I Hate It Here Hebba Youssef

It's no surprise that I think HR and people leaders have one of the hardest roles at any organization.

For me, it feels like sometimes we're not seen as true organizational partners. Or our role is so diminished and viewed as not important, yet everyone else in a business performs better because of the work that HR does. Coincidence? I think not!

So, how can we finally be seen as key drivers to company growth, instead of the employee who puts out fires and pushes paperwork?

My guest, Chris Haygood of Astute Edge, is here to shine a light on just how pivotal HR is when it comes to tackling big organizational challenges, not just the compliance stuff. We’re diving into how the view of HR is changing, its strategic importance, and some hands-on tactics to help HR pros cement their role as key business influencers.

Our chat also touches on the next decade of HR, including the role of AI and the need for HR leaders to be considered for CEO positions. It’s time for HR leaders to finally be seen as strategic partners, because the success of our teams depend on it!

00:01:03 - Chris Hagood’s Introduction and Credentials
00:03:20 - What is the Key to Maintaining Strong Relationships at Work?
00:05:19 - Why HR Leaders Struggle to Be Seen as True Partners
00:12:40 - Common Misconceptions Other Executives Have About HR
00:16:34 - How Does Organizational Structure Impact HR Influence?
00:22:38 - When Do You Need a Senior People Leader?
00:31:49 - The Legal Misconceptions Around HR Duties
00:38:12 - The Exciting Potential of HR in the Next 10 Years
00:45:15 - How Organizations Should Perceive and Integrate HR Leaders
00:53:19 - Advice For HR Leaders Struggling to be Seen as Strategic Partners

And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!
 
Follow Chris:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrhagood/
X/Instagram: @chrisrhagood @astutedge
Newsletter: https://astutedge.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Company LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/astutedge/
 
Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

We all know TJ Lavin hates quitters.
But real life isn’t “The Challenge.” And sometimes, quitting is the only option when you’re burnt-out, stressed out, unacknowledged, and at your wit’s end.
So what leads employees to quit? More importantly, what’s the one thing a company could do to cause someone to hand in their two weeks notice without pause?
This past season, I’ve asked each of my guests one simple question to find the root cause of employee dissatisfaction— “What would cause you to quit?”
And in this episode, we’re taking a look at the best answers my all-star roster of HR experts had to give. From being unacknowledged to feeling like you’re stuck at a dead-end job, you don’t want to miss out on these red-flag warning signs.
 
And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!
 
Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

Get ready for a trip down memory lane as we relive some of the hottest, juiciest, takes from the last season of guests!

Jessica Winder, author of "The Hidden Gem Within," kicks things off discussing the issue of lack of growth opportunities and how HR teams can address this concern. She emphasizes the importance of data and people analytics in understanding and addressing employee needs.
Next, Tori Lazar shares insights on the value of facing challenges head-on and the rewards that come with it.
Adam Ryan, CEO of Workweek, shares his insights on the relationship between CEOs and Chief People Officers (CPOs). He emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency in resolving tensions and ensuring HR stays connected to the pulse of the company.
Steven and Daniel Huerta, hosts of the Modern People Leader podcast, share their insights and lessons learned from over 200 conversations with people leaders. 
Finally, Erica Spitale closes the conversation, highlighting the role of HR in promoting growth and development within organizations. She challenges the traditional hierarchy and advocates for rebranding organizations as hubs for growth and development.

00:00:38 - Jessica Winder, one of the most honest voices in HR, highlighting why transparency for growth opportunities is so important
00:03:01 - Tori Lazar shares how to turn career stalemates and challenges into personal growth
00:06:57 - Adam Ryan breaks down the complicated relationship between CEOs and CPOs
00:09:55 - Stephen and Daniel Huerta discuss the unique challenges facing HR today, using insights from 200 HR leaders
00:12:22 - Erica Spitale joins me for one of my favorite segments—answering audience-submitted questions

And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!

Follow Jessica: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/

Follow Tori: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-lazar/

Follow Adam: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamtryan/

Follow Stephen:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenhuerta/
 
Follow Daniel: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-huerta-mpl/

Follow Erica: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-j-spitale-psyd/

Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

“If you dislike the company so much, then why don’t you just leave?”
At some point, we’ve all been given that advice from a friend or a loved one about a job we couldn’t stomach. Yet, chances are good, we probably kept it for several months after that advice was doled out.
So why don’t employees leave when they’ve overstayed their welcome? And when is it time for HR to give them a nudge in the right direction?
Q Hamirani, an executive coach and advisor talks with Hebba about what happens when employees refuse to leave. How can leaders approach workers from a place of empathy and understanding when it’s obvious their career is on the wrong trajectory? Are there risks to asking employees to quit? And what’s the best way to frame such a difficult conversation?
Hebba and Q also dissect the value of offering company opt-out packages before exploring the importance of candid communication, personal growth, and finding joy in your work. Learn why strong relationships with employees are the key to unlocking their full potential and how you can build more satisfying relationships today.

Reach every worker with Firstup’s intelligent communication platform. Firstup helps you connect with your employees, deliver personalized communication, and gain engagement insights to deliver an exceptional employee experience. Visit firstup.io to learn more
 
00:02:25 - Transitioning to Executive Coaching and Advising
00:07:22 - Improving Communication to Retain Employees
00:10:47 - Encouraging Employees to Leave Gracefully
00:15:58 - Dealing with Underperforming Employees Effectively
00:17:28 - Navigating Tough Conversations in Leadership
00:24:16 - The Risks of Encouraging Employees to Leave
00:29:13 - Incentivizing Employee Departures with Packages
00:36:50 - Encouraging Employee Growth and Retention
00:45:16 - Exploring HR and AI Intersection

Follow Q:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamirani/
 
Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef
 
And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!
 

If anyone preaches to you about the power of authenticity in the workplace, pay attention when it’s coming from an ex-Enron employee who has a few thoughts about how a little honesty can go a long way for a company. 
Needless to say Nicole Alvino knows a thing or two about the value of authentic leadership, thanks to her early Enron experience. As the current CEO and Founder of Firstup, she’s on a mission to revolutionize intelligent, personalized employee communication and to deliver a phenomenal employee experience.
She chats with Hebba about how personalization can make or break employee engagement rates and explains why individualized processes are the key to preventing burnout and producing more meaningful interactions.
Plus, how can you implement video and omnichannel communications to improve workplace culture? Learn how HR leaders can use technology and automation to scale personalized experiences and create a culture of connection and authenticity.
 
Reach every worker with Firstup’s intelligent communication platform. Firstup helps you connect with your employees, deliver personalized communication, and gain engagement insights to deliver an exceptional employee experience. Visit firstup.io to learn more.

00:00:06 - Balancing Personalization and Scale in Company Growth
00:03:35 - Career Lessons from Enron's Downfall
00:04:46 - Firstup: The Personalized Workplace Communication Tool for HR
00:08:49 - Bridging Consumer and Employee Experiences
00:11:50 - Personalized Experience's Impact on Employee Engagement
00:14:27 - Struggling HR Leaders Seek Personalization Solutions
00:18:53 - Deciding Right: The Key Step
00:23:12 - Getting C-Level Executives Onboard for Personalized Workplace Culture
00:25:10 - A Tool for Creating Authentic Workplace Connections
00:26:10 - How to Improve Work Emails
00:31:00 - Emerging Trends in Workplace Personalization
00:38:48 - Communication Solves Most Problems in HR
 
And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!
 
Follow Nicole:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolealvino/
 
Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef

With grandiose job descriptions, and rose-tinted portrayals of the workplace, is it really any wonder there are a lot of problems in recruiting boiling underneath the surface??
A lot of retention problems actually start in the recruiting process.. 
Is it that far of a stretch to understand why new hires are noping out of fresh jobs in the first six months?
Def not. 
In the quest to find the perfect hire, job descriptions and interview tactics often portray a false image of what the position actually entails. So why aren’t recruiters being more honest about the roles they’re hiring for? Hebba chats with Talent Acquisition Consultant and Content Creator Rhona Pierce about how the recruitment system is broken and what HR can do to fix it. How can recruiters be more honest about job descriptions and work culture in their hiring practices?
Hebba and Rhona debate if there’s a way to make employees understand the full scope of a job’s duties during the interview process before revealing some of the best practical strategies that can help retain, attract, and engage qualified talent. 

00:00:10 - Recruiting Misconceptions: Valuable Talent Acquisition
00:02:52 - Company Actions That Prompt Immediate Resignation
00:05:01 - Navigating the Gap Between Job Expectations and Reality
00:09:28 - Why People Quit
00:15:14 - Is Recruiting Broken?
00:19:26 - Truth in Interviews
00:23:47 - Asking Questions Before Accepting a Job
00:27:24 - Navigating the Current Job Market
00:36:51 - Transparent Recruiting: Setting Clear Expectations
00:39:35 - Aligning Job Expectations Through Communication
00:44:15 - Maximizing Preparation for Successful Hiring

Reach every worker with Firstup’s intelligent communication platform. Firstup helps you connect with your employees, deliver personalized communication, and gain engagement insights to deliver an exceptional employee experience. Visit firstup.io to learn more.
 
And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration.
https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/
 
And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!
 
Follow Rhona:
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4R6bJ4JZpqOlFdYelWwsBr?si=841dc4e5b2924a30
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/
 
Follow Hebba: 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef