Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast People and Performance Podcast

Skills-based organizations are no longer just theoretical concepts discussed in business journals – they're becoming the new operational reality for companies worldwide. As Charlotte Evans, Director of Global Customer Advocacy for Coursera for Business, reveals in this eye-opening conversation with Chris Bjorling, even the most recognizable global brands are only now beginning their implementation journeys.

"A lot of organizations look at me and go 'we are not there,'" Charlotte shares, describing how companies are typically at steps two or three of the five-step maturity model. This widespread challenge has created what she calls "group therapy" among L&D professionals all asking the same questions: Where do we start? How do we measure success? What's actually working?

Evans offers compelling insights into how objective skill measurement is revolutionizing workforce utilization. By accurately identifying capabilities (rather than relying on self or manager assessments), companies can create internal "gig economies" where employees contribute across traditional boundaries. She describes a credit services company that discovered significant gaps between manager perceptions and actual Python skills, highlighting the need for data-driven skill assessment.

Perhaps most fascinating is the evolution of leadership development through artificial intelligence. Coursera's "Dialog" tool creates psychologically safe environments for managers to practice difficult conversations without the disruption or cost of traditional boot camps. The next frontier? AI-powered role play that simulates challenging negotiations, sales calls, and employee conversations – moving beyond today's "peppy" AI responses to reflect workplace realities.

For L&D professionals looking ahead, Evans emphasizes aligning learning with business outcomes by partnering directly with functional leaders. She shares the remarkable story of Dow Chemical, which upskilled 84% of its IT workforce in generative AI within a single quarter, largely because the CIO personally completed and showcased the training.

Connect with Charlotte Evans on LinkedIn or visit coursera.com/business to explore how skills-based learning can transform your organization's performance in an increasingly dynamic business landscape.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

What if the most powerful driver of workplace performance isn't complicated systems or cutting-edge technology, but something as fundamental as social support? Dr. Amanda Hagman, Chief Scientific Officer at Atana, reveals this insight in a conversation with Chris Bjorling about human behavior, organizational learning, and strategic development.

Drawing from her extensive research, Amanda challenges listeners to reconsider how social dynamics shape workplace behavior. Through the relatable example of kitchen sink habits at home versus at work, she illustrates how environmental cues and social expectations profoundly influence our actions—regardless of generation. While acknowledging surface-level differences between age groups, she argues that the fundamental mechanisms of human learning remain consistent: we observe others, adapt to social norms, and mirror behaviors we see around us.

The discussion takes a compelling turn toward the strategic potential of Learning and Development professionals. Amanda proposes that L&D teams occupy a uniquely valuable position in organizations, with access to employees across departments during training initiatives. This presents an opportunity to transform learning sessions into data collection moments that yield insights about motivations, attitudes, and organizational readiness. By leveraging these "captive audience" interactions, L&D can evolve beyond its traditional role to become a source of strategic intelligence for leadership.

As organizations navigate technological shifts comparable to the advent of the internet, Amanda emphasizes the importance of leadership modeling desired behaviors while simultaneously upskilling alongside their teams. Her vision for the future of workplace learning balances innovation with proven methodologies—not discarding valuable established practices in pursuit of trends, but building upon solid foundations while adapting to change. Connect with Dr. Hagman on LinkedIn or visit Atana.com to discover how evidence-based learning approaches can drive meaningful performance improvement in your organization.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

What happens when we forget the human beings behind job titles? Kristen Nielsen Donnelly, PhD, COO of Abbey Companies and founder of Abbey Research, tackles this question with refreshing candor in our conversation about workplace dynamics across generations.

Breaking from typical generational discourse filled with negativity and fatalism, Kristen offers a provocative perspective: "Nearly everything people complain about in Gen Z is the fault of the older three generations in the world." She challenges leaders to recognize how we've created systems that didn't equip younger workers with necessary coping skills, then unfairly criticize them for struggling within those very systems.

The most overlooked factor for improving workplace performance? "Remembering that they're people," Kristen states, noting how uncomfortable this simple truth makes many leaders feel. She cautions against the growing trend of AI-driven training solutions that flatten organizational culture and eliminate the nuances that make workplaces distinctive and attractive to diverse talent.

As economic conditions tighten heading toward 2025, Kristen envisions L&D professionals as champions for humanity in organizations, becoming "the clanging drum and the resounding cymbal" reminding everyone that "our people are people" amid challenging business decisions. Her bold recommendation for talent development? Start by asking employees what they want to learn beyond their current role – what skills they hope to develop during their time with your organization.

Discover more about Abbey Research's groundbreaking work on multi-generational workspaces through their website abbey-research.com, where you can access their published work, sign up for their newsletter, and stay updated on their latest findings about creating more human-centered workplaces where everyone can thrive.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

What happens when you treat problems as gifts rather than obstacles? According to Mike Taylor, cybersecurity professional at Nationwide and instructor at Franklin University's instructional design program, this mindset shift creates the foundation for powerful organizational learning.

During this enlightening conversation with host Chris Bjorling, Mike challenges conventional L&D wisdom by emphasizing the critical importance of audience understanding before content creation. "If you have one size fits all, it really means one size fits none," he explains, advocating for learning experiences that are simple, relevant to specific roles, and emotionally resonant with learners.

Mike offers a refreshing perspective on failure and conflict, sharing a transformative moment when a former boss taught him to welcome problems: "If you don't know about the problems, you can't fix them." This philosophy extends to his views on artificial intelligence in leadership development, where he encourages organizations to experiment now rather than being left behind—comparing today's AI hesitancy to early resistance toward email adoption.

Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Mike articulates why learning itself represents the ultimate competitive advantage. "In an uncertain world, the learners will win," he quotes, emphasizing that success will go to organizations that can learn and apply new knowledge faster than competitors. This requires not just teaching content but teaching people how to learn effectively through psychological safety—environments where employees aren't afraid to fail and can surface problems openly.

The conversation concludes with insights from Mike's co-authored book "Train Like a Marketer," which explores how L&D professionals can adopt marketing techniques to better capture attention and influence behavior. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn, through his L&D newsletter at mike-taylor.org, or discover his book at trainlikeamarketer.com.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Cutting through the noise of today's workplace requires more than just great content - it demands a true understanding of learners and their needs. In this engaging conversation Chris Bjorling had with Bianca Baumann, VP of Learning Solutions and Innovation at Ardent Learning, we explore how marketing techniques can revolutionize learning and development efforts.

Bianca shares her powerful guiding principle: "learner before content." This simple yet profound approach encourages L&D professionals to deeply understand their audience before developing materials, ensuring relevance and impact. As a newly published author (her book with co-author Mike Taylor launches next week!), Bianca brings fresh perspectives on creating learning experiences that genuinely resonate with today's workforce.

The discussion takes a candid turn when Bianca identifies communication as the most overlooked lever for improving workplace performance. "Especially now in this era of AI and technology, it's noisy, it's really really noisy out there and cutting through that noise is hard," she explains. Building trust emerges as a critical theme throughout our conversation, with Bianca highlighting its cascading positive effects on organizational culture.

Looking toward the future of L&D, Bianca challenges traditional structures with a bold vision: "In a perfect world, I would love for L&D to not report into HR but to sit in each business line and support the business right there." This perspective invites L&D professionals to enhance their business acumen, remove departmental blinders, and collaborate across organizational boundaries.

Whether you're an L&D professional seeking fresh approaches, a leader navigating today's complex talent landscape, or simply curious about the future of workplace learning, this episode offers actionable insights to transform how you approach people development. Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn or visit trainlikeamarketer.com to learn more about her groundbreaking work.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Professor Karl Kapp turns traditional learning and development on its head with his revolutionary Action First Learning framework. Rather than beginning with theory and content, Kapp advocates for jumping straight into action—allowing learners to try, potentially fail, and then receive targeted instruction based on their real-time experience.

The Commonwealth University professor brings years of research in gamification, instructional design, and performance improvement to this conversation, revealing how failure serves as our most powerful teacher. "We learn more from failure than we do from success," Karl explains, highlighting how creating safe spaces for practice and failure transforms reluctant learners into engaged participants. This approach proves especially effective with resistant groups like sales professionals, who typically avoid traditional role-playing but enthusiastically embrace Kapp's card-based challenge games.

When discussing the current learning landscape, Kapp addresses the elephant in the room: artificial intelligence. Rather than joining the AI hype cycle, he advocates for focusing on human capabilities and connection. "When we take AI out of the discussion, people's anxiety levels go way down," he notes, reminding us that organizations fundamentally function as human social groups. As L&D professionals uniquely touch every corner of their organizations, they hold tremendous power to humanize workplace interactions and shape culture, positioning people for success in an increasingly technology-driven environment.

Want to transform your learning approach? Discover Carl Kapp's "Action First Learning" book, available at all major retailers, and connect with him on LinkedIn and YouTube to explore how practice, action, and embracing failure might be the performance breakthrough your team needs.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Ever wonder what happens when L&D professionals finally focus on their own development? Sarah Cannistra, founder of The Overnight Trainer, pulls back the curtain on this fascinating dynamic in our latest conversation.

Sarah brings dual perspectives as both an L&D career coach and the head of learning programs for a tech company, offering rare insights into what truly drives performance improvement. She challenges the reflexive "more training" approach that dominates many organizations, instead highlighting a frequently overlooked lever: understanding employee motivations. "It's not rocket science," she explains, but this fundamental element is often missed when companies sprint toward training solutions without addressing the human factors beneath performance challenges.

The conversation takes a revolutionary turn when Sarah advocates for user-generated content in learning programs. "We have seen ourselves as the gatekeepers of content," she notes, identifying how L&D professionals often become organizational bottlenecks rather than enablers. Her approach—focusing on curation rather than creation—has allowed her to effectively manage learning for 4,000 employees as a team of one. This shift from the traditional "sage on the stage" model to facilitating peer learning represents a significant evolution in how organizations develop talent.

What makes Sarah's insights particularly valuable is her practical experience implementing these approaches. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your organization's unique context rather than applying generic solutions. "What worked in manager development at my last full-time role does not work here," she reflects, encouraging L&D leaders to focus less on business goals (the "what") and more on methodologies and culture (the "how").

Ready to transform your approach to learning and development? Connect with Sarah at theovernighttrainer.com, check out her book "Land your Next L&D Role," or find her on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about the evolving landscape of talent development.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Ever caught yourself scrolling through photos of presentation slides you'll never look at again? In this episode, cognitive science researcher Nidhi Sachdeva, PhD, challenges us to reconsider how we're learning in our digital age.

Nidhi, a teacher educator at the University of Toronto and microlearning specialist, shares a startling observation: we're thinking less and reflecting less—and it's impacting our ability to truly learn. Drawing from her extensive research, she explains why our long-term memory requires regular "massaging" through challenging conditions that prompt recall and reflection. The simple act of attempting to remember information before checking notes or photos can dramatically improve retention and drive meaningful behavioral change.

This conversation explores a fundamental disconnect in workplace learning design. Too often, organizations approach training as information dumps without considering the cognitive science of how people actually learn. "You can't connect the dots if you don't have the dots," Nidhi reminds us, emphasizing that dots are built through active thinking, not passive consumption. She references John Sweller's cognitive load theory to illustrate how instruction without understanding human cognitive architecture is essentially "blind."

Perhaps most compelling is Nidhi 's perspective on our evolutionary advantage—our neocortex—and how our rush toward AI and instant information access might be undermining millions of years of cognitive development. This isn't about rejecting technology but using it wisely while preserving our uniquely human capacity for deep reflection.

Whether you're designing learning experiences, leading a team, or simply trying to retain what you learn at your next conference, this episode offers practical wisdom on the power of pausing to think. Listen now and discover why sometimes the most powerful learning technology is the one between your ears.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

What if the key to career advancement was as simple as saying "yes" to opportunity? Howard H. Prager, President of Advanced Learning Group, believes this straightforward philosophy can transform professional development and organizational culture. During our conversation at ATD 2025, Howard reveals why our brains are naturally wired to say "no" and how overcoming this instinct unlocks tremendous growth potential.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn when Howard identifies change as life's third certainty (alongside death and taxes). In today's world of instant global communication and persistent uncertainty, leaders must become pioneers and explorers who encourage experimentation rather than resist the inevitable. Howard challenges the myth of the heroic solo leader, emphasizing that success comes through collaborative effort – not through following a single visionary into "battle."

Drawing from his book "Make Someone's Day: Becoming a Memorable Leader in Work and Life," Howard proposes a revolutionary practice for organizations: creating cultures centered around making others' days better. Imagine workplaces where people care more about supporting colleagues than protecting individual territories. Such environments naturally foster the engagement that organizations desperately seek but fail to capture through pulse surveys and metrics.

As both an executive coach and tuba player, Howard brings unique interdisciplinary insights to leadership development, using musical metaphors like improvisation and conductor-following to illustrate organizational dynamics. His approach reminds us that bringing diverse perspectives to challenges lightens everyone's load and enriches solutions.

Want to transform your workplace culture or accelerate your professional development? Connect with Howard at howard@advancedlearninggroup.com or find his book "Make Someone's Day: Becoming a Memorable Leader in Work and Life" wherever books are sold.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

What happens when we stop treating learning as a compliance checkbox and start designing it around human experience? Justin Seeley, e-Learning Evangelist for Adobe, reveals why most corporate training fails to engage employees and what we can do about it.

Having led learning teams at Twitter, LinkedIn Learning, Snapchat, and Walmart Marketplace, Justin brings a wealth of practical wisdom to this conversation about creating learning experiences that actually work. He challenges the conventional "sheep dip" approach to training where everyone receives identical instruction regardless of their learning preferences. Instead, he advocates for personalized, practice-based approaches that accommodate different learning styles.

"Learning is not necessarily overlooked, but it is undervalued," Justin explains, pinpointing why so many organizations struggle with workforce development despite substantial investments. He shares how his pioneering work with in-course practice modules at LinkedIn Learning dramatically improved engagement by giving learners hands-on challenges followed by solution demonstrations. This practice-feedback loop, combined with opportunities for peer interaction, creates the kind of immersive learning experience that drives real skill development.

As AI reshapes the learning landscape, Justin predicts a fundamental shift in how L&D leaders function—moving from production managers to strategic thought leaders. While some organizations might temporarily reduce L&D investments based on AI capabilities, he believes the pendulum will eventually swing back toward human expertise. His compelling call for democratizing education by breaking down learning silos offers a practical pathway for organizations navigating this transition.

Ready to transform how your organization approaches learning? Subscribe now for more insights on building high-performance teams through strategic talent development. Share your own learning experiences in the comments—we'd love to hear what works for you!

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Dan Moore, Olympic high-performance coach for the GB men's rowing team, takes us behind the scenes of his recent success at the Paris Olympics, where he guided the men's four and men's pair to bronze and silver medals. Having started coaching at just 16 years old, Moore brings over half a lifetime of coaching wisdom to this conversation about team dynamics and leadership.

The discussion reveals a fascinating paradox at the heart of high-performance teams: "People tend to want to be right more than they want to win." Moore explains how this natural human tendency creates challenges when bringing together exceptional individual performers who must function as a cohesive unit. His provocative insight that "one bad idea executed together is better than four good ideas executed separately" challenges conventional thinking about team effectiveness.

Moore's leadership philosophy centers on connection rather than control. Through personal experience, he learned that talking with team members rather than preaching at them creates the trust necessary for authentic leadership. This approach proves especially valuable when navigating vulnerability and failure - two inevitable aspects of high-performance environments. Rather than avoiding discussions about potential setbacks, Moore advocates "previewing" failure by establishing team protocols for response before challenges arise. This preemptive approach builds resilience and accountability while minimizing finger-pointing when things don't go as planned.

Ready to transform your leadership approach? Subscribe to the People and Performance Podcast for more insights from experts across sports and business who understand what it takes to build high-performing teams in challenging environments.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Today we are joined by Karl Dickson, a globally acclaimed figure in the realm of rugby, celebrated for his dual roles as a professional Rugby Union referee and a former England and Harlequins player. 

His illustrious refereeing career reached new heights during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he officiated the quarter-final between Wales and Argentina and served as the assistant referee in the final between South Africa and New Zealand. 

Karl’s story offers a unique perspective on decision-making under pressure, maintaining impartiality, and managing high-stakes environments. Whether you’re a leader guiding your team through challenges or simply looking to improve your ability to make tough calls, Karl’s insights are unmissable.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In the latest edition of this sports and business focused season, Chris and Bill are joined by Corey Samuels, Corey Samuels, a professional basketball player on the Bristol Flyers Men's Basketball team with a keen interest in business, HR, and inspiring others to perform at a high level. 

Corey’s experiences on and off the court provide a great lens into teamwork, adaptability, and the drive to achieve excellence. His thoughts on maintaining focus and balance will resonate with anyone striving for their goals.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Our guest this time is Felicia Rickards, an executive coach and leadership development consultant.

Felicia has worked with both sports stars and corporate C-suite leaders, making her uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between these two worlds. 

She’ll unpack how coaching strategies in elite sports can empower corporate leaders to unlock their full potential. 

Felicia is also co-organizer of events for HR and leaders including Disrupt Bermuda and Disrupt Milton Keynes.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, Chris and Bill chat with Steve Mellor, a high-performance Coach at GrowthReady and Host of The GrowthReady Podcast. 

Steve is a former top 50 globally-ranked swimmer and swim coach to olympic champions, All-Americans, and SEC medalists. Steve founded his company to serve executives, business owners, athletes and emerging leaders looking to attain optimal performance within their respective careers. 

In 2022, Steve became a published author with his debut book SHOCK THE WORLD; A Competitor’s Guide to Realizing Your Potential where he provides readers with the shocks to their system they need to go and realize their potential. 

Steve’s journey from elite athlete to mentor offers a fascinating look at how to navigate transitions, sustain motivation, and develop winning strategies. We’ll explore how the discipline and mindset of an Olympian translate into corporate success.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Our guest this time is Zoe Thompson, who was once Britain’s second-strongest woman. After dealing with personal tragedy, Zoe Thompson embarked on a mission to change her life for the better. 

Zoe’s story is one of grit, determination, and relentless pursuit of goals. Her perspective on building mental and physical strength and how these traits can translate into professional resilience will leave you inspired.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, Chris and Bill talk with Emma Ross, a trailblazing leader in sports science, a staunch advocate for women's empowerment in sport, and Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at The Well HQ. Emma was formerly the Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport, where her mandate included nurturing Team GB talent across the hugely successful Rio and Tokyo Olympics. 

Emma brings a wealth of knowledge on how science and data can empower teams to perform at their peak, whether that’s on the sports field or in the boardroom. Emma’s work focuses on well-being, resilience, and optimizing performance. Her insights are bound to inspire leaders to rethink how they support their teams. 

Emma is a sought-after voice and consultant in women's sports, championing inclusivity, equity, and recognition of the female athlete's full potential. Despite her own background as a former rugby player and avid marathon runner, Emma recognizes the systemic barriers within cultural, medical, and academic frameworks that must be dismantled to pave the way for women's success in sports.

----------

Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Welcome to a very special preview episode of the People and Performance Podcast! Bill and Chris are thrilled to share a sneak peek into our upcoming Season 14. 

We’ve got an incredible lineup that’s going to take us in a slightly different, but super exciting, direction this season.

Usually, we bring you insights into the strategic competencies, behaviors, and results needed to boost workforce performance—from attraction and recruitment to onboarding, measurement, and succession planning. But for Season 14, we’re switching gears to explore the world of elite sports and how the lessons learned at the highest levels of competition can inspire and inform corporate performance.

In the new season, Chris and Bill talk with sports professionals, international referees, and those who govern elite sports, all sharing their unique perspectives on performance, leadership, resilience, teamwork and the lessons from elite sport that translate to the corporate world of work. 

Get the lowdown on what to expect from Season 14. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In the first People and Performance episode of 2025, we consider company culture and high achievement in the hospitality sector.

Our guest today is James Ferguson, speaker, employee engagement expert, and Corporate Director of Culture at The Wurzak Hotel Group, a Philadelphia-based, vertically integrated owner, developer, and operator of premium branded full-service, extended stay, and lifestyle hotels.

James is also the Bestselling Author of The Confetti Culture Playbook and award recipient at HRZone's recent Culture Pioneers Forum. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance show, Dani Saadu, Head of People and Culture at Wavemaker, joins Bill and Chris to share some key strategies behind transformative workplace learning. 

Dani is co-author of The CAPEX Formula for Learning and Performance: Mega-Trends Driving the New World of Work, Learning, Skills, and HR.

With over 15 years of experience as a people and culture, talent management, and organisational development professional, Dani is an expert in developing practical and sustainable programs that align with business goals and deliver measurable returns on investment. 

Prior to joining Wavemaker, Dani held several director-level People roles in multiple sectors spanning retail, recruitment, pharmaceuticals and travel. 

Questions for Dani Include:

• Give us an overview of your book, CAPEX Formula for Learning and Performance
• You discuss future-proofing organizations—what are the first steps companies need to take?
• CEOs often demand ROI for L&D investments. Why has this been so elusive, and how can we change that in 2025?
• If readers take one thing away from this book, what should it be?

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance show, we consider systems thinking, ways to define strategic capabilities, and we review UNLEASH 2024 in Paris.

Chris and Bill are joined this time by Mary Glowacka, Global Head of Learning & Leadership Development at Rolls Royce, the aerospace and defense company.

With 15+ years of strategic practitioner experience and an unusual journey from operations into HR, Mary is also a member of Josh Bersin’s Senior Faculty, a regular speaker at HR industry events such as UNLEASH, and winner of the 2020 WinTrade Global Women in Leadership Award in recognition of progressive thinking in the banking sector.

Questions for Mary include:

• You have an unusual journey from operations into HR. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your career journey
• As we record this, you're 18 months into your role at Rolls Royce - what do you love about the position and what are some of the big challenges to improving the performance levels of its people?
• Why do you believe systems thinking is important for leaders?
• How do you identify and define a strategic capability? 
• Can you tell me more about how you approach the development of these capabilities at Rolls Royce?
• Rolls Royce was recently recognized with the GOLD Brandon Hall Group Award for the Best Leadership Development Programme in 2024 – a global accolade for your Strategic Leadership Development Programme powered by your partners at London Business School. Congratulations! Tell me more. 
• You recently spoke at UNLEASH in Paris. Can you briefly share some of your key takeaways from the 2024 event and why you believe other senior people leaders should attend?

More About Mary

Mary says her sweet spot is change enablement & transformation and her unique expertise combines strategy and execution across a wide range of people and HR processes with a key focus on learning, leadership & talent development, performance enablement, and HRIS/EdTech implementation.

As Head of Learning & Leadership Development at Rolls-Royce, Mary is leading strategic people capabilities development in support of Rolls-Royce’s transformation agenda set out by its new CEO.

----------

Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this People and Performance episode, we hear from Enrique Rubio, Top 100 Global HR Influencer and speaker.

Enrique is the founder & CEO of Hacking HR, a global learning community at the intersection of the future of work technology and business with thousands of members from all over the world. 

In addition, he is Head of Global Community at Transform. 

Questions for Enrique include:

• You did not start in HR. You were an engineer for many years. Why move into HR?
• How is AI impacting the work done by HR pros and employees today? 
• How will AI and LLM continue to improve the performance of employees? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Our guest today is Angela Cheng-Cimini, SVP, Talent & CHRO at Harvard Business Publishing.

Angela is a global executive Human Resources leader with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in both Generalist and Specialist competencies, partnering with C-suite leaders. 

Tune in to hear Angela's thoughts on ways new managers can get over imposter syndrome. Angela also shares tips for how mid-level managers can better communicate the needs of their employees to senior leaders.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Today’s leaders must navigate uncertainty and act with clarity. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow, and future success requires innovation, decisive action, and the ability to influence change.

Bill is joined by Judith Germain, a multi-award-winning leadership catalyst and speaker at next week's Disrupt London event in partnership with HR Zone's Culture Pioneers Leadership Forum. 

The Forum is a gathering for HR leaders and professionals who are passionate about transforming workplace culture. Featuring Disrupt London, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from industry trailblazers, celebrate the achievements of forward-thinking organisations, and connect with like-minded professionals.

Judith's work focuses on empowering leadership teams, businesses, and organizations to thrive in times of complexity. 

Bill and Chris hope you enjoy this conversation with Judith. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Welcome to a brand new season of the People and Performance Podcast! In this episode, we consider some of the greatest challenges facing leaders today when it comes to attracting and keeping high-performing talent.

Joining Chris and Bill on the show is Dr. Patrick Simon, Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company, the global management consulting firm.

Patrick advises clients in Europe, the U.S., and Asia on a broad array of topics ranging from organizational design to strategy and operations. His focus is on large transformations and helping organizations achieve sustained growth by aligning their operating model more closely with market opportunities. His published work touches on various aspects of creating powerful organizations including agility, operating models for emerging markets, and efficient implementation.

Listen as we discuss how leaders navigate competing priorities to stay focused and effective. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Welcome to another episode of the People and Performance Podcast. Our guest today is Dr Dieter Veldsman, Chief Scientist: HR and OD at AIHR (Academy to Innovate HR).

Listen as we discuss ways to improve the credibility of HR pros plus we ask "What does it mean to be a T-shaped HR professional?"

Questions for Dieter include:

• Let's talk about "HR Competencies for 2030: A Future Standard" - What does it mean to be a T-shaped HR professional?
• In a recent article called "HR Has a Bad Reputation" You outline 6 actions to improve HR credibility. Talk us through the six actions and why they matter. 
• What is the single biggest change you think will happen in HR and leadership over the next 5-10 years?    

More About Dr Dieter Veldsmen

Dieter is passionate about ideas, human behavior, and business. He has dedicated his career to the field of Work Psychology and Human Resource Management. With over 15+ years of experience, he has combined his interests to guide organizations in creating desirable workplaces that foster employee satisfaction and retention. Throughout his journey he has worked with diverse organizations across EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, and have held executive-level positions such as Group Chief People Officer, Director of Consulting Services, and Chief Research Scientist.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we welcome Tara Furiani to the show. Combining a razor-sharp wit with over two decades of expertise in the people business, Tara fuses scholarly depth with battle-tested experience, making her a tour de force in HR, executive team-building, DEI, and corporate culture.

Outside the professional sphere, Tara doesn’t just talk work-life balance; she lives it. A loving parent to five kids, Tara also hosts the popular podcast "Not the HR Lady," - offering fresh perspectives on the stale ideologies plaguing businesses today.

Questions for Tara include:

• We are big fans of your podcast, Not the HR Lady. Tell our listeners about the show.
• Can you mention 2 or 3 guests on your pod that have made you rethink ways to improve employee performance? 
• Tell us about your book: F*ck Your Office Snacks
• If you could pass on one crucial lesson you have learned in your career, what would be your top tip for HR professionals and leaders?    
  
  
  

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we focus on employee motivation and its connection with performance levels.

Our guest today is Paul Yoachum, co-founder & Managing Partner at FindMojo, the creators of the Motivators Assessment, the workplace motivation assessment. As a cofounder, managing partner, and CMO Paul is responsible for overseeing the company’s growth, customer acquisition, content, and product strategy.

Paul is a frequent speaker at training and leadership events throughout North America where he speaks on sales performance, employee motivation and productivity, corporate culture, and teamwork. He also guest lectures at universities and non-profit organizations throughout the country on a variety of organizational management topics.

Questions for Paul include: 

• Why is motivation key to employee retention and higher performance?
• What are the big motivators at the moment? E.g. higher salaries, benefits, professional development, CSR? 
• How does your team help customers better understand team members by discovering motivational synergies, uniqueness, and cautions? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Welcome to another People and Performance episode. Our guest today is Natalie Massey, Operations Manager at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and former Area Executive Assistant to the NASA Deputy Administrator at NASA.

Questions for Natalie include: 

• What challenges can admin and HR staff better tackle together? 
• Given ChatGPT etc, what does the admin professional role and job description look like in the new workplace?
• What is the single biggest change you think will happen in admin and HR roles plusleadership over the next 5-10 years?    

More about Natalie

Natalie has been the recipient of a NASA Honor Award in Administrative Excellence.

Previously, Natalie served as Executive Assistant to NASA’s Deputy Administrator, where she directly contributed to the overall Agency vision and independently performed administrative management functions that serviced organizational requirements. She demonstrated critical, institutional familiarity of the agency process and history to enable thoughtful decision-making on behalf of the Deputy Administrator.

Natalie joined NASA in September 1996 as a Cooperative Office Experience student at Goddard Space Flight Center and has served in a variety of roles at the agency, including at Headquarters in 2010.  Natalie has over 25 years of progressive experience in programs and projects related to NASA strategy formulation, science, and technology investments. She has had significant experience in the development and implementation of strategies to maintain a viable administrative community.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we discuss ways to maximize performance in the security sector.

Our guest today is Sarah Hayes, HR Director at Securitas UK and Co-founder and Director at Running on Empty.

With over 25 years of HR experience, Sarah is an award-winning fellow of the CIPD. Having worked in senior roles in various sectors including retail, financial services, and railway.

Sarah has worked at Securitas for 8 years and has been the HR Director for the UK for the last 4 years.

Sarah has led through the turbulent time of Covid, whilst still making huge strides in the provision of development of their people, making learning available to all employees, leadership development for all people managers and a diversity and inclusion strategy that saw Securitas UK be shortlisted as a finalist for multiple awards.

Sarah combines her HR expertise with a passion for people and employee engagement. With a particular interest in diversity, inclusion and belonging, Learning and Development, and health and wellbeing for all.

Questions for Sarah include:

• You've had several HR roles over the years. Why choose a career in HR? Advice for others thinking of going into HR?
• How does Securitas UK invest in training and development to enhance the skills and knowledge of your people and keep them relevant in the face of challenges such as AI? How are you adopting AI? 
• Securitas has kindly offered their HQ in MK to host special edition of Disrupt Cambridge. Long may our relationship continue! Why host Disrupt? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In an era where burnout, ‘quiet quitting’ and work-life balance have permeated the conversation around employment, how can employers stand out? 

The implementation of a shorter work week, says today's guest, is the most equitable way to strive towards this universal goal of balance and happiness. 

Our guest this time is Joe O’Connor, a globally recognized expert in shorter working weeks. Joe leads the Toronto-based Work Time Reduction Centre of Excellence that's focused on how a four-day week might work in the HR field and what it might mean for recruitment, retention and employee happiness.

Joe was also a speaker at DisruptHR Buffalo in April 2024.

Questions for Joe include: 

• In terms of higher performance/output, what are some of the key benefits to a shorter work week? 
• How does a shorter workweek affect retention and recruitment?
• What are some key obstacles to the four-day week you’ve seen that leaders and/or HR professionals might encounter and how can we best overcome them?
• We all spoke at DisruptHR Buffalo earlier this year. Tell our listeners about your experience and your 5-minute presentation

More About Joe O'Connor

Joe is the Director and Co-founder ofthe world's first Center of Excellence in Work Time Reduction, a new global initiative based in Toronto, Canada, which has been launched in partnership with leading people-first transformation company Curium Solutions.

Previously, as the chief executive officer of 4 Day Week Global, Joe led the design and implementation of four-day week trials all over the world, supporting hundreds of employers and thousands of employees to make the transition to reduced-hour, productivity-focused working in 2021 and 2022.

Joe recently led a research project on work time reduction as a visiting research scholar with Cornell University in New York City. He is now based in Toronto, where he heads up Canadian operations for Curium Solutions in addition to directing the Work Time Reduction CoE.

Joe is also formerly the chairperson of the Four Day Week Ireland campaign, having founded the coalition in2019, where he developed the world's first four-day week pilot program and research project in 2021. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, Bill Banham and Chris Bjorling are joined by Tim Whitley, Director of HR Technology at Oklahoma State University. 

Tim is passionate about harnessing technology's transformative potential; seeing HR not as a functional necessity but as a strategic powerhouse. 

Listen as we explore the crossroads of technology and HR and consider the impact of the AI revolution on the tools we use at work.

Questions for Tim include:

• What impact do you see the AI revolution having on HR and, specifically, the HR tech profession?
• When advising newcomers to the HR tech space, what key skills and competencies would you suggest they focus on developing?
• What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the HR tech sector over the next five years?

About Tim Whitley

Tim is passionate about harnessing technology's transformative potential, envisioning HR not just as a functional necessity but as a strategic powerhouse.

Recognizing the pivotal role HR tech professionals play, Tim is dedicated to championing these unsung heroes. He endeavors to equip them with the support, tools, and acknowledgment they rightly deserve in their pursuit of technological innovation within HR.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we preview seasons 12 to 14 of the People and Performance Podcast plus we talk about the ATD Conference in New Orleans. 

Listen and Chris and Bill discuss:

• The new seasons of the podcast and some of the new amazing guests listeners will hear from
• One of the new seasons is focused on high performance in elite sports and the connections with output in a commercial setting. Listen to get the lowdown
• Bill and Chris discuss their experienes at the DisruptHR Buffalo relaunch in April. 
• The ATD Conference and Expo is underway in New Orleans. Bill, Chris and Eren Ikiz will be covering the event on behalf of HR Gazette. Tune in to learn what attendees can expect. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we talk about flexible working, remote employees and Obstacles to building a company culture based on high-performance.

The guest is Bryan Adams, CEO & Founder of employer brand agency Ph.Creative, Employer Brand Strategist, Best-Selling Author, and Speaker.

Questions for Bryan include:

• Tell us about your HR World session on "Crafting an Employee Value Proposition with the Give and Get Methodology". 
• Why embrace flexible work?
• What challenges does having a remote workforce create? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we discuss gender equality, the living wage and more.

Our guest today is Deborah Borg, Chief Human Resources and D&I Officer at International Flavors & Fragrances, a world leader in food and beverage, home and personal care, and health.

Deb is a seasoned HR and Business executive who has enabled business success through people for over 20 years. Her record of success can be attributed to an unusual breadth of experience having held key leadership roles in both general management and Human Resources for over 20 years in multinational industry leading companies. She has a passion for the human dimension of business, and applies her strong business acumen, curiosity, leadership and technical expertise in support of the business agenda as both a board member and a c-suite executive.

Questions for Deborah include:

• IFF was recently named #1 in America and #10 globally on Equileap’s gender equality global report and ranking. What does this say about IFF's efforts to champion inclusion as a key advantage?
• What does it mean for the employer brand and recruitment efforts when a company can point to accolades like this?
• IFF is committed to the Living Wage Pledge to ensure all employees around the world receive a living wage as defined within their country. Why is this important?

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Happy International Women's Day! Today is dedicated to celebrating accomplishments of women, and marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Around the world, groups unite to celebrate women's achievements or advocate for gender equality.

As a nod to this special day, Chris Bjorling and Bill Banham thought it would be great to share answers from ten awesome women who've been guests on the show. The responses offered tackle this question: "In one minute or less, can you share one piece of advice or some direction you were given by a mentor, leader or colleague that inspired you to perform at a higher level in your career?"

In order of appearance, you'll hear answers from these ten awesome women: 

• Whitney Johnson, CEO of human capital consultancy Disruption Advisors
• Kathy Caprino, an internationally-recognized career and leadership coach, writer, speaker and educator dedicated to the advancement of women in business
• Lila Nazef, Vice President of Sales and Marketing (North America) at Neocase, a Saas platform for automating HR service delivery
• Rita Sookrit, Toronto-based L&D expert and co-organizer of DisruptHR Buffalo
• Kim Tabac, a consultant helping businesses big and small across North America to leverage their number one asset: their people
• Keirsten Greggs, founder and CEO of TRAP Recruiter LLC
• Jacqueline Kuhn, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President, Strategic Services at HRchitect
• Janet M. Stovall, Global Head of DEI at the NeuroLeadership Institute, a global neuroscience-backed consultancy advising companies including Boeing, Microsoft, Netflix, and Zoom on DEI and workplace culture
• Tia Graham, Founder of Arrive At Happy and author of the book Be a Happy Leader. Throughout its pages, strategies and tactics are provided which include the use of positive psychologiy, having a broad perspective, executing quickly, creating strong relationships, measuring what matters, and being the spark in the team
• Ebonee Davis Ifeobu, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Bridgestone Americas

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Today is Employee Appreciation Day! The holiday started to appear in workplace calendars around 1995 and has since grown into a well-loved tradition. Its creation is credited to Dr. Bob Nelson in collaboration with his company, Workman Publishing. Now, almost 30 years later, more and more companies are celebrating this semi-official holiday in one fashion or another all around the world!

To celebrate employee appreciation day 2024, hosts Chris Bjorling and Bill Banham couldn't think of a better guest to be on the People and Performance Podcast than the awesome Rob Catalano, Chief Engagement Officer at WorkTango, a platform that offers employees a voice and leaders actionable insights. Using data science and natural language processing, Rob and his team help to deliver real-time insights to HR, executives and leaders on any initiative that requires employee feedback, and help companies measure employee engagement. The results are higher engagement and better people decisions. 

Rob is also a co-organizer of the popular DisruptHR Toronto events - a series that is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of employees and leaders. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Our guest this time is Joshua Siegal a multi-time Head of People for some of Canada’s most successful scale-up tech companies. He’s currently operating as a Fractional Chief People Officer, Advisor, Investor, and Speaker, empowering organizations to build sustainable, high-performance cultures.

Josh will also be a speaker at DisruptHR Buffalo on April 11.

Listen as we discuss  ways to navigate a 'polycrisis' and keep employees energized during difficult times

Questions for Josh Include: 

• Can you share your experiences of "navigating a polycrisis" and keeping employees energized during challenging times?
• What are some ways to navigate layoffs more compassionately?
• How can we create human connection in a decentralized world?
• Can you share some top advice you've had from a mentor?
• Tell us about your talk on April 11.

More About Josh

Josh possesses a deep love for coaching, mentoring, & education. Be it in the boardroom or in the classroom, he feels it is his purpose to help those around him unleash their full potential.

When not leading People & Culture teams, Josh has a deep passion for the martial arts, yoga, reading, and spending time with his amazing wife and adorable dog.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we consider how to source and hire high-performers. Our guest today is Shally Steckerl, Principal Consultant and Founderat The Sourcing Institute.

Shally is a globally recognized recruiting leader who has helped build sourcing organizations for companies such as Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola, Cisco, and Motorola. He is a writer, a public speaker, and an adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. 

Shally is known as the "Godfather of Sourcing" and has dedicated much of his adult life to teaching his sourcing methods to those who want to be better. Shally understands what it takes to get leads on the phone and contracts on deck.

Questions for Shally include:

• In many industries, it's tough to find and hire high-performing people right now. Why is that?
• Is culture fit important? 
• What's different about what top candidates expect from their next job and how have expectations changed since we came through the pandemic? 
• How can hiring managers mess it up at the interview stage? What pitfalls should they avoid to get the candidate over the line? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

The numbers consistently show that a diverse workforce, supported by rigorous DEI policies, can unleash a myriad of benefits. It has the power to revolutionize an organization's performance, drive innovation, enhance decision-making, and ultimately, create a thriving culture of excellence.

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we delve deep into some practical strategies, insights, and success stories from an industry leader who champions diversity ways to leverage DEI initiatives to achieve higher overall levels of employee performance.

Listen as we explore ways in which a more diverse workforce, coupled with robust DEI recruitment policies, can become a catalyst for positive change, propelling organizations to new heights of success.

Our guest this time is Keirsten Greggs, founder and CEO of TRAP Recruiter LLC, a recruiting consulting and career coaching firm. With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition, she's passionate about helping organizations attract, select and retain the best people, including underrepresented candidates, as well as helping job seekers find their voice in the hiring process.

With 20+ years of experience in Talent Acquisition, she’s known around the industry. Add that to being featured as an expert by ERE, InHerSight, Diversity Jobs, Hiretual, Talview, TechTarget, BBC World Service Radio, MadameNoire, Fast Company, and SiriusXM Urban View.

Listen and learn practical techniques and strategies you can use to attract, source, and retain diverse candidates and the benefits it’ll bring to the performance of your company.

Questions for Keirsten include: 

• Can you tell us about your passion for recruiting?
• Can you share 2 or 3 top diversity recruiting strategies to achieve better levels of DEI in the workplace?
• What do many job candidates get wrong about working with a recruiter?
• What do many employers get wrong when trying to recruit a more diverse workforce? How can they make the employer brand more appealing? 
• How is AI helping to remove bias from the sourcing and recruiting process? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we hear from Dr. Sue Haywood, President and Owner at Human Resource Blueprints Ltd and Associate Professor, Organizational Behaviour at Queen's University.

Sue’s career includes service with the Canadian Armed Forces and HR roles within healthcare, government, and Fortune 500 companies. She serves on the HRPA board of directors, volunteers with Great Dane rescue and is the proud mom of a pre-schooler.

Questions for Sue include:

• You were featured on the HR Like a Boss show back in 2023. In it, you discussed how HR and leaders can help deliver the work environments that employees are looking for. Can you give us your take.  
• What are some challenges to developing leaders when so much time today is spent working remotely?
• How can top performers be incentivized to move into leadership roles?
• How important is experiencing failure so that, in the long term, one has a successful career? 
• Do leaders learn more from failures than wins?

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we discuss what organizations often miss in their approach to leveraging data when making resource decisions around people and culture. Our guest this time is Craig Forman, Founder at CultureC Consulting.

For over a decade, Craig’s work has been driven by a singular professional purpose: to help the world work better by improving the places we work. Over his career, he’s supported some of the most notable and highly successful organizations to build human-focused, high-performing workplace cultures.

Questions for Craig include: 

• What has your journey taught you regarding the power of data when it comes to people & culture?
• What are organizations often missing in their approach to leveraging data when making resource decisions around people and culture?
• Tell us about your time at Culture Amp and your ultimate transition to launch CultureC Consulting

More About Craig

Craig recently founded CultureC Consulting following six years as Lead People Scientist at Culture Amp. CultureC is focused on helping organizations implement a data-informed approach to their people and culture, resulting in actions that have an impact. Additionally, he designed and led Culture Amp’s award-winning Culture First global community, now with over 100 global chapters and led the experience design for the Culture First Global conference, spanning four years and 15 events reaching hundreds of thousands of culture enthusiasts.

Craig holds a Master's degree in Industrial / Organizational Psychology and is a proud veteran of the US Air Force.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we welcome Brian Hughes, the former VP of Human Resources at First Onsite onto the show to discuss leadership development and share some findings from a summer 2023 Canada-wide workplace values survey. 

Questions for Brian include:

• How can medium and large organizations foster a culture of continuous learning among HR leaders and C-level executives to adapt to the dynamic business landscape?
• How can HR leaders and C-level executives better collaborate to embrace emerging HR technologies and use data-driven insights to enhance talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning?
• How can HR leaders ensure that the learning and development initiatives for C-level executives are aligned with the organization's overall business goals and long-term vision, and how can people analytics assist in measuring this alignment?
• Let's now discuss some findings from First Onsite's workplace values survey released in summer 2023:
  • The report says 75% of Canadians believe hybrid working is here to stay. For white-collar salaried jobs, what's a good balance? (in-office, remote, and on-the-go workers). 
  • It's interesting to see that 41% of Canadians feel they lack options for purposeful employment. What initiatives or programs should leadership have in place to provide meaningful and purposeful roles for employees?
  • The survey indicates that 23% of Canadians plan to quit or change jobs in 2023, with a higher percentage among younger adults. How can HR leaders play a bigger role in retaining their talent, especially the younger workforce, in light of this finding?

This episde was recorded in summer 2023. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

Chris and Bill are joined this time by Craig Weber, author of the best-selling book, "Conversational Capacity: The Secret To Building Successful Teams That Perform When The Pressure Is On" (McGraw-Hill, 2013) and the sequel, "Influence in Action: How to Build Your Conversational Capacity, Do Meaningful Work, and Make a Powerful Difference" (McGraw-Hill, 2019).

Craig says he's "on a mission to help people build more healthy, engaged, and adaptive organizations" and he shares practical skills for putting good ideas to work: from running better meetings and making smarter decisions to facilitating more productive change and crafting more effective strategy.

Questions for Craig include:

• What do you mean when you talk about 'inspiring constructive change'? 
• What do you focus on when creating a program to help leaders and high-skilled professionals to perform at top levels? Share some of your philosophy and the business practices you promote.
• What does a productive meeting mean to you and should all in attendance have a voice?
• Can you tell us about your book, Conversational Capacity: The Secret To Building Successful Teams That Perform When The Pressure Is On

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In episode two of season 10, we hear from Jacob Morgan, a multiple best-selling author, TED and keynote speaker, professionally trained futurist, and the international best-selling author of 5 books which focus on leadership, the future of work and employee experience.

Questions for Jacon include:

• In a recent LinkedIn article, you offer up four key traits that innovative leaders possess. Can you run through those now?
• Does innovation always start from the top or can employees shape the company culture and drive higher performance? 
• Is burnout the biggest threat to high performance? 
• Can you share ways you lead with vulnerability?
• Your latest book is called Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization. Tell us more. 

More About Jacob

Jacob's passion and mission is to create great leaders, engaged employees, and future-ready organizations and his work has been endorsed by the CEOs of: Unilever, Cisco, Mastercard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, Audi, Kaiser Permanente, and many others.

Jacob has also contributed to and been cited in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Glamour, the MIT Sloan Management Review, USA Today, and The Harvard Business Review.

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In the first episode of season 10, Chris Bjorling and Bill Banham look ahead to the latest season and offer up sound bites from a bunch of awesome new guests including:

• Jacob Morgan, Keynote & TED Speaker, Futurist, and Host of the Great Leadership Podcast - Jacob is a multi-best-selling author. His latest book is called Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization. 
• Dr. Sue Haywood, President and Owner at Human Resource Blueprints Ltd and Associate Professor, Organizational Behaviour at Queen's University - Sue’s career includes service with the Canadian Armed Forces and HR roles within healthcare, government, and Fortune 500 companies. Sue also serves on the HRPA board of directors.
• Craig Forman, founder of CultureC Consulting - Over his career, Craig has supported some of the most notable and highly successful organizations to build human-focused, high-performing workplace cultures. Craig recently founded CultureC Consulting following six years as Lead People Scientist at Culture Amp. Craig holds a Master's degree in Industrial / Organizational Psychology and is a proud veteran of the US Air Force.
• Brian Hughes, the VP of Human Resources at First Onsite - Brian is a leader who has found success by making empathy and wellbeing top priorities throughout the years.
• Craig Weber, author of the best-selling book, "Conversational Capacity: The Secret To Building Successful Teams That Perform When The Pressure Is On" - Craig says he's "on a mission to help people build more healthy, engaged, and adaptive organizations" and he shares practical skills for putting good ideas to work: from running better meetings and making smarter decisions to facilitating more productive change and crafting more effective strategy.

----------

Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance show, we consider ways HR, L&d pros, and leaders can support a culture of continuous learning and development. Listen too, as we tackle some of the common obstacles that can block a successful L&D journey. 

Our guest this time is Toby Kheng, speaker, consultant, L&D enthusiast and Founder/Employee Experience Consultant at Freeformers

Questions for Toby include:

• What are some common factors that get in the way of L&D initiatives?
• How can HR and leaders support a culture of continuous learning and development?
• You spoke at DisruptHR Norwich and DisruptHR Cambridge in 2023. Tell us about your sessions.
• In a Solvd Together blog post, you wrote: "When it comes to the HR or People functions, data remains a sorely underutilized tool — and these functions risk falling further and further behind as the ways in which we can use data advance and people take back the power of their activities... Consumer-facing organizations are using data to make better decisions and... this can be easily applied to the world of people-management (through… you guessed it… Human Centred Design)." Tell us more. 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode, we consider ways an LMS can improve the employee experience and impact your bottom line.

Our guest today is Graham Glass, Founder and CEO at CYPHER Learning, a company leading the disruption of learning platforms to unleash human potential with modern learning experiences.

Questions for Graham  include:

• What are the key benefits of bite-size learning compared to course-based learning? 
• What are your top tips for those looking to leverage AI for personalized learning experiences that'll improve the overall performance of the org? 
• The skills gap between employees and employers has serious consequences. CYPHER Learning's 2023 survey highlights the need for modernized training to stay competitive. Can you talk about some of findings and how training impacts the workplace, employees' priorities, and the changing face of training environments? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we consider ways leaders can help inspire employees to perform at a higher level, the impact of AI on jobs, and we enter into the bite-size v course-based learning debate.

The guest today is Andrei Hedstrom, Founder and CEO at SweetRush, a company providing services to improve team culture and employee performance.

Andrei says "SweetRush’s focus on team culture and mastery of performance improvement is reflected in a near-zero turnover of teammates, loyal clients, a 23-year track record of success, and a remarkable portfolio."

Questions for Andrei include:

• In terms of one-on-one colleague relationships, how can leaders help inspire employees to perform at a higher level?
• Culture & leader transformation - where does one start?
• Staff augmentation - contingent staff, gig workers or both?
• VR & emerging technologies - what's hot in immersive tech? 

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!

In this episode of the People and Performance Podcast, we consider ways to connect employee performance to company output. Listen too, as we chat about ways AI can fill performance gaps.

Chris and Bill are joined by Kim Tabac, a consultant helping businesses big and small across North America to leverage their number one asset: their people.

Kim has over 20 years of experience designing and executing People & Culture strategies for leading organizations across various industries.

Questions for Kim include:

• Connecting employee performance to company performance: How did you manage these processes when you were a people leader at companies such as Deloitte and Canadian Tire and what would you say to those that suggest annual performance reviews are a thing of the past? 
• Many companies are trying to streamline processes and reduce headcounts at the moment. What are some ways this can be achieved without damage to the employer brand and overall performance levels?
• Leveraging the international talent market to fill key roles is one way to keep people costs down. What are some of the benefits and complexities of building a global workforce?

More About Kim Tabac

Kim is best known for building high-performing teams, designing game-changing employee engagement strategies, developing inclusive work environments, delivering highly valued health & wellness programs, and driving the adoption of innovation and technology to disrupt traditional HR practices.

Throughout her career she has worked at both large enterprises, led the HR team at the largest professional services firm in the world, and was the first Chief People Officer at Canada’s unicorn startup League.  

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!