Working with People Podcast

Harrison interviews Elaine Varelas on managing layoffs with compassion.

1. What are the best practices when handling layoffs? How should the conversations be handled? Who should handle the conversations? 
2. How can leaders show empathy during these conversations?
3. What can a manager/talent leader do to prepare for these conversations?
4. With the remote/dispersed workforce, how has the approach to layoffs been altered?  What are some best practices in approaching remote layoffs?
5. Can you speak briefly about the importance of offboarding and exit interviews? How can they be handled in a remote environment?
6. How can leaders support their remaining employees after a layoff? What are some strategies to help smooth the transition?

Find Elaine Varelas at Keystone Partners (keystonepartners.com) and on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep (pavestep.com) at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy Episode #17: Why alumni networks are critical.

Recorded January 2021. 

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Harrison interviews David Smith about the key laws that guide compliance work in HR.

1. HR teams, especially in SMBs, should really be knowledgeable of federal and state laws that affect their organizations. What are some of the key laws that guide the compliance work of HR?
2. Are there any compliance complications from having remote workforces?
3. Can you talk about the importance of technology in HR compliance?
4. What are the strategies to protect organizations and mitigate liabilities from these laws?

Find David Smith on Strategic Insurance Partners (siprisk.com).

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep (pavestep.com) at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].  

Recorded January 2021.  

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Harrison interviews Lara Espinoza about examining talent management through a DEI lens.

1.  Can you define talent management?
2. Unconscious biases affects all sorts of people decisions. In talent management, what are the most common unconscious biases?
3. What are some processes and strategies that organizations can implement to help de-bias talent management?
4. What are some of the most common problems when it comes to implementing diversity and inclusion programs?
5. Are there any trends that you're following in talent development that's been particularly interesting?

Find Lara Espinoza on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected]. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy Episode #78: Inclusion and belonging through the computer screen, Episode #43: Inclusive leadership, and  Episode #42: Preparing leaders to show up and support a diverse and inclusive workforce. 

Recorded December 2020.  

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Harrison interviews Lisa David about data insights & analytics and how these can help address the talent gap.

1. What is data insights and analytics?
2. Why are data insights and analytics so important nowadays? Can you give us some tangible examples on how they can be used on a day-to-day basis?
3. Who does this skill apply to - IT analysts?
4. Where are the most common functional areas for data analysis positions?
5. Data analysis is becoming a fundamental skill for many professionals - how can we address this talent gap?

Find Lisa David at eCapital Advisors or on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].  

Recorded December 2020.  

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Harrison interviews Emma Brudner about crafting company values.

1. Why are company values important? How do core values affect employees?
2. What are some tactical steps when defining company values?
3. How many values should a company have?
4. Who should be defining company values?
5. Do company values change over time?
6. How can organizations reinforce or showcase company values?

Find Emma Brudner on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Inc.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected]. 

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy our article on how to promote company values. 

Recorded December 2020.  

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Harrison interviews Ashley Schwedt about inclusive leadership in the workplace.

1. Tell us who you are and what you do.
2. What is inclusive leadership? What does inclusive leadership look like in the workplace?
3. Can you speak to the importance of inclusive leadership?
4. What are some skills or habits that inclusive leaders have?
5. What are some best practices to develop & drive an impactful diversity and inclusion strategy?
6. How can organizations quantify the success of DEI strategies?

Find Ashley Schwedt at LifeLabs Learning.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep  at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected]. 

Recorded December 2020. 

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Harrison interviews Valerie Utsey about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and how leaders can support their diverse workforce.

1. Can you define diversity in the workplace? What does workplace diversity look like?
2. Can you talk about the importance of diversity in the workplace?
3. How can organizations build a diverse and inclusive workplace?
4. Who is responsible for diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
5. What are some specific ways that leadership should get involved and support workplace diversity & how can they be properly prepared to show up and support the diverse workforce?

Find Valerie Utsey on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy Episode #75: How to build truly diverse teams and Episode #43: Inclusive leadership. 

Recorded December 2020.

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Harrison interviews Jill Dignan about the importance of emotional intelligence, empathy, and sense of humor in the workplace and how to hire for it.

1. Can you define emotional intelligence and empathy?
2, Why are emotional intelligence, empathy, and sense of humor important in today’s workforce? How do they impact work performance?
3. What does emotional intelligence, empathy and sense of humor look like in the workplace?
4. How can companies hire for emotional intelligence, empathy, and sense of humor?
5. Are emotional intelligence, empathy, and sense of humor genetic or learned traits? How can companies develop and improve these traits in their current employees?

Find Jill Dignan on LinkedIn and on Medium.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this podcast episode, you may also enjoy Episode #67: Recruiting and interviewing the best talent for the opening.

Recorded December 2020.

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Harrison interviews Stephanie Shacochis about building relationships with people and being a true business partner.

1. What is a HR business partner?
2. What makes an effective HR business partner?
3. How can HR/people teams start building relationships with their staff and start being viewed as a true business partner?

Find Stephanie Shacochis at NOBULL (nobullproject.com) or on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].

Recorded December 2020.

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Harrison interviews Vandy Densmore about what influences company culture, who is responsible for company culture, and why company culture is so important in the workplace.

1. Can you define company culture? Why is it so important?
2. What factors shape an organization’s culture?
3. Who is responsible for creating and then managing organizational culture?
4. What are the best practices in building a positive company culture?
5. What are some signs that company culture may be negative or eroding? What are some tactical steps that companies can take in order to shift/change company culture?

Find Vandy Densmore on LinkedIn.

Find Harrison Kim at Pavestep at [email protected]. To be featured on Working with People by Pavestep, email Chiara Toselli at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy Episode #77:  5 steps every manager can take to improve work culture.

Recorded December 2020.

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