World at Work

"If someone isn't motivated, it doesn't matter how much skill they have, they won't apply themselves." Notable Moments [02:47] Why hiring for experience alone can be a mistake [04:05] The three qualities every high performer shares [05:28] Why motivation matters more than raw skill [09:54] The Disney story that proves skills can be taught [12:57] Using motivation-based interviews to find true fit...

"The more time you give for something to happen, the greater the scope creep that occurs." Notable Moments [00:01:34] Mike introduces the common misconception that fractional leadership always takes a long time. [00:02:52] Rethinking six-to-twelve-month agreements—asking "what if" it could be faster. [00:05:22] How two-week sprints provide structure, focus, and accountability. [00:07:36] Using spr...

"If it has nothing to do with the workplace, it's not your place to address it as an employer."  Notable Moments 00:03:05 – How to handle allegations unrelated to the workplace 00:04:54 – Using proper legal channels for non-work issues 00:07:59 – When a code of conduct changes your responsibility 00:10:46 – Offering EAP support without enforcing consequences 00:13:44 – Why uniforms and name tags c...

"It's not about what you did yesterday. It's about what you've learned and the skills you bring to tomorrow." Notable Moments 00:01:28 – Story of a candidate held back by a past mistake. 00:02:31 – Why second chances matter in hiring. 00:05:21 – Asking about black marks during interviews. 00:09:21 – Concerns managers have about hiring someone with a record. 00:13:55 – Handling internal team percep...

"It's not a silver bullet, but every little bit helps when you're navigating a tough transition. It's about doing the right thing, with empathy and intention." Notable Moments [01:27] – What are career transition services? [03:40] – The step-by-step support offered to exiting employees [05:45] – Why organizations should invest in transition services [08:29] – How empathy improves difficult convers...

"Don't let fear of being misunderstood stop you from doing the right thing. Just show up, follow through, and the trust will follow." In this episode, Tim Dyck explores how leaders can become more visible in the workplace without unintentionally undermining team members. He shares strategies for building trust, communicating intentions clearly, and handling the challenges of being seen, especially...

"There's no other leadership tool that builds trust, reveals blind spots, and improves decisions better than walking your business." Notable Moments [00:03:48] – Buc-ees experience leads into leadership visibility discussion [00:05:27] – Lee Cockerell quote: "Get off the carpet and onto the concrete" [00:07:48] – Why most leaders nod… but don't follow through [00:10:55] – Three reasons visible lea...

"Rate results, not personality. Measurable goals create clarity and eliminate the drama." Notable Moments 02:03 – Common complaints about performance evaluations 04:15 – Why rating personality traits is subjective and flawed 06:54 – Jody's real-world example of objective goal-setting 09:59 – The value of goal-based evaluations 13:35 – Why tardiness and similar issues must be addressed in real-time...

"Great leaders don't wait for perfect. They make the best call they can and adjust if needed." When a beloved attraction like Muppet Vision 3D closes, it stirs big emotions, something leaders face every day when making tough decisions. In this episode, Tim Dyck and Katie Currens explore what it really takes to lead through change. Tim shares his experience and insights on making informed decisions...

"You're not being duped if someone leaves for better pay. You're just part of their journey. Focus on what you gained while they were with you." Notable Moments 02:36 – Setting the salary range and mismatched expectations 04:49 – When candidates leave for better offers (and it's not personal) 05:35 – Questions to ask candidates taking a lower salary 07:52 – The value of short-term high performers...

"You're never overworked; you're underorganized. The org chart should help you fix that." Tim Dyck and Katie Currens dive into the importance of intentional organizational charts. Tim explains how reactive decisions, like adding roles to solve immediate problems or merging jobs without reflection, can lead to burnout, confusion, and inefficiency. The episode explores how to design org charts aroun...

"Success in hiring starts with understanding when your industry's people are most likely to listen." Notable Moments 00:02 – Seasonal hiring patterns in education 00:04 – Energy industry trends and maintenance scheduling 00:06 – Resources for researching hiring patterns (news, board minutes, unions) 00:08 – Mindset and timing in professional roles like physiotherapy 00:10 – Strategic workforce pla...

"There are things that are said, there are things that are heard, and there are things that are remembered. And very rarely are all three of those things the same." Notable Moments 01:20 Why most hiring strategies break down during rapid growth 06:40 What fractional recruiting looks like in action 13:10 The key questions businesses fail to ask before hiring 20:45 How to avoid "check-the-box" recru...

"Nothing becomes normal and common until somebody disrupts things and makes it normal. And sometimes there's space and room for disruption." Notable Moments 00:41 Unconventional Job Benefits Trends 05:38 Negotiating a Different Compensation Package 06:57 Evaluating Workplace Culture and Values 10:32 Employee Value Justification 14:34 Pitching Unconventional Ideas to Employers Connect with Tim and...

"Are you doing this just to look good for yourself, or are you doing this because you genuinely want to make a difference for your people?" Notable Moments 04:42 Unlimited PTO: Productivity and Legalities 09:00 Managing Unlimited PTO Challenges 12:58 Competitive Compensation & Benefits Analysis 13:42 Thoughtful Compensation Strategy Assistance Connect with Tim and his team: Website: https://bestcu...

"Every single person that is working with you is usually capable of far more than you realize." Notable Moments 00:57 Navigating Internal Job Opportunities 06:15 Highlight Relevant Experience 09:30 Objective Hiring and Open-Minded Leadership 11:16 Assess Motivation in Interviews 14:17 Value of Skills and Motivation Connect with Tim and his team: Website: https://bestculturesolutions.ca/ LinkedIn:...

"Fractional work is an opportunity to help make an impact inside an organization as quickly as possible. Accelerate speed to impact by helping people move forward." Notable Moments 01:02 Fractional Executive Recruitment Clarity 05:55 Navigating Noise in Fractional Roles 08:41 Strategic Planning and Caution 09:55 Beware of Fake Consultancies 15:24 Fractional Executive Expertise Essentials 16:39 Fin...

"Have a very deliberate process for filling existing roles that is the same for everybody, external, internal. Make sure that process is also going to identify the best candidate for the role and that you're developing people to be the best candidate." Notable Moments 00:53 Deliberate Internal Candidate Development 04:28 Pitfalls of Internal Promotions Without Purpose 07:04 Create a Deliberate Hir...

"In order for a survey to mean something, it has to be followed through on the results." Notable Moments 00:51 Timing of Exit Interviews 03:53 Constructive Versus Emotional Feedback 08:03 External Feedback Handling Recommended 10:07 Understanding Customer and Employee Feedback 13:41 "Boosting Retention Through Honest Surveys" Connect with Tim and his team: Website: https://bestculturesolutions.ca/...

"Instead of getting information after people decided to leave, get the information before they decide to leave." Notable Moments 00:37 Survey Anonymity Concerns 06:01 In-Person Interviews Build Trust 10:09 Building Trust Through Anonymity 13:45 Boost Engagement Through Transparent Action 15:19 Improving Workplace Culture Effectively Surveys can be your secret weapon to a happier workplace. The pro...

"Have people that you can trust to receive their honest opinion and advice, while keeping space for you to make your own decisions, without them trying to micromanage or direct you" A personal board of directors can transform careers and lives. Like many, I hadn't been deliberate in setting up my own personal board. Yet, I unknowingly have a network of trusted advisors shaping my path. Katie compa...

"As you build out your network, it's important to have authenticity. Don't just talk to somebody because you want something out of it." Notable Moments 00:58 "Personal Board of Directors Importance" is essential for guidance, balance, and purpose-driven leadership. 07:01 Why Best Culture Solutions' help was essential for job success. 10:25 Airtight resume significantly boosts interview rates. 16:1...

"Everything that you do deliberately to have a really strong hiring process is not only going to feed to your candidate pipeline, but it's going to make sure that you don't have to do this as often." There can be a lot of excitment when job hunting. Unfortunately, for some people the initial optimism can turn sour when it ends with silence from the employer. This recently happened with Katie's tee...

"Of all the things that we do to help people, two that we are most passionate about are helping organizations with hiring people right then training and onboarding them right." Onboarding is crucial, yet so many organizations overlook its importance. Have you ever been thrown into a new job with more questions than answers? In my conversation with Katie, we talk about onboarding disasters that can...

"Companies that provided a good onboarding experience had 82% improved retention." Great onboarding isn't about one-off actions. It's a series of well thought out steps that make new employees feel welcome, engaged, and ready to contribute. Read the blog for more from this episode. Noteable Moments 04:12 Good onboarding boosts employee retention. 09:12 Clarify purpose and values by aligning them w...