Good Morning, HR

Mike Coffey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

HR entrepreneur Mike Coffey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP engages business thought leaders about the strategic, psychological, legal, and practical implications of bringing people together to create value for shareholders, customers, and the community. As an HR consultant, mentor to first-stage businesses through EO’s Accelerator program, and owner of Imperative—Bulletproof Background Screening, Mike is passionate about helping other professionals improve how they recruit, select, and manage their people. Most thirty-minute episodes of Good Morning, HR will be eligible for half a recertification credit for both HRCI and SHRM-certified professionals. Mike is a member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Fort Worth and active with the Texas Association of Business, the Fort Worth Chamber, and Texas SHRM.

  1. People Strategy in Small and Medium Businesses with Kelly Price

    3D AGO

    People Strategy in Small and Medium Businesses with Kelly Price

    In episode 246, Coffey talks with Kelly Price about building effective people strategy in small and medium-sized businesses.    They discuss why small businesses often treat HR as administrative rather than strategic; hidden financial costs of poor hiring and turnover; aligning people strategy with business goals and growth plans; improving recruiting processes beyond staffing agencies; designing structured onboarding and performance management systems; adapting to rapid change including AI and post-COVID workplace shifts; generational differences in workplace expectations and engagement; balancing flexibility with accountability in modern work environments; leveraging institutional knowledge from long-tenured employees; identifying when to bring in HR consultants and how audits drive strategic alignment; developing leadership capabilities as organizations scale beyond founder control.   For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP###    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Kelly Price is a dynamic leader and the passionate founder of ThriveHR. Kelly's career is a testament to her dedication and love for helping others, beginning with a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from Kansas State University.    Her professional journey started at Marriott International. It was here where she mastered the art of creating memorable experiences, igniting her passion for positively impacting people's lives, a core value she carries into her HR career.    Kelly's enriching path in Human Resources started as a recruiter. She found joy in helping individuals secure jobs and the ability to impact their lives and families. Climbing the corporate ladder, Kelly served in various critical roles, including Benefit Manager, Director of HR, and VP of HR. In these positions, she played a crucial role in reducing turnover, enhancing employee satisfaction, and reshaping people and HR strategies.    As a small business owner, Kelly now leverages her extensive experience to help other businesses excel through smart people decisions. With her energy and positivity, she ensures that every client interaction is impactful and meaningful.    Kelly Price can be reached at  www.thrivehrkc.com  www.linkedin.com/in/kellypricethrivehr     About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:    Understand the business impact of treating HR as a strategic function rather than administrative. Identify practical ways to improve hiring, onboarding, and retention in growing organizations. Apply people strategy principles to adapt to workforce, generational, and technological changes.

    46 min
  2. HR News: Can My Company Fine Me for Breaking Rules? with Patrick Richter

    MAR 26

    HR News: Can My Company Fine Me for Breaking Rules? with Patrick Richter

    In episode 245, Coffey talks with Patrick Richter about news and media items from the past month, including emerging HR risks involving AI, workplace compliance, and employer liability.    They discuss legal risks of AI-driven hiring tools and potential age discrimination claims; nuances of disparate impact versus disparate treatment under employment law; employer responsibilities when using third-party HR technology platforms; cybersecurity threats targeting HR teams through fake job applications; evolving tactics like deepfakes and identity fraud in hiring processes; ADA compliance and handling employee health disclosures appropriately; importance of the interactive process in workplace accommodations; legal pitfalls of paternalistic employment decisions; wage deduction laws and why punitive pay docking is unlawful; and broader employee relations risks from poorly designed workplace policies.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP245    Media mentioned in this podcast:   Workday takes partial loss as judge refuses to dismiss claims in AI bias lawsuit | HR Dive  Fake Job Applications Used to Deliver Malware Targeting HR Teams - The420.in  EEOC: Restaurant fired worker who had seizure to allow her to ‘focus on’ her health | HR Dive  Is it legal for company to deduct wages for breaking internal rules? : r/AskLegal      Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Patrick Richter helps employers and executives navigate high-stakes employment and workplace issues with practical, business-minded legal guidance.    He helps employers and executives navigate high-stakes employment and workplace issues with practical, business-minded legal guidance.     Patrick is an experienced employment attorney, litigator, and certified mediator, with a practice that spans first-chair trial work, strategic counseling, and transactional support. He advises on the full range of day-to-day HR and workforce issues, and he regularly partners with business leaders during critical moments—from growth and restructuring to disputes that threaten people, culture, or enterprise value.    Patrick Richter can be reached at  https://rigbyslack.com/attorney/pat-richter/ www.linkedin.com/in/pat-richter-986b19      About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:    Understand how AI-driven hiring tools can create unintended legal exposure. Identify proper employer responses to employee health disclosures under ADA. Implement heightened cybersecurity training to guard against new attack methods.

    32 min
  3. The Kind of Leaders the AI Era Will Demand with Jason Jones

    MAR 19

    The Kind of Leaders the AI Era Will Demand with Jason Jones

    In episode 244, Coffey talks with Dr. Jason Jones about how leaders must adapt their thinking and behavior to navigate the rapid disruption caused by artificial intelligence.    They discuss why AI represents a step-change disruption compared to past technology waves; growing workforce resistance and fear surrounding AI adoption in organizations; how enterprise AI systems will soon integrate SOPs, training, and operational knowledge; the neuroscience behind fear, uncertainty, and cognitive rigidity during change; why leaders must develop cognitive adaptability and emotional regulation; the concept of neuro-adaptive leadership and upgrading the brain’s operating system; attuning to disruption through proactive awareness and disruption scanning; decoding thought patterns and identifying hidden biases that block innovation; aligning leadership identity with values to guide behavior under pressure; using reflection, reframing, and replacement to rewire thinking through neuroplasticity; and how leaders can model adaptive thinking to help teams thrive during uncertainty.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP244    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Dr. Jones equips leaders and teams with science-based strategies to activate peak performance, drive engagement, and thrive in the age of disruption. He is a leading authority on NeuroAdaptive Leadership™ and the neuroscience of performance, helping organizations rewire the way their leaders think, act, and inspire others. Dr. Jones is an Organizational Psychologist, executive coach, and international keynote speaker.     Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience and more than 150 years of motivation and performance research, Dr. Jones has developed a practical and engaging approach to leadership that helps people understand and optimize how the brain drives behavior, influence, and decision-making. His approach has been used by Fortune 500 companies and forward-thinking organizations around the world, helping empower leaders to bring out the best in themselves and those they lead.    As the founder and CEO of LeaderPath, Dr. Jones has worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands, including Microsoft, IBM, Porsche, AT&T, American Airlines, McKesson, Seagate Technology, and the Dallas Cowboys. His work has been featured by Inc. Magazine, FOX, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and his thought leadership continues to shape how modern leaders adapt, connect, and perform in an ever-changing world.    He is the two-time best-selling author of "Activator: Using Brain Science to Boost Motivation, Deepen Engagement, and Supercharge Performance" and "28 Days to a Motivated Team."     Prior to founding LeaderPath, Dr. Jones led executive education at AT&T, where he was responsible for developing more than 6,000 leaders globally, contributing to AT&T being named the #1 Learning Organization in America by Chief Learning Officer Magazine.    Outside of his work, Jason enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, spending time with his grown children, and fueling his passion for helping others live and lead with purpose, resilience, and flow.    Dr. Jason Jones can be reached at  https://drjasonjones.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/DrJasonJones1   https://www.instagram.com/drjjones   https://www.youtube.com/c/DrJasonJones1     About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:  Understand why AI disruption is fundamentally different from previous technology shifts in the workplace. Recognize cognitive rigidity and emotional responses that block effective adaptation to change. Apply neuro-adaptive leadership techniques to help teams respond productively to rapid disruption.

    48 min
  4. The Right Way to Use Personality Profiles with Dan Dalton

    MAR 12

    The Right Way to Use Personality Profiles with Dan Dalton

    In episode 243, Coffey talks with Dan Dalton about using personality profiles to improve hiring, onboarding, team dynamics, and organizational effectiveness.    They discuss the evolution of personality assessments from paper-based tools to data-driven platforms; appropriate and inappropriate uses of DISC and Predictive Index in hiring decisions; leveraging behavioral data to ask better interview questions; customizing onboarding to match communication preferences and learning styles; aligning managers and employees through mutual self-awareness; using profiles to strengthen team composition and collaboration; applying personality insights to performance coaching conversations; reducing turnover by adapting leadership styles to employee needs; helping young people gain early self-awareness for career decisions; and identifying the “personality” of an organization through mission statements and customer feedback.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP243    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Since 1995 Dan Dalton has worked in various HR roles as Trainer, Recruiter, HR Generalist, Manager, Director and Employee Relations Consultant.    Dan has worked in the Banking industry with JP Morgan Chase and Southwest Bank, the retail industry with Neiman Marcus and the health care industry with, Texas Health Resources, Voyager Hospice Care, McKesson Specialty Health, Texas Oncology, EVP Eye Care and in manufacturing with Oil States Industries. Most recently, Dan has founded P3:14 Consulting focusing on helping organizations and individuals strive to reach their potential. Dan has held a Human Resources professional certification since 2005 and presently holds a HRCI Senior HR Professional (SPHR) certification as well as a SHRM-SCP certification.    Dan earned a BBA in Marketing with a minor in Economics from Southwestern University and an MS in HR Management from University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Dan has served with Fort Worth HR (local SHRM chapter) as board member and Past President and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Christian Women’s Job Corp of Greater Arlington where he facilitates workshops on resume writing and interview preparation.  Dan has been married to Brandi since 1987 and has a son, Calvin James (CJ), daughter-in-law Caiti and two grandchildren Cannon and Charlie. Dan also enjoys binge watching Netflix and Prime shows, ski vacations and any time spent in the mountains. He is an avid baseball fan and has played softball and golf most of his life. Dan and his family are active members at First Baptist Church of Arlington, where he is a member of the choir and contemporary praise team and a Sunday School teacher.    Dan Dalton can be reached at  https://p314consulting.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandaltonsphr       About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.     Learning Objectives:  Identify appropriate uses of personality assessments in hiring and performance management. Apply behavioral profile insights to improve onboarding and manager-employee communication. Evaluate team composition and organizational alignment using personality data.

    40 min
  5. Rebuilding Human Connection at Work with Lee Colan

    MAR 5

    Rebuilding Human Connection at Work with Lee Colan

    In episode 242, Coffey talks with Lee Colan about rebuilding human connection in a technology-driven, hybrid workplace.    They discuss the loneliness epidemic and its impact on employee wellbeing; differences between social isolation and emotional loneliness; remote work and the rise of frictionless digital experiences; Gallup and BetterUp data on workplace friendships and retention; the decline of socializing with coworkers outside work; practical rituals like high-low check-ins during meetings; the cultural effects of hybrid work and hot desking; personalization of workspaces to reinforce belonging; AI disruption of career paths and entry-level roles; the growing value of human-centered leadership skills; and a four-step model for building meaningful professional relationships.    Lee Colan’s next book “The Connection Key: How to Unlock Your Positive Impact and Enhanced Wellbeing” releases in September.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP242    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Lee J. Colan, Ph.D. is Lee is an organizational psychologist and CEO advisor. He possesses a rare combination of skills as a corporate executive, business consultant, thought leader, prolific author, artful facilitator, and engaging presenter.     Lee applies an in-depth understanding of business, science, people, and organizations to help leaders and organizations grow. As a result, he quickly helps leaders bring order where there is chaos, clarity where there is ambiguity and growth where there is decline.  Lee is a John C. Maxwell Leadership Award finalist and Thinkers50 nominee for Top Management Thinker globally.    He has authored 16 popular leadership books that have been translated into 10 languages, including the bestselling Engaging the Hearts and Minds of All Your Employees, Stick with It: Mastering the Art of Adherence and Healthy Leadership. He has also created over 50 products that equip and encourage leaders at every level.  Expertise  CEO advisement, executive coaching, strategy planning and execution, employee engagement, keynote speaking, leadership training.    Education  Doctoral degree, Organizational Psychology, George Washington University  Bachelor’s degree, Psychology and Communications, Summa Cum Laude, Florida State University  Background    Lee brings 25 years of hands-on industry and consulting experience to his clients. He worked in various leadership roles with American Airlines, Sandoz (Novartis) and FoxMeyer (McKesson). He also held consulting positions with two premier firms: Booz, Allen & Hamilton and Mercer. His last corporate post was as Vice President for Physician Reliance Network (U.S. Oncology), one of the fastest growing NASDAQ companies at the time.    Lee currently serves as an Independent Director and member of the Personnel Committee for Pacific Seafood Group, the largest vertically integrated seafood company in North America. He is a former director for Aztec Systems who was ultimately sold to a private equity firm. He also served on the Advisory Board for ASSET InterTech who was acquired in 2021 by Constellation Software.    Lee Colan can be reached at  https://thelgroup.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecolan   https://www.facebook.com/TheLGroupInc   https://www.instagram.com/leecolan   https://www.youtube.com/user/LeeJColan   About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.     Learning Objectives:  Identify the business impact of workplace loneliness and disconnection. Apply a simple four-step model to strengthen team relationships. Embed connection-building rituals into meetings and daily leadership practices.

    49 min
  6. HR News: HR v. Employees? with Neil Katz

    FEB 26

    HR News: HR v. Employees? with Neil Katz

    In episode 241, Coffey talks with Neil Katz news and media items from the past month, including who HR is “for”, managing AI agents, and mental-health-related gaps in employment.    They discuss HR’s responsibility to conduct impartial workplace investigations based on evidence; the misconception that HR exists primarily as employee advocates; aligning HR strategy with revenue, margin, and organizational mission; the decline of transactional HR through automation and outsourcing; fractional HR leadership for small and midsize businesses; managing autonomous AI agents within organizational structures; developing AI operational literacy and new leadership competencies; redefining KPIs in an AI-enabled workplace; and best practices for addressing employment gaps during hiring.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP241    Media mentioned in this podcast:     If HR Isn’t There to Help You, Who Is HR For? — Dallas Employment Lawyer Blog — February 9, 2026  To Thrive in the AI Era, Companies Need Agent Managers  How do explain a gap year taken for mental health. : r/jobsearchhacks    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Neil Katz is the founder and CEO of Exceptional HR Solutions, a leading provider of fractional HR leadership for small and mid-sized businesses across the U.S. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of people and business strategy, Neil leads a national team of 20+ seasoned HR partners dedicated to helping companies scale, evolve, and thrive. His firm delivers end-to-end HR solutions—from talent acquisition and organizational development to compliance, culture, and leadership alignment.    Under Neil’s leadership, Exceptional HR Solutions has become a go-to resource for growth-focused companies in industries ranging from retail and healthcare to manufacturing, technology, and professional services. He is widely recognized for building agile, scalable HR infrastructures that empower leadership, strengthen teams, and deliver measurable business impact.  While his primary focus is on growing Exceptional HR Solutions, Neil also serves selectively as an executive advisor, helping founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigate strategic and organizational change. He holds an MBA from Amberton University, a BA in Business Administration from Texas Lutheran University, and advanced training in executive coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is SHRM-certified and respected for his strategic insight and people-first leadership style.  Neil is a frequent guest on industry podcasts and a sought-after speaker at conferences and webinars, where he shares practical insights on fractional leadership, scalable HR strategies, and the evolving role of human resources in high-growth environments.    Outside of his professional work, Neil serves on the board of Hope International, a Dallas-based adoption agency, and previously served on the board of directors at Halo Senior Care, a for-profit business focused on elder care. He has also served with nonprofit organizations such as Gift of Adoption, reflecting his deep commitment to service and community.    Neil Katz can be reached at   https://exceptionalhrsolutions.com  https://www.linkedin.com/company/exceptional-hr-solutions  https://www.facebook.com/exceptionalhrS  https://www.instagram.com/exceptional_hr_solutions_  https://twitter.com/exceptional_hrs  https://www.youtube.com/@ExceptionalHRSolutions    About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:  Understand how HR can balance legal compliance with business performance and employee trust. Identify emerging le...

    44 min
  7. Driving Employee Engagement Through Trust and Autonomy with Yoram Solomon

    FEB 19

    Driving Employee Engagement Through Trust and Autonomy with Yoram Solomon

    In episode 240, Coffey talks with Yoram Solomon about motivating disengaged employees by building trust, increasing autonomy, and aligning intrinsic motivation with meaningful work.    They discuss quiet quitting and job hugging trends in uncertain economic times; intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation using the car engine analogy; why pay and bonuses fail as long-term engagement strategies; the critical link between trust, autonomy, and employee engagement; why trustworthiness matters more than intelligence or effort; how micromanagement destroys creativity and productivity; designing roles that fit personality and tolerance for repetitive work; diagnosing turnover caused by boring or monotonous jobs; involving employees in organizational change initiatives; rebuilding lost trust through accountability and ownership; and why leadership should be treated as a profession rather than a promotion.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP240    Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Dr. Yoram Solomon is one of the world’s leading experts on trust. He’s the author of The Book of Trust and The Trust Premium, host of The Trust Show podcast, and creator of the Trust Habits® process. A 3-time TEDx speaker and founder of the Innovation Culture Institute®, Dr. Solomon has worked with organizations like AT&T, Dannon, Northrop Grumman, and HR.com. His research-backed, no-BS approach challenges conventional wisdom on leadership, culture, and motivation—and replaces it with brutally honest, practical strategies that actually work. With a PhD in organization and management, and a background that spans tech, military, law, and education, he brings a rare combination of academic depth and real-world experience. Whether he’s on stage, on TV, or in the boardroom, his message is simple: trust isn’t fluffy—it’s measurable, learnable, and the most powerful driver of performance.    Dr. Yoram Solomon can be reached at:  https://www.yoramsolomon.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoramsolomon   https://www.instagram.com/yoramsolomon   https://www.facebook.com/TheBookofTrust  https://x.com/yoramsolomon   https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrustShow     About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:    Differentiate between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in workplace performance. Identify how trust and autonomy directly impact employee engagement and retention. Apply practical strategies to rebuild trust and increase motivation during organizational change.

    50 min
  8. Solving Problems With Solutions That Actually Stick with Carrie Fabris

    FEB 12

    Solving Problems With Solutions That Actually Stick with Carrie Fabris

    In episode 239, Coffey talks with Carrie Fabris about why organizations seem to revisit the same issues repeatedly and how leaders can solve them for good through better communication, alignment, and accountability.    They discuss ineffective workplace communication and recurring problems; intuitive leadership versus inclusive decision-making; defining root causes instead of treating symptoms; creating buy-in through clarity, trust, and shared language; productive conflict and psychological safety on teams; accountability, execution, and avoiding chaos in organizations; leadership energy, burnout prevention, and sustainable performance.    For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP239    Carrie’s book “ALL IN: A Working Mom’s Unapologetic Quest for a Juicy Life” can be found here https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore   Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.     If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.     About our Guest:    Carrie Fabris is the founder and CEO of CareerFrame, a leadership development and executive coaching firm that helps high-performing leaders become energized, aligned, and execution-focused. Known for her fast trust and bold clarity, Carrie works with VPs and executive teams navigating growth, succession, and culture shifts.    She brings 20+ years of corporate experience with companies like Google, Travelocity, and Sabre—and for the past 10 years, coaches and advises leaders using her signature FRAMEit Method™, which blends CliftonStrengths®, EQ-i®, Situational Leadership and real-world leadership systems that emphasize a whole-human leadership approach to bring balance for busy people leaders. Carrie is especially passionate about helping leaders have hard conversations, build trust fast, communicate effectively and create accountability that actually energizes. She graduated from UT Austin and resides in Dallas, TX.    Carrie Fabris can be reached at   https://www.careerframe.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfabris-reframe-coaching-training https://www.carriefabris.com/bookstore  https://www.instagram.com/cdfabris  https://www.facebook.com/chiefreframer  https://x.com/yourcareerframe  hello@carriefabris.com    About Mike Coffey:    Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.  In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.  Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.  Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.   Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.  Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.   Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.  Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.  Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:    Identify why unresolved communication leads to recurring organizational problems. Apply practical leadership behaviors that create alignment, buy-in, and accountability. Use frameworks and assessments to improve problem solving, execution, and team trust.

    53 min
4.8
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

HR entrepreneur Mike Coffey, SPHR, SHRM-SCP engages business thought leaders about the strategic, psychological, legal, and practical implications of bringing people together to create value for shareholders, customers, and the community. As an HR consultant, mentor to first-stage businesses through EO’s Accelerator program, and owner of Imperative—Bulletproof Background Screening, Mike is passionate about helping other professionals improve how they recruit, select, and manage their people. Most thirty-minute episodes of Good Morning, HR will be eligible for half a recertification credit for both HRCI and SHRM-certified professionals. Mike is a member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Fort Worth and active with the Texas Association of Business, the Fort Worth Chamber, and Texas SHRM.

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