Julie Develin, Senior Partner at UKG’s HCM Advisory, joins Troy and Jay to explore the crucial role of workplace culture in driving business success.
Their discussion emphasizes the importance of employee engagement, leadership evolution, and creating environments where individuals can thrive. Julie advocates for moving beyond outdated practices, promoting a culture of accountability, transparency, and authentic communication. She highlights the growing role of HR as internal consultants, the importance of psychological safety for retention, and the lessons business leaders can learn from sports.
Today’s informative episode underscores the need for investing in employee development and adapting to shifting trends, showing how data-driven decision-making and a people-centric culture can boost satisfaction and performance, positioning companies as industry leaders.
Episode Highlights:
0:00 Introduction
01:11 Embracing a Passion for HR and People-Centric Workplaces
04:19 Role of HR in Workplace Culture and Evangelism
06:09 Reaffirming Employer Commitment to Employees and Communities
06:59 Sports as a Metaphor for Workplace Dynamics
08:27 The Impact of the Olympics on Work and Team Building
12:53 Sports Lessons for Leadership and Teamwork in Business
14:39 Integrating Pop Culture with Workplace Engagement
15:39 Shifting Workplace Trends and Employee Psychological Safety
19:00 The Importance of Cultural Fit and Employee Purpose
21:02 Challenges of Managerial Leadership and HR Support
23:25 Need for Unified Management Practices and Communication
24:53 Challenges of Over-Reliance on Email Communication
26:45 Preparing for Pendulum Shifts in Employer-Employee Power Dynamics
30:08 Importance of Learning, Development, and Employee Wellbeing
31:56 Key Characteristics of a Great Place to Work
34:27 Using Data to Drive Business Decisions in HR
41:59 Trends to Watch in 2025 AI, Education, and Workforce Development
45:51 The Importance of Confidence and Networking in HR
Key Takeaways:
"Workplace trends won't revert to how they were. Embrace the change to understand employee expectations."
"Employers need to recognize that people often won't just find their purpose; they need to be told why they matter."
"Human Resources departments are becoming internal consultants for managers, playing an educator role."
"The importance of data is continuous, but it must be the right data that can be trusted and acted upon."
"Culture of accountability: People should feel okay admitting mistakes without fearing job loss."
"Not everybody learns the same way. Our perception is our reality, shaped by our experiences."
"AI is not going away. It's about what AI can do to make life easier and ethical education around it."
"Transparency and good communication are essential for building trust and psychological safety at work."
"Networking in HR is crucial. Recognizing you're not alone and nobody has it all figured out is important."
"HR needs to be seen as a strategic partner, not just a cost center. Their experience matters too."
Resources:
Who is Navigate? Learn more at navigatewell.com
Learn more about the ROI of employee wellbeing
Keep up with Julie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdevhr/
