The People Strategy Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Andrew Barnes is the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, the world’s leading organization changing the future of work by implementing a four-day workweek initiative. As a serial entrepreneur, he has promoted market-changing innovation and industry digitization by leading and transforming companies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Andrew is recognized as the pioneer and architect of the four-day workweek movement, working with companies and national and international governments to change how populations work. In 2019, he wrote The 4 Day Week, a how-to guide for reducing work hours and increasing productivity.  

Statistics show that people in the UK and Canada are only productive for 2-3 hours a day, and it takes approximately 22 minutes to return to total productivity following an interruption. With distractions mounting as the distinction between personal and professional becomes increasingly blurred, how can organizations elevate productivity and engagement among their employees?

Hailed as the pioneer of the global four-day workweek movement, Andrew Barnes has observed a 40% increase in employee engagement, recruitment, retention, and team cohesion in organizations that have implemented this model. Employees are often more productive when given less time to complete tasks, with US companies observing a 36% increase in productivity. A four-day workweek also allows employees more time to engage in community-building activities that enrich their personal lives, leading to greater satisfaction and fewer absences in the workplace. 

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Andrew Barnes, the Co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, who discusses restructuring the conventional workweek. Andrew shares how companies can recruit and retain top talent with this model, how to measure productivity effectively, and how companies can foster a work-life balance.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Matt Sunshine is the Managing Partner and CEO of The Center for Sales Strategy, a sales performance consulting company helping B2B organizations attract, retain, and develop the highest performing salespeople. Matt developed and launched the company’s inbound marketing division, LeadG2, which helps businesses establish thought leadership and lower lead costs. He’s also a writer, speaker, and moderator offering lead generation, inbound marketing, and sales process expertise.

When employees are accustomed to excelling in their roles, it can be challenging to transition to a leadership position. By outlining expectations and cultivating intentionality, companies can nurture their leaders’ strengths. How can you create a culture of intentional growth?

Although it may seem counterintuitive, growth and leadership advocate Matt Sunshine maintains that leaders can grow professionally through a combination of freedom and responsibility. This involves encouraging leaders to take ownership of their career trajectories. Yet freedom must accompany clear expectations that define role success, core values, and culture. Through rigorous mentorship and culture alignment, employees can transition effectively from being top performers in their roles to leading others in their career growth.

Tune in to the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast as Traci Austin hosts Matt Sunshine, the Managing Partner at The Center for Sales Strategy, to discuss driving organizational culture and growth. Matt describes the role of trust, accountability, and belief in professional growth, his unique approaches to culture integration, and The Center for Sales Strategy’s innovative growth trajectory.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions. 

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team. 

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

Jennifer Loper is the President of C3, a family and children brand marketing and design agency. As a marketing and communications leader, she has over 30 years of experience working with corporate brands in the restaurant, hospitality, and retail industries. Jennifer is also a board member of the Unleashed Brands Foundation, a charitable organization supporting at-risk youth in communities. 

Traditional work structures have evolved significantly over the past 30 years. What once required a rigid 9-5 structure has now morphed into a more fluid and personalized way of achieving professional success. How can organizations adapt to this new dynamic, and what does it mean for the future of work?

As a leader in workplace flexibility and employee personalization, Jennifer Loper advocates for alternative work structures that promote personal and professional fulfillment. For instance, fostering transparent conversations about employee needs and work preferences boosts performance and allows them to thrive. Additionally, maintain flexibility in your hiring structures, recognizing that people aren’t defined by their education and skills but rather by their core values and work ethic. Evolutionary workplaces and compassionate leadership cultivate innovation and allow your organization to adapt and scale.

Tune in to the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast as Traci Austin welcomes Jennifer Loper, the President of C3, to talk about shaping people strategies with flexibility and workplace evolution. Jennifer shares how workplace flexibility benefits multiple industries, how compassionate leadership promotes evolutionary practices, and key insights from the Restaurant Leadership Conference.

Having both the strategic and tactical components of HR is the key to attracting and retaining the talent necessary to grow and run a successful organization. But what is the distinction between strategic and tactical HR—and how do we know when to use each of these elements? Here to help us discuss this topic is Kimeran Johnson, Chief People Officer at Studer Family of Companies. Listen in to learn how to grow these necessary skills and more.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3D8fCMj 

One of the key issues for many leaders is succession planning, particularly when it comes to backfilling roles from outside their organization. How can you maintain the company culture that you’ve worked so hard to create when you are hiring from the outside? That’s what we’re diving into today as we look at the importance of culture when it comes to planning talent pathways.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Krv7QP

When looking at your organization, do your staff understand exactly what they need to do in order to move to the next position that may be on the horizon for them? Do they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them? It’s important for our staff to know what they are responsible for and to have processes in place to give them effective feedback when they are not performing up to standard. So, in this episode, Harrison Kim will be joining the show to share how to give constructive and efficient feedback, as well as his advice on how to receive feedback, too.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QKJr9A 

Keeping our employers and employees happy and supported throughout their careers is essential to the success of our organizations. So, how can we support our staff and organizations through financial wellness? And what does financial wellness entail as it relates to the workplace? Surya Kolluri, Managing Director of Retirement Research & Insights for Bank of America, will be joining the show to discuss the connection between financial wellness and the race for talent, as well as his advice for how businesses can support their teams moving forward.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3bHh24S 

Going into the 4th quarter, most (if not all) of us are getting ready to close out the year in a really amazing way—and one way to do that is to plan out your talent pathway planning in your organization. In this episode, I’m joined by Patrick Casola, the Marketing Intern at Elevated Talent Consulting, and we’re talking all about internships. Listen in to hear how they can help your organization finish the year out strong, as well as how internships are a great way to “pay it forward” by providing training and knowledge to the next generation of leaders.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3zDsIxD

Can you remember back to your childhood and the newness and excitement of the 'back to school' season? Have you wondered how you could harness that 'back to school' mindset as an adult? In this episode, I’m sharing one way to cultivate that mindset in your professional life and use the momentum it creates to make a significant impact within your organization.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3Sg0pO5

Every business problem is a people problem. So how do you diagnose people problems within your organization so you can work to solve your business challenges? Nate Larson is an HRIS Analyst, and he joins the show today to talk about how you can leverage analytics in your business to solve people problems, and at the same time, solve your business problems.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3b7Th5D