The Best Articles & Resources for Leaders Transforming the Future of Work: September 2023

Each week, I send a brief email newsletter to leaders seeking to disrupt and transform the future of work.

In this weekly letter, I share my learnings and experiences from over 3 decades of work as a human resources leader, executive coach, and entrepreneur, along with tools, tips and resources that are personally curated to help leaders establish credibility, communicate confidently, and lead with impact.

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Following are a few of the best resources that I created, read, reviewed, and shared in the month of September 2023.

HIGH-IMPACT LEADERSHIP:

I've made it a personal goal to try to watch every DisruptHR Talk ever given. With over 6,500 videos (and growing every week) in our library, that goal may be slightly unreasonable. However, by watching at least a couple of videos each week, I find gems like this 5-minute DisruptHR ROC Talk by Cory Raggi, SHRM-SCP - Chief Operating Officer at RDG+Partners.

In this well-delivered Talk, Cory shares that being nice does not mean that we're weak, submissive, or ineffective as leaders — and being positive doesn't mean being that we're being naive.

?? The Edge of Optimism | Cory Raggi | DisruptHR Talks

PERSONAL BRANDING / THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

Have you noticed some of the new badges popping up on LinkedIn profiles designating someone as a "Top Human Resources Voice", or "Top Leadership Voice", or "Top Personal Branding Voice", and wondered how you could get recognized for your expertise on LinkedIn? Well, I've got the scoop for you!

Collaborative articles are knowledge topics published by LinkedIn with insights and perspectives added by the LinkedIn community. These articles begin as AI-powered conversation starters, but anyone can add insights to share their knowledge and expertise, which makes the articles better.

I was pleased to recently receive a "Top Leadership Development Voice" badge, and I regularly look for opportunities to contribute to articles related to public speaking, personal branding, and human resources. I'd love to add those badges to my profile as well.

?? Find collaborative articles on LinkedIn to contribute to related to your areas of expertise (and maybe get your own Top Voice badge!)

When you meet someone new, how can you learn about their work quickly? How can you really get to know them and what matters to them — beyond their boilerplate (ahem: boring) job description? How do you get past the standard spiel and talk about the juiciest parts of their work? Lee Price shares 10 conversation quick-starters she uses to get people talking about their work.

?? Conversation Quick-Starters: How to Get People Talking About Their Work by Lee Price

HUMAN RESOURCES / PEOPLE & CULTURE:

My good friends at Humareso are hosting The H-ROI Summit October 25th - 27th, 2023. This virtual learning opportunity is designed for leaders who are looking for a valuable learning experience that offers practical advice, instruction, and personalized coaching.

It's led by actual HR practitioners Sarah Morgan , Keirsten Greggs , Lorena Pabon, MHSA, SHRM-CP , and BJ Anderson, SHRM-SCP , so you know this will be good.

?? Register to attend: The Human Return on Investment Summit - H-ROI 2023

"What's one of the most important but often overlooked skills that I’ve developed over my career as a Chief People Officer?"

Tracie Sponenberg recently shared her perspective on this question in a post here on LinkedIn, and she also shared a link to this interesting article, which provides you with a clue to her answer.

?? Adaptability in the workplace: Defining and improving this key skill via BetterUp

Gallup 's research paints a grim portrait of corporate culture in the U.S., and a recent survey found that only 2 in 10 employees feel strongly connected to their organization’s culture. This article lays out the problem, and shares four steps that leaders can take to execute effective culture transformation.

?? Diagnosing a Broken Culture -- and What to Do About It via Gallup

This author’s research into how organizations unlock the productivity of neurodivergent and disabled workers points to a way forward — one that allows leaders to accommodate the unique needs of every team member.

?? The Radical Promise of Truly Flexible Work via Harvard Business Review

Storytelling is indispensable in business, especially today and into the future, when alignment between mission, values, employees, and customers is more important than ever. Creating a compelling Purpose Story is the key to making your mission and values stick.

?? Storytelling in Business Case Study: Making Your Mission an Values Stick by Kindra Hall

Katrina Kibben is a prolific blogger and job post writing expert (If your job posts suck? They can help.) who curated and shared a list of interesting and helpful people in the HR, recruiting and DE&I spaces recommended for others to follow and learn from. I'm blessed to know and follow a little over half of the people on this list already, and I look forward to getting to know the others as well.

?? 19 Recruitment And HR Experts To Follow On LinkedIn by Katrina Kibben

RECRUITING & TALENT ACQUISITION:

Globally, approximately 150 million jobs will shift to workers 55 and older by the end of the decade. Yet, programs to support a multi-generational workforce are rare.

This report from Bain & Company Inc. emphasizes the necessity to retain and recruit older workers, to understand their workplace motivations, to re-skill them for the upcoming decade's capability needs, and to leverage their strengths — allowing them to excel in their areas of expertise. Because we're gonna need them.

?? Better with Age: The Rising Importance of Older Workers

BOOK OF THE MONTH:

Another mention here for Kindra Hall , a sought-after keynote speaker at conferences and corporate events who is an expert on the power of effective storytelling for individuals and businesses alike.

Her first book (published in 2019) highlights the transformative role of storytelling in business and identifies four essential brand stories: value, founder, purpose, and customer. This book is one of my favorite, and serves as a guide for crafting compelling stories and showcases their practical application in various contexts.

?? Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business by Kindra Hall

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW:

New leaders: How can you lead with purpose, clarity, and vision?

In this article, I provide a roadmap for new leaders based on my decades of experience mentoring and coaching high-performing leaders. The 5 strategies shared will help you build trust with your team, and guide you as you shape your leadership legacy.

?? 5 Things New Leaders Should Do to Set Themselves Up for Success

In the current era of hybrid and remote work, fostering genuine employee connection is crucial for engagement and productivity, but achieving it requires a nuanced approach despite the ease of digital communication. In this article, I discuss the challenges of building a connected workplace, a story of a new hire almost lost due to these challenges, and what leaders can do to ensure that employees experience connection to their work, to their leader, to their team, and to the organization.

?? Employee Engagement in the Digital Age: The Essential Role of Connection in Remote Work

Can you describe your experience at your current company in one word?

The chances are high that this word – whether invigorating or daunting – offers a snapshot into your company's culture.

In this article, I dive deep into the intangible yet powerful aspect of company culture. I also discuss its undeniable impact on your organization’s ability to attract top talent, boost employee engagement and productivity, reduce turnover, and enhance your employer brand.

?? How to Create a Company Culture That Attracts and Retains Top Talent: 4 Essential Elements

A well-crafted business case is essential for winning approval for proposals — even those with great potential. It's not enough to simply present a solution; you must also define a clear and measurable problem, quantify the business impacts, and show how your ideas can solve the problem and improve results.

This article shares the story of an HR leader who was unable to get executive approval for a leadership development program, why her proposal was not successful, and what needed to be done to build a successful business case.

?? 4 Steps to Building a Business Case That Will Get Your Proposals Approved

THE IMPACT MAKERS PODCAST:

Episode 90 of the Impact Makers podcast features Innovation Coach Ellia Harris discussing creative problem-solving, ideation tools, AI tools like ChatGPT, and thinking outside the box.

If you're stuck in the same thinking patterns, this episode can help you break out and find new and creative solutions to problems.

?? Simplify Creative Problem-Solving and Innovation Using Light Bulb Thinking? With Innovation Coach Ellia Harris

On this episode of the Impact Makers podcast, leadership coach Sonya Shelton discusses the importance of having a clear vision for organizational success. Sonya shares actionable insights to identify your core 'WHY', and its pivotal role in leadership. She also talks about the symbiotic relationship between strategy and culture, and how to address the alarming rise in work-related stress.

?? Discovering Your Why: How Clarifying Your Vision Can Transform Your Organization and Create a Bigger Impact

On episode 92 of the Impact Makers podcast, Dr. Daniel Crosby and I unpack the art and science of what makes for an impactful presentation, as well as how to navigate the intricate dance of setting speaking fees that will get you booked and paid for the right opportunities to share your message with the ideal audience.

Whether you're aiming to enhance your presentation skills or monetize your speaking prowess, this revealing conversation offers actionable steps and practical recommendations to elevate your game.

?? Creating High-Impact Presentations and Building a Profitable Speaking Business With Jennifer McClure and Dr. Daniel Crosby [Replay]

In this episode of the Impact Makers podcast, I chat with my friend and professional resume writer Chris Villanueva about the evolving landscape of the future of work, the skills that will be most sought after in upcoming years, and strategies for effective networking in a world where more and more people are working remotely.

Whether you're an ambitious job seeker or a business leader, this episode provides valuable insights for navigating career advancement and fostering meaningful relationships in the digital age.

?? My Best Career Advice to Position Yourself for the Job You Want with Jennifer McClure and Chris Villanueva

FIND ME AT UPCOMING SPEAKING EVENTS & CONFERENCES:

October 11, 2023 - Corporate Client

(Workshop) “Hiring for Trust: Behavioral Interviewing for the Modern Manager”

October 25, 2023 - Corporate Client

(Workshop) “Hiring for Trust: Behavioral Interviewing for the Modern Manager”

October 26, 2023 - Broadview Heights, OH: Northeast Ohio SHRM

I'll be discussing The Future of HR, along with John Bernatovicz, Tim Sackett, SPHR, SCP, George Sample, MBA, SPHR, and Lauren Rudman, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

October 25, 2023 - ComplianceIQ

(Webinar) “The Future of HR: 4 Strategies to Meet Business Challenges and Deliver Maximum Impact on Results”

November 13, 2023 - Washington, DC: National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum

(Keynote) “Future-Ready HR: Unlock Your Potential to Drive Business Success and Thrive in the Future of Work”