Podcasts about employee experience

While many companies focus only on buying new AI tools, the real secret to success often lies in changing how leaders think and act to drive a massive business turnaround. In this episode, Anna White, EVP and Chief People Officer at Lumen, joins the show to discuss how a major networking company is transforming its business through a deep focus on leadership and AI. We explore how leaders must shift from being "knowers" to "learners" by embracing curiosity and a growth mindset. The discussion covers practical steps like launching an AI literacy academy for all employees, using "Dare to Lead" training to build courage, and managing the risks of "work slop" by ensuring human judgment always checks AI work. We also dive into real examples of AI pilots, such as the GoalPro tool for aligning targets, and examine how to prepare for a future hybrid workforce where humans manage AI agents. This conversation offers a clear roadmap for HR leaders handling the complex mix of culture change and digital transformation. ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Order here: 8exlaws.com

March 5, 2026: The company making AI (Anthropic) just published real data on what AI is actually doing to jobs — and the finding that should concern everyone isn't layoffs. It's that the hiring door for workers aged 22 to 25 has quietly dropped 14% in AI-exposed fields since ChatGPT launched. Today we cover four stories: Stanford's Erik Brynjolfsson on why minimum wage increases are accelerating robot adoption. Anthropic's brand new labor market study — and why you should read it with a critical eye. The February job cut numbers, which look better than January but hide a more troubling signal. And Vinod Khosla predicting today's five-year-olds will never need jobs — a claim we push back on hard. The data is in. It's more complicated than either side wants to admit.   Watch the full episode on YouTube   ----- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Stop patching problems and start designing an intentional workplace. The 8 Laws of Employee Experience gives you the how. Order your copy: 8EXlaws.com

March 6, 2026: The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February — and the headline number is almost the least interesting part of the story. When you break down where the losses actually came from, you get a picture far more complicated than the AI-took-our-jobs narrative dominating social media right now. Healthcare, tech, federal government, manufacturing, transportation — each sector tells a different story, and together they reveal a labor market being squeezed from multiple directions at once: AI, tariffs, Baby Boomer retirements, post-pandemic correction, and a geopolitical shock that just sent oil past $87 a barrel. Meanwhile, the Fed is openly questioning whether it even has the tools to respond — because cutting rates doesn't create jobs for people whose skills have structurally shifted out of demand. Also this week: Uber's CEO says don't come here if you want to coast — and why that lands so differently in this economic moment. A new survey reveals that 90% of companies have AI chatbots but almost none have integrated AI into real workflows — and that gap is driving some dangerous workforce decisions. And the Bank of England just started war-gaming what happens if AI triggers a full economic shock.  Watch on YouTube ----- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Looking for what actually moves the needle on performance and retention? It's in The 8 Laws of Employee Experience. Order here: 8EXlaws.com

This week Andrew talks with executive Katie Rhone — the Sr. Vice President of HERO & Employee Experience at KARE. KARE is an on-demand senior care platform connecting qualified caregivers & nurses with senior living communities. Katie has the extraordinary leadership responsibility over experience design & strategy for 65,000+ caregivers and nurses serving patients. In this conversation, Katie shares many of the ideas & frameworks she utilizes to build an organization (and workforce) that feels connected, appreciated, well-recognized, & an incredible sense of belonging. This conversation has the power to help all of us be better leaders & teammates — and give us the tools to make the communities we care about a little bit more connected. ** Follow Andrew **Instagram: @AndrewMoses123X: @andrewhmosesSign up for e-mails to keep up with the podcast at everybodypullsthetarp.com/newsletterDISCLAIMER: This podcast is solely for educational & entertainment purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

March 3, 2026: The hype around AI and jobs is loud. The actual data tells a more nuanced story. This week, Stanford economist Nick Bloom released the most rigorous study yet on AI's impact on employment and productivity — surveying nearly 6,000 executives across four countries with the Federal Reserve and Bank of England. The findings are striking: 90% of firms report zero employment impact from AI so far, yet US executives are planning to cut over two million jobs in the next three years based on gains that haven't materialized yet. We break down what that gap means for workers, leaders, and organizations. Plus: CNN pushes back on the viral AI doom-loop narrative — and why "don't freak out yet" isn't the same as "you're fine." Why 43% of workers want to change careers but almost none will — and the psychological trap behind what researchers are calling "job hugging." And the central irony of the AI economy: the companies spending trillions to automate knowledge work can't build the infrastructure to run it because there aren't enough electricians — and why Gen Z is starting to pay attention. ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—order a copy here: 8EXlaws.com

March 4, 2026: The ECB just released new data showing companies that use AI are hiring, not firing — but the full story of what happened to bank tellers reveals why that optimism has a shelf life. USAA CEO Juan Andrade says Gen Z won't be as well off as Boomers and Gen X, and the numbers are stark: entry-level job postings down 29% globally, Gen Z financial insecurity up 18 points in a single year, and an average net worth of negative $22,000. Slack cofounder Stewart Butterfield says most of what passes for work in large organizations isn't actually work — he calls it hyper-realistic worklike activities, and the data shows it's costing U.S. companies $37 billion a year in ineffective meetings alone. And a neuroscientist who testified before the U.S. Senate says Silicon Valley convinced schools they were broken when they weren't, spent $30 billion putting screens in classrooms, and produced the first generation in modern history to score lower on cognitive tests than their parents — and now AI in classrooms is about to repeat the exact same mistake. Watch the full episode on Youtube ----- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ If you lead people, you design experiences—do it on purpose with The 8 Laws of Employee Experience. Order now: 8EXlaws.com

Is employee experience due for a reset? For much of the past decade, employee experience has been framed as a competitive advantage - a way to attract talent, boost engagement, and strengthen culture. Yet in today's environment, shaped by economic pressure, evolving workforce expectations, and the rapid rise of AI, many organisations are re-examining whether their approach is still sustainable - or whether, in trying to improve employee experience, they may have inadvertently diluted it. So, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Jacob Morgan - author, keynote speaker, and Founder of The Future of Work Leaders - to explore what an employee experience reset looks like in 2026 and beyond. Drawing on insights from interviews with 100 CHROs, Jacob shares why this moment may mark a turning point for accountability at work, and what leaders must do to balance empathy with performance without undermining either. Tune in to learn more about: Why 2026 may be a turning point for accountability in employee experience Whether wellbeing programmes have diluted performance expectations How leaders can balance empathy and high performance standards without appearing anti-employee What the evolving power dynamic between employers and employees means in practice How AI is redefining how work is measured, managed, and valued Why HR must lead - not just manage - the responsible and ethical adoption of AI This episode is sponsored by Hibob. HiBob brings HR, Payroll, and Finance together into a single platform that employees actually use. With AI throughout, you move faster, work smarter, and empower your people to power your business. Sapient Insights recognises HiBob's AI vision, citing the Bob AI Companion for making everyday work faster and easier. Fosway Group also names HiBob a 2025 9-Grid™ Core Leader, recognising the strongest AI vision among Core Leaders. HiBob. All-in-one HCM for HR, Payroll, and Finance. ​​​Learn all about HiBob's modern HR platform here Resources: The Eight Laws of Employee Experience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to lead well when the world—and the workplace—feels deeply divided? You're invited into a thoughtful, grounded conversation with Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, as we explore how trust, character, and everyday leadership behaviors shape cultures where people can thrive, no matter their differences. You'll hear why great leadership isn't about perks or slogans, but about how consistently leaders listen, speak, thank, and show respect. Michael shares data-backed insights from decades of employee experience research, explains how companies earn Great Place to Work certification, and makes a compelling case that organizations that care for people—across demographics, beliefs, and roles—don't just feel better to work in; they also perform better. Michael is CEO of Great Place To Work, the global research and analytics firm that produces annual distinguished workplace rankings around the world, such as Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, the World's Best Workplaces, and the 100 Best Workplaces for Women. Michael joined Great Place To Work as CEO in 2015, bringing 30 years of experience leading and growing organizations. Michael is driven by a love of business and an unwavering commitment to fair and equitable treatment. You'll discover: Why trust is the foundation of every great workplaceThe leadership behaviors that matter most to employeesHow Great Place to Work measures fairness for allWhat leaders must do differently in polarized timesWhy people-centered companies outperform long-termConnect with Michael C. BushLinkedInWebsiteGreat Place to WorkBookA Great Place to Work for All Check out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Achtung (Werbung in eigener Sache):  Jetzt mein neues Buch (in Co-Produktion mit Prof. Dr. Johanna Bath): "Die perfekte Employee Journey & Experience" kaufen (erschienen im Oktober 2025): Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Amazon: https://bit.ly/44aajaP Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074960417 Dieses Fachbuch stellt die wichtigsten Elemente der Employee Journey vor – vom Pre-Boarding bis zum Offboarding – und erläutert, wie Verantwortliche in Unternehmen eine gelungene Employee Experience realisieren und nachhaltig verankern können.   Mein Gast: Gabriela Zitsch  Gabriela Zitsch ist Expertin für Employer Branding, Candidate Experience und Recruiting-Kommunikation. Sie beschäftigt sich seit vielen Jahren intensiv mit der Frage, wie Unternehmen sich als Arbeitgeber glaubwürdig positionieren, wie Arbeitgebermarken intern gelebt und extern sichtbar gemacht werden und wie Kampagnen gestaltet sein müssen, um die richtigen Zielgruppen wirklich zu erreichen. In ihrer Arbeit liegt der Fokus nicht auf Hochglanz-Marketing, sondern auf Authentizität, Klarheit und Wiedererkennbarkeit. Sie zeigt, wie Employer Branding dann wirksam wird, wenn Kultur, Kommunikation und Candidate Journey zusammenpassen und nicht als isolierte Einzelmaßnahmen gedacht werden. Besonders im Tech-Consulting-Umfeld, wo Fachkräfte stark umworben sind, setzt sie auf klare Botschaften, mutige Kampagnenansätze und eine enge Verzahnung von Recruiting und Employer Branding.   Das Thema Mit Gabriela Zitsch (Expertin für Employer Branding, Candidate Experience und Recruiting-Kommunikation) habe ich in der GainTalents-Podcastfolge 442 über die Planung und Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne bei einem Tech-Consulting-Unternehmen gesprochen. Herzlichen Dank an Gabriela für die vielen guten Tipps zum Thema. Viel Spaß beim Reinhören!    Was ist wichtig für die Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne? Zielgruppe sehr gut analysieren Gute Agentur zur Begleitung im Prozess auswählen und beauftragen Interne Abstimmung zur Entwicklung und Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne ist essentiell HR / Employer Branding / Recruiting mit Marketing und Fachbereichen  sehr gutes Projektmanagement ist erforderlich Die Inhalte der Kampagne müssen nicht dem Unternehmen gefallen, sondern der Zielgruppe, die angesprochen werden soll (Köder muss dem Fisch schmecken und nicht dem Angler!) Kommunikation der Inhalte in den relevanten Kanälen ausspielen (online und offline) Offline: immer in der Nähe der Unternehmensstandorte Landingpage mit speziellen Informationen zum Unternehmen und zu Jobs Tracking der Kampagne nach Inhalten, Kanal und Qualität der Bewerbenden Ziel war nicht unbedingt mehr Kandidaten:innen für Jobs zu erhalten, sondern dass die Qualität der Bewerbenden besser wird Achtung: Du kannst nie alle Menschen im Unternehmen mit der Kampagne glücklich machen - Fokus auf Zielgruppe und auf Ergebnisse   #GainTalentsPodcast #EmployerBranding #EmployerBrandingKampagne #TechRecruiting #Arbeitgeberattraktivitaet #Employervalueproposition #CandidateExperience #Recruiting   Shownotes Links - Gabriela Zitsch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-zitsch-2b4b05169/ Kampagnenwebseite und Linkedin-Post dazu: https://exxeta.com/date-us https://exxeta.com/blog/unsere-employer-branding-kampagne-ist-live Entwicklung eines KI-Bildgenerators: https://bit.ly/4qQtMXf   Links Hans-Heinz Wisotzky:  Website: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast und https://www.gaintalents.com/blog Podcast: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast Bücher: Neu (jetzt überall zu kaufen): Die perfekte Employee Journey und Experience https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Erste Buch: Die perfekte Candidate Journey und Experience https://www.gaintalents.com/buch-die-perfekte-candidate-journey-und-experience LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheinzwisotzky/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaintalents XING https://www.xing.com/profile/HansHeinz_Wisotzky/cv Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GainTalents Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gain.talents/  

Achtung (Werbung in eigener Sache):  Jetzt mein neues Buch (in Co-Produktion mit Prof. Dr. Johanna Bath): "Die perfekte Employee Journey & Experience" kaufen (erschienen im Oktober 2025): Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Amazon: https://bit.ly/44aajaP Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074960417 Dieses Fachbuch stellt die wichtigsten Elemente der Employee Journey vor – vom Pre-Boarding bis zum Offboarding – und erläutert, wie Verantwortliche in Unternehmen eine gelungene Employee Experience realisieren und nachhaltig verankern können.   Mein Gast: Gabriela Zitsch  Gabriela Zitsch ist Expertin für Employer Branding, Candidate Experience und Recruiting-Kommunikation. Sie beschäftigt sich seit vielen Jahren intensiv mit der Frage, wie Unternehmen sich als Arbeitgeber glaubwürdig positionieren, wie Arbeitgebermarken intern gelebt und extern sichtbar gemacht werden und wie Kampagnen gestaltet sein müssen, um die richtigen Zielgruppen wirklich zu erreichen. In ihrer Arbeit liegt der Fokus nicht auf Hochglanz-Marketing, sondern auf Authentizität, Klarheit und Wiedererkennbarkeit. Sie zeigt, wie Employer Branding dann wirksam wird, wenn Kultur, Kommunikation und Candidate Journey zusammenpassen und nicht als isolierte Einzelmaßnahmen gedacht werden. Besonders im Tech-Consulting-Umfeld, wo Fachkräfte stark umworben sind, setzt sie auf klare Botschaften, mutige Kampagnenansätze und eine enge Verzahnung von Recruiting und Employer Branding.   Das Thema Mit Gabriela Zitsch (Expertin für Employer Branding, Candidate Experience und Recruiting-Kommunikation) habe ich in der GainTalents-Podcastfolge 442 über die Planung und Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne bei einem Tech-Consulting-Unternehmen gesprochen. Herzlichen Dank an Gabriela für die vielen guten Tipps zum Thema. Viel Spaß beim Reinhören!    Was ist wichtig für die Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne? Zielgruppe sehr gut analysieren Gute Agentur zur Begleitung im Prozess auswählen und beauftragen Interne Abstimmung zur Entwicklung und Realisierung einer Employer Branding Kampagne ist essentiell HR / Employer Branding / Recruiting mit Marketing und Fachbereichen  sehr gutes Projektmanagement ist erforderlich Die Inhalte der Kampagne müssen nicht dem Unternehmen gefallen, sondern der Zielgruppe, die angesprochen werden soll (Köder muss dem Fisch schmecken und nicht dem Angler!) Kommunikation der Inhalte in den relevanten Kanälen ausspielen (online und offline) Offline: immer in der Nähe der Unternehmensstandorte Landingpage mit speziellen Informationen zum Unternehmen und zu Jobs Tracking der Kampagne nach Inhalten, Kanal und Qualität der Bewerbenden Ziel war nicht unbedingt mehr Kandidaten:innen für Jobs zu erhalten, sondern dass die Qualität der Bewerbenden besser wird Achtung: Du kannst nie alle Menschen im Unternehmen mit der Kampagne glücklich machen - Fokus auf Zielgruppe und auf Ergebnisse   #GainTalentsPodcast #EmployerBranding #EmployerBrandingKampagne #TechRecruiting #Arbeitgeberattraktivitaet #Employervalueproposition #CandidateExperience #Recruiting   Shownotes Links - Gabriela Zitsch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-zitsch-2b4b05169/ Kampagnenwebseite und Linkedin-Post dazu: https://exxeta.com/date-us https://exxeta.com/blog/unsere-employer-branding-kampagne-ist-live Entwicklung eines KI-Bildgenerators: https://bit.ly/4qQtMXf   Links Hans-Heinz Wisotzky:  Website: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast und https://www.gaintalents.com/blog Podcast: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast Bücher: Neu (jetzt überall zu kaufen): Die perfekte Employee Journey und Experience https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Erste Buch: Die perfekte Candidate Journey und Experience https://www.gaintalents.com/buch-die-perfekte-candidate-journey-und-experience LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheinzwisotzky/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaintalents XING https://www.xing.com/profile/HansHeinz_Wisotzky/cv Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GainTalents Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gain.talents/  

Many parents and leaders are wondering if a college degree is still worth the high educational costs. With student debt reaching nearly $2 trillion and the AI impact changing the future of work, the traditional path to success is facing a major disruption. In this episode, Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman and CEO of US News and World Report, joins us to talk about the "broken compact" in higher education and how college rankings are changing as consumer trust falls. We explore how university leadership must move away from focusing on real estate growth and instead prioritize critical thinking, internships, and lifelong learning. We also cover the growing demand for high-paying trades like electrical work over four-year degrees and a story from Eric's time in government where a hospital leader identified the need for data analysts years before it became a trend. This episode helps CHROs build better talent strategies by showing how to find and train workers based on their actual skill development in a job market where actual skills matter more than a diploma. Watch on Youtube ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—order a copy here: 8EXlaws.com  

The 2026 Winter Olympics are now over, and it was great to watch. As always, there are a lot of compelling stories that happened. There are stories of triumph and disappointment, as it goes with sports. It is hard to imagine putting so many years of your life into something to have it all turn on minutes or seconds.  There were a lot of athletes that were projected to win gold, including Jessie Diggins who is the greatest US cross-country skier ever. However, no US woman or man has ever won a cross-country skiing gold, so there were a lot of hopes that this would be the year. But that didn't come to pass. The men were able to secure two silver medals, and Jessie Diggins won a bronze. To add to this, Jessie Diggins is retiring at the end of this season, marking the end of a remarkable career. So was it a disappointment? Depends on how you measure it. By one metric of success, she failed to achieve the top goal of winning a race and taking home the gold. But other measures, according to Jessie, she did all she could, left it all out there, and represented herself, her friends and family, and her country well. The same could be said for a lot of athletes who ‘failed' to live up to expectations, but nonetheless did what they could to succeed.  In a culture where second place might be referred to as “first loser,” coming back with less than complete victory is a high standard. And maybe it is time for that standard to change, and the culture around metrics to shift.  To talk about the impact of measuring what matters, and more broadly the need for changes in organizational culture and employee experience, I welcome Dr. James Killian to Experience by Design podcast. This is the second Industrial/Organizational Psychologist in two weeks, so that might be a record for any podcast.  James has a new book coming out titled “Obsessed: Cultivating the Customer-Driven Leader.” The book describes how to develop customer-focused leadership habits, establish employee-centric cultures, create linkages between employee and customer experience, and establish metrics that really matter to your strategy.  James explains his entry into the field after discovering it during an introductory psychology class at Texas A&M, describing his interest in combining business and psychology. We also talk about his experiences in industry as well as working in the Michigan State University Customer Experience Management Masters program. Finally, there is the familiar theme about needing to create better connections between industry and academia.  Dr. James Killian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-killian-ph-d-859182/ “Obsessed:Cultivating the Customer-Driven Leader”: https://the-customer-driven-leader.com/ Pre-order now!: https://books.manuscripts.com/product/obsessed/

Achtung (Werbung in eigener Sache):  Jetzt mein neues Buch (in Co-Produktion mit Prof. Dr. Johanna Bath): "Die perfekte Employee Journey & Experience" kaufen (erschienen im Oktober 2025): Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Amazon: https://bit.ly/44aajaP Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074960417 Dieses Fachbuch stellt die wichtigsten Elemente der Employee Journey vor – vom Pre-Boarding bis zum Offboarding – und erläutert, wie Verantwortliche in Unternehmen eine gelungene Employee Experience realisieren und nachhaltig verankern können.   Mein Gast: Vanessa Reynolds  Vanessa Reynolds ist Partnerin bei Candidized, einer HR-Beratung, die auf moderne Eignungsdiagnostik und Skill-Based Hiring spezialisiert ist. Mit der Kombination bewährter Forschung, neuester Studien und den Ansprüchen des modernen Talent Acquisition denkt sie Eignungsdiagnostik weiter. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Team entwickelt sie Assessment Solutions, die die Vorhersage von Performance und eine ganzheitliche Passung in den Fokus stellen. Ihr erklärtes Ziel ist es, fundierte Eignungsdiagnostik noch stärker in der Praxis zu verankern. Mit dem Fokus auf Data und Skills schafft sie ein zukunftsgerichtetes HR, das den Herausforderungen dynamischer Arbeitswelten gewachsen ist. Vanessa steht für eine Diagnostik, die Potenziale hebt und echte Chancen ermöglicht.   Das Thema In der GainTalents-Podcastfolge 441 konnte ich mit Vanessa Reynolds (Partnerin bei Candidized) über das Thema Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik sprechen. In diesem Kontext hat Vanessa insbesondere ausgeführt, worauf es dabei ankommt und wie das ganze in Unternehmen implementiert werden kann. Herzlichen Dank an Vanessa für die vielen guten Tipps zum Thema. Viel Spaß beim Reinhören!  Was gibt es bei dem Thema Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik zu beachten? Folgende Bereiche gehören zu einer Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik: Knowledge, Skills (auch Softskills), Abilities (Analytische Fähigkeiten, Intelligenz), Interessen, Werte und Persönlichkeit Anforderungsanalyse - was ändert sich in den nächsten Jahren für bestimmte Aufgaben/Rollen und was bedeutet das für die Eignungsdiagnostik welche neuen Themen gibt es, welche neuen Technologien müssen Kandidaten:innen beherrschen, welche Ziele leiten sich daraus für die neue Aufgabe/Rolle ab? Kriterien zur Passung hinsichtlich Organisation, Rolle, Team, etc. müssen definiert werden - wichtig für die spätere Messung Welche Kriterien sind wichtiger als andere im Selektionsprozess? "frühe" Filter in den Prozess integrieren - nicht nur Keyword-Matching! - z.B. standardisierte Online-Verfahren, Arbeitsproben, Kurz-Assessments, Kurzinterviews mit kompetenzbasierten Fragestellungen, etc. Trade-off bewerten zwischen Effizienz im Prozess und Effektivität (die wirklich passenden Kandidaten:innen finden)! Achtung Herausforderungen: Prozessdesign ist essentiell wichtig - wo starten wir und was sind die einzelnen Schritte, die aufeinander aufbauen? Ist nicht nur HR-Thema! Klare Verantwortlichkeiten auch in Zusammenarbeit mit den Hiring-Manager:innen müssen bzgl. Prozessen definiert werden Die positiven Resultate aus einer Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik (qualitativ bessere Einstellungen) datengestützt im Unternehmen kommunizieren erst einmal mit einem Fachbereich starten und dann bei Erfolg und Akzeptanz in der Organisation ausrollen (early adopter identifizieren)   #GainTalentsPodcast #Eignungsdiagnostik #SkillBasedHiring #HRConsulting #TalentAcquisition #DataDrivenHR #Performance #FutureOfWork #Recruiting   Shownotes Links - Vanessa Reynolds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-reynolds/  Website: https://candidized.de/    Links Hans-Heinz Wisotzky:  Website: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast und https://www.gaintalents.com/blog Podcast: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast Bücher: Neu (jetzt überall zu kaufen): Die perfekte Employee Journey und Experience https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Erste Buch: Die perfekte Candidate Journey und Experience https://www.gaintalents.com/buch-die-perfekte-candidate-journey-und-experience   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheinzwisotzky/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaintalents XING https://www.xing.com/profile/HansHeinz_Wisotzky/cv Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GainTalents Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gain.talents/

Achtung (Werbung in eigener Sache):  Jetzt mein neues Buch (in Co-Produktion mit Prof. Dr. Johanna Bath): "Die perfekte Employee Journey & Experience" kaufen (erschienen im Oktober 2025): Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Amazon: https://bit.ly/44aajaP Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074960417 Dieses Fachbuch stellt die wichtigsten Elemente der Employee Journey vor – vom Pre-Boarding bis zum Offboarding – und erläutert, wie Verantwortliche in Unternehmen eine gelungene Employee Experience realisieren und nachhaltig verankern können.   Mein Gast: Vanessa Reynolds  Vanessa Reynolds ist Partnerin bei Candidized, einer HR-Beratung, die auf moderne Eignungsdiagnostik und Skill-Based Hiring spezialisiert ist. Mit der Kombination bewährter Forschung, neuester Studien und den Ansprüchen des modernen Talent Acquisition denkt sie Eignungsdiagnostik weiter. Gemeinsam mit ihrem Team entwickelt sie Assessment Solutions, die die Vorhersage von Performance und eine ganzheitliche Passung in den Fokus stellen. Ihr erklärtes Ziel ist es, fundierte Eignungsdiagnostik noch stärker in der Praxis zu verankern. Mit dem Fokus auf Data und Skills schafft sie ein zukunftsgerichtetes HR, das den Herausforderungen dynamischer Arbeitswelten gewachsen ist. Vanessa steht für eine Diagnostik, die Potenziale hebt und echte Chancen ermöglicht.   Das Thema In der GainTalents-Podcastfolge 441 konnte ich mit Vanessa Reynolds (Partnerin bei Candidized) über das Thema Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik sprechen. In diesem Kontext hat Vanessa insbesondere ausgeführt, worauf es dabei ankommt und wie das ganze in Unternehmen implementiert werden kann. Herzlichen Dank an Vanessa für die vielen guten Tipps zum Thema. Viel Spaß beim Reinhören!  Was gibt es bei dem Thema Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik zu beachten? Folgende Bereiche gehören zu einer Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik: Knowledge, Skills (auch Softskills), Abilities (Analytische Fähigkeiten, Intelligenz), Interessen, Werte und Persönlichkeit Anforderungsanalyse - was ändert sich in den nächsten Jahren für bestimmte Aufgaben/Rollen und was bedeutet das für die Eignungsdiagnostik welche neuen Themen gibt es, welche neuen Technologien müssen Kandidaten:innen beherrschen, welche Ziele leiten sich daraus für die neue Aufgabe/Rolle ab? Kriterien zur Passung hinsichtlich Organisation, Rolle, Team, etc. müssen definiert werden - wichtig für die spätere Messung Welche Kriterien sind wichtiger als andere im Selektionsprozess? "frühe" Filter in den Prozess integrieren - nicht nur Keyword-Matching! - z.B. standardisierte Online-Verfahren, Arbeitsproben, Kurz-Assessments, Kurzinterviews mit kompetenzbasierten Fragestellungen, etc. Trade-off bewerten zwischen Effizienz im Prozess und Effektivität (die wirklich passenden Kandidaten:innen finden)! Achtung Herausforderungen: Prozessdesign ist essentiell wichtig - wo starten wir und was sind die einzelnen Schritte, die aufeinander aufbauen? Ist nicht nur HR-Thema! Klare Verantwortlichkeiten auch in Zusammenarbeit mit den Hiring-Manager:innen müssen bzgl. Prozessen definiert werden Die positiven Resultate aus einer Skill-based Eignungsdiagnostik (qualitativ bessere Einstellungen) datengestützt im Unternehmen kommunizieren erst einmal mit einem Fachbereich starten und dann bei Erfolg und Akzeptanz in der Organisation ausrollen (early adopter identifizieren)   #GainTalentsPodcast #Eignungsdiagnostik #SkillBasedHiring #HRConsulting #TalentAcquisition #DataDrivenHR #Performance #FutureOfWork #Recruiting   Shownotes Links - Vanessa Reynolds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-reynolds/  Website: https://candidized.de/    Links Hans-Heinz Wisotzky:  Website: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast und https://www.gaintalents.com/blog Podcast: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast Bücher: Neu (jetzt überall zu kaufen): Die perfekte Employee Journey und Experience https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Erste Buch: Die perfekte Candidate Journey und Experience https://www.gaintalents.com/buch-die-perfekte-candidate-journey-und-experience   LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheinzwisotzky/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaintalents XING https://www.xing.com/profile/HansHeinz_Wisotzky/cv Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GainTalents Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gain.talents/

Many companies try to solve low morale with simple perks like wellness apps, but workers often care more about real pay and career growth. The big challenge today is keeping frontline employees happy while the world worries about AI impact and high turnover. What could be the most substantial, meaningful investments leaders can make that truly build real loyalty? In this episode, Paul Marchand, EVP and CHRO of Charter Communications, more popularly known as Spectrum, discusses how to invest in people to create a better customer experience. He explains the strategy behind helping a 95,000-person workforce through absorbing rising benefit costs and programs like frictionless, prepaid tuition reimbursement and a unique employee stock purchase plan designed to build an owner mindset. Paul shares how "open mic" sessions at Charter improve their employee retention, and the way Spectrum GPT is being used to make HR more efficient. We also explore the 'high school pathways' initiative, upcoming M&A integration with Cox Communications, and how HR role evolution is turning leaders into Chief Future of Work Officers, going far beyond traditional employee management. This episode shows CHROs how to use a people-first strategy to build a resilient and competitive workforce.

Although I often describe myself as a sociologist, my academic foundation began with psychology—I completed a dual major in psychology and sociology. One of the courses that most shaped my early thinking was Industrial/Organizational Psychology. At the time, I struggled with what felt like a top‑down, management‑centric approach. I even recall asking the professor whether the field existed mainly to validate decisions leaders already wanted to make. If he's listening now, I offer a sincere apology for my younger, overly blunt critique. My career ultimately led me to workplace ethnography through a sociological lens, focusing on organizational structures, systems, cultures, and group dynamics—including critical themes like diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. In essence, I study how to build stronger workplace communities across in‑person, remote, and hybrid environments. Work remains one of the most powerful forces shaping identity, social perception, and life opportunities. One of the first questions we ask one another is still: “What do you do for a living?” Work undeniably defines us—and the systems around it matter. That's why I was particularly excited to welcome today's guest: Dr. Benjamin Granger, Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics. It's a title that signals both responsibility and influence. In this role, Dr. Granger helps organizations worldwide elevate employee experience and adopt leadership practices that create more human‑centered, high‑performing cultures. His new book, A Leader Worth Following, distills these insights into actionable strategies for leaders seeking to build trust, connection, and long‑term organizational health. In our conversation, we explore Dr. Granger's journey into I/O Psychology and how his desire for real‑world impact led him toward applied professional practice rather than a purely academic path. We examine the rising imperative for human‑centered leadership—especially in an era defined by uncertainty, rapid change, and heightened expectations around wellbeing and psychological safety. Dr. Granger also draws on evolutionary psychology to explain why certain leadership traits resonate more strongly today, and how leaders can better align their behaviors with how people naturally build trust, assess credibility, and form meaningful connections. Ultimately, he encourages leaders to take ownership of the experiences they create, understand the perceptions they shape, challenge outdated leadership norms, and cultivate environments where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to thrive. Along the way, we bridge longstanding gaps between psychological and sociological approaches to understanding work—revealing how the integration of both disciplines offers a more holistic perspective on leadership, culture, and employee experience. Dr. Benjamin Granger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/ “A Leader Worth Following: https://benjamingranger.com/

Hey CX Nation,In this CXWeekly Update episode #277 we walk through ideas, goals & CTAs the team at CXC has been focused on, not only internally but from the learnings we're being exposed to from clients & strategic partners on a regular basis. In this episode we walk through a few emerging trends around how AI is impacting the future of Sales, CX, Customer Success & Support + the future of work. Thanks to our friends at GoTo, Intercom & TriNet for supplying some amazing market reports that fuel this week's episodes. They collectively went out & interviewed & surveyed thousands of business leaders from across the world to see where they are in their AI foundation building efforts. Click here for GoTo Pulse of Work Report 2025Click here for Intercom Customer Service Transformation Report 2026Click here for Tri-Net State of Workplace Report 2025Don't worry we have a ton of amazing brand new guest interviews & episodes coming down the pipeline.We're also working on new forms & mediums of customer focused business content -- including my 2nd book "Make Happiness A Habit" that we are launching in the New Year. We've also been building a few new podcasts behind the scenes to take all that we've learned with CXCP & start finding other podcast areas ripe for more content. A big part of CXC's mission is to continue creating valuable customer & employee focused business leader content, including CXWeekly updates like this that are digestible, actionable & most importantly entertaining. The CXChronicles Podcast is approaching a huge milestone in the upcoming months that most podcasts will never achieve. We closing in on 300+ episodes of customer focused business content from incredible Founders & Executives from all over the world. CXC is partnered with several leading software & technology providers including Hubspot, Intercom, Freshworks, & several others who might be the difference in your CX/EX performance moving forward. We provide our clients with audits, assessments & scorecards and we provide custom CTAs centered around your content engine to drive CX/EX health, utilization & health performance for our partner solutions (Hubspot, Intercom, Freshworks), & on-demand managed services (partner led implementation, utilization performance & training for several of our partner solutions).If you enjoy The CXChronicles Podcast, stop by your favorite podcast player and leave us a review today.You know what would be even better?Go tell one of your friends or teammates about CXC's content, CX/CS/RevOps services, our customer & employee focused community & invite them to join the CX Nation!For you non-readers, go check out the CXChronicles Youtube channel to see our customer & employee focused video content & short-reel CTAs to improve your CX/CS/RevOps performance today (politely go smash that subscribe button).Contact us anytime to learn more about CXC at INFO@cxchronicles.com and ask us about how we can help your business & team make customer happiness a habit now!Reach Out To CXC Today!Support the showContact CXChronicles Today Tweet us @cxchronicles Check out our Instagram @cxchronicles Click here to checkout the CXC website Email us at info@cxchronicles.com Remember To Make Happiness A Habit!!

In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, Liz Cunningham interviews James Warren, founder and CEO of Share More Stories, about the transformative power of storytelling in healthcare. They explore how qualitative insights from stories complement traditional data, the importance of emotional stewardship, and how connecting employee experience to patient outcomes can drive meaningful change. James shares practical steps for healthcare leaders to embed storytelling into their engagement strategies and improve both employee and patient experiences.About James WarrenJames Warren is the founder and CEO of Share More Stories, an engagement and insights company that blends storytelling with AI. With a background in corporate brand management and a passion for storytelling, James helps organizations better understand and connect with their customers, employees, and communities. His work focuses on using stories to uncover deeper insights and improve experiences across various sectors, including healthcare.Chapters00:00 – Introduction00:30 – The Journey to Share More Stories02:22 – Insights Beyond Quantitative Data04:04 – A Healthcare Use Case: Emotional Toll on Frontline Employees07:10 – Identifying Indicators for Deeper Engagement10:16 – Leadership's Role in Employee Experience14:11 – Connecting Employee and Patient Experiences20:11 – Leadership, Vulnerability, and Emotional Stewardship24:00 – Practical Steps for Embedding Storytelling29:34 – Starting the Conversation: Open Questions and Listening34:54 – Final Advice: Keep It Real, Keep It Human Sponsors: We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources!Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare. Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com to learn more.About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Connect with Our Hosts:Kerry on LinkedInNishan on LinkedInLiz on LinkedIn Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stressed arrivals, missed promises, and long check-in lines aren't surprises. They're predictable flashpoints in hospitality. In this episode, we answer a listener's question about training frontline teams for high-emotion moments and share a practical framework for turning tension into trust without burning out your people.We start by redefining success. Instead of aiming to “make every guest happy,” we focus on a sustainable goal: guide the guest to a better moment than the one they're in. From there, we identify the biggest hot spots in the journey and outline how proactive planning, clear recovery thresholds, and consistent standards across properties create a reliable brand experience.Then we get tactical with language that defuses tension, micro-habits for staying calm under pressure, and playbooks that remove hesitation when speed matters. We also explore empowerment tools like room moves, credits, and late checkout, plus the well-being practices that keep teams strong through demanding shifts.If you lead a hotel, resort, or any high-contact service, this episode delivers actionable steps to strengthen service recovery, customer experience, and employee resilience.Resources Mentioned:Order your copy of Experience Is Everything --experienceiseverythingbook.comLearn more about CXI Membership™ and apply -- CXIMembership.comExperience Investigators Website -- experienceinvestigators.comEnjoyed the show? Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Leave your review at ratethispodcast.com/xact. Want to ask a question? Visit askjeannie.vip to leave Jeannie a voicemail! (And don't forget to follow Jeannie Walters, CCXP, CSP on LinkedIn!)

Achtung (Werbung in eigener Sache):  Jetzt mein neues Buch (in Co-Produktion mit Prof. Dr. Johanna Bath): "Die perfekte Employee Journey & Experience" kaufen (erschienen im Oktober 2025): Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Amazon: https://bit.ly/44aajaP Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074960417 Dieses Fachbuch stellt die wichtigsten Elemente der Employee Journey vor – vom Pre-Boarding bis zum Offboarding – und erläutert, wie Verantwortliche in Unternehmen eine gelungene Employee Experience realisieren und nachhaltig verankern können.   Mein Gast: Sabrina Rest  Sabrina Rest ist Karriere- und Führungskräftecoach, HR-Expertin und Strategin für Female Empowerment. Sie bringt über 20 Jahre Erfahrung aus Recruiting, HR Business Partnering, Führung sowie Personal- und Organisationsentwicklung mit – eine echte 360-Grad-Perspektive, die für ihre Kundinnen und Kunden unglaublich wertvoll ist. Was Sabrina besonders auszeichnet, ist ihre klare und ehrliche Haltung. Sie sagt nicht das, was bequem klingt, sondern das, was Menschen und Unternehmen wirklich weiterbringt. Sie zeigt auf, wie man Karrieren strategisch steuert, fair verhandeln und sichtbar wird, ohne sich an veraltete Spielregeln anpassen zu müssen. Gleichzeitig berät sie Unternehmen zu Diversity & Inclusion, moderner Führung und Employer Branding. Sie kennt die internen Mechanismen und die ungeschriebenen Regeln, die darüber entscheiden, wer sichtbar wird und wer echte Chancen erhält. Sabrina ist direkt, strategisch, menschlich und vor allem wirksam.   Das Thema Mit Sabrina Rest (Karriere- und Führungskräftecoach, HR-Expertin und Strategin für Female Empowerment) habe ich in der GainTalents-Podcastfolge 440 darüber sprechen können, was Führungskräfte über 50 im beruflichen Veränderungsprozess heute beachten sollten/müssen. Herzlichen Dank an Sabrina für die vielen guten Tipps zum Thema. Viel Spaß beim Reinhören!  Worauf sollten Führungskräfte über 50 im beruflichen Veränderungsprozess achten? Ehrliche Standortbestimmung ist zu Beginn wichtig Was habe ich für (negative) Glaubenssätze (bin ich zu alt für den Arbeitsmarkt, bin ich offen genug für neue Technologien, bin ich zu teuer für die Unternehmen, etc.)? Raus aus der Opferhaltung und rein ins Selbstbewusstsein ohne zu Übertreiben. Was bringe ich an Erfahrung mit und welche Kernkompetenzen habe ich? Was waren meine größten Erfolge und wie sind diese zustande gekommen? Kritische Bewertung und Reflexion der Kernkompetenzen, Erfolge und des Werdegangs - und - was macht mir am meisten Spaß an den einzelnen Themen? Wichtige Frage: welche Probleme habe ich für meinen Arbeitgeber in den letzten 3-5 Jahren gelöst bzw. wo habe ich das Unternehmen signifikant weitergebracht (Zahlen, Daten, Fakten)? Spiegeln der Selbstreflexion und der eigenen Wirkung mit anderen Führungskräften aus anderen Unternehmen und mit guten Bekannten/Freunden  Wichtiger Tipp: nicht sofort das erstbeste Angebot annehmen, sondern sehr kritisch bewerten, ob das Angebot für meine berufliche Zukunft wirklich passend ist Entscheidungskriterien definieren (Erwartungshaltung gehört auch dazu) - hierzu gehören auch maximale Untergrenzen (z.B. beim Thema Gehalt) Selbst ins aktive Handeln kommen - nicht nur Stellenangebote suchen (Reaktivmodus) Zielfirmen (Branche, Unternehmensgrößen, Standorte, etc.) definieren und dort die Inhaber und GF-Ebene direkt ansprechen Externen Rat einholen (andere Führungskräfte, Coaches, etc.) Belastbares! Netzwerk aufbauen Eigene Sichtbarkeit erhöhen (auf Events/Kongresse, Vorträge zu Fach- und Führungsthemen halten, auf LinkedIn, etc.)   #GainTalentsPodcast #Leadership #NewWork #Generation50Plus #Karriereberatung #Führungskräfte #ExperienceAge #Recruiting #PersonalBranding   Shownotes Links - Sabrina Rest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinarest/  Website: https://www.sabrinarest.de/ oder https://www.sunandsparks.com/  Insta: https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.rest.official/ Links Hans-Heinz Wisotzky:  Website: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast und https://www.gaintalents.com/blog Podcast: https://www.gaintalents.com/podcast Bücher: Neu (jetzt überall zu kaufen): Die perfekte Employee Journey und Experience https://link.springer.com/book/9783662714195 Erste Buch: Die perfekte Candidate Journey und Experience https://www.gaintalents.com/buch-die-perfekte-candidate-journey-und-experience LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansheinzwisotzky/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gaintalents XING https://www.xing.com/profile/HansHeinz_Wisotzky/cv Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GainTalents Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gain.talents/ Youtube https://bit.ly/2GnWMFg

Leaders today face a critical AI dilemma: move too quickly and risk producing low-quality "work slop," or move too slowly and sacrifice a crucial competitive edge in innovation. But one global real estate powerhouse, managing 3% of the world's GDP, has successfully navigated this tightrope for nearly three years, offering a proven model for enterprise AI adoption. In this episode, Prologis CHRO Nathaalie Carey reveals how the company solved this dilemma with an "innovation first" strategy, a journey that began by deploying an enterprise version of ChatGPT well ahead of the curve. Prologis achieved this by deliberately empowering its workforce, intentionally prioritizing widespread innovation over premature governance. By providing direct access to tools, supported by strategic training, the company drove 95% adoption rate and sparked over 1,000 crowdsourced custom GPTs. Carey explains how the company built trust by reframing AI as a "bargain" to trade mundane tasks for high-value strategic work. She also details the company's evolution from using AI for basic information gathering to utilizing it for complex decision-making and upcoming "agentic AI" workflows for processes like underwriting and background checks. Carey argues that as AI becomes a "great equalizer" for technical skills, the true competitive advantage lies in balancing technological speed with authentic human connection and the power of human imagination. ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Stop patching problems and start designing an intentional workplace. The 8 Laws of Employee Experience gives you the how. Order your copy: 8EXlaws.com

¿Qué pasaría si trataras a tus empleados como tratas a tus mejores clientes? Airbnb eliminó RR.HH y creó algo radicalmente distinto: Employee Experience integral. En el tercer episodio de Código Abierto, decodificamos el caso de Airbnb: una empresa que decidió que gestionar talento con manuales tradicionales no era coherente con su obsesión por la experiencia. Así nació EX (Employee Experience): una integración radical entre HR, cultura, espacios, comunicación interna y marca. Suscríbete a Hackers del Talento si quieres más análisis reales de estrategias de talento. ⚡ Descubre cómo alcanzar tu máximo potencial sin sacrificar tu bienestar en el nuevo programa MAX HUMAN, aquí te puedes inscribir: www.hackersdeltalento.com/max-human

Leaders often try to "brute force" AI adoption, only to find their best people pushing back. The blame often goes to a lack of skill. But this friction is actually caused by a crisis of identity where high performers feel their professional value is being replaced by an algorithm. To overcome this means moving from "enforcement" to "normalization" by focusing on how people actually work. In this episode of Future Ready Today, I break down eight exclusive insights from Uber's CTO, Praveen Neppalli Naga, on why organizational velocity, not just efficiency, is the new competitive divide. Expect a deep dive into why ROI obsession sabotages growth, how to disassemble jobs into tasks, and why the real risk of AI isn't job loss, but the threat of rogue agents. We also unpack why HR and Tech must now operate as a single leadership system to keep culture from becoming purely software-driven. ---------- Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—order a copy here: 8EXlaws.com

Jacob Morgan has spent years studying what actually drives employee engagement, and what leaders keep getting wrong. In this wide ranging conversation, we unpack why most engagement efforts turn into short term "dopamine hits" like perks and programs, and why they never solve the real issue. We talk about the difference between employee engagement and employee experience, the cost of disengagement for both the employee and the organization, and how AI is changing the pressure on performance and expectations. Jacob also breaks down a simple framework from his new book and explains how leaders can raise standards without creating burnout or coddled mediocrity. We close with a conversation about accountability, consistency, and the kind of leadership that earns trust when change is required. Jacob's new book is The Eight Laws of Employee Experience    

Feb 10, 2026: Today's leaders are buried under an avalanche of trend reports and news cycles, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between genuine structural shifts and mere media noise. This "trend inflation" has created a cycle of reactive decision-making and to move forward, leaders are required to shift from simple awareness to discernment—the ability to separate a true signal from temporary hype. In this episode of Future Ready Today, I give you a practical walkthrough of the STEEPLE framework to help your organization categorize every emerging trend into one of three actions: adapt, pause, or push back. By examining a case study of a manufacturing company evaluating AI for performance reviews, I teach you how to interrogate the context of a trend rather than just copying a headline. We're focusing on using internal data and organizational values to ensure innovation fits the company's unique culture rather than being forced upon it. Not Every Trend Deserves Action. ---------- Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Order here: 8EXlaws.com

In this episode, host Edward Wagoner speaks with Claire Coder, founder of Aunt Flow, IFMA Global Influencer, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, about why accessible period care should be treated as a basic workplace necessity. They discuss how providing period products alongside other restroom essentials can improve employee experience, productivity, and safety, reduce plumbing and maintenance costs and support more inclusive, human-centered facility design across workplaces, schools and public spaces worldwide. 00:00 Introduction00:52 Interview with Claire Coder, Aunt Flow Founder02:26 Claire Coder's Journey and Vision03:03 The Importance of Talking About Menstruation06:32 Aunt Flow's Impact and Cost Benefits14:38 Advocating for Change in Period Care19:36 Global Policy Changes and Expansion24:03 Addressing Concerns and Overuse28:35 Rapid Fire Questions with Claire Coder34:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

The old playbooks for leadership no longer apply when your top performers might never step foot in a traditional office. It's time to move past the superficial logistics of where people sit and uncover the specific cultural habits that maintain high standards and relentless speed as your organization evolves. In this episode, LJ Brock, Chief People Officer at Coinbase, joins me to explore the high-stakes evolution of leading a remote-first organization that scales without losing its competitive edge. We dive into the practical reality of managing 5,000 global employees, moving beyond the "return to office" debate to discuss Coinbase's "magnet, not mandate" hub strategy and their recent pivot toward mandatory quarterly in-person sessions designed specifically for execution. LJ pulls back the curtain on the unique operating system that powers their culture—including the bold decision to outlaw committees—and shares the specific decision-making frameworks, like the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) and Problem Proposed Solution (PPS) models, that ensure individual accountability remains front and center. From tackling the nuances of performance management and asynchronous collaboration to leveraging AI for future efficiency, this conversation is a must-watch for CHROs who want to build a high-performance culture that prioritizes measurable results over physical proximity. ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—order a copy here: 8EXlaws.com

How Leaders Build Cultures That Actually Work w/Lachandra “La” BakerLachandra “La” Baker is a workforce optimization strategist, speaker, and author of Your Own Biggest Cheerleader. She helps leaders and organizations create lasting change from the inside out by aligning mindset, behavior, and systems — so people feel valued, teams perform better, and cultures actually work.A three-time TEDx speaker and two-time TEDx performer, she is a Gold, Silver and Bronze Quill Award winner and was recognized as one of Columbus's Future 50 leaders.Links:https://www.lbbedutainment.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachandrabbaker/Tags:Emotional Intelligence,Employee Experience,Leadership,Psychological Safety,Thought Leader,Workplace Culture,How Leaders Build Cultures That Actually Work w/Lachandra “La” Baker,Live Video Podcast Interview,Podcast,Phantom Electric Ghost Podcast,InterviewSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

In this Employee Experience episode of The Experience Perspective, Bhavna is joined by Albrecht Küfner, Team Lead for Employee Experience at Deutsche Bahn, to explore what it really takes to move from running employee surveys to becoming a genuinely insight-led employee experience professional, while successfully operating in a highly unionised, works-council-led environment. Drawing on his journey from academic psychology into large-scale organisational research, Albrecht reflects on how his role evolved from being highly operational to becoming deeply strategic, political, and people centred. Together, they unpack what “insight-led” means in practice, particularly within a complex, state-owned organisation, where unions and works councils play a critical role in shaping employee experience programmes. The conversation goes beyond theory, offering a candid look at trust-building, stakeholder partnership, and the realities of designing and running employee listening programmes in environments shaped by strong external influence and competing priorities. Albrecht explains why operational excellence is necessary but not sufficient, how letting go of the “survey manager” identity creates space for strategic impact, and why genuine connection (across hierarchy levels, functions, and perspectives) is the foundation of effective employee experience.Key takeaways from the episode:1. Operational excellence is essential, but impact comes from translating employee data into insight that leaders understand, trust, and act on.2. Insight-led practitioners must connect shop-floor realities with C-suite priorities, acting as interpreters rather than just analysts.3. Early involvement, honesty, and shared ownership turn works councils into ambassadors rather than blockers of EX programmes.4. Long-term success depends on open dialogue, clear boundaries, and the willingness to say no, while maintaining respect and transparency.This episode is essential listening for anyone running employee listening or experience programmes in complex, unionised organisations and for EX professionals looking to elevate their role from execution to strategic influence.

What happens when activist investors call your multi-billion dollar acquisition the "single worst deal of the decade"? Most leadership teams would panic, but NRG Energy did the opposite: they doubled down on their people. While most large-scale acquisitions look great on a spreadsheet, they often fail because leadership loses sight of the human energy behind the numbers. In this episode, Peter Johnson, SVP and Head of Talent and Culture at NRG, reveals how his team navigated the acquisition of Vivint—a deal that tripled their workforce to 16,000 employees and was publicly condemned by activist investors as the "single worst deal" in the sector. While the announcement triggered a 25% stock crash, their leadership's commitment to a strategic "North Star" and a "don't crush the butterfly" cultural philosophy eventually drove a staggering 420% stock recovery. Peter explores the raw challenges of an 18-month integration, from the technical hurdles of migrating 16,000 employees between competing HR systems to the deeply emotional task of harmonizing job titles across disparate industries. By prioritizing the "why" behind the change and fostering a unified "One NRG" identity, the company successfully blended traditional corporate discipline with tech-forward innovation, nearly doubling employee engagement and proving that human-centric leadership is a massive financial win. If you're a CHRO, this episode shows what real value creation looks like when people come first.   ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—preorder a copy here: 8EXlaws.com

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending an RV Expo in Worcester Massachusetts. I'm not looking for an RV, but am generally RV curious. I find the concept of an RV pretty interesting, and I have to say that walking about the expo revealed the range of designs that exist in the RV market. Different sizes, different features, slide outs, Fifth wheels, hitches, toy haulers, so much to take in at once given that I am a RV newbie. I also learned that RV manufacturers are always taking customer feedback and trying to improve their designs, as any good business does. What was more surprising was that the majority of RVs made in the US come out of Indiana. In fact, turns out that Elkhart, Indiana is the RV capital of the wold. I'm originally from Michigan, and frankly had no idea that RVs happen in Indiana even though it is a neighboring state. Beyond basketball and corn in Indiana, there are also RVs. Who knew?My guest today on Experience by Design is also from Indiana, Fort Wayne to be exact. Barry LaBov is the founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing and Communications, but he is much more than that. He also has authored over a dozen books, including his new book The Power of Differentiation, aimed at leaders looking to differentiate their brands and products by moving beyond a commodity mindset and showcase what makes them unique. This focus not only makes companies more attractive to customers, but also employees as it gives them a sense of purpose regarding the work they do. We talk about his work with clients guiding them to differentiate and identify what makes them unique. We explore the vital aspects of connecting customer and employee experience, and why alignment in your experience design matters. He digs into the branding challenges in troubling times as companies try to navigate the social landscape. He describes the importance of qualitative data in understanding your customers and employees, and not waiting for the “perfect data” to present itself. He also describes his experiences as a musician, touring with the band Mark Urgent and how learning music is similar to his efforts as a marketing expert. And of course we talk about RVs. Barry LaBov: https://www.barrylabov.com/LABOV: https://www.labov.com/“The Power of Differentiation”: https://www.barrylabov.com/books

Dean Carter discusses his book co-authored with Samantha Gadd and Mark Levy, Employee Experience Design: How to Co-Create Work Where People and Organizations Thrive. The book outlines a practical, design-led approach to building more engaged, productive, and resilient workplaces. Listen for three action items you can use today. Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-MBA.com/guest Do you want to advertise on the show? https://Everyday-MBA.com/advertise Host, Kevin Craine  

Customer experience leaders face a familiar tension: do we put employees first or customers first? As organizations scale and adopt AI, that question becomes operational. In this special takeover episode of The Modern Customer Podcast, Jacob Morgan shares insights from The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, based on research with more than 100 CHROs. He explains why CX and EX operate as one system—and how leadership decisions behind the scenes shape customer outcomes. This conversation gives CX leaders a practical, systems-level lens to strengthen trust, consistency, and performance as AI raises the stakes. Blake Morgan is a customer experience futurist, keynote speaker, and author of three books on customer experience. Her new book is called The 8 Laws of Customer-Focused Leadership: The New Rules for Building A Business Around Today's Customer. Follow Blake Morgan on LinkedIn For regular updates on customer experience, sign up for her weekly newsletter here. 

Ever feel like your journey map leaves teams on the sidelines? In this episode, we explore a practical way to make customer journey mapping more inclusive without losing the customer's voice. We reframe journey mapping as a verb—one that engages cross-functional partners, incorporates frontline insight, and is grounded in customer data—while keeping the focus on real customer moments like triggers, actions, emotions, and outcomes (not org chart debates).From there, we introduce service blueprinting as the execution layer that turns insight into action. You'll hear how blueprinting clarifies what happens front stage and backstage, and how people, processes, systems, and tools support—or hinder—the experience you're trying to deliver.Along the way, we share practical tips for building alignment and shared ownership: inviting stakeholders who felt left out, defining goals that cut across teams, and tying internal decisions to customer outcomes. We also discuss the constraints and gaps that surface when teams blueprint together, plus the kinds of measurable improvements you can expect. Whether you're refreshing an existing map or pairing it with your first blueprint, this conversation offers grounded guidance for creating clarity, momentum, and more connected CX work.Have a question you want us to tackle next? Leave it at askjeannie.vip, explore more tools inside our CXI Membership, and pre‑order Experience Is Everything to deepen your practice. If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review to support the community.Resources Mentioned:Learn more about CXI Membership™ and apply -- http://CXIMembership.comCustomer​​ Service Blueprinting [LinkedIn Learning Course] -- https://bit.ly/lilblueprintCustomer Experience: Journey Mapping [LinkedIn Learning Course] -- https://bit.ly/liljourneymapOrder your copy of Experience Is Everything -- http://experienceiseverythingbook.comExperience Investigators Website -- https://experienceinvestigators.comWant to ask a question? Visit askjeannie.vip to leave Jeannie a voicemail! (And don't forget to follow Jeannie on LinkedIn! www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniewalters/)

AI can handle entry-level tasks today, but at what cost to your future leadership? Many companies are accidentally "hollowing out" their talent pipeline by cutting junior roles, creating a massive gap that will haunt them in five years. Efficiency today shouldn't come at the expense of your leaders tomorrow. How do we thoughtfully architect the future workforce to prioritize the health and depth of the leadership bench? In this episode, Melanie Tinto, CHRO of Grainger, joins us to explore how the company utilizes Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) to ensure a "tech powered, human led" organization that balances automation with career development. This discipline informs every aspect of Grainger's talent strategy, from navigating the impact of AI to addressing talent shortages. We look into the necessity of viewing workforce planning as a mirror to financial planning, focusing on the strategic migration of roles and skills rather than simple headcount reduction. Key highlights include managing the surge of AI-generated job applications, the importance of foundational talent programs such as maintaining the campus recruiting "spigot," and transitioning toward a skills-based organization through internal upskilling and "build vs. buy" strategies. This episode is the CHROs' blueprint to become strategic visionaries who stay three moves ahead of market disruption. Discover how to master these critical "chess moves" before the talent gap becomes irreversible.   ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXlaws.com  

In this podcast, Greg Voisen sits down with four-time CHRO Dean E. Carter to dismantle the "command and control" ghosts of corporate past and reveal the blueprint for a workplace where people actually want to show up. Drawing from his transformative leadership at iconic brands like Patagonia, Airbnb, and even a "sinking" Sears, Carter explains why the secret to a thriving organization isn't found in a ping-pong table or a snack bar, but in the radical act of designing work with people rather than for them. Whether you are leading a team of ten or ten thousand, this conversation serves as a masterclass on how to bridge the growing trust gap between CEOs and employees by injecting wisdom, wonder, and wit back into the professional experience.

Annie Andrews, VP of People at QGenda, shares how building a great culture starts with candidate experience and how to build culture for remote teams. She also shares what it's been like to grow from a Recruiting Coordinator to a VP of People role.  Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible! Follow us:https://www.linkedin.com/company/82436841/SecureVision: #1 Rated Embedded Recruitment Firm on G2!https://www.g2.com/products/securevision/reviewsThanks for listening!

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Joey Coleman, two-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author and expert in experience design and retention strategy. Joey reveals the shocking truth about employee turnover—costing businesses a trillion dollars annually—and shares his proven framework for transforming the first 100 days of any relationship. From his background as a criminal defense attorney and White House advisor to consulting with NASA, Volkswagen, and Zappos, Joey brings unique insights into why companies lose employees and customers, and more importantly, how to keep them. Four Key Takeaways The First Day Crisis (10:25) 4% of all new hires quit after their first day of work globally, and by day 45, that number jumps to 22%. By the one-year mark, 40% of employees have left—costing U.S. businesses approximately $1 trillion annually. The True Cost of Turnover (13:00) Replacing an employee costs between 100-300% of their annual salary just to get someone new into the seat—not including their actual salary and benefits. For a $50,000 employee, you're looking at $50,000-$150,000 in replacement costs alone. HR's Shift from Culture to Compliance (27:00) Over the past 50 years, HR departments have shifted focus from creating great workplace cultures to managing compliance, documentation, and litigation prevention—leaving no one responsible for making the workplace the best it can be. The Remarkable Organization Test (35:31) "The way you know you're running a remarkable organization is if you announce you're hiring and your existing employees immediately recommend amazing people they want to work with. In most organizations, internal referral candidates measure close to zero." Quote of the Show (28:12):"There is no one who wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says, 'My primary job when I get to work today is to make sure that this is the best place that any of these people have ever worked.'" – Joey Coleman Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Joey Coleman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycoleman1/ How to get more Disruption/Interruption: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the cost of living rises, employee financial wellness has become a growing concern for workers and a complex challenge for employers. Tyler Horn, Head of Planning at Origin and a Certified Financial Planner, joins host Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to discuss how HR can approach financial wellness as an employee experience strategy while balancing organizational sustainability.  Subscribe to Honest HR to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz   ---  Explore SHRM's all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

Imagine an eighty-year-old grandmother discussing Russian literature with ChatGPT in her native tongue; it is a powerful reminder that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present reality that bridges generations. For CHROs, the challenge is not simply the technology itself, but rather shifting the human behaviour that interacts with these tools. In this episode, Joanne Rodgers, the CHRO of New York Life, shares the strategic roadmap used to scale AI adoption across 24,000 employees and agents by focusing on the mindset, skill set, and tool set. We explored the firm's Ignite AI initiative, which prioritised responsible AI and AI training, remarkably leading to the creation of over 10,000 self-made GPTs. We look into how they integrated mandatory AI goals into performance reviews while maintaining a strict human-in-the-loop governance model to protect the employee experience. Moreover, Joanne highlights the success of their career hub and talent marketplace, explaining how time-bound gigs have boosted internal mobility to 40%. This discussion is your fresh playbook in change management, demonstrating how to foster employee engagement and upskilling in a rapidly evolving landscape without sacrificing the essential human element. ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXlaws.com

Today, I'm joined by Jacob Morgan—a futurist, 5x bestselling author, and one of the world's leading authorities on leadership and the future of work. Jacob is also the host of the Great Leadership podcast and a highly sought-after keynote speaker.In this episode, Jacob shares his candid thoughts on how leadership is evolving in 2026, why accountability is the most overlooked skill in today's workplace, and what it really takes to create future-ready organizations. We explore the myth of consensus, the limits of empathy, and how strong communication builds trust even when teams disagree.Jacob also discusses how the pandemic reshaped leadership expectations, why perks can't replace purpose, and how great leaders communicate with clarity and conviction—especially when it's hard.Let's dive in.Additional Resources:► Follow Communispond on LinkedIn for more communication skills tips: https://www.linkedin.com/company/communispond► Connect with Scott D'Amico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdamico/► Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8/► Learn more about Jacob's work: www.thefutureorganization.com► Order Jacob's book: https://thefutureorganization.com/books/► Subscribe to Communicast: https://communicast.simplecast.com/► Learn more about Communispond: https://www.communispond.com

In this episode of Mission Admissions, host Jeremy Tiers chats with Dr. Kevin McClure about the employee experience in Higher Ed - why it needs to be a higher priority for most colleges and universities, and how leaders can start to make transformational change.Guest Name: Kevin McClure, Professor & Department Chair, University of North Carolina WilmingtonGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcclure-424145223/Guest Bio: Dr. Kevin R. McClure is a Professor of Higher Education and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Dr. McClure is a distinguished scholar of college leadership and organizational change. His best-selling book, The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation, was released with Johns Hopkins University Press in 2025. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jeremy Tiershttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytiers/https://twitter.com/CoachTiersAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Mission Admissions is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scaling a massive workforce culture often fails because the big-picture strategy never reaches the people on the front line. What is the real secret to consistent growth future-ready leaders should know to scale culture within a massive organization of 130,000 employees? In this episode, I sat down with Chipotle COO Jason Kidd to explore how culture actually scales through systems, standards, and leadership discipline. Jason breaks down the discipline of "mastering the mundane," a strategy that ensures every department—from the CHRO to marketing and finance—is perfectly aligned to support the front line. We discussed how Chipotle achieves an incredible 80–90% internal promotion rate for General Managers by identifying "happy people" with a competitive drive and utilising "Avacado," more often called "Ava," their AI-driven recruitment assistant, to remove friction from the hiring process. For executive leaders, Jason provides a masterclass in granular succession planning, revealing how they forecast leadership needs up to four years in advance to sustain rapid growth. This episode highlights that while technology like AI serves as a powerful "assist," the human touch and leadership intuition remain the essential ingredients for scaling a high-performance culture.   ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXlaws.com  

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Barry Wolfe, author of It's All In Your Head: Why Psychology Doesn't Help Your Workforce Deliver Value - And What Can. Barry is a seasoned HR executive and business leader who has built a reputation as one of the rare "HR guys who actually has a head for business." In this frank and eye-opening conversation, Barry challenges many of the tools and ideas we've come to rely on in leadership and management. Andy and Barry discuss why frameworks like Maslow's hierarchy may be doing more harm than good, how personality assessments can become limiting narratives, and why our obsession with "fit" often backfires. But this isn't just a critique. Barry offers an alternative in the form of Value-Centric Leadership, a model that reframes how we think about work, leadership, and results. You'll learn about tools like The Same Page and the 4C's of leadership that can help you lead with more clarity and purpose. If you're ready to challenge what you think you know about managing people (and want practical tools to lead more effectively), this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Most of the hiring tools we use today are only marginally better than chance." "We act like we're selecting with science, but we're often just rationalizing our preferences." "Maslow never created a pyramid. That was a marketing add-on, not a scientific insight." "Psychology gave us language, but somewhere along the way, it became the product." "What do I want to pay people to do?" becomes "What results do I want to buy from them?" "We pay people to do activities, but it's because we want to buy results." "Nobody buys verbs. People buy nouns." "Maslow had no interest in actually validating his model. He just threw it out there." "If you get married and someone asks, what are you looking for in a spouse? Would you really say the upper left box?" "The guy who created the DISC assessment was also the creator of Wonder Woman." "Given the choice between thinking hard and spending money, most business leaders would rather spend money." "Part of the problem with these tools is you're learning about science through something called marketing." "We've got strategic plans, core values, mission statements. What's missing is being on the same page." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Start of Interview 02:00 Barry's Early Career Influences and Business Perspective 06:42 Why Leaders Rely So Heavily on Assessments 09:25 The "Yes, Buts" of Psychological Tools 15:20 What We Get Wrong About Maslow's Hierarchy 19:00 From Paying for Activities to Buying Results 23:30 Connecting Project Work to Real Value 24:00 Introducing The Same Page 28:47 The Most Overlooked Element of Leadership 33:47z Looking Ahead at AI, Automation, and the Future of Work 41:22 End of Interview 42:03 Andy Comments After the Interview 45:19 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Barry and his work at ArgosHR.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 473 with Jeffrey Hull & Margaret Moore. They have rigorously researched what it takes to lead, and I think you'll find their approach and findings to be a nice complement to today's episode. Episode 417 with Mary Crossan and Bill Furlong. They have deeply researched 11 dimensions of character, which has some nice alignment with the 4 C's that Barry talked about. Episode 47 with Henry Mintzberg. If you haven't been with us since the early days, it would be easy to have missed this episode with one of the foremost curmudgeons of management. I think you'll find his insights in episode 47 to be a helpful addition to what Barry talked about in this episode. Help Passing the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader—that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, People Management, Business Psychology, Strategic HR, Hiring, Performance Management, Personality Assessments, Organizational Culture, Project Value, Team Development, Employee Experience, Decision Making The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

January 7, 2026: Nearly a decade ago, I wrote The Employee Experience Advantage to challenge organizations to move beyond perks, surveys, and surface-level engagement. Since then, employee experience has become a top priority—but in many cases, we've lost sight of what it actually means. In this episode, I share why post-pandemic workplace strategies focused on "giving everything to everyone" were unsustainable, how accountability and performance quietly disappeared, and why great employee experience isn't about making work easy—it's about enabling people to grow, contribute, and do meaningful work. I also explain why employee experience is a leadership responsibility, not an HR program, and introduce a futurist framework built from conversations with over 100 CHROs around the world to help organizations design workplaces that are human, challenging, and future-ready. If you're trying to cut through the noise and rethink what employee experience should look like for the next decade, this episode will help reset your perspective.

When a longtime CEO steps down, it's not just a change in leadership—it's a shift in the organization's heartbeat. After 40 years of service, Williams faced exactly that moment: a legacy to honor, a culture to protect, and a future to build. But how do you preserve stability while ushering in transformation? In this episode, Debbie Pickle, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Williams, talks about orchestrating a seamless CEO succession  after long tenures and the CHRO's pivotal role in managing the culture, priorities, and structure during these executive transitions. She walks through creating a CEO Resource Guide, using tools like Hogan Assessments, 360 feedback, and development plans to prepare candidates, and crafting a thoughtful 30–60–90-day plan for the incoming CEO. Debbie also shares how Williams redefined its core values and replaced its mission and vision with a purpose statement, all while aligning the board of directors through strong governance principles like "noses in, fingers out." CHROs will learn all tips into managing leadership transitions through feedback loop, the importance of continuous learning during change, and how to become a true strategic partner and CEO whisperer in the organization. You'll learn how to guide your company through its next defining leadership chapter and balance what's changing vs. what's staying the same.   ---------- Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXlaws.com

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws welcomes back Jacob Morgan to explore ideas from his upcoming book, The Eight Laws of Employee Experience: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization, releasing in February 2026. Drawing from more than 100 interviews with CHROs, Jacob shares why many organizations have lost direction since the pandemic and how well-intended employee experience efforts have sometimes drifted into entitlement, reactivity, and trend-chasing. The conversation unpacks why leaders often operate in "defense mode," how AI is being misunderstood and misused at work, and why employee experience is not an HR initiative but a shared responsibility across the organization. Listeners will also hear practical frameworks for separating trends from truths, rethinking learning and development, understanding employees beyond survey data, and designing flexibility and culture in more intentional ways. This episode offers clear perspectives for leaders who want to stop reacting and start building the future of work they actually want. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and episode overview 02:00 – Why organizations have lost their way post-pandemic 05:30 – Employee experience, entitlement culture, and unintended consequences 08:00 – Why leaders are stuck playing defense instead of offense 11:00 – Trends vs truths and the risks of chasing competitors 13:00 – AI at work and the rise of "work slop" 15:00 – A framework to adapt, pause, or push back on trends 17:00 – Overview of The Eight Laws of Employee Experience 19:00 – Decoding the human signal and knowing employees beyond data 24:30 – Surveys vs real conversations and the importance of human connection 27:00 – Rethinking learning, skill-building, and application on the job 31:00 – The limits of AI and why managers still matter 34:00 – The growth framework for development, readiness, and decision-making 37:00 – Designing flexibility and the idea of a career "command center" 40:00 – Using technology to amplify humanity, not replace it 43:00 – Choosing the future you want to build as an organization 45:00 – Final reflections and where to learn more   A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's 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." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

The world of work didn't just change, it fundamentally broke the old rules. Forget just 'adapting'—this episode is your essential guide to understanding the radical shifts currently squeezing CHROs and how to build a team that can truly withstand them. In this special episode, we revisit three of our most important conversations from the past year. Entrepreneur and author Mark Matson reframes the American Dream for the modern workplace, revealing how distorted mindsets—entitlement, resentment, and "juicy victimhood"—are limiting performance more than circumstances ever could, and what leaders can do to revive accountability and ownership. Endurance expert and best-selling author Alex Hutchinson shows how the science of athletic training applies directly to leadership today, from managing chronic stress to sustaining creativity and peak performance. And Stephen Schmidt, Chief Security Officer at Amazon, breaks down why the biggest AI threats aren't technical at all, but human—rooted in behavior, trust, and a lack of guardrails. Together, these segments surface a simple truth: the future belongs to leaders who can build personal responsibility, manage stress like an athlete, and create a culture strong enough to withstand the risks of an AI-powered world.   ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—preorder a copy here: 8EXlaws.com  

For many leaders, "transformation at scale" feels like an impossible task—especially when employees are overwhelmed, technology is accelerating, and expectations about the future of work keep shifting. But Norfolk Southern has done this successfully in one of the toughest environments imaginable: a 200-year-old freight railroad with a safety-sensitive, unionized workforce. And in this episode, you'll hear how. Annie Adams, CHRO and former Chief Transformation Officer, shows what operational excellence powered by AI really looks like in practice. You'll learn how she led a headquarters relocation to Atlanta, built a future-ready corporate headquarters around employee experience, and used guiding principles like clear communication, leader toolkits, and discretionary effort to manage transformation fatigue. Annie dives into how Norfolk Southern "puts the AI in railroad" through innovations like digital train inspection portals, machine vision, on-edge computing, and 75+ algorithms that turn "finders into fixers." She also breaks down how their data science team uses predictive maintenance to model track wear, how giving frontline employees mobile tools has improved the way work gets done, and how Copilot is helping leaders make sense of 26,000+ employee survey comments. She shares cultural anchors like their SPIRIT values and the iconic Lake Pontchartrain recovery story that reveals the company's deep commitment to innovation and purpose. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: ⁠⁠https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXLaws.com