With The Great Resignation, Great Gloom, and Quiet Quitting plaguing employers, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of employee experience (EX). A positive EX can lead to a range of benefits, including increased engagement and productivity, reduced turnover, and improved customer satisfaction. Auditing the employee journey is a crucial step in identifying areas for improvement […]
Category: Business
The Two Exercises That Can Change Your Career and Business
Over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of building businesses, advising entrepreneurs, leading agencies, mentoring professionals, and speaking with thousands of marketers about career growth. One theme keeps resurfacing regardless of age, title, or income level. Most people are successful despite how they spend their time, not because of it. I was reminded […]
Living the Credo: 10 Lessons in 90 Days
In 2013, I blew up my agency by creating a Credo. It magnetized the team and both repelled, and attracted, talent. Over the next 90 days, I experienced 85 percent employee turnover. Through the difficult process of rebuilding my company, I learned a great deal about myself, my teammates, clients, and business. In the end, […]
The 5 W’s of a Winning Startup
It’s been a pleasure advising startups at a group leader with EO Portland’s Ignitor program. While advising the enthusiastic entrepreneurs, I’m discovering patterns. My OCD/anal-retentive nature drives my need to identify, organize and communicate new discoveries. I’ve developed best practices for startups, taking inspiration from the classic “5 Ws” of strategic planning: Who, What, When, […]
The Balanced Tail: How To Properly Integrate AI Into Your Company
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reached an inflection point. What began as an experimental playground for technologists is now a competitive necessity for every organization. Yet, many business owners still struggle with a key question: how much is too much? The answer lies not in the tools themselves but in how leaders integrate them ethically, strategically, […]
Fake It Till You Make It: Navigating Imposter Syndrome as an Entrepreneur
Ever stood at the helm of your own creation, surrounded by people who trust your vision, while a voice inside whispers, “You have no idea what you’re doing”? Welcome to the world of Imposter Syndrome – my constant companion throughout 26 years of entrepreneurship. When I launched pdxMindShare with nothing but determination and a hunch […]
Why Does Your Business Need Anti-Harassment Training?
Originally Published on HR Annie Consulting Website, by Cindy Free, CEO Do your managers know their legal obligations when an employee shares a concern or lodges a complaint? Do they know what to do next and how to compliantly document it? Employers are obligated to make sure the workplace is safe and free from […]
Navigating 2025: Key Compensation Trends & Strategies
Originally Published on HR Annie Consulting by Michelle Franco 2024 introduced a lot of changes and new challenges that affected the way employers think about compensation. We saw a continuation of layoffs, federal policies offered a new landscape for workplace inclusion and belonging, return-to-office efforts have faced many obstacles, and it appears that the market […]
The Great Exit Interview Debriefing: Best Practices
As the saying goes, employees don’t quit companies, they quit managers. And when those departures happen, savvy organizations make a point of conducting insightful exit interviews to learn why people are really leaving and what could be improved. Done well, the exit interview is a treasured opportunity to receive candid feedback from someone with an […]
How to Effectively Onboard New Employees with a 90-day Roadmap
Hiring the perfect candidate is only half the battle – ensuring they ramp up quickly and become a productive, engaged member of the team is equally crucial. An effective 90-day onboarding plan can make all the difference in setting new hires up for long-term success. A well-designed roadmap covers everything from their first-day welcomes to […]
