The People Strategy Podcast

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Conflict resolution in the workplace is often viewed as a daunting challenge. Many leaders navigate through issues that aren't directly related to them but impact team dynamics and productivity. Yet conflict isn’t always negative, so how can it catalyze actionable results in your organization?

Leadership developer Adam Gruszcynski emphasizes identifying the root causes of conflict, which often lie beneath surface issues. He outlines four common types of conflict: task, process, status, and relationship conflicts. Accountability is essential in mitigating task and process conflicts since individuals may have varied approaches to accomplishing tasks. Adam also mentions allowing team members the freedom to determine their methods while maintaining alignment on the end goal. His approach to resolving status and relationship conflicts involves fostering open communication and encouraging individuals to address conflicts directly with their peers before stepping in as a moderator.

In the sixth edition of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski of Potawatomi Casino Hotel discuss conflict resolution. Adam shares how passive, aggressive, and assertive behaviors manifest during conflict, the role of behaviors in team communication, and how to foster conflict resolution in your team.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

John Bernatovicz is the Founder of Willory, which provides payroll and HR staffing and consulting support. As a serial entrepreneur, he has owned six companies, including Centsible Water, a water vending company with conveniently located, self-service water machines. John is a keynote speaker delivering national speaking engagements and the author of HR Like a Boss.

Adopting innovative technology, implementing new procedures, and hiring for new roles require significant employee adjustments, necessitating change management practices to streamline the transitions. What are the secrets to successful change management, and how can organizations ensure their teams are well-prepared for transitions?

Seasoned HR professional and entrepreneur John Bernatovicz says since many organizational transitions involve implementing technology employees aren’t familiar with, setting expectations, over-communicating, and raising awareness are crucial to navigate the change. This builds trust with employees as they adapt to changes in their roles and responsibilities. Organizations must also provide managers with the tools to guide their teams through transitions effectively.

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, John Bernatovicz, the Founder of Willory, joins Traci Austin for a discussion about change management in HR. John shares how to use AI responsibly in HR settings, key concepts from his book, and the importance of being bold and taking action in personal and professional endeavors.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions.

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team.

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Elevating others requires elevating ourselves, first and foremost. In this short but sweet episode, we reflect back on the importance of aligning our personal and professional lives so that our work is meaningful, and we’re also able to lift up the people within our organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3jLYV1p

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential skills for conflict resolution, yet they require problem-led leadership to execute. Leaders must navigate complex challenges while fostering collaboration and preventing team burnout. How can leaders refine these skills to drive actionable solutions and maintain a productive team environment?

While leaders and managers must direct their teams to identify the problem and its impact on the organization, they shouldn’t devise solutions. Instead, IT director Adam Gruszcynski suggests coaching your team to resolve the conflict by empowering them with critical thinking and problem-solving techniques. This may involve eliciting three diverse solutions and encouraging team members to think critically about the results or consequences. Communication and collaboration are essential to agreeing on viable solutions.

In the final episode of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development Series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, discuss the interplay between conflict resolution, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Together, they explore strategies for prioritizing issues, ensuring transparent communication, and preventing team fatigue during prolonged problem-solving sessions.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Traci Austin is the Owner and Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, a certified woman-owned HR firm. As an HR professional and chief strategy consultant, she has over two decades of experience creating and building HR departments for small businesses. Traci specializes in employee development, consulting, and coaching and creates fulfilling work environments that align employee aspirations with business goals. She also hosts The People Strategy Podcast.

Most people dread annual performance reviews, fearing their managers will judge them for poor performance. In reality, these review sessions should encourage employees to maintain autonomy over their roles so they can pursue their strengths and passions. How can managers and leaders optimize the performance management process to keep employees engaged and proactive in their roles?

Rather than conducting performance reviews to maintain organizational compliance, HR executive Traci Austin says performance management should be an ongoing feedback loop that aligns company and employee goals. Managers can gather feedback through employee self-assessments and by conducting monthly and quarterly reviews. These review meetings are joint responsibilities between employees and managers to set and achieve goals aligned with the organization’s desired outcomes. Throughout the process, leaders should maintain clear accountability expectations and communication, providing employees with a platform to express concerns and grow in their roles.

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, co-host Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Traci Austin to discuss the performance management process. Traci shares practical tips for creating conditions for employees to contribute, the significance of continuous performance documentation, and how performance reviews support employees' goals.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions.

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team.

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.