Improve Work Podcast

In this episode, you'll hear a conversation about what top management can do when a direct manager avoids addressing poor performance with the employees they lead. This topic was brought up by this episode's guest, Susan Pearce. She went through such a situation, and together we explore what was done, as well as the alternative approaches and actions she could have taken to resolve this ch...

Employee motivation is a concept that can be misunderstood because it is not just two words put together. Although everyone can easily understand what an employee is, motivation is a complex concept that has been the subject of numerous studies and research. Moreover, some people do not distinguish between motivation in the workplace, where we are talking about an employee being motivated to achie...

Do you take a step back from time to time to observe how you behave with your team members and how they might experience being part of your team? When we're focused on our daily tasks and goals, it's easy to lose sight of the impact we have on others. Taking even a few moments to reflect can increase our self-awareness and help us be more intentional in the way we behave, communicate, and...

Do your company’s job descriptions truly reflect the real activities and responsibilities of your team members? A job description is more than just a formal document attached to an employment contract. It defines employee responsibilities, supports the hiring process, and serves as an essential tool for employee performance evaluation and team management. In this episode of the Improve Work Podcas...

Finding a job can be hard at any age, but once you pass 55, it becomes very difficult. People fear they may never be able to get another job, even though they may still have 35 or more years to live, says Scott Siff, this episode’s guest. This is the reality that people around and over this age face when they are looking to get hired. In this episode, Scott explains how we have reached this situat...

Understanding when someone has authority or influence, and knowing how to distinguish between these two, helps any member of an organization - from top executives to junior employees - better understand the power dynamics between them and how these shape their relationships. In this episode, we explore the different sources of authority and influence, how they show up in the workplace, and how to...

Good relationships at work don’t happen accidentally. They take work. And although many people are probably willing to do this work, not everyone knows what it consists of. If you want to learn more about what it means to build good relationships, listen to this episode with Sacha Thompson. Sacha is the founder and CEO of The Equity Equation. She helps organizations build inclusive psychological s...

How many times have you needed to ask a team member or your team to change their behaviour? Did they comply with your request? If not always, don't be so hard on yourself. Changing behaviours can be challenging and often involves more actions or steps than just asking. If you'd like to better understand how behaviours can be changed, watch or listen to this episode with John Kolm . John is...

Do you know the work involved in hiring the right senior leaders for a company? We rarely see job ads for these types of positions. Not only do these positions require a different approach to finding candidates, but the selection process is more complex in order to reduce, as much as possible, the risks that both companies and candidates take when deciding to move forward together. James Wilkson,...

Have you thought about the different factors that have shaped how you lead your team right now? It could be your past work experiences, your personality and character traits, the company culture you work in, or the training and mentorship programs you have gone through. Some of these factors may play a bigger role for some of you, while for others they may be less impactful. In this episode, I’m t...

Workplace disruptions are part of any company’s “life,” but these days they are more frequent as a result of technological and economic changes. This episode's guest, Kim Bohr, draws our attention to a key component of navigating these disruptions with fewer losses — building employees’ trust that their best interests will not be neglected during challenging times, just as in smoother ones. Ki...

Are you fully aware of the culture your company has and how it impacts your business? Although the concept of organizational culture is well known, it is sometimes hard to understand the culture of a particular company. Greg Hawks, today's episode guest, will help us with this. Greg is a culture specialist who supports companies in designing and transforming their cultures. He is also the auth...

Are you a good listener? Listening skills are just as important as speaking skills. We learn and understand others through listening. At work, listening effectively is essential for understanding the challenges and issues team members face and for creating an environment where they feel heard, understood, valued, and respected. In this episode, you'll find guidelines on how to improve your lis...

Maybe you’ve heard about various employee motivational strategies and thought, ''These do not work for my employees.'' You may be right. Not all motivational strategies are appropriate for every type of job or employee. In this episode, I talk about the distinction between jobs that add value to a person’s career and those that don’t, as well as the differences in the motivational...

One of the major factors that impact employee motivation and performance is the leadership skills of direct managers. The same employee can show very different levels of engagement and results depending on the direct manager he/she works under. In this episode of the Improve Work Podcast , we explore how direct managers shape the work experience, why their leadership skills matter, and how assessi...

In this episode of the Improve Work Podcast , we explore three practical ways to improve employee motivation. You might already know these strategies, but I’ll explain why they matter and how your business and employees can truly benefit when they’re applied in the right way. You’ll also discover a fourth bonus strategy — a lesser-known but highly impactful approach that can significantly increase...

In this episode of the Improve Work Podcast , you’ll hear me talk about why it’s important to increase your team members’ autonomy in their roles and how you can do this effectively . There are two main parts in this episode: Practical actions and specific behaviours you can adopt to increase your team members’ ability to work independently. How to build trusting relationships with your employees—...

Do you have friendly relationships with your team members? If yes, how much do you rely on them to ensure employee motivation and retention? Although being friendly as a leader is a strength, employee motivation—and with it performance and retention—requires more from a team leader. In this episode, Employee Motivation Needs More Than a Friendly Leader , you’ll find guidelines on how to balance be...

Do you consider candidates' motivation for the job when deciding whether to hire them? Applying for a job doesn't necessarily imply motivation. Often, candidates know little about the job offer, and the selection process is an opportunity for both sides to know each other and decide whether they want to be in the same boat. Without motivation, even if you hire people who have the necessary...

Do you struggle to hire the right people for your business and then lead them in a way that get results? If so, you are not alone. Most entrepreneurs go through the same challenges. In this episode, Lindsay Scherr Burgess shares her own experiences with hiring and leading her team members. Lindsay is the founder of Green Wallscapes, a company that creates green walls for homes, retail, and office...

How much better would your work relationships be if you could have the conversations you avoid? Knowing how to start these conversations with ease and confidence is the key to stop avoiding them. Tucker Miller, today’s guest, wrote a book on this very topic. She shares with us a framework we can all use to approach these conversations, along with other key elements of successful communication. Her...

As a team leader, you need to give feedback on many occasions - sometimes to acknowledge a person's achievements, other times to help someone do a better job, or to correct behaviour that harms others or the business. But do you know how to do it in a way that doesn't erode the relationship and still leads to the results you want? Joan Hibdon, this episode's guest, shares with us pract...

In this episode of the Improve Work Podcast, we explore five common team behaviour patterns—both positive and negative—that can significantly impact team dynamics and performance. These behaviours are often referred to as team roles in the HR and organizational development fields. These roles are shaped not only by individual personality traits but also by how other team members, especially the te...

Do you clearly know what HR can do for your business? This episode of the Improve Work Podcast is about the roles that HR can take and how it can support your company. Tim Toterhi, this episode's guest, has tremendous experience in leading and developing HR departments, and he shares his perspective on this topic. Tim has over 20 years of management experience in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He...

If you've been in a toxic work environment, or you are dealing with one right now, listen to this episode with Jim Rettew. It will help you understand how such an environment is created and what you can do to heal it. Jim is an interim CEO who helps non-profit organizations navigate various crisis. He has helped stabilize several non-profits, transforming them from dysfunctional to healthy and...