True Stories at Work: fresh from HR

Today you get to meet Bruce who directed employee relations for a credit card company with over 15,000 employees. Employee relations is where cultures are made. You will hear how Bruce kept the human in human resources and the very high price he paid. “I spent 36 years in HR, which is, you know, people can't see, but I don't have any hair.”

Bruce had so many great stories to share that I broke his interview into 2 episodes.

On this episode, he highlights the invisible things that create cultures like telling the truth, and listening to each other. You’ll learn Bruce’s biggest pet peeve “Let's just start with the word meetings”, and how he would improve meetings to build a better workplace.

Bruce shares stories about the impact of COVID on his company culture and how it quickly shifted things from face-to-face (interpersonal) to online via social media. You’ll learn how his company made daily decisions to protect their company culture by clearly defining the kind of people they wanted to be working at their company. “Yes, we had a social media policy, but we often didn't have issues of people posting things that were very questionable and where we had to decide whether or not it was appropriate or not violated policy actions should be taken."

At the end, you will get to hear a workplace confession, something that didn't make it through the doors of HR. Once again, this is my best friend at her worst. While I give her coworkers credit for retaliating, it is pretty disgusting, so decide if you really want to know what she fed her colleagues at the potluck…

Tune into the 2nd part of Bruce’s interview where he shares stories on how to truly become a memorable leader “That was literally 20, maybe like 22 years, I remember it was like yesterday. I remember being in the larger meeting room. And the impact that those, those messages had.”

Curious about creating a better culture or improve meetings, check out the resources below:

Build a Culture That Aligns with People’s Values, Harvard Business Review

Today’s Agenda, Cutting Down on Meetings, CBS News

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Haiku summary of Bruce Part 1

COVID impacts work…

by posting face to face chats,

Out for all to read.

Today you get to meet Kelly, who emphasizes the importance of kindness in Human Resources and the fragility of company culture. Her stories demonstrate how Human Resources can be the crisis hotline for leaders. The first call they place when they don’t know how to handle a challenging situation. We discuss the everyday decisions that leaders make that shape culture, and how much communication (and words) matter at work. You’ll hear stories of Phantom Crappers where poop rolls down hill and into HR, a passive aggressive behavior which could be improved with better leadership.

At the end, you get to hear a workplace confession, this one offers a compelling reason not to eat the candy from your coworkers candy dish.

Curious how to increase kindness in your workplace? Here are some links to get started:

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Kindness at Work

Corporate Culture is Everyone’s Responsibility

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Tell a story!

Make a Workplace Confession

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Listen or subscribe to the show

Join the private True Stories at Work Linked In group to connect with guests and listeners of the show

 

Haiku

Poop at work is an

Indication that you need…

Leadership training!

Have you ever wondered how having bed bugs could cost you your job and what Mr. Rogers can teach you about leadership? Could you benefit from a new approach to setting clear expectations and high levels of accountability?

Tune into this episode of True Stories at Work to meet Amy, an experienced HR leader with who will answer these questions and share great (and not-so-great) leadership stories!

Visit my website to:

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Haiku

Amy wants leaders

to be accountable, and

always own mistakes!

Have you ever wondered how mediating claims at the Department of Human Rights could feel like being on the Jerry Springer Show? In this True Stories at Work episode you get to meet Veronica, who worked in the military and the department of Human Rights before moving into corporate Human Resources. She is an attorney turned HR professional, and we reflect on some of the challenges of dealing with racism, the professional disaster when an executives has sex with a subordinate, and the surprises you can uncover during a thorough investigation.

Topics discussed on the episode:

Mediation at the Department of Human Rights. Strengthen your mediation skills by getting trained at  Center for Conflict Resolution

Why Compliance Trainings fail and how to fix them – HBR

Communication strategies for appreciating your employees: Why Employees Need Both Recognition and Appreciation (hbr.org)

Go to my website to:

Tell a story!

Record your Workplace Confession…

Ask a question?

Join the True Stories at Work Linked In group to share your stories and connect with other listeners.

Haiku for Veronica

Veronica knows,

sex with your boss will always…

become harassment!

Cynthia is a preacher's kid, a performer and a Human Resources professional with more than 15 years of experience including employee relations, leadership development and diversity + inclusion.

Cynthia has witnessed the worst of people at work, yet remains hopeful “I really like people, so I’m always looking for the best in people, but I have like built a lot of cynicism in, people, but I, I feel like I’ve ebbed and flowed and I’ve finally come back to, having more faith in people…..  so, you know, I’ve learned that people suck, but I also think that there’s hope for them.”

On today’s show you will learn about Cynthia’s journey into HR. We talk about vulnerability + how making and owning your mistakes will make you more respected by your team, and not less. You’ll hear a story about a CEO at a start-up who screwed up, owned up, and then you’ll learn how it all ended up.

At the end, you get to hear a workplace confession, something that happened at work that never made it through the doors of HR. This one might give you pause before you grab for that next pot of office coffee.

Curious about vulnerability + authenticity at work, here are some great places to start:

Brenee Brown, The Power of Vulnerability

Everything on Brenee Brown’s website

Herminia Ibarra, The Authenticity Paradox

Come on the show + tell your story!

Record your Workplace Confession…

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Join the True Stories at Work Linked In group to share your stories and connect with other listeners.

Haiku for Cynthia

Cynthia knows that…

Vulnerability does

Improve leadership.

True Stories at Work: Season 1 Preview