Bob 'n Joyce Talk HR 'n OD

Can’t live with them. Can’t Live without them. Yes, we are talking about performance conversations. When in doubt, we have learned being explicit about the principles behind any effort helps guide and evaluate solutions. That is precisely what Bob’nJoyce do in today’s podcast. A sample of some of our principles are: Talent development conversation are owned and initiated by the associate, not the...

In this episode, Bob’n Joyce discuss what happens when leaders lose their edge when boredom and doubt takes over. This is a natural phenomenon where work performance over time ebbs and flows. BTW… it happens to all of us at some point in time. The challenge for leadership is the unrelenting high demand of a role when they feel checked out. Bob’n Joyce share ideas on how to address this phenomenon...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce get real about the uncertainty and chaos of today’s world and what we can do to navigate through it. Both individuals and organizations struggle to be at their best when the anxiety of “not knowing” persist. We refer to the space where what was no longer exists and what is to be is uncertain as the murky middle. Come join us as we explore the murky middle and what we ca...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce share a powerful exercise for teams called “Large Talk Questions.” These are powerful questions that pairs ask one another that invites curiosity, new discovery, and builds relatedness. Think of “Large Talk Questions” as the antidote to small talk where people exchange greetings with half attention and interest. “Large Talk Questions” is an exercise that can be used as...

In this week’s episode, our guest, Mike Strout, gives his unique and surprising thoughts on compensation practices. He shares his 4 Principles of Comp design: 1) The goal of compensation is to attract and retain people - period. 2) Compensation isn’t fair. Don’t think that it is. 3) Compensation design is going to piss off someone. 4) Don’t overthink it, and don’t over focus on it. Mike makes comp...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce discuss what “bad bossing” looks like and it's destructive impact. Bad bossing demotivates and demoralizes. Bad bosses are creativity killers, eroding a company’s success, and are the #1 reason people leave a company. And here's the punchline: at one time or another, we all have been bad bosses. Here are some of our observations: Bad bosses focus on the negative and on...

Today, Bob’nJoyce jump into the quagmire of getting compensation right. In today’s workplace, old rules and beliefs on compensation no longer apply. Is it possible to get compensation right? In today’s podcast, we explore this question and touch on the following topics: How compensation motivates and demotivates. The role of paying an incentive bonus. Is paying a liveable wage the way to go? So co...

In this episode, Joyce shares the 15 skills and habits that top executives at Delhaize identified to being successful as an executive committee member. While some of the skills and habits can be learned, many new top executives require new ways of thinking, being, and doing to make the grade. In this episode, we discussed: The need for knowing when to slow down versus when to speed up. What is req...

Every act of appreciation or gratitude creates a model that gets taken out of the workplace and into the world. We all crave acknowledgement so why don’t bosses do it enough? Bob n'Joyce jump into this topic on the power of boss praise and why it is so stubbornly resisted. 4 conclusions about a positive work culture: What you do and say (or not) can have a magnified impact. Command and control eng...

Eric Watson is an expert helping organizations become more diverse, inclusive and equal. Eric offers his perspective on where we have been and have evolved in DEI work. Eric reflected on diversity training in organizations since the death of George Floyd. He also touched on the following topics: What is working and what may be causing more harm than good in the DEI space. How diversity work has ch...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce share thoughts on organizational downsizing, and getting it right. Downsizing is a natural phenomenon that no long stigmatizes the company or impacted employees. What hasn’t changed is the need to do it right. In this episode, we addressed: 1 - Why downsizing is here to stay. 2 - The foundational principles of doing downsizing right. 3 - Shifting from a protective pater...

Are companies doing enough to make their organizations more diverse, inclusive, and equal? In this Episode, Bob’nJoyce discuss why many diversity initiatives miss the mark. We will explore: • Why discussing this is difficult for us? • Why DEI initiatives are more about change (action), and less about training? • What is needed in the person leading Diversity? • What role does a CEO/leader play in...

In this episode, Joyce shares a white paper, “Principles of Management” that she authored some thirty years ago. How have the things a good boss does stood the test of time? Here’s a teaser on some principles we discussed: • Never embarrass or humiliate anyone. Apologize if you do. • When an associate is not living up to expectations, first look at what you are not doing. • When you hit a trouble...

Some organizations are getting performance conversations right. In Episode 102, Bob’nJoyce explore a company where the performance review process is shifting culture, exciting both bosses and employees. We jumped into: • Why “traditional review processes” are dead • The use of powerful conversations where both boss and employees feel seen, heard, and validated • Why ranking and rating people poiso...

Does the world seem to be unraveling in a way that makes you feel adrift and powerless? If you can relate to this, we have the antidote. Organizations are stressed, institutions are crumbling, and what seemed normal and dependable now seems chaotic and uncertain. In this episode, Bob’nJoyce share a simple exercise to overcome the chaos by getting grounded in your inner sense, or your calling, of w...

What do you do when a talented long-term employee tells you they are leaving the company to join a competitor? We have all experienced this either as the person who left or the colleague who gets surprised and it begs the question, what do you do? We riffed about what you can do to avoid losing talent and ways to learn from it when it happens. We discussed... Our belief that when someone leaves su...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce share diversity interventions that worked during their time with Hannaford and Food Lion. On January 17th, the New York Times had an Op. Ed. that questioned the value of diversity training and suggested that it may cause more harm than good. The Op. Ed. made valid research-based criticism so we felt compelled to share interventions that were transformational and improve...

In this episode, we have our first guest of 2023, Pete Durand, share his thoughts on finding (and keeping) talent, and maintaining a positive culture and workplace. Pete is an entrepreneur who gets that people matter most. That’s why he helps find talent for clients who get it. We covered a lot, but here are the highlights: • Thet traits of healthy work cultures and not so healthy • The challenges...

In this episode, we continue to set our intentions about what we commit to doing this year. The new year is a time when many of us plan and create goals for the year ahead. We utilize an exercise, “What we are say yes and no to,” to guide our conversation. This process is a powerful exercise for individuals, and teams to set intentionality for future action. Come join us to experience the “What we...

Happy New Year! In this episode, we set intentions on what we want Bob’nJoyce Podcast to be in 2023. The new year is a time when many of us plan and create goals for the year ahead. We utilized an exercise, “I want, I need,” to guide our conversation. This process is a powerful exercise for individuals, and teams to set intentionality for future action. Come join us to experience the “I want, I ne...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce discuss why rituals must evolve to meet the changing needs of families and organizations. In Episode 75, we discussed the importance of rituals bringing soothing comfort to ground and support organizational success. Today, we look at the importance of rethinking rituals in times of disruption and big change. Bob’nJoyce offer advice on: Letting go of existing rituals and...

In this episode, Bob'nJoyce explore the need to rethink HR/OD rules, practices, and processes in a post pandemic world. These rules dictate everything we do from how we hire, develop, and reward employees to how we structure organizations, and shape cultures, to name a couple. In this episode, we explore: The need to rethink conventional wisdom and the way things get done. Acknowledging the rules...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce share a process on how to accelerate learning for front line supervisors. People new to supervising a team are often confronted with issues that challenge their judgment. Over time, a new supervisor grows in their judgment and wisdom. Today’s podcast provides ideas to short circuit this process. In this episode, Bob’nJoyce will: • Underline the importance of the front-l...

With Thanksgiving Day arriving, Bob’nJoyce thought a break from HR/OD would be good and instead talked about her inspriational book, I Pray Anyway - Devotions for the Ambivalent. It is a book about faith, spirituality, and striving for meaning. I Pray Anyway - Devotions for the Ambivalent has been described as much more than a book but more like a wise, patient friend. That’s a good description fo...

In this episode, Bob’nJoyce explore ideas on career pathing for future CEO’s. We discussed conventional wisdom on CEO competencies that no longer apply. With the workplace democratization and modern market complexity, future CEO’s must have skill sets and experience much different than their predecessors. In this episode, we rift on: • The imperfection of CEO recruiting and inflexible selection cr...