People Centric Podcast

Is your company growing? Has the leadership team spoken of things like record revenue or increased production requests? Are there new roles and faces often as if more hiring is happening than ever before? If so, then you might be working harder and not sure what all this growth means for you. The People Centric team talks about how you can survive (and thrive) this kind of company growth!

Influence is a superpower - but it can be used for good or for evil! Okay, evil is a strong word - but still - influence can quickly turn from helpful to manipulative. In this episode, the People Centric team talks about when influence is good and when influence is manipulation.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

It is that time of year again! Each year, the People Centric team walks through our personal planning process with you! We make it easy to think through your biggest goals for the coming year - and give insights on how to ensure that those goals are attainable, realistic, and win-able! 

Whether you are wanting to stand out as the best candidate or want to attract the best talent to your company, everyone is trying to figure it out in this workforce. The People Centric team discusses the current conditions of the workforce, how leaders can attract (and keep) the best talent and how candidates can stand out in all the right ways!

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Leaders love to have people bring them solutions - we have heard it before: "Don't just bring me problems, bring me solutions!" But we have also seen people & leaders unknowingly kill this type of solutions-based thinking - and accidentally create cultures where people are stifling solutions and innovation. In this episode the People Centric Team discusses this phenomenon and how to best install cultures where everyone solves problems and moves the most important initiatives forward.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Yep, you're thinking about it. Your boss isn't fixing a problem that you have been telling them about for months! You're going to go to your boss's boss. You have to get this solved for the good of the organization and your boss just doesn't seem to care. Maybe going around them is the best way to go! It might be. Or it might hurt your career for the rest of the time you are there. In this episode, the People Centric team discusses when you should, and when you should not do "the end-around."

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

People are complicated and unique! And sometimes, you have to work with someone who just drives you crazy. In this episode, People Centric Team Members, Diana Royalty and Matt Griswold talk about how much they did not like each other , and what they did to overcome to make a great team . This is the episode for you if you have someone you work with - and are struggling to get along with them.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Performance Evaluations. Budget Cycle. Micromanagement.  AHHHHHH!

Wait! Don't run and hide. These things may be some of the scariest things in business, but we have tips to make the best of all of these scary business situations. This episode is the People Centric Team's scariest business moments and how you can handle these without wanting to run and hide under your desk!

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

The little white lie, it's no big deal.  But it does contradict the whole truth and nothing but the truth sentiment. So which one is right? Let's say your boss asks you to be totally honest with her - and being totally honest would mean that you tell her that she is not as good of a communicator as she thinks she is and that oftentimes she is the reason projects aren't delivered as promised or on time... This is the person that signs your check. How honest should you be? Is there room for partial truth in business? Listen now to hear the People Centric Team team unpack this seemingly simple topic.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

If I said that someone was an "old school manager" you would probably think of someone who micromanages, doesn't communicate things well, and frankly, isn't a good manager. So the People Centric team thought they should break down the aspects of old-school management and talk through the bad and the good!

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

We have all heard of extroverts and introverts - and some of us even know what ambiverts are, but what do these labels really mean? Furthermore, is the workforce set up to have a bias toward one of these groups over another? Listen to this episode to hear the People Centric team talk about:

• what exactly it means to be an introvert or an extrovert
• how people and workplace policy could be biased toward a particular group
• the strengths and weaknesses of both introverts and extroverts
• how to include extroverts and introverts on teams and utilize their unique skill sets

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Supervisor, Manager, Director, Executive... so many layers of management . Have you ever wondered what all of these people do? Why do we need so many different types of leaders and what should they each be focusing on?

In this episode, the team breaks down what each type of manager should be doing AND how to best interact with them.

Don also mentions a story about executive Michael Kiolbassa, and here is a link to that story:

We need each other at work. We rely on other people to get things done and move things forward. But have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you did everything you could and it still just did not work? Have you ever felt like you wouldn't have changed what you did, but you were wanting an entirely different outcome? 
In this episode, the People Centric team discusses what happens when you are doing everything right and it gets you nowhere! Because sometimes it isn't you - it's them.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Thank you, Gracias, Grazie, Merci, Xièxiè nǐ, gamsahabnida, aitäh, Danke, mahalo.  Saying a simple thank you can be so impactful. When was the last time you showed appreciation? When was the last time that felt appreciated? In this episode, the People Centric Team talks about appreciation in the workplace and the impact it has on those relationships.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

We have all been there - feeling overworked and over work.  There are things that you can do to set good boundaries, realign expectations, and find a way to feel less stressed at work and this episode breaks it down for us.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

People are quiet quitting everywhere. The People Centric team has been talking about "quiet quitting" for years now, we just called it something different: disengagement. Studies have shown that about 51% of the workforce is disengaged. Quiet quitting is not new and it is not going away. It is why we started People Centric! Listen to this episode to hear about what we think of the quiet quitting phenomenon.

• What is quiet quitting and why is it happening?
• What can leaders do about this?
• What can employees do about this?
• What does this mean for our workforce?
• How can people find their empowerment and not feel like they need to quiet quit?

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Comparison is the thief of joy. And when things don't measure up to our expectations, our own comparison between the expectation and the reality can make for a pretty crummy situation. On this episode, the People Centric team talks through what happens when we compare, what we can do to shift our mindset, and how to deal when we realize that our reality will just never be what we expected.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Tunnel Vision, Blind Spots, Laser Focused - whatever you want to call it, when a person is viewing something through their own lens and focusing intently on that thing, it can have both good and bad outcomes!  In this episode the People Centric Team discusses:

• How to see your own blind spots - because, you know, you are blind to them, so... Understanding when you should point out tunnel vision with others
• How to see other perspectives when you need to focus
• Determine how roles play a part in tunnel vision and how to use that to your advantage when communicating

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Learning when to speak up and when to stand down are hard life lessons. In this episode, the People Centric Team discusses best practices for when to speak up, considerations for not speaking up, and general tips for choosing the battles in the war called work.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Your gender should not matter at work. But does it? The People Centric Team wanted to start the conversation around women and men and how they are seen in different roles at work.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

What are 2 or 3 things you hope people say about you at your funeral? 
Find out what the People Centric team said and why we think it is something all leaders should think about.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

"What you think about you bring about!"  Here the People Centric team discusses why Mindset Matters! And it isn't all sunshine and rainbows - find out more about:

• How to recognize your mindset
• Best practices for preparing your mind for positivity and clarity
• How to shift your mindset when you need to
• When to address a negative mindset with others

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello. Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Have you ever felt like you aren't good enough at your job and that you are just waiting for people to find out that you aren't qualified enough to be doing the work that you are doing? Experts estimate that up to 84% of people have felt this way at some point in their careers! It is called Imposter Syndrome and many, many people experience it. Listen as the People Centric team unpacks this topic:

- What imposter syndrome is

- how to recognize it in yourself and others

- how to banish it from your thoughts and find your confidence!

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Big visions come with big challenges. It is difficult to get people to not just see a vision, but then go after it with passion and purpose! Have you ever had a vision that you knew was the right vision and then struggled to get people to follow you? Have you ever worked for someone that had an unrealistic vision? The People Centric team talks about visions and the challenges of dreaming big in this episode. Listen to find out more about:

• Sharing big dreams with others
• Using strengths to make dreams real
• Failing forward
• Celebrating along the way
• Having a team that will support you and push back when you need it

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

The People Centric team is often asked about our favorite development books, podcasts, and resources - so we compiled them here and talked about them for you!

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

"Be the best you that you can be today" - Motivational Quotes: some days they get you going and some days they elicit a massive eye roll . On this episode The People Centric team talks through the very earliest part of motivation - the desire. We explore why sometimes you can find motivation and sometimes you can't. We also discuss what happens when leaders try to motivate others and just get the eyeroll.

Have questions about this topic? Want to ask for advice from our team? Have a topic suggestion? Just want to say Hello? Do it! We love hearing from you and here is how you can get us:

Most people don't think that they need to worry about a succession plan, because those are only for senior leaders, executives, or owners. But the truth is we all need some sort of succession plan! Having a plan for allowing someone else to step into your current role allows you to not get trapped by becoming "irreplaceable"! You should be thinking about building a succession plan if you:

• have a formal leadership role in your company
• are learning new skills and developing yourself
• don't have a crystal ball and can't predict the future
• are wanting a promotion
• enjoy knowing that things are being taken care of well, even when you are taking time off

The People Centric Team breaks down all the reasons for a succession plan AND the best ways to create a solid plan for everyone involved.

Our work at People Centric has led us to realize that great leaders focus on building their skills in 5 key areas: People, Process, Communication, Management, and Strategy. In this episode, we break down each of these areas and define what you can do to build your leadership skills! We talk through tough introspective questions like:

• Are you in the right role that leverages your unique strengths and passions?
• How do you prefer to communicate? How do you want others to communicate with you? How do you know if your communication is effective?
• Do you appropriately use your own influence?
• How well are you able to hold yourself accountable?
• Does being organized help you be your most effective or hinder your creativity?
• Do you know what winning looks like for you?

Have a question about this topic or another topic you want us to discuss? Contact us!

We all have our own set of unique skills and strengths. Most of the time we use these strengths without even realizing they are special to us and help us in ways we haven't ever considered.  On this episode, the People Centric Team talks about these unique strengths:

• Why is it not easy to know your own unique strengths?
• How do our strengths help us in work, and how do they hold us back?
• What role can assessments play in considering our strengths and weaknesses?
• Is it easy to improve a weakness and turn it into a strength?
• What can your role be in helping others identify their strengths?
• Are some strengths more valuable than others?

Have a question about this topic or another topic you want us to discuss? Contact us!

As consultants for People Centric, there are things that we hear over and over from leaders - and today we are sharing the common phrases that we hear - and then contradict! If you are a manager and have ever said one of these phrases, this podcast is for you:

• "Talent is rare and it is hard to find good people"
• "No one cares anymore!"
• "I have no idea what people are thinking! I can't read minds"
• "I am creating a really good culture here"
• "we do not have conflict here!"

Have a question about this topic or another topic you want us to discuss? Contact us!

Do you know about the Passion Paradox? The People Centric team reveals that there are two sides to being passionate at work:

- the passion that makes you productive, that keeps you seeking innovation, and that encourages forward momentum OR

- the passion that makes people think that they are always right and everyone else is wrong, that makes you believe that no one else cares, and that makes you dismiss others easily.

Have a question about this topic or another topic you want us to discuss? Contact us!

There will be a time in your career that you become a toxic employee - it happens! And you might be thinking, "I would never" or "I care too much to become toxic" but - our definition of toxic has to do with misalignment, influence, and engagement - and it is easy for anyone to get there! In the latest episode of More Than Work we talk through:

• what it means to be toxic at work
• what happens if you become toxic
• why it matters if you are toxic
• how to get yourself out of a toxic environment or mindset
• how to love your job / work again

Have a question about this topic or another topic you want us to discuss? Contact us!

There are so many pitfalls that can happen when trying to communicate. In this episode, @MaryLing talks about how some people didn't understand her intent when she said the phrase, "Bless Your Heart".  And @DonHarkey explains a situation where a cultural barrier prevented team members from being able to build trusted relationships with one another. 
The People Centric team talks through these conversational pitfalls:

• cultural differences
• regional differences within the USA
• colloquialisms
• communication styles
• narrative paradigms

Are there other conversational pitfalls that we missed? Have a question about this topic that you want answered? Have a topic you want for us to cover? 
Contact us!