The People Strategy Podcast

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.

John Bernatovicz is the Founder of Willory, which provides payroll and HR staffing and consulting support. As a serial entrepreneur, he has owned six companies, including Centsible Water, a water vending company with conveniently located, self-service water machines. John is a keynote speaker delivering national speaking engagements and the author of HR Like a Boss. 

Adopting innovative technology, implementing new procedures, and hiring for new roles require significant employee adjustments, necessitating change management practices to streamline the transitions. What are the secrets to successful change management, and how can organizations ensure their teams are well-prepared for transitions?

Seasoned HR professional and entrepreneur John Bernatovicz says since many organizational transitions involve implementing technology employees aren’t familiar with, setting expectations, over-communicating, and raising awareness are crucial to navigate the change. This builds trust with employees as they adapt to changes in their roles and responsibilities. Organizations must also provide managers with the tools to guide their teams through transitions effectively. 

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, John Bernatovicz, the Founder of Willory, joins Traci Austin for a discussion about change management in HR. John shares how to use AI responsibly in HR settings, key concepts from his book, and the importance of being bold and taking action in personal and professional endeavors.

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.

Andrew Barnes is the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, the world’s leading organization changing the future of work by implementing a four-day workweek initiative. As a serial entrepreneur, he has promoted market-changing innovation and industry digitization by leading and transforming companies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Andrew is recognized as the pioneer and architect of the four-day workweek movement, working with companies and national and international governments to change how populations work. In 2019, he wrote The 4 Day Week, a how-to guide for reducing work hours and increasing productivity.  

Statistics show that people in the UK and Canada are only productive for 2-3 hours a day, and it takes approximately 22 minutes to return to total productivity following an interruption. With distractions mounting as the distinction between personal and professional becomes increasingly blurred, how can organizations elevate productivity and engagement among their employees?

Hailed as the pioneer of the global four-day workweek movement, Andrew Barnes has observed a 40% increase in employee engagement, recruitment, retention, and team cohesion in organizations that have implemented this model. Employees are often more productive when given less time to complete tasks, with US companies observing a 36% increase in productivity. A four-day workweek also allows employees more time to engage in community-building activities that enrich their personal lives, leading to greater satisfaction and fewer absences in the workplace. 

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Andrew Barnes, the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, who discusses restructuring the conventional workweek. Andrew shares how companies can recruit and retain top talent with this model, how to measure productivity effectively, and how companies can foster a work-life balance.

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.

Matt Sunshine is the Managing Partner and CEO of The Center for Sales Strategy, a sales performance consulting company helping B2B organizations attract, retain, and develop the highest performing salespeople. Matt developed and launched the company’s inbound marketing division, LeadG2, which helps businesses establish thought leadership and lower lead costs. He’s also a writer, speaker, and moderator offering lead generation, inbound marketing, and sales process expertise.

When employees are accustomed to excelling in their roles, it can be challenging to transition to a leadership position. By outlining expectations and cultivating intentionality, companies can nurture their leaders’ strengths. How can you create a culture of intentional growth?

Although it may seem counterintuitive, growth and leadership advocate Matt Sunshine maintains that leaders can grow professionally through a combination of freedom and responsibility. This involves encouraging leaders to take ownership of their career trajectories. Yet freedom must accompany clear expectations that define role success, core values, and culture. Through rigorous mentorship and culture alignment, employees can transition effectively from being top performers in their roles to leading others in their career growth.

Tune in to the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast as Traci Austin hosts Matt Sunshine, the Managing Partner at The Center for Sales Strategy, to discuss driving organizational culture and growth. Matt describes the role of trust, accountability, and belief in professional growth, his unique approaches to culture integration, and The Center for Sales Strategy’s innovative growth trajectory.

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.

Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief strategy consultant, she has over two decades of experience creating and building HR departments for small businesses. Traci specializes in employee development, consulting, and coaching and creates fulfilling work environments that align employee aspirations with business goals. She also hosts The People Strategy Podcast.

Most people dread annual performance reviews, fearing their managers will judge them for poor performance. In reality, these review sessions should encourage employees to maintain autonomy over their roles so they can pursue their strengths and passions. How can managers and leaders optimize the performance management process to keep employees engaged and proactive in their roles?

Rather than conducting performance reviews to maintain organizational compliance, HR executive Traci Austin says performance management should be an ongoing feedback loop that aligns company and employee goals. Managers can gather feedback through employee self-assessments and by conducting monthly and quarterly reviews. These review meetings are joint responsibilities between employees and managers to set and achieve goals aligned with the organization’s desired outcomes. Throughout the process, leaders should maintain clear accountability expectations and communication, providing employees with a platform to express concerns and grow in their roles.

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, co-host Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Traci Austin to discuss the performance management process. Traci shares practical tips for creating conditions for employees to contribute, the significance of continuous performance documentation, and how performance reviews support employees' goals. 

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.

Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief strategy consultant, she has over two decades of experience creating and building HR departments for small businesses. Traci specializes in employee development, consulting, and coaching and creates fulfilling work environments that align employee aspirations with business goals. She also hosts The People Strategy Podcast.

Work environments are built on various interconnected relationships nurtured by appreciation, gratitude, and trust. How can leaders maintain healthy relationships with their teams to boost organization-wide engagement?

According to people strategist Traci Austin, trust is the foundation for every relationship, allowing individuals to work together to achieve organizational goals. Cultivating this trust requires identifying employees' unique behavioral and emotional needs through psychologically safe environments. These workspaces allow individuals to express themselves openly; to support this, you can have your team identify each other's strengths, relationship dynamics, outcomes, and shared purposes. Through these exercises, your team can promote honesty, vulnerability, clear expectations, and accountability. 

In The People Strategy Podcast’s latest Team Retention series episode, co-host Chad Franzen meets with Traci Austin to discuss the role of trust in employee engagement. Traci shares how executing your mission, vision, and values contributes to employee appreciation and gratitude, how to measure the impact of psychological safety exercises, and the common barriers to organizational trust.

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.