Human Resources For Small Business

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Lawrence "Larry" Armstrong—architect, artist, and author of Layered Leadership: Drive Double-Digit Growth and Dominate Your Competition with Creative Strategies and Execution. Larry shares how his unique blend of art and business has shaped his multidimensional approach to leadership. Through vivid metaphors and real-world examples, Larry breaks down his "layered" model of leadership, emphasizing balance, vision, and execution. He explains why curiosity and creativity are essential traits for leaders, how developing a strong "number two" can multiply impact, and why personal wellness and financial health form the foundation for sustainable success. Listeners will come away with practical ideas for leading more intentionally, staying curious, and helping teams grow in both structure and creativity. Key Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Transform Your Workplace and introduction to Xenium HR's Custom HR Support 01:00 – Introducing Lawrence

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws welcomes back Victoria Dew, founder and CEO of Dewpoint Communications, to unpack findings from her latest research report, Connecting the Frontline: Current Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Opportunities in Workforce Communication. Victoria shares what her team discovered after interviewing communication leaders across 18 industries — from manufacturing and healthcare to construction and education — about the urgent need to better connect with deskless and frontline workers. Together, Brandon and Victoria discuss how to bridge the gap between corporate and hourly employees, why 72% of frontline workers don't understand company strategy, and how leaders can close that gap through listening, technology, and culture change. You'll also hear insights on AI's role in communication, manager overload, the importance of in-person connection, and how organizations can transform frontline workers into powerful brand ambassadors. If you lead people, especi

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart. Together, they unpack what it really means to lead with humanity in today's workplace. Claude shares stories from her own journey—from leaving a two-decade advertising career to building one of the most human-centered cultures in business—and offers practical wisdom for leaders who want to foster authenticity, connection, and belonging on their teams. Listeners will come away inspired to lead with heart, embrace imperfection, and create workplaces where people can show up as their true selves. Key Timestamps [00:02:00] Claude's bold career pivot and how she discovered her calling as Chief Heart Officer [00:04:30] The truth about workplace conformity and why authentic leadership is a competitive advantage [00:06:00] A pivotal moment at VaynerX that showed the power of incl

HR consultant Nicole Blevins discusses building effective partnerships between internal HR teams and external consultants. She emphasizes starting with clear role definitions, addressing concerns through curiosity rather than defensiveness, and positioning consultants as supportive extensions rather than threats. Success requires open communication, regular check-ins, and customizing support based on each team's unique needs. TAKEAWAYS Start relationships with clear expectations by mapping roles and responsibilities to avoid conflicts over unmet assumptions Address resistance through curiosity—ask questions to understand concerns rather than listing credentials defensively Customize support based on team needs, whether handling administrative tasks to free up strategic work or providing strategic guidance to developing teams A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go

Danielle Dinkelman shares her journey into corporate wellness, shaped by personal injury and witnessing her husband's burnout. She emphasizes that effective wellness programs require shared responsibility between employers and employees, focusing on five key areas: rest, fuel, play, connection, and purpose. Success depends on authentic leadership commitment rather than incentive-driven programs. TAKEAWAYS Rest is productive, not a distraction — leaders must recognize that sustainable performance requires intentional recovery time. High-impact wellness coaching achieves 20-40% utilization — far exceeding traditional programs when integrated authentically into company culture. Burnout prevention requires policy alignment — review employee handbooks through the lens of rest, fuel, play, connection, and purpose. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for th

Construction veteran and certified polyvagal professional Josh Durham returns to explore “embodied safety” — a whole-person approach that connects physical, psychological, and physiological safety. He and host Brandon Laws discuss why practices beat policies, how simple sensory cues (calm voice, clear signage, clean spaces, brief breathing drills) help teams operate in a focused “play zone,” and practical steps leaders can use to build respectful worksites that improve retention, decision-making, and outcomes. Key Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & sponsor; why embodied safety matters beyond “hard hats and harnesses.” 02:20 — Defining embodied safety: physical, psychological, and physiological components. 03:50 — Industry context: advances in physical safety, rise of mental health focus, and the “leading-edge” physiological piece. 04:55 — A pivotal harassment incident: why leaders must assume unseen risks exist on every site. 06:40 — The “hidden staircase”: universal human drivers—survive, belong, bec

Leadership coach Nir Megnazi discusses leading calmly through uncertainty in this Transform Your Workplace podcast. He explains how overwhelming change causes leaders to freeze, micromanage, or become emotionally reactive. Megnazi emphasizes that effective leadership requires emotional awareness—identifying and naming feelings before acting on them. He argues leaders must shift from prioritizing results to enabling team success by understanding individual strengths and creating environments where people can reach their potential, ultimately achieving exponentially better outcomes. TAKEAWAYS Emotional awareness precedes calm leadership: Leaders must identify and name their emotions in real-time to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively to triggers and stress. Trust requires competence plus care: People choose to follow leaders who demonstrate professional expertise and genuine concern for their team members' wellbeing and growth. Enable results, don't just demand them: A leader's job is growing

Melissa Swift discusses why modern work is dangerous, boring, and frustrating—comparing today's tech overload to the early industrial revolution. She advocates for human-centric workplace design, reducing work intensification, and treating employee feedback as valuable data rather than complaints. TAKEAWAYS Work intensification is real: Employees are doing more tasks per hour with denser workloads, like carrying bricks instead of sponges Technology waste is massive: 42-43% of time with workplace tech is wasted; half of employees want old systems back Focus on retention over recruiting: HR spends 3x more effort on recruitment than developing current talent A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.” About Xenium HR X

Brandon sits down with Mita Mallick, author of The Devil Emails at Midnight, to examine how well-intentioned managers slip into bad-boss behaviors and what leaders can do to course-correct. They discuss stress and personal crises as root causes, the outsized impact managers have on employee mental health, why one-on-ones are a retention tool, and how to prevent cultures of constant urgency. You’ll also hear practical tips for avoiding micromanagement, honoring names, reducing meeting bloat, and inviting real coaching from your team. Key Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome, show purpose, and sponsor message 01:00 — Why “bad bosses” are made by circumstances, not born 03:00 — Three common triggers: market shocks, trickle-down behavior, personal “earthquakes” 06:30 — Managers’ influence on employee mental health 07:50 — Time signals care: one-on-ones as a retention tool 11:30 — Freeing the calendar: canceling meetings, async options, delegating attendance 13:30 — Inclusion in practice: the importance of say

Transform Your Workplace host Brandon Laws and HR business partner Nicole Blevins discuss a viral workplace scandal involving a CEO and Chief People Officer caught on a kiss cam, allegedly having an affair. They explore the HR implications including power dynamics, conflicts of interest, and challenges employees face reporting inappropriate leadership behavior. Key topics include the importance of third-party investigators for executive issues, the value of external HR consultants for objectivity, and rebuilding psychological safety in toxic cultures. Nicole's main takeaway: "If you see something, say something" - employees must find courage to speak up when witnessing behavior that compromises workplace integrity. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry

Wes Adams reveals how meaning drives workplace performance through three core elements: community, contribution, and challenge. Leaders act as gardeners, creating conditions for meaning to flourish rather than managing outcomes directly. Simple practices like positive feedback and asking about employees' lives can transform engagement and cut burnout in half. TAKEAWAYS Meaning drives performance - Research shows that meaningful work is the upstream factor that creates job satisfaction, productivity, and even impacts stock prices. Leaders control 50% of meaning - Through the "three C's" (community, contribution, challenge), managers can intentionally foster meaning rather than leaving it to chance. Small actions have big impact - Simple practices like saying thank you once a week or asking about someone's weekend can cut disengagement and burnout in half. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform You

Bryan Power, Chief People Officer at Nextdoor, discusses how AI is transforming workplace leadership, requiring CPOs to become more strategic and creative. He shares insights on scaling AI adoption, maintaining founder mentality, and building authentic connections while navigating the rapid pace of technological disruption. TAKEAWAYS AI adoption requires treating it like a teammate, not a tool, with dedicated time for learning and experimentation. Chief People Officers must be involved in AI implementation decisions as the line between hiring people versus tools blurs. Companies should invest in early-career talent who are "AI natives" and bring fresh perspectives to innovation. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-lea

Barry Wolfe argues that workplace psychology tools like personality tests and assessments lack scientific validity and don't predict job performance. Instead of relying on psychological profiles, leaders should focus on "value-centric actions" - clearly defining what results employees need to deliver to create business value and advance their careers. TAKEAWAYS Psychology tools are unreliable - Personality tests, competency models, and even Maslow's hierarchy lack empirical support, with IQ predicting job performance at only 0.03 correlation Employees lack clarity - 55% of workers don't know what's expected of them, and most can't answer "What do I need to do to get a raise?" Focus on value creation - Replace psychological assessments with clear definitions of business value and specific deliverables that help employees understand how to succeed A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplac

Jenny Eversole, CEO of StyleSpace, helps professionals develop confident workplace style in the post-COVID era. As dress codes become more flexible, her company bridges the gap between personal expression and professional appearance, offering individual styling and team training to help people represent their leadership potential through visual presentation. TAKEAWAYS Workplace dress has dramatically shifted - The last five years have seen more change than the previous hundred years, with many Fortune 500 companies eliminating formal dress codes entirely, leaving employees uncertain about appropriate workplace attire. Style directly impacts career success - 96% of people believe personal style affects their workplace success and leadership growth, yet only 15% feel they're properly representing their leadership role through their dress choices. Personal branding through style is crucial - In an era of AI-generated content and remote work, visual presentation has become the most powerful nonverbal tool for s

Licensed clinical social worker Sarah Harris discusses her transition from individual therapy to workplace leadership consulting. She emphasizes simple, cost-free strategies for creating psychologically safe workplaces, including modeling healthy behaviors like eating lunch away from desks, active listening, and understanding how nervous systems communicate to build trust and retention. TAKEAWAYS Model wellness behaviors - Leaders should eat lunch away from their desk to demonstrate work-life boundaries Practice active listening - Give full attention during conversations by eliminating distractions and using polyvagal theory principles Create psychological safety - Use vulnerability and feedback loops to make employees feel heard and valued A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight

Brandon Laws and Lacey Partipilo explore how to allocate a $100,000 HR budget for a 50-person company. They compare their spending priorities, with both emphasizing outsourced HR services, leadership development, and employee recognition programs. A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.” About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR.

Jayma DuChene discusses her podcast "What's in a Name" and the importance of names in workplace culture. She explores how mispronunciation affects belonging, shares insights from 90+ episodes interviewing people about their names' meanings, and provides practical advice for leaders to create more inclusive environments through intentional name pronunciation and understanding. TAKEAWAYS Names impact workplace belonging - Correct pronunciation and understanding name meanings demonstrates emotional intelligence and creates authentic workplace connections Simple solutions for name challenges - Leaders should humbly ask for correct pronunciation and use icebreakers involving name meanings to build team rapport Personal transformation through adversity - Jayma turned her negative experience with name mispronunciation into a passion for helping others appreciate the power and meaning behind names A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Bran

Bill Shander discusses "stakeholder whispering" - the practice of uncovering what people truly need rather than simply executing their requests. Drawing parallels to horse whispering, he emphasizes using questions, empathy, and slow thinking to guide stakeholders toward identifying their real problems, ultimately creating better outcomes for everyone involved. TAKEAWAYS Question before executing - Don't just say "yes" to requests; use the Socratic method to help stakeholders discover their actual underlying needs through thoughtful questioning Combat fast thinking - Recognize that people (including ourselves) operate on instinct and assumptions; deliberately slow down to engage in critical thinking and investigation Create experiences, not just deliverables - Everything you do creates an experience for someone; focus on solving real problems rather than delivering feature lists or surface-level requests A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brand

Cynthia Kane's "The Pause Principle" teaches how to pause and regain control in challenging situations. Using the SOFTEN method (Sensation, Own discomfort, Focus on present, Take a breath, Eyes on other person, Need to say), people can shift from reactive responses to intentional communication by calming their nervous system first. TAKEAWAYS Notice body sensations first - Pay attention to physical discomfort signals like racing heart or tense jaw to recognize when you need to pause Use the SOFTEN method - Simple practices like focusing on breath or saying your name help shift from fight-or-flight to calm response Practice daily in low-stakes moments - Build the pause muscle through regular practice so it's available during high-pressure conversations A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested metho

In this conversation, Josh Bersin discusses the transformative impact of AI on learning and development (L&D) within organizations. He emphasizes the shift from traditional static courses to dynamic, personalized learning experiences facilitated by AI technologies. The discussion highlights the advantages for small businesses in leveraging AI tools for content creation and training, the challenges faced by traditional learning management systems, and the importance of ensuring content credibility in an AI-driven landscape. Bersin also provides insights for HR leaders on how to effectively adopt these new technologies and decentralize L&D efforts to better meet the needs of employees. Small businesses can leverage AI for cost-effective training solutions. Personalized learning experiences are the future of L&D. Traditional LMS platforms are struggling to adapt to AI advancements. Decentralization of L&D will lead to more relevant training. Content credibility is crucial in AI-generated learni