“I think openness to failure is as important as openness to success, because if you’re not open to failure, you’re not open to trying new things. Full stop. You’re going to keep rolling out the same trite things that maybe aren’t the best things. So it’s really as important to try new things, and where you give yourself the credibility is the fact that you are measuring and you are looking at whether or not this works objectively.”

Caitlin Bigsby, Visier

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 123

 

Want to be more successful? Fail more often. 

In a recent conversation with an executive that works with numerous high-performing organizations, he explained that the critical differentiator for the best firms is a willingness to iterate and experiment, knowing that some of those will inevitably fail. 

In today’s episode, Ben speaks with Caitlin Bigsby about the importance of analytics, measurement, and data when it comes to HR and talent practices. Caitlin shares how to identify problems that data can solve, what to do next, and how to leverage evidence as a powerful tool for positive change in the business. 

 

Connect with Caitlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-bigsby 

Connect with Visier: https://www.visier.com/ 

Learn more about We’re Only Human and check out our archives: https://lhra.io/podcast 

“An HR manager can do whatever they need to do.  We do have a vision, and the vision is that all administrative tasks should be done in less than 15 seconds.”

Leila Laidani, Aconso

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 122

 

In the last year, companies have shifted much of their work processes to a digital format. However, legacy files and workflows don’t always transition so easily. 

In this episode, Ben talks with the team from Aconso about how using secure, digital storage solutions can help HR leaders to not only protect and preserve sensitive information, but use their time more effectively than shuffling paper and documents. 

 

Learn more: 

Check out the Aconso website: https://www.aconso.com/ 

Check out the We’re Only Human archives, subscribe, and more: https://lhra.io/podcast 

“You need to have a competitive pay and benefits offering. When you go to do that, the employer ends up paying for a lot of things that go unused just because there’s too much to communicate. What’s just amazing about the time and space we’re in now is you can really use personalization to surface opportunities from among and within those programs and benefits at the right time, in a way where it’s really a health and benefits journey of one.”

John Halloran, CEO at Mobile Health

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 121

 

Each of us is unique. Our day-to-day needs, our lifestyles, and even our stress levels vary greatly. But one thing is certain: wellbeing is applicable to every single one of us. 

In this episode, Ben and John discuss the importance of creating customized health journeys for employees (for instance, targeting a personalized need for mental health, fertility, or nutritional suggestions).

Beyond that, the discussion brings in ideas for how HR leaders can drive the right engagement with the workforce by leveraging wellbeing and wellness across a variety of opportunities. John brings up a powerful case study where EY and KPMG created an initiative using low-code tools from Mobile Health to engage their remote workforce, proving that these practices work for remote, hybrid, and in-office workers. In today’s talent-driven market, this focus on wellbeing is a “must have,” not a “nice to have.” 

 

Connect with Mobile Health: 

https://www.mobilehealthconsumer.com/ 

Learn about Anthem Blue Cross’s partnership with Mobile Health: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mobile-health-announces-8-year-preferred-partner-agreement-with-anthem-blue-cross-and-blue-shield-301341535.html 

 

Learn more about the We’re Only Human podcast, subscribe, and see our archives: http://lhra.io/podcast 

 

“I had a client that in February of last year had 72 employees, all in Boulder, Colorado. By September of last year, they eliminated their office and went remote. They went from having all their employees in one state to having those same 74 employees, but across 14 different states.”

Jordan Conley, President, Obsidian HR

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 120

 

In the United States, approximately 98% of the employers that exist have fewer than 100 employees. It’s easy to get caught up in the headlines that focus on enterprise companies, but a massive segment of the economy (and job market) are tied to small businesses. 

In this episode, Ben talks with Jordan Conley, President of Obsidian HR, about the challenges facing small businesses today. The discussion covers topics like outsourcing for a greater focus on strategic HR, how remote work makes compliance and HR work more difficult, and more. 

 

Connect with Jordan and Obsidian HR: 

• https://www.obsidianhr.com/ 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanconley/ 

Thanks to isolved for connecting us with Jordan!

Learn more about We’re Only Human, subscribe, see our archives, and more: http://lhra.io/podcast 

“Companies can now optimize things like rewards and training and development. HR and the way companies communicate with employees is going to be based on personalization.” 

Juan Betancourt, CEO, Humantelligence

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 119

 

The “one size fits all” approach is being replaced with the “one size fits one” approach at some of the most forward-thinking companies. 

In your personal life, you expect personalization. Customized movie, dining, or clothing recommendations are becoming the norm. But at work, this hasn’t been the case in the past. 

Now, with intelligent technologies, we can personalize how we interact with everyone at work, creating deeper levels of understanding and collaboration. In this episode of We’re Only Human, Ben talks with Juan Betancourt of Humantelligence about how the company is enabling these personalized experiences for the workforce and executive leaders. Use cases for personalization include everything from who to fits a job or company to how they learn best to what kinds of rewards they want and so much more. Check out this conversation to learn how you can personalize your approach to your people.

 

Connect with Juan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanluisbetancourt/ 

Connect with Humantelligence: https://humantelligence.com/ 

Check out our archives and learn more about the show: https://lhra.io/podcast 

“It all has to link back to practical insights and practical takeaways about how best we can come through the current crisis together.”

Bill Banham, Editor, HR Gazette

We’re Only Human — Episode 118

One of the fun parts of the last year has been connecting with new people, finding new resources, and building new communities. Someone at the heart of that is Bill Banham, editor and publisher at the HR Gazette. As someone who covers things happening in the HR industry, he brings a unique and balanced perspective on what HR leaders can learn about today’s business environment.

In this episode, Ben and Bill talk about the learnings of the last year, what he sees as important for HR leaders to pursue in the coming months, and more.

Check out the HR Gazette where Bill spends most of his time: https://hr-gazette.com/

“Listening without solving… Is really important, because the tendency for a lot of people is when somebody comes to you with an issue, the immediate response is to try and find a solution to the problem when in fact that may not be what you need.” 

Gordon Simpson, SVP Human Resources, DHL Global Forwarding

 

We’re Only Human — Episode 117

 

Work is changing. We all know it. We’ve seen it. Hiring is more difficult than ever, and predictions are that it will get harder. Retaining talent is critical. Development is essential. 

It’s easy to feel like it’s a problem that nobody can solve, but in today’s conversation, Ben talks with Gordon Simpson of DHL Global Forwarding about how the firm is serving its workforce by putting them first. From shifting to bring PPE into the country during COVID to health concerns with return to work, DHL is adapting to meet the challenges its people face and supporting them at the same time. 

 

Connect with Gordon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-simpson-5731736/ 

See episode archives and learn more about the show: http://lhra.io/podcast