gresham Chamber of Commerce WorkReady A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

It’s time to bust the myth about what makes a strong leader. Can leaders really show their emotions without appearing weak in the workplace? According to guest Carolyn Stern, author of The Emotionally Strong Leader, when leaders learn to make friends with their emotions and communicate their feelings clearly, they set the stage for real transformation, not only in themselves but in their teams and workplace culture.     TAKEAWAYS The expression of emotion and strength of leadership aren’t mutually exclusive. Our emotions impact our decisions, communication, and stress level, so we need to be mindful that our emotions matter.  Emotional intelligence is being intelligent about our emotions, using mental skills and cognitive strategies to think smarter about why we are feeling what we’re feeling. Many organizations would rather deal with unproductive behaviors or disrespectful communication than get to the heart of the issue.  Businesses can have more innovation, more productivity, and more workplace happiness

In this bonus episode of Transform Your Workplace, Suzi Wear takes over hosting duties and interviews Gina Riley about what's important to understand about the younger generation of employees, specifically those in Gen Z (born after 1990) and Gen Y (ages 26-41). The discussion touches on the concept of a "latchkey workforce" and the importance of understanding the needs and expectations of younger employees in the workplace. Watch the full episode on YouTube A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Listen in on a timely discussion with Marcus Sawyerr, a veteran in the recruiting industry and Founder and CEO of EQ Community. We’ll discuss recent changes in recruiting, address blind spots, and get a glimpse into how technology affects diversity and inclusion during this evolving process.    TAKEAWAYS The recruiting process is evolving, taking the lead from consumer products. Employers need to review job descriptions to make sure that they are accurate in reflecting the true end goal. Sometimes, we can complicate things as time goes on, and we forget the essence of finding the right talent. Diversity has been seen as a box-ticking exercise — “the right thing to do” — rather than the superpower that it is. Magic takes place when people, who otherwise wouldn’t, are placed in a room together to connect with one another.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Growth can be painful, but it’s necessary when it comes to becoming an effective leader. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Dr. Richard Winters, ER physician and author of You’re the Leader: Now What?: Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic. The two discuss Dr. Winters’ approach to leadership collaboration, decision-making, and growth.   TAKEAWAYS The best leaders know when to make a decision based on their experience and when to do so by bringing together people with varied perspectives.  Effective leaders approach complex issues as a facilitator, with a clear mind focused on finding the best way forward. If we move forward based on a single perspective, we risk making serious errors. Burnout is an organizational vital sign, and leaders must address it in strategic decision-making. Doing nothing — not innovating or not moving forward — is actually more risky than taking action.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

On this bonus episode of Transform Your Workplace, guest host Al Nodarse interviews Alicia Chapman, CEO of Willamette Technical Fabricators. Chapman discusses the unique culture at her company, which includes benefits such as unlimited sick days and a commitment to supporting and promoting women in the trades. Despite being a newer company, Willamette Technical Fabricators has experienced rapid growth, reaching over $10 million in revenue within three years. Chapman also shares her experience as a woman and minority-owned business in the manufacturing industry, competing against larger companies for contracts. The conversation aims to provide inspiration and practical insights for business leaders looking to build and improve their workplace culture.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

Stuck in a leadership rut? In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Jim Wetrich, author of Stifled: Where Good Leaders Go Wrong. The two discuss how to increase your effectiveness in today’s changing modern workplace by adapting new leadership practices.   TAKEAWAYS Despite inevitable change, many companies continue to lean on prior leadership practices and prior assumptions, unwilling to adapt. If companies want to make it in this new world of work, growth and change must be at the forefront. We're not doing a good job of managing the people who are managing the new managers. Our mistakes are powerful teachers. Frequently reinforce your mission, vision, and values at every level of the organization. The younger generation wants positive and negative feedback right away, not once a year.   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

She's back! One of our favorite guests, Nicole Blevins is back to discuss retention strategies! The two discuss how positive experiences in the recruiting and hiring process create a network of candidates to fill future roles, retention and hiring bonuses, boomerang employees, and more!   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

In this uncertain economic climate, there’s no better time than now to take the pulse on employee sentiment. In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws interviews Soni Basi, Global Chief People Officer of Edelman. The two discuss the recent findings of Edelman’s “Trust Barometer” and how employers can foster greater trust and connection in the workplace.   TAKEAWAYS Edelman’s “Trust Barometer” helps employers get a sense of their employees’ sentiments on a variety of timely topics. After friends and family, the workplace is the most important source of community for employees. If employees can’t see that HR is truly committed to functioning as a people-first organization, organizations will continue to struggle with gaining employee trust. People want to work for a company that espouses their own values. The only way to build trust is through repeated behaviors that people expect or want to see   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST