Story Time with Mack!

We've all hear about military bootcamp, where, in a rigorous indoctrination, young men and women and transformed from civilians to warriors.  But what about the transition back to civilian life?  Our guest today, veteran and mental health professional Duane France talks to us about the challenges veterans face in the transition back to life outside of the military.  We also explore how HR professionals can partner with veterans and help them feel like welcome contributors to a new mission with a new organization.

What can a snow globe teach you about life, leadership, and change?  According to our guest today, quite a bit.  Jeff Nischwitz is the Founder and Chief Story Debunker of The Nischwitz Group, a speaking, consulting and coaching company that transforms people and organizations… one story at a time! Jeff gives us practical tips on handling change while using it to develop personally and professionally.

More and more, employees are looking to build their professional skills.  If you aren't meeting this demand, those employees might find another organization that will.  To help you get a better handle on this problem and develop a great upskilling and re-skilling program, we have Ashlee Dutton on this episode.  She shares her process for identifying and meeting staff training and development needs.  Some great tips on this one so be sure to take good notes.

With all the uncertainty of post-COVID work life, there is more than enough stress to go around.  If you're an HR professional, you'll feel it more than most.  Our guest today, Caren Kenney says that by learning to identify and live our BEST self, we will be more capable of succeeding in tough times.  Caren is a coach and co-author or the book Leading with Character.  Caren gives us tips on how to identify our purpose and live our best life even in chaotic times.

When COVID hit, the band-aid was ripped off.  In going back to normal, the band-aid is being removed slowly and painfully.  Navigating the return to work is a challenge.  Our guest today, Alexa Beavers addresses the challenges and solutions to helping people through the changes and stress of office re-entry.  Lots of practical advice and tips for your team in this episode.

We believe everyone needs recognition when they do a great job.  When we saw that there was actually an Employee Recognition Day, we decided to allow our listeners to nominate employees for the honor.  The winner is on our show today.  John Gibson is an employee at Mountaineer Gas Company in Charleston, WV.  John's boss, Sarah McClanahan is also on the show so we can hear why she thought John was worthy of the honor.  Congratulations John!

There are plenty of things to be addicted to, but thinking?  The act of obsessive rumination is harmful to ourselves, our careers, and our relationships.  Our guest today, Nancy Colier is the author of Can't Stop Thinking:  How to Let Go of Anxiety and Free Yourself from Obsessive Rumination.  Nancy gives us practical tips to manage this issue and learn how to create space from this unhealthy practice.

You'll always remember the BEST boss you ever had and the WORST boss you ever had.  Everyone in between is just a blur.  Fortunately, I was able to locate the BEST boss I ever had and he's our guest on this episode.  In 1986, Greg Nelson took an unfocused kid (me) and, hammered out my rough edges and put me on a path to success.  Along the way, he used his mentorship approach to management and impacted countless other young sailors.  In our session, Greg shares some of those stories and even recounts what it was like to work with me over 30 years ago.  This is a special podcast and I encourage you to listen to it start to finish, and then listen again.  I can't think of a better episode to be our 100th on HR Oxygen!

Each April brings Admin Professionals Day.  This year, we decided to host a contest to find the Boss Builders Administrative Professional of The Year.  This year, the honor goes to Denise Ewing, Executive Assistant to the CEO at PHP.  In this interview, Denise shares her career journey with us as well as tips for how to be an invaluable partner to your boss.  We also chat with Christine Boles who nominated Denise.  Lots of wisdom in what Denise says to pay close attention!

As an HR professional, one of your biggest responsibilities is to develop the skills of your managers.  A key skill to do that is COACHING.  In this episode, ICF Credentialed coach Margi Bush will give you practical tips on how to help your employees develop into great performers.