The EX Factor

Russ said the best thing about this approach was the buy-in that came from people seeing their own fingerprints in the final 8 values.

What happens when HR stops guessing and starts co-designing with employees?

In this episode of The EX Factor, Meg sits down with Russ Heptonstall, Global Manager of Learning & Development at Pixelogic Media, to explore a genuinely iterative approach to building a performance and talent management culture from the ground up.

Pixelogic is a global media services company working with Hollywood studios on scripting, subtitling, audio, and mastering — operating across multiple continents and languages.

Russ shares how his small-but-mighty L&D team has built something most HR teams only talk about: a co-created, values-led performance experience that employees actually want to use.In this conversation you'll hear:

• How Pixelogic went from 50 possible values to seven that every employee across the globe genuinely owns
• Why broad, open-ended performance reviews were failing managers (especially new ones) — and what they did about it
• The "accidental" conversation that led to their most-adopted tool ever
• Why taking complexity on yourself as an HR team is actually the secret to adoption
• What iterative experimentation really looks like in practice, including the failures

Whether you're just starting out on your performance management journey or looking to make what you already have more meaningful, Russ's story is a practical and refreshingly honest look at what it takes to build experiences that land.

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The EX Factor is brought to you by Crewmojo — the performance platform built around configurable workflows that create connected employee experiences.

In this episode, we examine VicHealth's approach to employee performance. Padam Chirmuley walks us through how they link employee performance to both strategic and community goals. It covers practical aspects like aligning pay with performance, integrating performance management into daily work, and using one-on-ones to merge health and wellbeing with performance.

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Step into M&C Saatchi's world, where everyone from the CEO to the concierge contributes to a unique workplace culture. Aleece Dening, HR Operations Partner, takes you behind the scenes to explore how they unite nine business units under one culture.

Learn how employees lead their own performance reviews, while managers shift from paperwork to meaningful conversations. We'll also uncover the real-world challenges and successes of bringing a human-centred performance system to life.

Tune in for a story about building a work environment filled with purpose and connection.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

Join us for an insightful exploration of Starlight Children's Foundation's innovative people-focused performance model. We delve into the foundation's three-lense view on performance - individual, team, and organisation - and discuss how growth and well-being serve as critical drivers of their success.

Listen to how user-centred design influences the employee experience and how People Managers play a key role in ensuring a positive, empowering work culture.

Discover the power of language in shaping experiences, the importance of integrating development goals with role responsibilities, and the necessary steps in adopting a feedback-oriented culture. We also explore Starlight's distinct reflection process utilizing their '4+1 Questions' approach and the role of formal training for managers.

Understand the metrics Starlight uses to measure the effectiveness of its people practices and how they've achieved an impressive 100% completion rate for reflections. The episode is not just about the 'what' but also provides practical advice on implementing a similar approach in your organisation - from creating a guiding vision document to ensuring a successful launch day. Finally, we discuss the role of accountability and the vision for people managers as impactful coaches.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand how to create a thriving organizational culture that empowers employees and fosters continual growth and development.

With Ashlee Gunstone and Melissa Barker

In this episode, we delve into the heart of Mantel Group's unique, feedback-focused approach to performance enhancement. We explore how this trailblazing organisation is pushing boundaries by empowering employees to take ownership of the process, fostering a culture of trust in place of rigid policies, and cultivating an environment for individualised experiences.

Our journey explores the simplicity of their system, spotlighting the transformative shift from traditional managerial roles to 'people guides' - a distinct role that influences ‘guidees’ without making pay or performance decisions.

We illuminate the 'My Deal' concept, an innovative substitute to conventional performance reviews, centred on the individual employee needs rather than an organisation process. We learn about the significance of a tool that aligns with their culture, principles and style, echoing their core values at every step.

Feedback forms the cornerstone of the Mantel Group ethos, becoming the crucial ingredient for powerful coaching conversations and ongoing development. This process is brought to life through a collaborative method, embracing the collective input and experiences of all team members.

Join us in exploring the inner workings of Mantel Group's unique approach, and discover how feedback can fuel transformation across an organisation.