Find Grow Keep

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the pitfalls of informal interviews and why relying on casual conversations over coffee often leads to poor hiring decisions. While small businesses may prefer a flexible approach to recruitment, structured interviews provide a much stronger foundation for selecting the right candidate. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The flaws of informal interview...

What is a healthy level of employee turnover? And how does your business measure up? Monitoring employee turnover is one of the easiest, and most informative, metrics to track. In this episode, Karen Kirton dives into the critical topic of employee turnover, discussing why it's essential to measure, what constitutes a good turnover rate, and how to manage it effectively. Karen explains the di...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the relevance of Employee of the Month programs and whether they still serve as effective recognition tools in the modern workplace. While they remain popular, particularly in retail and office environments, their effectiveness depends on execution. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The pros of Employee of the Month programs – Why they are simple to i...

In this episode, Karen Kirton discusses the impact of losing a top employee and how business owners can navigate this challenge. Whether due to career growth, personal circumstances, or better opportunities, handling the situation effectively—both reactively and proactively—can help minimize disruption and improve retention. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Immediate steps to take when a...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the five stages of team development , a widely used framework by Tuckman and Jensen that helps teams understand how they evolve over time. Whether you're onboarding new employees, forming a project team, or managing team changes , knowing how to guide your team through these stages will increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement . Key Takeaways...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how to implement structured feedback in your organization —not just through formal performance reviews, but in everyday interactions that shape engagement and productivity . Research consistently shows that employees crave regular, constructive feedback, yet many organizations struggle to create a culture where feedback is both consistent and meaningful . In...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores what happens when managers avoid people management responsibilities —whether they openly dislike managing people or simply shy away from difficult conversations. Many organizations promote technical experts into management roles without giving them the skills or mindset shift needed to succeed as leaders, leading to disengagement, dysfunction, and conflict wi...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores shadow values —the hidden cultural norms and behaviors that exist within an organization, whether positive or negative. While company values may be officially documented, shadow values are what truly shape workplace culture , and failing to recognize them can lead to misalignment, disengagement, and even unethical behavior . In today’s episode, you will learn...

In this episode, Karen Kirton challenges the traditional view of recruitment as an HR function and explains why effective hiring is more aligned with marketing strategies than administrative HR processes. She breaks down the recruitment process into key marketing steps, showing how attracting the right candidates requires strategic branding, messaging, and positioning —just like selling a product...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores why standardizing onboarding is critical for getting new hires up to speed efficiently and ensuring they feel engaged and confident in their roles from day one. She shares practical ways to create a structured, repeatable onboarding process that reduces inconsistency and saves time for managers. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why onboarding matters...

In this episode, Karen Kirton discusses how employee benefits play a crucial role in retaining top talent and making businesses more attractive to potential hires. While many organizations assume that benefits require large budgets , Karen highlights how small, cost-effective perks can make a big impact on employee satisfaction and loyalty. In today’s episode, you will learn about: What employee b...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the balance between being an empathetic leader and maintaining professional boundaries . While empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence and effective leadership , many business owners worry about where to draw the line so they don’t take on the role of a counselor or become emotionally drained. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The definit...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how workplace culture evolves over time —sometimes in ways that leaders don’t recognize until problems arise . She discusses why culture can deteriorate , even in businesses that have always had a strong foundation, and how to maintain momentum by actively listening and responding to employees. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why workplace culture i...

In this episode, Karen Kirton discusses how to manage extreme workplace behaviors , such as bullying, harassment, discrimination, or toxic conduct. While these situations can be difficult to navigate, having a clear policy, training, and structured response process in place ensures that businesses address these issues effectively and maintain a safe, respectful work environment. In today’s episode...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how psychometric assessments can be powerful tools for employee and leadership development. While they are often used for hiring, these assessments also provide valuable insights into personal and professional growth , team dynamics, and leadership effectiveness. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why psychometric assessments are useful for development...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores practical ways to support employee development , ensuring that valued team members feel challenged and engaged in their roles—reducing the likelihood that they will seek opportunities elsewhere. She highlights how structured but simple development plans can be a game-changer for retention and productivity. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why persona...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how mentoring can be a powerful tool for employee development, engagement, and retention—especially for small businesses that may not have the resources for extensive training programs. She outlines practical ways to implement mentoring in an organization at little to no cost. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The benefits of mentoring and why it play...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how goal setting is essential for ensuring employees understand expectations, stay motivated, and achieve strong performance—especially in evolving workplace models like remote and hybrid work. She highlights why clarity and structure in goal setting lead to better engagement and productivity. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The five key principles...

In this episode, Karen Kirton tackles one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today— finding great employees in a tight labor market. She explores why many organizations struggle to attract talent and shares practical strategies to improve recruitment efforts, particularly as competition increases in industries like IT, construction, and financial services. In today’s episode, you will lea...

In this episode, Karen Kirton discusses why recruitment is more of a marketing activity than a human resources function and how businesses can effectively position themselves as attractive employers. She explains how developing a strong employer brand and clearly communicating your employee value proposition (EVP) can significantly improve recruitment outcomes and reduce turnover. In today’s episo...

 In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how clear position descriptions help employees understand their roles, align expectations, and improve performance. She discusses why many businesses overlook position descriptions and how outdated or unclear job roles can lead to confusion, misalignment, and decreased productivity. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why role clarity is essential for...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores how pre-employment assessments —often referred to as psychometric assessments —can significantly improve hiring decisions and reduce bias in the recruitment process. With research showing that traditional interviews alone are poor predictors of job performance , she explains why incorporating assessments can increase hiring accuracy by two to three times . In...

In this episode, Karen Kirton examines whether offering higher salaries to retain employees who have received external job offers is an effective strategy. With the current employment market making it easier for recruiters to entice talent with significant salary increases, businesses need to consider whether counteroffers truly work in the long term. In today’s episode, you will learn about: Why...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the growing conversation around pay transparency and fair remuneration practices, sparked by recent media coverage of Apple employees sharing salary details. She examines the complexities of salary transparency, the challenges organizations face in maintaining pay equity, and the importance of structured remuneration policies. In today’s episode, you will lea...

In this episode, Karen Kirton explores the concept of the Great Resignation , a term used to describe the significant increase in workforce turnover seen in many countries, including Australia. She discusses why employees are leaving, the key drivers behind this trend, and what businesses can do to strengthen retention and workplace culture. In today’s episode, you will learn about: The main reaso...