In this episode of the Culture First podcast, our host Damon Klotz invited Didier Elzinga, the CEO of Culture Amp, to step into the interview seat and speak with Esther Perel, a renowned psychotherapist and pioneering voice in understanding modern relationships and workplace dynamics. 

Together, Didier and Esther discuss the importance of relational dynamics and the power of storytelling in solving conflicts and creating meaningful connections. The conversation touches on the complexities of today’s workplace cultures, such as how to bridge cultural differences, build trust in remote work environments, and find the right balance between empathy and accountability in leadership roles. 

Some of the key takeaways from this episode include managing expectations, fostering psychological safety, and responding to the changing values of different generations. Listen to this insightful discussion to gain practical strategies for enhancing leadership skills and boosting organizational potential by focusing on building quality relationships and practising compassionate communication. 

Show notes: 

Esther's original Culture First Podcast Episode with Damon Klotz

Esther’s website

Where Should We Begin? The game

Esther’s podcast, Where Should We Begin?

Key Takeaways: 

1. Effective leaders balance empathy and accountability:

• Leaders need to be empathic and care about their employees' personal challenges and emotions, but they must also hold them accountable for their responsibilities. This balance ensures that employees feel supported yet understand the importance of meeting expectations and fulfilling their roles within the organization.

1. The importance of in-person interactions:

• Although remote work offers convenience, it lacks the richness of in-person interactions essential for building relationships, trust, and effective collaboration. Leaders should treat in-person interactions as valuable resources and use them for activities that significantly benefit from face-to-face engagement, such as brainstorming sessions, mentorship, and fostering team cohesion.

1. Explicit communication of expectations is key:

• Unstated expectations often lead to resentment and misunderstandings. By clearly articulating what they expect from their team members, leaders can ensure that team members understand their roles and responsibilities. This approach promotes accountability and reduces the potential for conflicts arising from unmet, unspoken expectations.

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Dr. Marcus Collins, professor and best-selling author of For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be. Together, they discuss the profound impact of culture on brand and organizational success. They delve into the definitions and misconceptions surrounding culture. They explore how brands like Patagonia and e.l.f. Beauty authentically maintain consistency between their external and internal cultures. They also touch upon how culture can be leveraged as a competitive advantage and the role of storytelling in creating authentic connections. A highlighted conversation stems from Collins' insights into pragmatic cultural transformation and maintaining authenticity within brands.

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Shane Battier. Shane is a two-time NBA champion and former player for the Miami Heat. He was recognized as a scholar-athlete at Duke University, earning accolades such as the National Player of the Year before being drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. Beyond basketball, Battier is committed to philanthropy through his foundation, which focuses on educational resources for underserved youth. In this episode, Damon talks with Shane about the role data plays in decision making and the importance of teammate-ship over leadership.

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Amy Gallo, an esteemed author and workplace expert. Damon and Amy have an in-depth discussion on conflict resolution, feedback, and workplace culture. Amy shares her experiences and professional insights, addressing the perils of 'artificial harmony', the importance of establishing norms for healthy disagreements, and the role of empathy in feedback. The conversation explores managing conflicts both in-person and remotely, emphasizing psychological safety, clear communication, and the value of difficult yet necessary conversations. Featuring personal anecdotes, professional strategies, and cultural references from shows like 'Succession', this episode provides valuable advice for fostering high-performance and healthy workplace environments.

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Vincent Stanley, Patagonia’s Director of Philosophy. They discuss Patagonia’s unconventional approach to business, emphasizing cultural confidence and the importance of storytelling in building a responsible company. Vincent shares insights on Patagonia's foundational values, decision-making processes, and the importance of focusing on both environmental and societal responsibilities. The discussion highlights Patagonia's unique practices such as their transition to organic cotton and commitment to feedback culture, offering valuable lessons for other mission-driven organizations.

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In what ways are today’s workplace expectations shifting, and what does it mean for the future of professional growth? 

In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz sits down with Isabel Berwick, the Working Careers Editor at the Financial Times and author of the bestseller 'The Future Proofed Career,' to tackle these very questions. 

Isabel and Damon discuss key themes around adapting to uncertainty, the role of AI in the workplace, the significance of curiosity, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. They also touch on the importance of career development, building relationships and networks, practical advice for self-advocacy, and specific tips for engaging with senior leadership. 

Show notes: 

Isabel’s book The Future Proof Career

Isabel’s articles on the Financial Times

Working It podcast

Key Takeaways: 

1. Embracing change and uncertainty: It’s important to be comfortable with uncertainty, particularly around career development. Today’s rapidly changing landscape requires us to not only accept change but actively engage with it to better understand and navigate new norms.
2. The value of human skills: As AI and automation become more prevalent, human elements like creativity, empathy, and interpersonal skills become crucial. These skills are what differentiate us from machines and add unique value to our work.
3. Importance of visibility and self-advocacy: Practicing self-advocacy and visibility can help you stay top-of-mind in your organization. Ways to do so include being present in meetings (both physically and virtually), promoting others' work alongside your own, and using clear communication during meaningful interactions, like speaking with a CEO. 

Download Culture Amp's ROI Calculator Template here: https://www.cultureamp.com/quantitative-benefits-deck

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Seth Godin, renowned author, marketer, and entrepreneur. They delve into the essence of company culture and explore the significance of defining workplace culture by setting expectations and not tolerating disruptive behaviors. The conversation also highlights the importance of storytelling, enrollment, and the distinction between productive and busy work. Seth emphasizes the role of strategy in embodying a company's vision and explains how leaders can foster environments where significant work thrives. The episode offers insights on the challenges of balancing short-term results with long-term strategy and how to make impactful changes within organizations.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Value of Time: We won't get a second chance at today, so it's essential to make the most of it.
2. Choice of Workplace: You've chosen to work in a particular place; this decision shouldn't be taken for granted.
3. Pride in Work: Use your current platform to perform work that makes you genuinely proud.

Show notes: 

Seth’s newest book This is Strategy

Seth’s blog

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You can watch the full video version of this podcast episode here.

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In this episode of the Culture First podcast, Damon Klotz interviews Amy Lavoie, VP of People Science at Culture Amp, about the role of people science and people analytics in the modern workplace. They discuss practical examples of using data to make decisions, the importance of combining science and technology, and the future of people analytics. The conversation highlights the need for people scientists who can analyze data, provide insights, and consult with leaders to drive meaningful change. They also emphasize the importance of democratizing data and connecting people analytics with business performance metrics.

Learn more about the latest in people analytics here. https://www.cultureamp.com/people-analytics

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This is the second part of a two-part series on layoffs and their impact on the employee experience. The episode focuses on the long-term impact of layoffs, based on research conducted by Culture Amp. The study analyzed data from layoffs in the tech sector between March 2020 and December 2023, including over 3,300 layoff events by 2,400 companies.

Chapters

03:30 - Rebounding After a Layoff

07:00 - How Long It Takes to Rebound

11:46 - Determinants and Drivers of Engagement Post Layoff

18:50 - The Impact of Second Layoffs

22:01 - Main Takeaways and Conclusion

During this episode, we discussed the health impacts of layoffs on individuals. You can read more about that below.

Medical studies have shown that the trauma of unemployment causes disease. One study found that being laid off ranked seventh among the most stressful life experiences — more stressful than divorce, a sudden and serious impairment of hearing or vision, or the death of a close friend.

Experts say that it takes, on average, two years to recover from the psychological trauma of losing a job.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-01-17/tech-layoffs-stress-trauma-unemployment-economy#:~:text=One%20study%20found%20that%20being,trauma%20of%20losing%20a%20job.

If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or follow and hit five stars on Spotify.

Learn more about Culture Amp at www.cultureamp.com 

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This is the first part of a two-part series on layoffs and their impact on the employee experience. The episode focuses on the immediate impact of layoffs, based on research conducted by Culture Amp. The research analyzed data from layoffs in the tech sector between March 2020 and December 2023, including over 3,300 layoff events by 2,400 companies.

The conversation explores the impact of layoffs on employee engagement and the employee experience. It discusses the decline in engagement levels after layoffs, particularly in trust, pride, and commitment. It also highlights the importance of leadership communication and development opportunities in mitigating the negative effects of layoffs. The conversation debunks the myth that doing one large layoff is better than multiple smaller layoffs and emphasizes the role of managers in supporting employees during this challenging time.

The episode concludes by discussing alternative strategies to layoffs and the importance of treating employees with decency and humanity throughout the process.

Chapters

03:40 - Research Methodology and Data Set

07:08 - Immediate Impact on Employee Engagement

13:55 - Decline in Commitment and Confidence

20:34 - Importance of Transparent Communication

23:22 - The Role of Leadership Communication and Development Opportunities

27:45 - Debunking the Myth of One Large Layoff Being Better

33:46 - The Importance of Managers in Supporting Employees

38:24 - Exploring Alternative Strategies to Layoffs

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Business Insider - A better way to handle layoffs

Axios - Employers are "afraid" to conduct layoffs in viral video era

If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or follow and hit five stars on Spotify.

Learn more about Culture Amp at www.cultureamp.com 

Follow Damon on LinkedIn to get his latest leadership insights & follow on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes footage from the podcast. 

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In this episode of the Culture First Podcast, we take you on the road with us to give you a front-row seat to an incredible conversation that took place at SXSW Austin this year.

In this episode, Didier Elzinga, CEO and Co-founder of Culture Amp, will moderate a discussion on achieving and sustaining a high-performance culture by drawing upon lessons learned from the world of high-performance sports.

He was joined by Lindsay Verstegen, Chief People & Diversity Officer at the Detroit Lions, John Ferguson, Chief HR Officer at NASCAR, and Ben Crowe, former global Nike executive and one of the world’s most in-demand professional mentors and mindset coaches, working with CEO’s, teams, executive teams and athletes.

They discuss the importance of intentional pauses, building relationships, and the need to fix the environment rather than the individual. The conversation provides valuable perspectives on leadership, team dynamics, and the power of data in understanding and supporting employees.

Show notes and timestamps:

03:21 - Creating a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion

12:20 - Navigating Uncertainty: From 'Me' to 'We' Mindset

32:29 - Fixing the Environment, Not the Individual

33:51- Data-Driven Insights for Organizational Improvement

34:09 - The Power of Vulnerability and Trust in Leadership

36:31 - Connecting with Intrinsic Motivations for Success

41:18 - Feedback as a Catalyst for Growth and Development

49:48 - Bridging the Gap in Multi-Generational Teams

Click here to download the State of the Manager Report mentioned during this interview.

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