Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

When initiating organizational shifts, change management practices are crucial to prepare teams for changes to their daily work structures. How can you manage change without disrupting day-to-day operations? What strategies can you implement to ensure smooth transitions during these periods?

With experience initiating multiple changes within his team, Adam Gruszcynski emphasizes transparent and clear communication with all team members. Leaders should place each employee in roles according to their skills, facilitating trust to execute transitions effectively. He also recommends empathizing with employees as they navigate changes and addressing roadblocks and complaints with understanding before turning them into strategic action plans. 

Tune in to another episode of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series as Traci Austin hosts Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, to talk about change management techniques. Adam shares the leadership skills essential to change management, the four rules of organizational change, and how to cultivate accountability during the process.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential skills for conflict resolution, yet they require problem-led leadership to execute. Leaders must navigate complex challenges while fostering collaboration and preventing team burnout. How can leaders refine these skills to drive actionable solutions and maintain a productive team environment?

While leaders and managers must direct their teams to identify the problem and its impact on the organization, they shouldn’t devise solutions. Instead, IT director Adam Gruszcynski suggests coaching your team to resolve the conflict by empowering them with critical thinking and problem-solving techniques. This may involve eliciting three diverse solutions and encouraging team members to think critically about the results or consequences. Communication and collaboration are essential to agreeing on viable solutions.

In the final episode of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development Series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, discuss the interplay between conflict resolution, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Together, they explore strategies for prioritizing issues, ensuring transparent communication, and preventing team fatigue during prolonged problem-solving sessions.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Conflict resolution in the workplace is often viewed as a daunting challenge. Many leaders navigate through issues that aren't directly related to them but impact team dynamics and productivity. Yet conflict isn’t always negative, so how can it catalyze actionable results in your organization?

Leadership developer Adam Gruszcynski emphasizes identifying the root causes of conflict, which often lie beneath surface issues. He outlines four common types of conflict: task, process, status, and relationship conflicts. Accountability is essential in mitigating task and process conflicts since individuals may have varied approaches to accomplishing tasks. Adam also mentions allowing team members the freedom to determine their methods while maintaining alignment on the end goal. His approach to resolving status and relationship conflicts involves fostering open communication and encouraging individuals to address conflicts directly with their peers before stepping in as a moderator.

In the sixth edition of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski of Potawatomi Casino Hotel discuss conflict resolution. Adam shares how passive, aggressive, and assertive behaviors manifest during conflict, the role of behaviors in team communication, and how to foster conflict resolution in your team.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

The highest-performing teams work together to achieve a common goal, but this synergy can become hampered when team members compartmentalize information because they fear losing their jobs. How can leaders empower and elevate their teams?

When employees withhold information from the rest of the team, they exhibit a lack of trust and a fear of conflict and collaboration. Team builder Adam Gruszcynski maintains that certain levels of conflict are healthy since they invite spirited discussions to work through issues, accelerate collaborative decision-making, and build strength within the team. Trust and accountability are the secrets to a functional team, so displaying vulnerability, appreciating each team member for their contributions, and accepting responsibility are crucial in elevating performance.

In this edition of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, talk about designing highly functional teams. Adam shares methods for celebrating and appreciating your team, how he navigates conflict within his team, and how leadership cultivates teamwork.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Eighty-two percent of managers report having little or no ability to hold their teams accountable. This often occurs when they lack the tools and resources for effective accountability, or the organization equates accountability with negative conversations. However, accountability promotes effective leadership and performance. How can you hold your team accountable?

Only 14% of employees believe their performance is managed correctly, necessitating solid accountability structures and performance management. IT team leader Adam Gruszcynski advises conducting one-on-one meetings with employees to discuss goals and task completion. During these meetings, leaders should assess their employees’ management needs and adjust their leadership style accordingly. This ensures a productive and positive experience. You can also leverage productivity tools like Asana or Monday.com to organize tasks and monitor completion. 

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, discuss employee accountability strategies. Adam shares his approach to accountability, how to incorporate accountability into leadership development, and how he leads employees with intention.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Studies show that 80% of the workforce is not engaged, with 71% of people dissatisfied with their development opportunities. While alarming, these statistics demonstrate the need for employee engagement to increase retention. How can organizations ensure their workforce remains motivated, productive, and aligned with the company's goals?

With highly engaged workforces, organizations experience 21% profit increases. IT leadership developer Adam Gruszcysnki has identified five key drivers of employee engagement: role alignment, team cohesion, customized leadership, and culture development. During the interview process, leaders must ensure candidates can execute a position’s core roles and responsibilities, allowing them to grow and develop within the organization. Individual contributions drive team performance, so encouraging your team to collaborate and demonstrating recognition and appreciation for their work promotes increased engagement. Team members have diverse learning styles, so Adam emphasizes tailoring your leadership to individual needs. Additionally, aligning team members and organizational missions, visions, and values allows employees and companies to thrive. 

In the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin continues her discussion with Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, about promoting employee engagement. Adam shares career development strategies for employee growth, the value of identifying team members’ personal and professional aspirations, and how to show appreciation to team members.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Even the highest-performing leaders can benefit from coaching sessions. These experts guide leaders along their journeys, helping them develop and hone their skills. What’s involved in a coaching session, and how can coaches and leaders maximize their relationship with one another?

Executive leader Adam Gruszcynski maintains that the value of a coaching session hinges on effective communication and trust. During sessions, coaches must ask probing, in-depth questions to elicit honest responses from their mentees. This includes holding space for the mentee without judgment. Throughout the process, coaches and leaders must collaborate to develop solutions to problems, map out goals, and create a growth trajectory. 

In this installment of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series, Traci Austin welcomes Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, back to the show to discuss strategies for effective coaching. Adam and Traci engage in a roleplay coaching scenario involving cultivating a work-life balance, demonstrating the transparent dynamics between coaches and leaders.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery. 

Employee fulfillment and growth have created a need for transformational leadership. While managers oversee tasks and ensure process continuity, true leaders inspire, innovate, and bring out the best in their teams. How can you transform from a manager into an influential leader?

IT leader Adam Gruszcynski describes transformational leaders as those who encourage their team members to work toward both individual and shared visions. This involves mentoring employees and modeling behaviors and actions to execute the organization’s mission, vision, and values. Additionally, treating mistakes and failures as learning opportunities rather than lecture sessions empowers team members to make autonomous decisions and improve continuously. Leaders can also have one-on-one sessions with each team member to address personal goals, roadblocks, and performance, cultivating trust and transparency.

Join Traci Austin in this episode of The People Strategy Podcast as she hosts Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, to talk about transformational leadership strategies. Adam shares advice for new leaders, how he embodies transformational leadership, and the practical applications of leadership. 

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results. 

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Ab DeWeese is the Founder and Non-executive Chairman of Good Automation, a data science and test automation company he exited when he was 37. He is also the Founder of the DeWeese Group, a private advisory practice designed for medium-sized and Fortune 500 companies. As a serial entrepreneur, polymath, and investor, Ab has become a founder, shareholder, and board member of more than eight AI and emerging technology businesses. 

As AI emerges as a groundbreaking new technology, organizations must adapt their people strategies to retain key talent and keep up with trends. This can be tricky since many fear AI will end up replacing their jobs. How can you incorporate AI into your organization while maintaining employee trust and operational transparency?

Having implemented a personal retirement plan early in his business, AI pioneer Ab DeWeese created a pathway for his employees to develop their roles and take over the organization. This involved providing them with tools and resources like AI to take control of their careers and steer the business in a new direction. When integrating AI tools, Ab says to emphasize human oversight and encourage your employees to familiarize themselves with the tools for each task, allowing them to discover new productivity methods. He also emphasizes the ethical use of AI, urging organizations to review service terms and privacy policies to protect sensitive information and foster employee trust.

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin hears from Ab DeWeese, the Founder of Good Automation and the DeWeese Group, who talks about integrating AI into your people strategy. Ab explains how to foster employee engagement with AI, how retirement plans strengthen people strategies, and AI’s role in talent development.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Katie Spahnie is the VP of HR Operations at Westfield Bank, where she focuses on employee engagement programs, total reward strategies, risk management, and HR technology. As an executive-level HR professional, she has developed and executed organizational strategies for human resources services, including recruitment and retention, culture and engagement, compensation and benefits, and performance management. Katie is a graduate of PRADCO’s Women In Leadership Program. 

When an organization undergoes a major transition, change management is crucial for sustaining employee engagement. How can you maintain organizational values and culture during key transition periods?

Seasoned HR executive Katie Spahnie spearheaded a people strategy during her bank’s separation from an insurance company by deploying a change management network. This diverse leadership group kept the organization’s core values and beliefs intact while communicating each stage of the process to other team members. Katie affirms that transparent communication reduces resistance to change and encourages feedback and adherence to organizational culture.

In the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin talks with Katie Spahnie, the VP of HR Operations at Westfield Bank, about her organization’s change management process. Katie shares her commitment to culture and teamwork, the value of partnerships in change management, and what she learned from the process.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.