In this episode of The Lazy CEO Podcast, host Jim Schleckser welcomes Joey Coleman, Chief Experience Composer of Design Symphony, as his guest. Joey is a renowned speaker and influencer in the areas of customer and employee experience. They discuss Joey's first book, "Never Lose a Customer Again," which emphasizes the importance of paying attention to customers after they become clients. He explains that 20 to 70% of new customers may leave before their 100-day anniversary, highlighting the need for a strong customer experience.

Joey then introduces his latest book, focusing on employee experience. He believes that a great customer experience is only possible with a great employee experience, as employees are the ones delivering the service. The conversation delves into the challenges of employee disengagement, which Gallup's recent research reveals to be as high as 77%.

The key focus of the discussion is on the first 100 days of an employee's journey in an organization. Joey emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and engaging experience during this period to improve retention rates. He outlines an eight-phase employee journey framework, starting with the "Assess" phase, where prospective employees decide whether to join an organization and the organization determines the fit. The subsequent "Accept" phase involves extending the job offer in a way that makes candidates feel excited about their future with the company.

The conversation touches on the critical "Affirm" phase, addressing new hires' remorse and the doubts that can arise after accepting a job offer. Joey stresses the need for continuous communication and support during this stage to alleviate any uncertainty and make the employees feel valued. The remaining phases of the employee journey involve "Activate" (onboarding), "Adapt" (helping employees acclimate to the culture), "Accomplish" (setting employees up for success), "Advocate" (encouraging them to become advocates for the company), and finally, "Ambassador" (creating raving fan employees who spread positive word-of-mouth).

Joey highlights that employee experience should be an ongoing focus, with leaders continuously striving to improve and engage their workforce. They discuss the importance of aligning employee and customer experiences and how embracing the true nature of the modern workforce, which is often temporary or short-term, can lead to better hiring decisions and stronger employee commitment.

The episode concludes with insights into how emotions play a crucial role in interactions with customers, employees, and all relationships in general. They agree that prioritizing personal and emotional connection in all interactions is key to building successful and meaningful relationships.