Unlocking High Performance

Join Jason for an enlightening conversation with Steph Ryter, Creative Culture Leader at Arity, as they discuss how to intentionally build a culture of connection.

In this episode, Steph shares her journey from television news to shaping organizational culture at Arity. With her unique perspective, Steph has used innovative methods for building employee engagement and human connections, especially in a remote-first environment. She shares specific practices that have had a profound impact on Arity's culture including "culture connections" and "Learn Day."

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 Discover how a simple 25-minute "culture connection" call can enhance employee engagement and build a sense of belonging.

👉 Learn about 'Learn Day' and how themed presentations can build a learning community and create strong bonds among remote employees.

👉 Emphasizing innovation and balance: Explore the balance of innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being as core values that drive Arity’s dynamic culture.

👉 Steph shares a hopeful vision for AI to handle administrative tasks, thus allowing leaders to focus on meaningful human connections and strategic insights.

**

Learn more about Steph Ryter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniegarciareiter/

**

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

**

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

#HRLeadership #EmployeeExperience #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #Engagement #RemoteWork #JasonLauritsen

Join Jason in an insightful conversation with Sarika Lamont, the Vice President of People and Culture at Vidyard.

Sarika delves deep into the nuances of career growth, management challenges, and the critical role HR plays in shaping today's workforce. Sarika also highlights the concept of job architecture and emphasizes how structuring roles and career paths is crucial for organizational success and employee development.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The importance of defining clear role expectations and responsibilities, providing employees with the guidance they need to advance in their careers.

👉 The foundational role of job architecture and compensation in creating structured, clear career paths that support both individual contributors and managers.

👉 How job architecture provides a roadmap, detailing how employees can advance in their careers with defined roles, responsibilities, and pathways for promotion.

👉 Utilizing AI to manage administrative tasks, allowing HR to focus on strategic planning and enhancing job architecture to serve the organization better.

👉 Promoting transparency, equity, and ongoing learning within HR to support fair and inclusive workplaces.

***

Learn more about Sarika Lamont

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarikal/

***

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

Join Jason for an inspiring conversation with Rebecca Weaver, the founder and CEO at HRuprise and a seasoned veteran of multiple HR leadership roles throughout her career.

Rebecca delved into innovative workplace practices and the quest for meaningful work. Rebecca also shares her unique experiences from her time with the Downtown Project and the challenges encountered in implementing Holacracy.

Rebecca and Jason explore the allure and traps of management trends and best practices and offer advice on how to approach them effectively to ensure results.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The transformative approach of blending work and life, to build a highly integrated and fulfilling lifestyle.

👉 Explore "Holacracy" as an example of a management fad to learn how to trust your instincts in sorting for what works and what doesn't as an HR leader

👉 The importance of connecting employees to the meaning behind their work, making it easier to cultivate engagement and fulfillment.

👉 The need for leadership even in self-managed teams, emphasizing the role of leaders who can guide prioritization and resolve conflicts within new structures.

**

Learn more about Rebecca Weaver

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaweaver/

Website: https://hruprise.com/

Email: [email protected]

***

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

Join Jason and his daughter, Bailey, as they reflect on work experiences, generational perspectives, and tips for starting the new year right.

In this special holiday episode of Check-In with Jason Lauritsen, Bailey reflects on her experiences as a working teenager and explores how she thinks her generation might impact the future workforce. She also underscores the significance of tapping into a wider array of experiences to continually push the boundaries of what's possible for a team.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉The importance of building strong coworker relationships for happiness and engagement.

👉 How aligning roles with skills and aspirations, providing benefits, and a supportive culture is key for a good job

👉 Utilizing social platforms and professional networks to apply broad experiences to current challenges.

👉 Staying informed and open to new ideas to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and growth.

👉 BONUS: Jason shares his top tips to set yourself up for an amazing 2025.

***

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Join Jason and his son, Colton, for an inspiring and fun conversation exploring how work looks through the eyes of a teenager.

In the special holiday episode of Check-In with Jason Lauritsen, Colton shares what it means to him—and potentially his peers—to start their careers and the aspects he believes will characterize the future workforce.

As a 15-year-old about to embark on his first job, Colton provides eye-opening insights about his perspective on work to help managers prepare to welcome this new generation of employees.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 Gaining confidence through manageable tasks is important before preparing for more complex responsibilities.

👉 The importance of flexibility in attracting younger employees.

👉 Social connections at work are essential as building strong team relationships leads to greater job satisfaction.

👉 Combining technology and teamwork enhances collaboration and team-based projects.

👉 BONUS: Enjoy some Christmas fun as Colton shares his favorites and advice on having a happy holiday season.

***

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Join Jason for this inspiring conversation with Sheryl Battles, the recently retired Vice President of Global Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement at Pitney Bowes

Sheryl delved into the transformative power of storytelling, particularly in times of crisis, and how it acts as a bridge to connect diverse perspectives within an organization. Sheryl shares her extensive experience in leveraging stories to enhance engagement and cultivate an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:

👉 The power of storytelling in promoting inclusivity and how it helps employees grasp diverse perspectives, leading to a more inclusive environment.

👉 Addressing diversity and inclusion challenges. Leaders must face uncertainties and opinions with openness and empathy, uniting teams toward common goals.

👉 Encouraging open conversation and implementing strategies to prepare speakers and audiences to engage respectfully and without judgment.

👉 Keeping communication transparent to build trust through consistent, transparent communication.

***

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-battles-b540495/

***

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Join Jason for this insightful conversation with Steve Browne, Chief People Officer at LaRosa's, Inc.

Steve dives into HR innovation and explains how putting employees first can shape a holistic, relationship-driven organization that moves beyond traditional hierarchies.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:

👉 The power of direct, genuine communication with employees to solve workplace issues more authentically.

👉 HR's role as the "connective tissue," is essential for collaboration and a unified culture within the organization.

👉 The effectiveness of traditional methods like flip charts that align with an organization’s unique culture, even amidst digital advancements.

👉 The success of collaborative leadership models and inclusive meeting structures, leading to positive shifts in team dynamics and business outcomes.

👉 The use of innovative meeting formats like "one plus one conversations" to build a supportive and engaged environment.

***

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲:

Website: https://www.sbrownehr.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveb5/

X: https://x.com/sbrownehr

Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B074BRWWLV

***

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https:/instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Join Jason for this important conversation with Tara Fournier, Interim Chief People & Culture Officer at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

Tara explored the evolution of workplace flexibility, the role of HR in boosting productivity, and how to design spaces for "heads up, heads down, and heads together work."

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The significance of empowering employees to choose their work environment based on task type, prioritizing productivity over physical presence.

👉 Defining hybrid work by task categories—learning (heads up), focused individual work (heads down), and collaboration (heads together)—to balance remote comfort with the need for in-person collaboration.

👉 The power of creating accountability through flexible work approaches, ensuring that employees feel responsible and valued despite remote working conditions.

👉 Effective strategies to combat burnout, including implementing wellness initiatives like meditation classes and health programs while fostering a psychologically safe work environment.

***

Learn about Tara Fournier:

Website: http://www.t4-hr.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tarafourniersphr

***

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

Join Jason for this important conversation with Andrea Herron, VP of Human Resources at WebMD and author of the book, “There’s an Elephant in Your Office.”

Andrea shares her insights on the evolving landscape of workplace culture, especially how she and her team are helping employees to feel connected in a hybrid and remote workplace. Andrea also talks about the crucial need for mental health advocacy in the workplace and the steps leaders can take to foster an environment where employees feel safe and supported.

Key insights within this episode:

👉 The "elephants" concept—making challenging mental health topics more approachable so employees can openly share their struggles without fear of stigma.

👉 Successful strategies for creating safe spaces for sharing mental health stories, bolstered by leadership participation to set the tone.

👉 The vital role of grassroots and cross-departmental involvement in culture initiatives, ensuring the load isn't solely on HR but spread across the organization.

👉 Efforts to build strong connections in a hybrid and remote workforce through innovative culture committee activities that have had surprisingly powerful effects.

***

Learn about Andrea Herron:

Website: https://sidesconsultingservices.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaherron/

Buy her book: https://sidesconsultingservices.com/about-the-book/

***

JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

Connect with me:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/JasonLauritsenInstagram

"I believe boundaries are kind of the user manual to me. Here's how to be in relationship with me. Here are my preferences, my desires, my limits, my non-negotiables."

— Cy Wakeman

***

In this episode, I’m joined by drama researcher and NY Times best selling author, Cy Wakemen.

In our conversation, Cy shares stories of both a great friend and a great boss. She shares that the key to a great relationship is the ability to “love each other up AND call each other up.”

We talk about the key to being more resilient. And we unpack why we should all be more willing to vocalize our appreciation and bids for connection with others.

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 The transformative power of female relationships and the importance of a supportive network, especially during tough times.

👉 How validating someone’s suffering without validating their sense of victimhood can foster both compassion and accountability.

👉 Effective strategies for managers to balance holding space and taking action, including practicing curiosity and using self-reflection.

👉 The significance of making bids for connection, showing genuine appreciation, and cultivating heartfelt communication in professional relationships.

👉 How relationships act as mirrors reflecting valuable lessons, emphasizing the need to be a good student and learn from these reflections.

***

Cy Wakeman is a drama researcher, NY Times Bestselling Author and recipient of the #1 Global Leadership Guru award for three years running.

Deemed “the secret weapon to restoring sanity to the workplace and the worldplace.” Cy Wakeman works with organizations globally to ditch the drama, hardwire accountability in their teams and turn excuses into results.

She has published four best-selling books, the latest of which is Life’s Messy, Live Happy: Things Don't Have to Be Perfect for You to Be Content (2022). Cy shares her latest leadership insights on the Reality-Based Leadership podcast where she offers practical ways to modernize how leaders evolve their teams beyond the challenges they face.

Connect with Cy:

Website: http://www.realitybasedleadership.com/meet-our-team/cy-wakeman/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cywakeman/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cywakeman

***

Get access to the Relationship Reflection Exercise here: https://forms.gle/tSt34KguHL6iFHGH6

***

Episode sponsor:

Inspiring Workplaces

Join the free global community at https://www.inspiring-workplaces.com/

***

Jason Lauritsen is a dynamic keynote speaker and true thought leader in the world of work and employee engagement. He is dedicated to revolutionizing the way we Lead With Relationship™. He fearlessly challenges traditional norms to reshape the employee experience by consistently placing authentic human connection at the heart of leadership. Jason is the author of two books, Unlocking High Performance and Social Gravity.

***

Download the 18 Great Questions for Check-In Conversations cheat sheet here: https://www.checkintothrive.com/18-great-questions

If you'd like more content like this delivered straight to your email box, sign up for my email list here: https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

***

Follow and connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasonlauritsen

www.JasonLauritsen.com