Lead to Soar Michelle Redfern & Mel Butcher

In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern are joined by Erika Jefferson to discuss into the intricate topics of loneliness, civility, and employee retention in the modern workplace. The discussion is catalysed by statistics revealing a surge in loneliness among American workers and a notable rise in workplace incivility, which has not only doubled over the past two decades but also incurs significant financial costs to organizations. The hosts explore the role of HR in this landscape, pondering its capacity and strategies to reverse these trends. Insights from Gallup highlight the increasing importance of having a best friend at work, especially post-pandemic, linking it to better business outcomes and underlining the necessity for HR to take a strategic stance in fostering workplace relationships and a supportive culture.
Episode Highlights:
• Alarming Trends: Discussion on the significant uptick in loneliness at work and the doubling of workplace incivility over the past twenty years, highlighting the negative impact on both employees and organizational costs.
• Strategic Role of HR: The conversation critically examines whether HR departments are equipped to address and mitigate these issues. The hosts argue for a strategic transformation within HR, emphasizing its potential role in improving workplace culture and employee well-being.
• The Value of Workplace Relationships: Insights into recent Gallup research underscore the critical role of having close relationships, particularly a best friend at work, in enhancing employee engagement and linking it to positive business outcomes.
• Management's Impact on Retention: Data points are shared to illustrate that a significant percentage of employee dissatisfaction and subsequent turnover can be attributed to management, spotlighting the urgent need for leadership development and HR's role in this arena.
• Innovative Solutions: The episode highlights innovative approaches, such as Rivet Software's use of AI to help employees find their best friends at work, showcasing how technology can facilitate meaningful connections within the workplace.
Leadership Call to Action:
• Foster Workplace Connections: Leaders and HR professionals are encouraged to cultivate environments that foster meaningful relationships among employees, recognizing the value these connections bring to both individual well-being and organizational success.
• Reevaluate HR's Role: A call for HR to adopt a more strategic and proactive approach in addressing loneliness, civility, and retention, moving beyond traditional administrative roles to become a key player in crafting a positive workplace culture.
• Mindset Shift Among Leaders: The episode urges leaders to reconsider their perspectives on work and workplace satisfaction, challenging the notion that work must involve suffering and advocating for a culture where enjoyment and fulfillment are part of the work experience.
• Strategic Investment in Employee Well-being: Highlighting the need for executive and HR leaders to scrutinize where their efforts and resources are being directed, encouraging innovation and strategic thinking in how to genuinely enhance employee engagement and satisfaction.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, the conversation turns towards the future of work, specifically the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects on the job landscape and required human skills.
Episode Highlights:
AI's Impact on Jobs: The hosts explore how AI is poised to eliminate some jobs while augmenting others, raising questions about the roles humans will play in a technologically advanced workforce.
Skills for the Future: The discussion emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ), creativity, and interpersonal skills, which AI cannot replicate, as critical for future success.
Workplace Changes and Challenges: The episode examines how workplaces need to adapt to these technological advancements by fostering environments that prioritize these uniquely human skills.
Real-World Examples: Through anecdotes and examples, including innovative HR practices and leadership initiatives focused on listening and engagement, the hosts illustrate potential strategies for navigating the future work landscape positively.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode dives into the controversial and widely debated topic of performance reviews within the workplace. Drawing from personal experiences and current studies, the hosts examine the effectiveness and impact of traditional performance review systems.
Episode Highlights:
The Problem with Performance Reviews: Citing studies from Gallup and SHRM, the episode begins by highlighting the general dissatisfaction with performance appraisals, described as time-consuming, demotivating, and biased.
McKinsey's Approach: Discussion on McKinsey's "up or out" performance management strategy and its implications for employee motivation and workplace culture.
Personal Anecdotes: Michelle shares her experiences and the emotional toll of administering performance reviews, critiquing the forced ranking system that fails to genuinely engage employees' potential.
Alternative Perspectives: The episode challenges traditional performance management practices, questioning their purpose and effectiveness in fostering a supportive and productive workplace environment.
Bias in Reviews: The hosts discuss research indicating gender bias in performance evaluations, where women often receive vague feedback that hinders their professional growth.
Solutions and Alternatives: The conversation shifts towards alternative methods of performance assessment, including more frequent, constructive feedback mechanisms that aim to genuinely support employee development.
Links and Resources
Gallup Study  
SHRM study reference

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Lead to Soar podcast, co-hosts Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern, along with special guest Erica Jefferson, tackle the pervasive challenges within the recruitment industry. The discussion centres on the inefficiencies and impersonal nature of recruiting practices, advocating for a radical transformation that prioritizes human connection, candidate care, and the dismantling of outdated systems. Through trio sheds light on the importance of networking in job acquisition, critiques the reliance on artificial intelligence in recruiting, and proposes actionable solutions aimed at creating a more inclusive, efficient, and respectful hiring process.
Episode Highlights
• The Human Element in Recruitment: The episode kicks off with statistics from HubSpot and CNBC, revealing that a significant majority of jobs are filled through networking, and many positions never reach public advertisement. This underscores the importance of human connections in the job market.
• Critique of Current Practices: Erica Jefferson passionately criticizes the grueling and often dehumanizing interview processes that resemble an episode of "The Hunger Games," highlighting the industry's failure to value genuine talent and potential.
• Call for a Recruitment Revolution: The conversation calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the recruitment process, drawing parallels between the transformation seen in the taxi industry with the advent of Lyft and Uber and the potential for similar innovation in recruitment.
• The Role of AI in Recruitment: The trio expresses scepticism about the reliance on AI for solving recruitment woes, emphasizing that technology alone cannot replace the nuanced understanding and empathy of human recruiters.
• Impact on Brand Equity: Michelle Redfern points out how poor recruitment practices can tarnish an organization's brand equity, stressing that candidate experience is integral to the company's overall reputation.
• Open Hiring as an Innovative Model: Mel Butcher introduces the concept of open hiring practiced by a company associated with Ben & Jerry's, which simplifies the hiring process by removing interviews and selecting candidates based on their willingness to work.
• Leadership and HR’s Role in Engagement: The discussion touches upon the limited influence HR has on employee engagement and the necessity for executive leaders to play a more active role in fostering a positive organizational culture.
Leadership Call to Action
• Revitalize the HR Function: Leaders are encouraged to reconceptualize the role of HR within their organizations, integrating technical skills, strategic thinking, and a genuine care for employee wellbeing into the fabric of HR practices.
• Embrace Metrics That Matter: Companies should adopt meaningful metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of their recruitment processes, focusing not just on filling positions quickly but on the long-term success and satisfaction of hires.
• Prioritize Candidate Experience: Recognizing that every interaction with a candidate reflects on the brand, companies must ensure their recruitment practices are respectful, efficient, and aligned with the organization's core values and strategic goals.
• Consider Alternative Hiring Models: Leaders are urged to explore innovative recruitment strategies, such as open hiring, to simplify the process and focus on the essential qualifications and willingness to work.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thought-provoking episode, Mel, Michelle, and Erika discuss the intersection of human resources (HR) and artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the implications, opportunities, and challenges that HR professionals face in the era of AI-driven automation and decision-making. As organizations globally adopt AI technologies to enhance hiring processes and operational efficiency, the trio sheds light on the necessity for HR to evolve, the fears surrounding job replacement, and the critical need for strategic, informed decision-making within HR departments.
Episode Highlights:

AI in Hiring: Reflection on the widespread use of automation and AI in hiring processes among Fortune 500 companies, including robot avatars and resume scanning algorithms.The HR Fear Factor: Erika discusses the anxiety within HR communities about AI potentially replacing human jobs, highlighting a general lack of analytics and technology training within traditional HR roles.The Need for HR Upskilling: Both Erika and Michelle emphasize the urgency for HR professionals to acquire technology and analytics skills, not only for job security but also to ensure they can contribute strategically to organizational growth and ethics in AI usage.Generative AI and Bias Concerns: The conversation touches on the risks associated with generative AI, such as biased algorithms influencing hiring decisions, underscoring the importance of knowledge and ethical considerations in AI deployment.Strategic Role of HR in AI Era: Michelle stresses the potential for HR to act as a conduit for upskilling the broader organization in AI literacy, while also advocating for HR itself to undergo significant upskilling.Legal and Ethical Implications: Erika warns of the increasing likelihood of lawsuits arising from misapplications of AI in HR, pointing to a crucial need for bespoke, organization-specific AI solutions to mitigate risk.Cultural and Organizational Transformation: The discussion extends to the role of HR in driving cultural and organizational change, advocating for a transformational approach to HR that leverages AI for strategic advantage rather than mere cost-cutting.
Leadership Call to Action

For HR Professionals: Embrace technology and analytics training. Engage with AI tools critically and ethically. Innovate in your role to become a strategic partner in your organization.For Organizations: Invest in upskilling HR teams. Consider the development of bespoke AI solutions that align with company policies and ethical standards. Promote a culture of continuous learning and adaptation.
Lead to Soar is a global online network for businesswomen, a podcast, and we host live-streaming and in person events to help women have a career that soars! The podcast is hosted by Mel Butcher (melbutcher.com) and Michelle Redfern (michelleredfern.com)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this insightful episode, Mel Butcher and Michelle Redfern tackle the often overlooked yet critical aspect of leadership—succession planning. They explore why leaders tend to shy away from this responsibility and provide a roadmap for effective succession planning that prepares organizations for future challenges. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a leadership position, offering practical strategies for cultivating the next generation of leaders.
Episode Highlights:

The Importance of Succession Planning: An exploration of why succession planning is essential for sustainable organizational growth and leadership transition.Overcoming Avoidance: Michelle shares insights on the common reasons leaders avoid succession planning and how to overcome these hurdles.Evaluating Talent: Strategies for evaluating in-house versus outside talent, emphasizing the importance of knowing potential successors' capabilities and developmental needs.Developing Talent: Discussion on the necessity of grooming potential candidates through mentoring, coaching, and training to prepare them for leadership roles.Continuous Planning: The significance of continuously updating succession plans to ensure the organization's readiness for future leadership needs.Transparent Communication: The value of clear and transparent communication about succession planning processes within the organization.
Leadership Call to Action

Start the succession planning process by evaluating your organization's future leadership needs.Develop a comprehensive understanding of potential candidates' strengths and areas for growth.Create a culture of continuous professional development and open communication about career paths and leadership opportunities.
Lead to Soar is a global online network for businesswomen, a podcast, and we host live-streaming and in person events to help women have a career that soars! The podcast is hosted by Mel Butcher (melbutcher.com) and Michelle Redfern (michelleredfern.com)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.