People Solutions

Not every performance issue is an employee problem. Sometimes it’s a selection issue. Sometimes it’s unclear expectations. Sometimes it’s the environment around them. In this episode, we introduce the  SCORE Framework —a leadership tool designed to help organizations pause before assigning blame and instead diagnose what’s really going on. It walks through five areas: Selection, Communication, Obs...

Only 39% of employees say someone at work genuinely cares about them. Yet 90% of leaders agree that when employees feel cared for, they're more loyal.  So...what's the disconnect?  This week on  People Solutions , we sit down with Jamie Shibley, CEO of The Expressory, to explore what it really means to build a culture where people feel seen, valued, and remembered.  Jamie shares practical,...

Everyone is rushing to hire for AI skills, but most many organizations are asking the wrong questions. In this episode, Sue MacArthur and Alyssa Curit unpack why hiring for today’s technical expertise may actually increase your risk in a rapidly changing environment. As tools evolve and roles shift in real time, the most valuable employees aren’t just the ones who know the latest platforms—they’re...

Managers rarely intend to create confusion.  In fact, most leaders care deeply about communicating well with their teams. But even experienced managers can fall into subtle communication habits that lead to misalignment, frustration, and missed expectations. In this solo episode, Sue walks through  five common communication mistakes managers make without realizing it , including: • Assuming people...

Many small business owners rely on workshops and online courses to develop leaders, yet they often find that very little actually changes afterward.  In this episode of our People Solutions podcast, Sue and Chris explore why that happens and what  does  work. The answer isn’t more training.  It’s coaching — simple, practical, day-to-day coaching that happens in real time as leaders navigate the wo...

Company culture is often talked about, but rarely defined, measured, or intentionally shaped.  In this episode of STM's People Solutions podcast, Sue talked with Dean Mathews, Founder and CEO of  OnTheClock , about what company culture really is, how it shows up in day-to-day behaviors, and why leaders - not policies or perks - are the most powerful drivers of culture. Why culture forms whethe...

In this latest episode of STM’s People Solutions Podcast, Sue and Alyssa explore the book ends of the full talent lifecycle. Drawing on our  Onboarding Essentials  and  Offboarding Essentials  guides, they unpack practical frameworks that help organizations strengthen culture, accelerate productivity, and protect the employer brand at every stage. The first and last impressions an employee experie...

In the latest episode of STM's People Solutions podcast, Sue welcomes Kiley Peters.  Kiley is an international award-winning serial entrepreneur, speaker, and small business strategist with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience.  She currently leads RAYNE IX, her strategic consultancy, and has helped hundreds of women launch, scale, and exit their businesses in pursuit of greater autonomy an...

In the latest episode of STM's People Solutions podcast, Art and Sue are joined by Dr. Shayne Tracy, president of The International Institute of Coaching Practice (IICP) and IICP's Vice President of Safety Coaching, Marcel Van der Wal.  In many organizations safety is seen as something managed by HR and enforced by supervisors.  But in a strong safety culture, that ownership shifts to ever...

In this episode of STM’s People Solutions podcast, Sue goes solo and dives into the  candidate experience —why it matters, where companies go wrong, and how to get it right. In today’s job market, the experience you offer candidates isn’t just a courtesy, it’s a business strategy. Listen now and discover: Why a great candidate experience is a competitive advantage How to stop ghosting and start co...

Many organizations invest in training and development when times are good but retract when things get difficult or uncertain.  However, it's during the challenging times that development is most needed to build resilience, maintain morale, and prepare your team to be ready to come out strong on the other side.  In this episode of STM's People Solutions podcast, Chris and Sue talk about why now is...

Too many organizations still treat performance management like a once-a-year check-the-box task. But what if it could actually fuel productivity, engagement, and growth? In this episode, Sue and Alyssa explore how to build a performance management  system  that works — one that’s fair, strategic, and supports both the organization and its people every single day. Define expectations Set SMART goal...

We hear from our clients all the time that employee retention and engagement are critical to the success of their businesses.  But, it’s not always easy for them to accomplish.  How do we make the employee experience so engaging that our best people won’t be looking elsewhere?  To talk about this, we invited Joyce Gioia to join us on our podcast.  Joyce is focused on delivering value to her client...

There's no doubt that there's a financial toll to high turnover, but beyond direct salary and recruiting costs, a poor hire impacts team morale, lowers productivity, and can even damage client relationships. Our years of experience have shown that an effective, systematic interview process is one of the best ways to dodge these pitfalls.  Learn about our 3-stage interview process  Get some...

What do you think about when you hear the term 'people pleaser'? Pushover, doormat, yes-man? In our latest podcast we are joined by Sarah Shepard of StringCan Interactive, and she asserts that being a people pleaser, if effectively channeled, can be a good thing. Give it a listen. Ruinous Empathy vs. Radical Candor Using empathy to increase engagement and productivity Embracing people-plea...

In this episode of STM's People Solutions podcast, Susan Quinn, executive coach and CEO of Circle S Studio, joins Sue to talk about her new book,  Does Your Business Show Up or Stand Out?  which focuses on how experiences spur growth.  She, like we do at STM, believes that the employee experience, understanding core values, and creating and maintaining a positive company culture are the keys t...

In recent conversations, Sue and Chris (STM's Senior Consultant for Training & Development) realized that there are some surprisingly similar pitfalls in hiring, job seeking, and dating.  Tune in as they have a lot of fun talking about common themes: Profile vs. Reality Intentions & Expectations Ghosting The cost of ignoring red flags Desperation leads to lower standards We hope you enjoy...

In the latest episode of STM's People Solutions Podcast, Sue and Alyssa talk about structured interviewing - what is it, why is it important, and how do you do it.  The basic elements are: Be very clear about your expectations Be deliberate in your choice of questions Have consistent and objective evaluation standards For more information about structured interviewing and how to build a winning pr...

In this solo episode of STM's People Solutions Podcast, Alyssa dives into the dos and don'ts of the hiring selection process.  Whether you're an experienced hiring manager or just getting started, this episode has valuable insights for everyone.  Listen in as she talks about: Preparing for success Effective interviewing Keeping candidates engaged Making a final selection Listen in now and elevate...

There's a lot going on in the hiring market and employers need to rethink how they approach attracting and retaining top talent.  Although it's calmed down a bit in the last year or so, we're still in a candidate-driven market which is a real challenge for companies who are trying to add to their teams.  Tune in to our latest podcast where Sue and Alyssa talk about what you can do to attract great...

In the latest episode of STM’s People Solutions podcast, Sue and Chris, STM’s Senior Consultant for Training & Development, talk about internal career mobility.  Small businesses are under more and more pressure from their employees to create paths for growth within the organization or risk losing good people.  But that doesn’t have to result in false hierarchies.  Tune in to learn about:   Im...

In today's fast-paced world, balancing work, life, and family can be challenging.  But what if we reframe this challenge as an opportunity for work, life, and family  integration  rather than balance?  In this episode of STM People Solutions podcast, Sue and Alyssa discuss the differences between the two and tips for integrating life and work for yourself and your employees. Balance is separat...

In our latest podcast we're tackling a topic that's been on many minds lately: remote work productivity.  If you're crushing it, good for you!  If not, you're not alone.  As more businesses are trying to return to the office, what's the best choice for productivity and how do you make a remote or hybrid environment work for you. Remote work can be successfully managed with the...

In our latest podcast, Sue and Alyssa talk about the distinctions between job  descriptions  and job  expectations .  The differences are important to understand and your expectations  should guide hiring decisions and performance management activities. Job descriptions are a list of things you want an employee to  do .  Job expectations are what you want them to  accomplish .   Job expectations a...

Recently, Art and Sue sat down with Dr. Shane Tracy to talk about coaching.  Dr. Tracy has been in the coaching business for 20 years and has trained approximately 300 coaches in his career.  He's seen the business evolve and describes it as the "wild west" with 2 million coaches worldwide.  With so many choices, how do you choose? Not all coaches are created equal.  Know what you&#3...