We're Only Human

Does corporate culture matter? Does it really? In today's interview, Ben talks with Collette Williamson of Southwest Airlines about the company's approach to culture, hiring, and training. It's quickly apparent that culture is about more than just a fluffy set of core values on the wall at corporate headquarters--it's about a way of life that makes the company fundamentally different than the competition. 

In the interview you'll hear from Collette how the company takes that 2% of applicants that make it through the hiring process and helps to mold them into the people that serve and love their customers in an almost fanatical way. The stories will make you laugh (and may just make you cry), so we hope you enjoy the show as much as we did recording it. 

To learn more feel free to reach out to Collette on LinkedIn or, as you might have guessed, check out the Southwest blog site to learn more about the company. 

Do you know the core values of your business? Do your employees? More importantly, do they live them? 

In today's episode, Ben interviews Dana Ullom-Vucelich, Chief Human Resources Officer and Ethics Officer at Ohio Living. Ohio Living provides services to a range of individuals, reaching more than 70,000 clients per year. The company's 3200 employees are guided not just by policy and procedure, but by a strong sense of ethics and core values that permeate the culture and atmosphere of the firm. 

In the discussion, Ullom-Vucelich gives her insights into what it takes to engage employees and get their best. In addition, she gives a variety of business and clinical/healthcare impacts of having engaged employees, going beyond the "pat on the back" to more substantial value that engagement and recognition can bring. If your business is looking for ways to create more engagement and drive better business results, this is the show for you. 

Learn more: https://www.ohioliving.org

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out episode 20: Growing a Business with Your Heart

Do you know the core values of your business? Do your employees? More importantly, do they live them? 

In today's episode, Ben interviews Dana Ullom-Vucelich, Chief Human Resources Officer and Ethics Officer at Ohio Living. Ohio Living provides services to a range of individuals, reaching more than 70,000 clients per year. The company's 3200 employees are guided not just by policy and procedure, but by a strong sense of ethics and core values that permeate the culture and atmosphere of the firm. 

In the discussion, Ullom-Vucelich gives her insights into what it takes to engage employees and get their best. In addition, she gives a variety of business and clinical/healthcare impacts of having engaged employees, going beyond the "pat on the back" to more substantial value that engagement and recognition can bring. If your business is looking for ways to create more engagement and drive better business results, this is the show for you. 

Learn more: https://www.ohioliving.org

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out episode 20: Growing a Business with Your Heart

What does it mean to be human?

With all the discussion of robots, AI, and machines at work, is there a clear delineation between what humans can do that software can't? In today's discussion with the inimitable Dani Johnson of Red Thread Research, Ben and Dani discuss some practical ways employers can look at weaving more human components into the work they're doing.

Dani's research shows that things like collaboration, storytelling, and creating a vision for the future all tie in with this innate human quality of work, but how do we take advantage of those tools to create better workplaces and performance? This meshes well with Ben's approach in his new book, "Artificial Intelligence for HR," and the conversation takes a fun turn as they both explore examples and ideas for how to make this practically appealing for employers. 

To learn more about Dani and Red Thread be sure to visit redthreadresearch.com

What does it mean to be human?

With all the discussion of robots, AI, and machines at work, is there a clear delineation between what humans can do that software can't? In today's discussion with the inimitable Dani Johnson of Red Thread Research, Ben and Dani discuss some practical ways employers can look at weaving more human components into the work they're doing.

Dani's research shows that things like collaboration, storytelling, and creating a vision for the future all tie in with this innate human quality of work, but how do we take advantage of those tools to create better workplaces and performance? This meshes well with Ben's approach in his new book, "Artificial Intelligence for HR," and the conversation takes a fun turn as they both explore examples and ideas for how to make this practically appealing for employers. 

To learn more about Dani and Red Thread be sure to visit redthreadresearch.com

Safety training is boring. It's blah. It's a waste of time and resources. Right? Or is it the foundation for creating a workplace where employees can thrive? As you'll hear during the show, the cost of safety training can top $200,000 per year for many firms when you factor in all of the associated costs. Yet we don't do a good job of making sure that investment pays off. 

In today's discussion, Ben talks with Rick Tobin, CEO of SafetyNow, about various aspects of learning and development. The discussion covers topics like retention of critical knowledge, how to use a learning management system to simplify training delivery, and why safety training is more than just a passive session in front of a DVD player. 

Want to connect with Rick? Check out SafetyNow.com

To see all our show archives and learn more, be sure to check out http://lhra.io/podcast

Safety training is boring. It's blah. It's a waste of time and resources. Right? Or is it the foundation for creating a workplace where employees can thrive? As you'll hear during the show, the cost of safety training can top $200,000 per year for many firms when you factor in all of the associated costs. Yet we don't do a good job of making sure that investment pays off. 

In today's discussion, Ben talks with Rick Tobin, CEO of SafetyNow, about various aspects of learning and development. The discussion covers topics like retention of critical knowledge, how to use a learning management system to simplify training delivery, and why safety training is more than just a passive session in front of a DVD player. 

Want to connect with Rick? Check out SafetyNow.com

To see all our show archives and learn more, be sure to check out http://lhra.io/podcast

If you've ever worked for a company where you were on the solo HR practitioner, you know the realities of trying to get it all done with limited resources. In today's episode Ben shares insights from half a dozen HR leaders about how to succeed as a small HR team or even as a "team of one." 

From finding the right resources to support your learning needs to creating relationships that enable you to scale up your expertise, there are a wide variety of hacks, strategies, and tips that can help you to improve how your deliver your HR services to your organization. In addition to those insights, Ben talks about his own time as a solo practitioner and some of the hard lessons he learned from experience. 

If you're interested in weighing in on this, check out the conversation on LinkedIn here.

Also, don't miss out on the free guide to starting and running an HR department Ben mentioned in today's show.

Thanks to Dave, Jennifer, Franny, Sabrina, Linda, and all those that shared their expertise. 

To learn more about We're Only Human, check out our archives, or contact us about sponsor opportunities, be sure to check out http://lhra.io/podcast

Think about the last time you had to present some data. It could have been an employee survey. It could have been a standard metrics meeting. Whatever the case, did you do the thing that virtually everyone does and throw a couple dozen charts into a couple dozen slides, bombard everyone with that, and move on?

If so, how much do you think stuck with your audience? How much could they remember? Do they understand the context and why those things you shared are important in the bigger picture? 

Or did you tell a story that helped to illustrate key points, brought the audience into the frame of reference, and made it easier to understand and remember? 

In today's episode, Ben talks with Mollie Lombardi, co-founder of Aptitude Research Partners. Mollie is an analyst and friend of Ben's, and they discuss the critical importance of using stories to drive data interest and retention. Throughout Mollie's career she has had to present data from dozens of research studies, and she always looks for ways to bring a story into the mix to make it tangible for the audience to connect with. 

The question to ask yourself is whether storytelling can improve your own credibility, influence, and more. It's a skill that can be learned, but it's not a competency taught in school or one that is listed in any HR job description. Yet with the prevalence of data in the workplace today it's more important than ever to craft a compelling story to make your point, stand out from the crowd, and get the attention of your audience. Be remembered. Tell a story. Now, check out the episode to get some ideas on how to make this a regular part of your toolkit. 

To connect with Mollie and learn more be sure to check out the fantastic stuff their team shares on Twitter: http://twitter.com/talktoARP

How does your company use HR Technology? Does it? To what extent? 

In today's interview, Ben speaks with Erin Spencer of Sierra Cedar. Erin is a data whiz and statistics nut who loves digging into data to find insights and connections that others might miss. Every year Sierra Cedar puts out an amazing research study highlighting how employers large and small around the globe are using HR technology to solve their problems. The questions is, how does your firm stack up? 

In this short conversation, Ben and Erin dig into what separates talent-driven organizations from data-driven firms, how to use data to support your business, and more. Be sure to reach out to Erin if you want to take her up on her special offer: [email protected]

Learn more about We're Only Human and check out our show archives: http://lhra.io/podcast