One toxic employee left unmanaged can set the tone for your entire company’s culture. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about how to avoid a toxic work environment!

In this episode, Brian joined by Virginia and Nanette from The Lively Office discusses ways to re-organize and address toxic employees so that you can create a healthy and enjoyable work environment for all. They also share how The Lively Office accomplishes its mission to change the work culture in the United States by working alongside both employers and employees. 

Brian, Virginia, and Nanette also cover:

• The main factors that lead to Virginia and Nanette’s toxic work environment at their previous company. 
• The domino effect occurs when you let toxic employee behavior go unmanaged. 
• Building loyalty with your employees by establishing a healthy company culture they want to be part of. 
• The value of establishing and engraining your values into your company’s culture before you even make your first hire. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

CONNECT WITH THE LIVELY OFFICE:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn- The Lively Office

LinkedIn- Virginia

LinkedIn- Nanette

STAY CONNECTED:

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Click here to get our free Workbook and Guide to Making Your First Hire a Success!

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

When you have an underperforming employee, not only do they divert the attention away from your goals in order to pick up the slack, they become an HR risk when not addressed and managed properly. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about the 5 question framework to resolve underperforming employee issues!

In this episode, Brian breaks down the 4 points on the underperformance spectrum to help you get to the root cause of why your employee is not meeting expectations. At the end of the day, the question is not how to handle an underperforming employee but rather, why are they underperforming in the first place?

The 5 questions to ask when getting to the root cause of an underperforming employee are:

1. Have I as the employer given them the proper resources to perform their job?
2. Have I as the employer given them the proper training and has the employee applied this training to their job?
3. Does the employee have the desire to succeed in this role?
4. Does the employee have the ability to succeed in this role?
5. If after asking the previous 4 questions you’re still not able to pinpoint a reason the employee is underperforming and come up with a plan,  it is time to ask yourself, is this working?

As the employer, it is your responsibility to address and come up with a solution to correct or part ways with an underperforming employee. If you don’t, you’re going to be looking at a much bigger business risk by letting the problem continue.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

STAY CONNECTED:

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Click here to get our free Workbook and Guide to Making Your First Hire a Success!

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

 Years ago, Adobe ditched the annual employee review for a routine 1-2-1 check-in system and found results of a lowered voluntary turnover rate by 30%. No matter the size of your company, that amount of retention has a huge impact. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about the best and lowest cost, high-impact strategy for employee retention. 

In this episode, Brian talks about the benefits both for the company and the employee for hosting regular 1-2-1 check-ins. He also shares a practical framework for running 1-2-1 meetings within your company. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

STAY CONNECTED:

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Click here to get our free Workbook and Guide to Making Your First Hire a Success!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

1-2-1 Framework Template 

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

When your hiring process is not consistent you run the risk of making a bad hire that will cost you time, energy, and resources in the long run. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about the 7 interview questions to use for every hiring interview.

In this episode, Brian shares the 3 reasons he recommends using the same core set of questions in your interviews. The 7 questions you can use regardless of the industry or position you are hiring for are:

1. Why are you looking for a new opportunity?
2. What attracted you to our company?
3. What does your dream job look like?
4. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
5. What type of workplace culture do you enjoy working in and find yourself succeeding in?
6. What new skills are you hoping to learn in your new job?
7. What type of hours do you prefer working?

If you’ve listened to the podcast before, you know I encourage you to build out a set of questions specific to the role you’re trying to fill. Those paired with these questions will create a 2-part question set you can use to make the right hire. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

STAY CONNECTED:
Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

PAST EPISODES REFERENCED:

Gain a Competitive Hiring Edge With Your Own Careers Page

Your 10-Point Action Plan to Improve Your Employer Brand 

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

You may have noticed we often share common mistakes on the podcast. We do this not for you to be scared of doing something wrong but to give you the information and insight to avoid these mistakes and get on the fast track to success. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about the 5 common mistakes entrepreneurs make when hiring and scaling a company!

In this episode, Brian shares the 5 of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs often make when growing their company and solutions on how you can avoid them yourself. 

1. Hiring for skill and compromising on culture. 
2. Confusing feedback for coaching.   
3. Taking themselves out of the sales mindset. 
4. Confusing talent acquisition with recruiting.  
5. Mistaking underperformance for bad leadership.  

As a bonus, Brian covers the roots of underperformance so you can understand and recognize some of the employee-centered causes that may be contributing to this. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Click here to get our free Workbook and Guide to Making Your First Hire a Success!

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

Future employees are doing their due diligence on your organization long before your first interview so having employee testimonials is going to be the fuel for talent acquisition. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about the only 3 employee testimonials you need to start promoting your company! 

In this episode, Brian shares his framework and example questions for creating employee testimonial questions that are going to make you look good to future employees AND potential and existing clients. As a bonus, he also shares the 11 types of employee testimonial categories you can use to build out your toolkit over time. 

The framework for creating your 3 questions is as follows:

1. Think backward from your goal and understand what types of answers you want to get from these testimonials. 
2. Think about what you want to emphasize about your culture and build questions that elicit that response.
3. Figure out what else it is that you want to emphasize about your company. 
4. Keep your questions short, simple, and direct to the point. 
5. Ask open-ended questions that allow your employees to give feedback. 
6. Don’t overthink it. Your questions are not set in stone and can be changed as necessary.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

STAY CONNECTED:

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

EPISODES MENTIONED:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2066194/12034179-gain-a-competitive-hiring-edge-with-your-own-careers-page.mp3?download=true

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

Chances are, if you’re familiar with personas, you’re familiar with them from a marketing standpoint. Marketing teams have been creating buyer and user personas for years but here’s the thing- you can do the same when it comes to hiring! This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer is about creating your candidate persona!

In this episode, Brian shares how a candidate persona will help you improve both the hiring process itself and the strategy that goes into it all while increasing your chances of having a better hire out of the gate. He also touches on the 3 major outcomes of creating a candidate persona. 

The step-by-step guide Brian covers to creating your candidate persona includes:

1. Gather information on your ideal candidate through conversations with stakeholders.  
2. Interview team members to better understand their motivation, disciplines, drivers, interests, and personal and professional goals.  
3. Test your persona with real-life candidates to see if your hypothesis is on the mark or needs some tweaking. 
4. Create the story around your persona based on 2 sections: who is your candidate and what defines them? 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

Everyone is created to be a leader in some capacity. Leadership boils down to the ability to positively influence the people around you to better their lives in some way. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about why traditional leadership programs miss the mark!

In this episode, Brian joined by guest Stephen Morris of Renowned Leadership talk about how Stephen’s 16 years in the military influenced how he views leadership structures and practices. They also discuss the importance of embracing leadership development in our companies as the core component to creating a culture that increases profit margins and employee satisfaction. 

Brian and Stephen also cover:

• Lessons from failed leadership experiences and why perception is NOT reality. 
• The responsibility leaders hold is to keep everyone on their team well-informed and on the same page. 
• Handling sensitive conversations as a leader. 
• What it means to be a leader and how you may be one without even realizing it. 
• Actionable advice for an employer getting ready to make their first hire. 
• The difference between a management training program and a leadership training program. 

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

CONNECT WITH STEPHEN MORRIS:

 

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.renownedleadership.com/

STAY CONNECTED WITH BRIAN: 

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

Having a career page on your website is a great way to make your hiring process seamless, improve your visibility, and establish your brand as an employer. This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about gaining a competitive hiring edge with your own career page. 

In this episode, Brian shares his expert tips on setting your company apart from others and boosting your employer brand by strategically setting up a career page that attracts potential employees. He also covers the top 3 frequently asked questions when it comes to creating a careers page. 

The 6 best practices Brian covers in this episode include:

1. Add positive employee or client testimonials. 
2. Put your ‘about us’ statement at the top of your careers page.
3. Clearly display your company’s mission, vision, and values.  
4. Include details about the benefits and perks that come with working for your organization. [Bonus: 6 different benefits categories you can include!]
5. Add authenticity by including photos and videos.
6. Keep a consistent brand and message with a high-quality, eye-catching design.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

STAY CONNECTED:

Scaleocity Works

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Importance of Vision and Core Values as a Foundation to Your Business

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8

The hiring landscape as we know it is changing and it is important for both employers and potential employees to take stock of where the rest of the market is and whether or not they’re keeping up with the changing trends. 

This week’s episode of the Entrepreneur to Employer podcast is about What Candidates Want in Your Hiring Process. 

In this episode, Brian, joined by guest Patricia Ortega of The Uncommon Career, talks about how expectations of both employer and employee have changed over the past couple of years and what we can expect to see for the future of Corporate America. 

Brian and Patricia also cover:

• The role that Patricia’s faith played in the steps leading up to where she is in her career today. 
• The most common things that candidates are now expecting from their employers are. 
• Why employees move positions more often and more frequently today than ever before.
• The importance of communicating your transferable skills between different industries. 
• Getting clear on what you’re looking for before entering into the hiring process and drawing the line between “required” and “desired.”
• What led to the rise of “quiet quitting.”

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode or found any of the information helpful, check our website to learn more, and be sure to follow, rate, and review the podcast!

Tune in to more episodes to keep up with the latest trends in HR leadership and organizational effectiveness and tips on how to develop and lead a high-performing team!

CONNECT WITH PATRICIA ORTEGA:

The Uncommon Career

Podcast

YouTube

CONNECT WITH BRIAN:

https://www.scaleocityworks.com/

https://twitter.com/brianm2

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmontes/

I’m hosting a free workshop called “Fix the Foundation: How First-Time Founders Can Stop Running on Chaos and Start Scaling with Clarity.”

In less than 45 minutes, I’ll show you the six areas most business owners overlook — and the exact systems you need to get your time back, hire smarter, and lead with confidence.

🎯 Save your seat at https://bit.ly/4l9orb6

 Let’s build a business that doesn’t run you.

👉 Ready to stop running your business on chaos and gut instinct?

Take the free People, Operations & Finance Scorecard — a 5-minute diagnostic to find out where your business is strong, where it’s stuck, and what to fix first.

🎯 Perfect for first-time founders who want to grow without burning out.

📩 Get your score instantly + a personalized follow-up with actionable next steps.

🔗 Take the Assessment now → https://forms.gle/m65U1GZBoneXvXDM8