The Employee Success Podcast

The Cardinal Principles offer a roadmap for how to create the kind of campus community we envision, and in this episode we talk to Dr. Randy Whetstone about the principle of leadership. Are we just talking about the President, Provost, and others at the top of the organizational chart? Dr. Whetstone says every member of the community leads in one way or another, and that it’s often those in the mi...

The stereotype of an introvert is someone who doesn’t like people, never speaks up, and never contributes at work.  But nothing could be further from the truth, says Katie Partin, who’s learned to embrace introversion as a strength that she can call upon.  In fact, introverts are often gifted problem solvers and relationship builders who bring thoughtfulness and strategic solutions to a project. ...

Brad Shuck is back this episode with new findings on the changing workplace, and what he’s learning might surprise you.  Organizations that make flexibility a core value are among the most successful in engaging, retaining, and recruiting great staff!  Whether it’s the chance to work remotely or the freedom to adjust around family schedules, flexibility is the thing employees are looking for in th...

The pandemic taught all of us that the only thing constant is change.  So it’s powerful that our Cardinal Principles include agility as an institutionalvalue, the ability to change when circumstances require it.  Dr. MattBergman is back on this episode talking about change, why it’s so hard to embrace at times, and what we can all do at work to lean in to those times when change is inevitable.

First impressions matter, especially for new faculty and staff who are just starting their UofL career.  Research tells us that a great onboarding experiencecan make the difference between success and failure, so it’s critical to have a strategic and thoughtful plan for bringing new employees into the campus community.  In this episode, Brian and Laura talk about the tools and resources available...

In mentoring partnerships, everyone wins!  Mentees have a guide to help them navigate their goals, offer insights, and cheer them along.  And mentors get to share the wisdom they’ve gained over their career, affirming their hard work and reminding them of lessons learned.  Diane Whitlock and Tomeka Shelton join us this week and tell us how participating in the Mentoring for Success Program launche...

In the Season Two kickoff, we joined forces with the team from the Faculty Feed podcast to talk about the state of the workforce today and why so many of us are rethinking the way we approach our jobs.  Faculty Feed hosts Gerry Rabalais and Staci Saner share some of their favorite models of engagement from high-performing organizations, as well as their own journey of landing in the best jobs of t...

In our season finale we are chatting with Maggie Schneider, a new UofL employee who finished a thru-hike of the 2,600-mile Appalachian Trail just beforestarting her job in Advancement. This was an exciting opportunity to get two thru-hikers together for some of their favorite trail stories and to talk aboutwhat they learned about leadership by spending six months in the woods. Maggie is the Senior...

Even though she has only been at the university since February 1, our new President Kim Schatzel has learned a lot about the faculty and staff who work here and what makes UofL a special place. In this new episode, we checked in with her to see what she is thinking about as a result of her listening tour, why inclusion and belonging are central to her leadership approach, and her advice for naviga...

In today’s workplace, very few of us operate in true isolation and depend on relationships for our success. So, what do skilled relationship builders do to cultivate the connections and networks that help them reach their goals? In this episode, we learn tips from student affairs professionals Glenn Gittings and Quanta Taylor on effective networking and how we can cultivate a community of care at...

Nubia Bennett believes that pleasure can be the compass that helps you do work you love, whether it’s in the job you have now or in the choices you make to get closer to work that aligns with who you are.  As host of the podcast “Sprinkle Sparkle” she’s spent the last few years engaged in a deep study of pleasure, and in this episode, we look at the places where work and pleasure intersect, especi...

The University of Louisville's tuition remission benefit removes a big barrier to going back to school for UofL employees, but finances aren’t the only obstacle we face when we think about earning our next degree.  This week we talk to Dr. Matt Bergman from the College of Education and Human Development about all the reasons adult learners hesitate to jump back in to classroom and get some seasone...

The small, daily slights and insults that employees experience at work can add up over time, and often have as damaging an impact as an overt assault.  This week we talk to Dr. Cynthia Ganote about microaggressions and the harm they can do, even when the offender doesn’t mean to be insulting.  Dr. Ganote tells us how leaders and caring colleagues address microaggressions and how the concept of mic...

We sometimes think recognizing employees is an extra “nice to do” activity, but research suggests that it’s critical to engaging and retaining a great team. In this episode, we talked with Laura McDaniels from the Employee Success Center about why recognition matters and some of the ways great supervisors can send a messages appreciation that are meaningful and impactful. Laura has designed some e...

As we explore the Cardinal Principles in our podcast, in this episode we talk with Marian Vasser about diversity and inclusion.  Marian shares some skills and concepts everyone should have in their toolbox when creating a workplace that is welcoming to a diverse campus community.  She explains how the idea of “belonging” is the next-level goal we should all strive to cultivate for those around us....

The university’s new HR database, WorkDay, includes the first-ever opportunity for faculty and staff to indicate their pronouns and store them in their profile, giving all of us a powerful new tool for inclusion and the spirit of belonging we are aspire to create.  But what does it mean to ask for and share pronouns in the workplace, and is it really important?  This week we talk with Lisa Gunterm...

Research suggests that people who use their natural, lifelong talents at work every day are the most engaged and productive.  Meagan West, certified Gallup CliftonStrengths coach, calls them our “superpowers” because they are gifts that we can cultivate with attention and practice.  Today we are talking to Meagan about the CliftonStrengths instrument and how to use the assessment results to be you...

In this episode, we talk to author and consultant Vivian Blade about how we navigate our way through crises at work.  Whether it’s the pandemic or the recession, Vivian suggests that resilience is the thing that makes the difference between those who flounder in a crisis and those who flourish.  And she offers practical suggestions for how to cultivate a stronger spirit of resilience that will car...

The idea of quiet quitting has gone viral on social media in the days since the pandemic, and this week we unpack what it all means with Dr. Brad Shuck.  Is it a bad thing to quietly quit or an expected response to increasingly unreasonable expectations at work?  We will also consider the flip side of the coin, quiet firing, and identify ways you can tell if your boss has quietly fired you (and wh...

We will be exploring all eight Cardinal Principles this season on the podcast, learning what they mean and how we put can them to work for us.  This week, we chat with Dr. Cherie Dawson-Edwards about the principle of accountability.   She tells us what it looks like when we live and lead from a space of accountability and offers some tips for reaching the next level as a champion for this principl...

In our pilot episode, we talk to Dr. Brad Shuck about recent findings from his research that suggest that work can literally send you to the doctor.  While great workplaces boost our self-esteem, confidence and sense of belong, a toxic workplace take a health toll.  Dr. Brad Shuck is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development at the Universit...