Ep 1.27 UNSTUCK: The Power of An Energized, Satisfied & Happy Workforce

04/22/21 • 46 min

2020 was a pivotal departure from work as we knew it before the pandemic. It wasn’t just an interruption - it was a full scale disruption. We made huge strides in bringing more freedom and autonomy to the workplace, and it’s evident that how we feel about the work we do definitely impacts the bottom line. We don’t have to return to the “normal” so many people hated. 2020 taught us that the desire for more autonomy, flexibility and freedom resonates across industries, job titles and career levels. We have the opportunity to create just that. How has 2020 changed the way employees engage with their jobs, and what should employers be doing in response? What is the roadmap to being a happier employee? In this episode, I’m joined by author and speaker, Josh Allan Dykstra, business owner, Pamela Belyn, and executive recruiter, Corbin Beastrom. They share the perspectives of thought leaders, recruiters, and entrepreneurs as we discuss why returning to the pre-pandemic work paradigm would be a big mistake. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why working from home made many people happier Working from home gave people more flexibility, autonomy and balance. We were able to share more of our humanity in the virtual workspace. This led to a reduction in workplace disengagement, and made employees more productive. Going forward, we need to create work environments that make people feel comfortable with sharing their humanity. Forcing people into the silo of just being a worker, and nothing else, won’t cut it anymore. The job market shifts we’re going to see as more people return to the office Recent stats show that 52% of the workforce is looking for a new job. With work-from-home coming to an end, a lot of people are looking at the culture they left at the office, and dreading to return. If people are dissatisfied at work, it will trigger movement in the market. If employers don’t focus on their people, and make the work environment better, they will lose good employees. Why we don’t have to be victims of a new paradigm, but creators Calling something “the new normal” is passive. It takes away the power and autonomy we all have in creating The Next Normal. We all have the agency and power to create the next iteration and culture of work. The future isn’t a defined thing that just happens to us, it’s what we create it to be. Guest Bios Josh Allan Dykstra Josh Allan is an author, speaker, thought leader and co-founder and CEO of Helios, a community of leaders and work revolutionaries committed to creating a world where everyone can love work. His articles and ideas have been featured by Fast Company, Forbes, The Huffington Post, and Business Insider and he's worked with some of the most iconic brands in the world (Apple, Sony, Genentech, Microsoft, among others). He holds an MBA in Executive Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his latest book, Igniting the Invisible Tribe: Designing An Organization That Doesn’t Suck, is available on Amazon and Audible. He lives with his family in beautiful Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshallan/. Pamela Belyn Pamela Belyn is the owner of Zoom Drain of Chicago. In her work as an attorney, she often represented clients in the home services industries. She was inspired by these trade clients and eventually left her law career behind to become President and Owner of Men In Sewers (MBE/WBE Certified), learning the trade and exploring ways to innovate and improve the business side of the industry. In early 2020 she opened Zoom Drain of Chicago, doubling its staff, growing apprentices to technicians, and expanding commercial and residential business month over month. You’ll often find Pamela alongside her crew in the field (look for the purple steel toed boots), at home with her family, or avidly supporting the Bears. For more information, visit https://www.zoomdrain.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-b-a095677/. Corbin Beastrom Corbin Beastrom is an Accounting and Finance Executive Recruiter and Search Partner at SkyWater Chicago. Corbin currently works with a “full desk” on the Accounting and Finance recruiting team. The SkyWater Accounting & Finance team focuses on growth-oriented, middle-market companies based in the Midwest. Corbin lives in Chicago, IL, and primarily serves clients in that area. Within Accounting and Finance, Corbin specializes in recruiting & placing talent in full-time, permanent positions at various levels & titles: CFO, Controllers, Accounting Managers, Senior Accountants, VP Finance, Finance Directors, Finance Managers, Senior Financial Analysts, Audit Directors, and Audit Managers. His team also has the capability to work on staff-level accounting and finance roles. For more i...

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Ep 1.26 How To Protect Everyone; Clients, Employees and Employer

Periods of economic turbulence and social change apply pressure to every corner of our lives. In recent years, the labor landscape has shifted tremendously, creating new challenges and opportunities along the way. This isn’t happening in a vacuum. The pandemic and a greater collective push for diversity and inclusion have caused massive shifts in the laws that govern how we work. The legal platform employers operate from has changed, and we have to navigate new territory. This is an amazing time to create more value through business practices that benefit and protect both the employee and the employer. What are the key labor law changes we’ve seen come out of the social movements of recent years and COVID-19? What do employers need to be aware of and consider putting in place to protect themselves and retain their employees? In this episode, corporate and employment litigator, Dave McClurg shares valuable legal wisdom for business owners navigating today’s employment landscape. Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode How social change has impacted employment policy The conversation around equality, diversity, and inclusion at work has driven the creation of labor laws and policies that reflect these values. There are so many things that used to be acceptable that are now viewed as problematic, which has given more people a voice and contributed to a better working environment. The importance of keeping track of the details As employers, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we overlook critical legal details that will protect the business. When we hire people, it’s important to document all aspects of the disciplinary process from day 1. When we don’t document everything, we can’t protect the business and our employees. How vaccines are going to create new challenges for employers As people return to the office, the big question is whether to make vaccinations mandatory for employees. This question requires careful consideration so we don’t inadvertently create a liability issue. Guest Bio Dave McClurg is a member of the firm's Labor + Employment practice group. He has a long record of successfully defending employers accused of wrongful termination and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, disability and gender. Dave frequently represents employers facing OSHA violations and workers compensation claims alleging safety violations or an “unreasonable refusal to rehire" following a work-related injury.Dave also has a wealth of experience involving the litigation of wage & hour, theft of trade secrets and breach of duty of loyalty claims, and the enforcement of non-compete and confidentiality agreements. In addition, Dave regularly advises clients on issues relating to reduction-in-force layoffs, terminations, severance agreements and return to work issues, helping employers avoid pitfalls that can lead to expensive claims. For more information call (414) 559-7704 and let Dave know you heard him on The Free Agent Podcast. Visit https://petriepettit.com for more information and email [email protected].

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Ep 1.28 3 Ways to Supercharge Your Online Presence & Show Your Authentic Self w/Stacy Kaat

Corporate refugees are coming out of hibernation! They’re thinking of the future, making new plans and setting new visions. In this exciting process, many are rethinking how they present themselves online. What better person to talk about the free agent journey and visual branding than photographer extraordinaire Stacy Kaat! As one of Milwaukee’s premier photographers and longtime free agent, Stacy is a genius at bringing out the authentic self in her clients. Her strength is seeing your true personality, giving creative input, and helping bring your entire visual brand together into a cohesive package. In this episode Stacy shares.. How a new visual brand can help you show up to sales calls with more confidence, energy and authenticity How the right headshot serves as a “virtual handshake” - capturing the essence of your personality How your visual brand can help you conquer common fears, such as “Am I good enough” We also dive into Stacy’s story and her experience working with a variety of mentors, and how critical it is for free agents to build the right support system. If you’re looking to supercharge your online presence, show your true personality and give people a great first impression, this episode will give you insight you won’t get anywhere else! Guest Bio Stacy Kaat is a photographer, personal branding expert, and business owner. She helps Executives, Authors, Speakers, Trainers, Coaches and Entrepreneurs who are the FACE of their business and want quality brand photographs to attract the right people. She collaborates with them to create pictures that accurately represent their personal brand and business for social media profile, website, and marketing materials. Stacy also provides personal brand guidance so her clients can achieve their goals by aligning their social media profiles and posts with their vision. For more information, visit https://www.stacykaat.com/, send an email to [email protected] and call Stacy directly 414.758.0622.