Sparks: How to Think and Act Flexibly as a Leader

For anyone interested in getting a first-hand perspective on how an organization is actually transforming and thinking about the future of work, this is an especially exciting and fascinating episode of the Future of Work podcast. My guest is Ben Bratt, VP of HR, talent and Organizational Capabilities at T-Mobile. T-Mobile is undergoing a radical transformation. They are all over the news with their Uncarrier strategy, and their new CEO, John Legere, has a dynamic and unconventional personality in the media. The company is virtually unrecognizable from where it was five to ten years ago. Now, a lot of what consumers are seeing is the front-end transformation, but what most people don’t realize is there is actually quite a lot that T-Mobile is doing internally. In fact, T-Mobile has completely re-invented HR from the ground up. What it means to work at T-Mobile has been completely re-engineered and put together in a new way that is able to support this new Uncarrier strategy. I had the pleasure of talking with Ben and getting details of what that transformation looks like. We talk about how the role of HR is evolving and what T-Mobile is doing lately. We talk about some of the transformative principles that they have been applying, and how the workplace is changing. We talk about everything from diversity and inclusion to their performance and reward structure to what a T-Mobile office actually looks like. We also cover how they think of managers and organizational structure. It is rare to talk to such a large organization that has literally re-invented the HR function and what it means to work there. So take a moment to listen to this exciting podcast with Ben Bratt at T-Mobile.   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

24 Juni 20151h 30min

I’m really excited about this episode of the Future of Work podcast. My guest is Brian J. Robertson who actually created Holacracy, a new management and organizational structure; and is the author of Holacracy: The New Management System for a Rapidly Changing World. Holacracy has been in the news quite a bit as it pertains to Zappos’ radical shift to this new organizational structure. There has been quite a bit of confusion and discussion around Holacracy, so I thought this would be an ideal time to speak to its creator to find out what is Holacracy, how it works and why it should be considered. Brian dispels a lot of the myths and, overall, it is a very thought-provoking discussion. Brian is very passionate about the work he is doing and sheds light on exactly what Holacracy is. So tune in and enjoy this very fascinating discussion on Holacracy!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

17 Juni 20151h 19min

My guest for this episode of the Future of Work podcast is Jeroen Tas, CEO of Philips Informatics, Solutions and Services Business Group. Jeroen is also the former CIO of all of Philips. Healthcare is a very popular topic today affecting how we live and work. Jeroen gave me a crash course on what the future of healthcare will look like. We talk about a lot of fascinating concepts such as healthcare fragmentation and corporate culture. We look at wearables, big data, and the internet of things in healthcare. We also look at some of the cool things coming in the world of healthcare and what it will look like in five to ten years. Health and well-being play a major role in the future of work and our everyday lives. So, tune in for a fascinating look at the future of healthcare with Jeroen Tas!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

10 Juni 20151h 7min

This episode of the Future of Work podcast I had the pleasure to speak with Paul Green, Jr., co-founder of the Self-Management Institute at the Morning Star Company. Morning Star is an agri-business and processing company who is largest processor of tomatoes. Everyone in some way, shape or form has consumed products that have come from Morning Star. What is really fascinating about the Morning Star Company is that there are no managers, and is the reason why I was so interested in speaking with Paul. Paul and I address some of the principles of self-management and how Morning Star came to this process of self-management. Our discussion includes hiring, firing and problem resolution ─ all functions traditionally handled by managers. He also shares insights into something they created called CLOU - Colleague Letters of Understanding, which is essentially an agreement employees make with each other where they agree upon what type of work they will be doing, how they are going to do it, etc. We cover much more, and end with Paul’s advice to organizations and employees. This is an absolutely fascinating discussion ─ and one that is very timely given Zappos recent shift to holacracy and the recent discussions on new models and concepts for restructuring. I learned so much speaking with Paul and I think you will as well. Tune in for this fascinating conversation on self-management with Paul Green!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

4 Juni 20151h 22min

This episode of the Future of Work podcast I speak with Cheryl Kerrigan, Vice President of Employee Success at Achievers. Achievers is known for its employee recognition platform that you may have heard of and some of you may be using in your organization. Also, it should be noted that Achievers was recently ranked as one of the best places to work. Cheryl and I talk about how organizations can do a better job of recognizing and incentivizing their employees, how organizations can create a more engaged environment, and some of the tactics and strategies organizations can follow. We also cover what Achievers is doing internally with their own employees. Cheryl talks about the really cool programs Achievers has implemented designed to engage and get employees involved in what the organization is doing. She also covers how organizations can apply some of these concepts and ideas to help create a more engaged workforce and a solid corporate culture. One of the things that I always talk about is that organizations have to shift away from creating a place where they assume people need to work there to creating a place where people want to work there. And a big part of that is recognition, rewards, culture and engagement. Tune in for a great conversation with Cheryl Kerrigan on creating a more engaged environment through employee rewards and recognition!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

27 Maj 201552min

In this episode of the Future of Work podcast my guest is Jeffrey Rodman, the co-founder of Polycom. Many of you are familiar with Polycom and, in fact, have used their products. They became famous for their speaker phones found in the conference rooms of most organizations. Jeff and I talk about the role of technology in collaboration. It’s no secret that technology is obviously one of the biggest driving factors that is enabling collaboration today. It’s a topic covered in my first book, The Collaborative Organization; and is also explored in my new book, The Future of Work. Collaboration is a huge theme ─ one that organizations are continuously spending more time and resources investing in. In this episode, Jeff and I explore many topics including differences in collaboration between smaller and larger organizations; and the concept of office space and do we still need offices. We cover Millennials, freelancers and the contingent workforce; and how collaboration plays a role in connecting these different types of employees. We also talk the about challenges associated with collaboration. And, Jeff takes us through some of the cool technologies that he’s working on at Polycom. We conclude with Jeff’s advice to organizations, managers and employees who are looking to improve collaboration within their organization. Tune in for a great discussion With Jeff Rodman on the role of technology in collaboration!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

20 Maj 20151h 6min

My guest for this episode of the Future of Work podcast is Ralph Loura, CIO at Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise Group, and former CIO of the Clorox Company. We looked at technology as tools and not toys. Ralph also shared his perspective on how the role of IT is changing, how the role of the CIO is evolving, and what the future is going to look like. We covered technical issues like IT and business units working together, important skills IT professionals must possess in the new world of work, and technology and the business side. But we also explored some interesting topics such as women and technology, the culture of H-P, millennials, and much more. As with every podcast, Ralph ends with his advice for CIOs, organizations, and employees regarding technology. Tune in for a captivating discussion on technology as tools and not toys with Ralph Loura!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

13 Maj 20151h 15min

In this Future of Work podcast, I speak with Josh Bersin. Josh started a company called Bersin & Associates, which was acquired by Deloitte and is now known as Bersin by Deloitte. Since the acquisition, Josh has been working at Deloitte providing a lot of really interesting thought leadership around how the world of HR and talent is changing. Because Deloitte recently released a report called “Global Human Capital Trends 2015: Leading in the new world of work,” I reached out to Josh to talk about what some of these trends are and what that means for us. Josh gives a unique perspective from a “big picture” view as to how these trends are impacting the world of HR and talent. Our talk covers leadership, learning, culture, workforce in demand, performance management, and re-inventing HR. We also talk about analytics, the simplification of work, as well as machines as talent. While this podcast is especially relevant to you if you are a HR leader, it is just as relevant to you if you are just an employee that is trying to understand how your job is going to change or how your career might change in the future. Be sure to listen in to this fascinating discussion with Josh Bersin on the top human capital trends for 2015!   (Music by Ronald Jenkees)

6 Maj 20151h 17min