Evolving Your Workplace

If you lead a company and notice a lack of engagement or productivity in workers, this one is for you.

One in every four adults reported feeling lonely in the world, yet very few are talking about it. In and out of the workplace, it is something greatly affecting businesses.

In this eye-opening episode, Chief Scientist at the Academy to Innovate HR Dr. Dieter Veldsman joins Carol to give insight and tips for leaders.

They dive deep into why simply returning to the office isn't the solution, debunk common myths about workplace loneliness, and discuss practical strategies for both leaders and employees to build meaningful connections in today's evolving workplace environment.

Don't miss this important conversation about one of the most pressing yet overlooked challenges facing modern organizations.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

If you’re a part of the RTO trend, this one’s for you.  

In this episode of "Evolving Your Workplace," hosts Rob Swymer and Carol Schultz explore a recent employee exodus around return-to-office (RTO) policies. Rob expresses strong concerns about the use of terms like "revenge quitting" and "resentment" as both speakers point to fundamental problems with company culture and leadership for employees leaving. 

Plus, the experts discuss how technology has shifted modern workplace dynamics significantly since their early careers. While in-person interaction can be important for building culture, the two advocate for a balanced approach and communication over mandatory full-time office attendance.  

The episode also touches on the struggle of maintaining an expensive office space for hybrid work schedules. Could quarterly in-person meetings with more engagement and flexible scheduling be the answer? 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.   

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.   

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!  

If you’re receiving what seems to be AI applications from prospects, this one is for you.

Why should someone want to work for your company? — This is the question you should answer before you start your search for talent.

Experts Carol Schultz and Steve Cadigan discuss the underlying factor to pay attention to as a leader when recruiting. Forget the magic of AI, no tool will help if companies don’t do this first.

They also walk through areas AI can improve the recruiting process rather than the applications currently in place. Carol expresses skepticism about AI tools that distance recruiters from candidates and cautions against biases.

The episode concludes with examples of recruiting solutions that will fortify human connections.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

In this episode, Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer dissect the public feud over employee compensation between tech billionaires Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, with Musk suing OpenAI while accusing Altman of compensating employees with “lavish” salaries in an attempt to starve out the competition. 

Carol and Rob unpack the deeper issues behind the feud. Does it come down to dollars and cents or leadership styles? As two longtime corporate leaders themselves, Carol and Rob draw upon their decades of experience to share insights on motivating and engaging employees. We’ll give you a hint: it's not only about the money.  

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram.  

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!  

If you’re struggling to retain your employees or you want to understand the job-hopping issue more in depth—this one is for you. 

Job hopping is on the rise in younger generations as we enter a shift from staying at one company for 30 years to focusing on personal growth and the benefits in diverse roles. Once looked down upon, job hopping has now become something to be proud of (or some believe). 

Host Carol Schultz brings on expert recruiter Rich Deakmann to explore what leaders can do to keep these workers. The two dive into the causes of job hopping, especially in the tech industry.  

Rich walks through how to provide the space for employees to be more likely to stay long-term. Certain key factors must be intentionally implemented on the part of companies if they expect employees to enjoy working for them. 

They also discuss common mistakes they see leaders make when it comes to picking an ideal candidate. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Transfer Portal Comparison: "It's now tough for coaches to build cultures because, hey, if the quarterback doesn't like the system, he's out. He puts his name in the transfer portal, and he goes to another system next year." - Rob Swymer 

Welcome to "Evolving Your Workplace," the podcast where we unpack the core drivers of a thriving, engaged work culture. In this episode, hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer draw on Gallup's research to reveal how an engaged workforce can boost profitability by 22%. Yet, with less than half of U.S. employees clear on their job expectations, miscommunication and disconnection cost companies billions. 

Rob introduces the "DOSE" framework—Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins—linking it to business success and using college sports as a lens to explore employee retention challenges. He emphasizes the impact of a shared mission and vision in reducing turnover and driving productivity, dispelling the myth that cultural engagement is "fluffy." The episode also addresses the growing need for leadership to foster connection in an era of remote work. 

Discover how strong leadership, authentic culture, and strategic engagement are essential for navigating today’s evolving workplace. Follow and review the podcast to stay inspired with future insights and stories.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Timestamps:  

00:00 - Introduction  

00:12 - Engaged culture increases profitability by 22%. 

05:56 - Evaluating transfer motives, building team culture. 

07:59 - Career success requires engagement and mission focus. 

09:55 - Lack of training diminishes employee engagement, productivity. 

15:24 - Working from home allows flexible daily routines. 

17:32 - Keynote speaker notes companies delaying meetings, cohesion. 

22:37 - Colleague founded firm for higher commission rates. 

23:35 - Bait and switch led to contract buyout. 

27:04 - Engaged cultures fulfill human need for belonging. 

In this episode, Carol Schultz speaks with Farfalla founder Paul Didwall about the evolving landscape of digital marketing and AI’s significant impact. The conversation highlights the shift in marketing strategies over the past decade, emphasizing the role of social media and artificial intelligence.

Throughout the conversation, Didwall stresses the balance between using AI for efficiency and the necessity of human oversight to maintain brand integrity and voice. The discussion addresses content effectiveness across different media and different generations, focusing on video, static images, and written content.

The two also explore the evolving role of SEO in an AI-driven world and propose experiments to compare AI-generated content with human-written content to assess efficiency. Both Paul and Carol express skepticism over the ability of AI to fully mimic brand voices, advocating for a mix of artificial intelligence tools and human expertise.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest expert? Email [email protected] with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

The Pitfalls of a 'Me First' Culture: "If it's left unchecked, it becomes sort of a me first culture... And then performance just degradates eventually." - Rob Swymer 

In today’s episode, Entitlement Mindset, we’re tackling how a culture of entitlement at the top can derail company growth and undermine collaboration. Host Carol Schultz, joined by co-host Rob Swymer, breaks down a powerful article by Bart Fanelli, CEO of Skillibrium, to explore the difference between managing and true leadership. 

Discover why culture starts at the top, how entitlement impacts long-term success, and how consistent coaching and communication can drive a thriving workplace. Whether you’re a leader, aspiring manager, or an employee looking to understand how entitlement affects growth, this conversation is for you.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Timestamps: 

00:00 Entitlement mindset prevalent in many companies. 

06:04 Engaged culture boosts profitability by 22%. 

07:27 Politicians often exhibit entitlement and dishonesty. 

11:48 Influencers earn millions for single sponsored posts. 

14:29 Reward and mentor for effective team development. 

17:18 Praising innovative coaching and mentoring efforts. 

19:43 Servant leaders give time to help others. 

On this episode of Evolving Your Workplace, host Carol Schultz brings on her podcast producer and Gen Z representative, Michael Cunningham, to discuss communication dynamics within the workplace. This one is for leaders who struggle to understand the new generations and how to collaborate with them.

The discussion highlights the importance of flexibility, noting preferences for voice interaction to avoid misinterpretation and the challenges posed by remote work and communication technologies.

They also touch on societal issues like generational divides and respect for older generations, with Michael sharing concerns about younger generations' attitudes toward older people.

The episode concludes with insights into the evolving nature of media, the impact of AI, and the need for embracing communication attempts and efforts to bridge the gap between generations.

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Want to be our next guest? Email [email protected] with your information.

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!

Job Hunting and Mental Health: ‘72 Percent of Applicants Say Job Hunting Harm Their Mental Health.’ - Carol Schultz 

Co-hosts Carol Schultz and Rob Swymer dive into the pressing issues of the modern workplace. In this episode, they tackle the alarming statistics surrounding Gen Z and job hunting's impact on mental health. As they explore a recent article revealing that 72% of job seekers report mental health struggles during the job search, Carol and Rob discuss the pressures of today's recruitment processes, the role of technology like AI, and the challenges faced by different generations.

Tune in as they share insights on resilience, the importance of a supportive organizational culture, and tools for mental wellness in the face of job market stress.

Whether you're navigating your early career or leading a team, this episode offers valuable perspectives on thriving amidst the evolving demands of the business world. 

Find more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

Find more information about our cohost Rob Swymer and his company at Rob Swymer, Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram. 

And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!