Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 32:

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Rich Moran (profile) is a partner at the venture capital firm Venrock and a social scientist, bestselling author and evangelist for organization effectiveness. Rich combines a unique blend of financial business savvy, understanding of human nature, and strong sense of humor to provide insights into people’s behavior and how we are often the enemies of our own success. Covering topics ranging from strategies for dealing with the economic downturn to fundamental shifts in employee attitudes, Rich’s experiences and observations are far ranging, relevant to business, and personally meaningful.

If you are interested in adapting to the current economy, leading a more fulfilling worklife, or why smoking dope in parking lots isn’t a good business strategy then check out Rich Moran, this week on People Performance radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 31:

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Eric Lesser (profile) is an Associate Partner at IBM Global Business Services. Eric shares results from a recent study examining how company’s can effectively manage talent in a poor economy. He provides examples from current and past companies that have not only weathered, but actually prospered during economic downturns. Key findings include the need to more effectively manage workforce expertise, using technology to promote more efficient collaboration and knowledge sharing, and using analytics to ensure maximize the effective utilization of talent resources. While companies in down economy often need to reduce human capital costs in certain areas, they must also strategically investing in other areas to ensure sustained survival and long-term profitability.

If you want to cut costs without cutting profits, check out Eric Lesser this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 30:

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Lexy Martin (profile) is Director of Research and Analytics at CedarCrestone. We spoke with Lexi about CedarCrestone’s 11 year study of the state of talent management technology. This study involves surveying over 800 organizations around the globe about how they use technology to address workforce needs. Lexi shares intriguing observations about how talent management technology is evolving from a focus on automation and consistency to a slowly growing focus on transformation and strategic change. She notes how some of the major innovations in the use of technology may come from companies outside of the US that are not wedded to older talent management processes rooted in outdated “paper based” methods. A former “futurist”, Lexi also provides some great observations about the world of talent management in general.

Whether you are an early adopter, lagging indicator, or firmly in the middle of the pack you will still be affected by technology. Find out how talent management technology may impact you and your company now and five years from now, this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 29:

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Paul Falcone (profile) is VP of Human Resources for Nickelodeon and author of several best-selling books on talent management including “101 tough conversations to have with employees: a manager’s guide to addressing performance, conduct, and discipline challenges”. Paul shares techniques for dealing with difficult performance issues in ways that increase the chance of turning around underperforming employees while simultaneously decreasing the potential of putting a company at legal risk due to making inappropriate or questionable termination decisions. Providing stories and methods rooted in extensive applied experience dealing with the good, the bad, and the ugly of talent management, Paul offers up rich information about how to deal with even the most troublesome performance issues.

Wisdom from 20 years of HR experience distilled into a 20 minute interview. If you crave this sort of high grade talent management information then do yourself a favor and listen to Paul Falcone this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 28:

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Josh Bersin (profile) is president of Bersin & Associates, a company focused on helping companies understand and maximize the value of enterprise learning and talent management technology. A highly regarded expert on the use and business impact of talent management methods, Josh shares insights about how companies can maximize the value of technology enabled talent management practices. He draws on his personal experience combined with Bersin & Associates vast research base to provides a variety of illustrative stories and data-based observations about the current and future state of talent management.

What talent management tools tend to provide the most value for companies, regardless of their industry? Do forced ranking talent management methods work better than methods that focus on more objective, developmental feedback? What is the first step companies should take when exploring the use of talent management technology? Hear the answers to these and other questions from someone who has probably thought about them far more than you, this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 26:

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Rob Bernshteyn (profile) is Vice President of Global Product Management and Product Marketing at SuccessFactors. Since the recent economic downturn, Rob has been actively working with clients and colleagues at SuccessFactors to take a critical look at how companies need to shift their talent management strategies to deal with a time of scarce financial resources. Rob shares some interesting and occasionally counterintuitive observations about talent management strategies in uncertain economic market. This includes techniques for optimizing workforce productivity, retaining your high performers when you most need them, and effectively and fairly managing organizational restructuring.

You may not be able to change the economy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t profit from it. Learn how this week on People Performance Radio.

Winning Through Talent in Uncertain Times

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• Investigate Resources & Tools to Help You Win in Uncertain Times

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 25:

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Catharine Larkin (profile) is Senior Partner at MICA Consulting Partners, a company that provides clients with assessment driven processes to attract, engage and develop successful leadership at all levels of the organization. Catharine shares stories from over 25 years of experience working one-on-one with C-level leaders to help them achieve business success. She provides insight into the reasons many high potential leaders derail and how to create an environment that promotes leadership success. This interview contains a variety of highly useful insights into leadership performance , including Catharine’s fascinating theory of the “Terrible 33s” and how to manage them.

If you are a senior leader, aspire to become a senior leader, or simply work with senior leaders then you will gain value from learning from Catharine Larkin about why leaders fail and how to help them succeed this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 24:

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Ken Scarlett (profile) is CEO of Scarlett Surveys International, a company that has been conducting employee surveys for over 35 years. Ken shares a variety of insights gained from his extensive experience measuring and analyzing employee attitudes. Of particular interest are his comments about companies need to expand their concept of employee engagement to include providing assistance to help people deal with issues outside of work that can influence their on-the-job behavior. As Ken explains, the goal is to have employees fully engaged while at work – and sometimes this requires helping them deal with challenges they may be facing outside of the workplace.

Employee engagement is a lot like losing weight – it is easier to talk about than to actually do, and it requires using accurate measures to keep your efforts on track. Learn more about creating a healthy and vibrant workforce by listening to Ken Scarlett this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 23:

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Bruno Aziza (profile) and Joey Fitts (profile) discuss their new book “Drive Business Performance: Enabling a Culture of Intelligent Execution”. The book combines the authors’ extensive personal experience working in global companies with in-depth case studies of multiple businesses to explore what it takes to create a culture built around performance execution. The authors share several stories illustrating key concepts to consider when creating a goal-based, pay-for-performance culture.

Want people to do what you want them to do? Find out how this week on People Performance Radio.

Listen to People Performance Radio Episode 22:

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David Sirota (profile), David Sirota, Chairman Emeritus of Sirota Survey Intelligence discusses research from his new book “The Enthusiastic Employee: how companies profit by giving employees what they want”. David shares insights from over 35 years of experience working with companies to assess, diagnose, and increase employee morale. He highlights the three fundamental things that all employees want from a job. Hear Dr. Sirota and Dr. Steve rally against the questionable validity of claims made in the popular press that kids these days are somehow qualitatively different from kids twenty years ago. You just can’t get this kind of stuff on FM radio.

If what you want is useful knowledge, then educate and illuminate your mind by listening to Dr. David Sirota this week on People Performance Radio.