Wendy is a Queen Leader: The mistakes well-meaning leaders are making with their teams & the HR solutions for them.

Queens Lead

Wendy will tell you like it is, SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP, one of her books, might have you yelling "heck yeah!" until you realize that the buttercup is YOU. Developing ourselves & those we lead is not as easy as 1-2-3 & Wendy is here to break it down.

In this engaging and insightful meeting between Amy Singleton and Wendy, the discussion covered a wide array of topics related to HR management, leadership, workplace dynamics, and more. Wendy, known as "The HR Lady," shared her wealth of experience and wisdom, derived from her HR consulting, podcasting, and training endeavors. Here's a concise summary of the key points discussed during the meeting:

🎙 Wendy's HR Consulting and Podcasting Journey
Wendy shared her journey as "The HR Lady," highlighting her podcast, HR management training, and conference speaking engagements. She also provides consultation services to small businesses that lack an HR department. Wendy resides in sunny Florida and operates virtually. The conversation touched on Wendy's new website, which she plans to transition to WordPress. Excitingly, Wendy's episode on Amy's podcast, "Queen's Lead Podcast," is set for release on March 6th.

🌟 Employee Prioritization and Turnover Prevention
Drawing from her extensive HR experience, Wendy emphasized the importance of prioritizing employees and actively working to prevent turnover. She underscored the unfortunate tendency of some businesses to neglect allocating a budget for HR and accounting, which can lead to a lack of understanding and mistreatment of employees. The discussion revolved around the significance of compensation and open communication with employees, suggesting that businesses should directly inquire about their employees' needs to ensure satisfaction and retention. Amy wholeheartedly concurred with Wendy's observations.

🗣 Communication's Impact on Workplace Responsibility
Wendy and Amy delved into the pivotal role of effective communication in the workplace. Wendy stressed the necessity for business owners to foster regular, open dialogues with their employees to align everyone's understanding of roles, thereby reducing errors. Amy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that employees who feel valued and respected are more inclined to shoulder increased responsibility and ownership. Wendy also introduced the concept of "quiet quitting" as a response to inadequate communication and management from employers.

📖 Book, Leadership, and Personal Growth
Wendy delved into her book, "Suck it Up Buttercup," which draws inspiration from a phrase she frequently used. The book carries a powerful message about leadership and personal growth. She suggested the inclusion of individuals perceived as challenging in the workplace in the development of core values as a means of fostering personal growth.

🚀 Leadership and Team Dynamics in the Workplace
The conversation shifted to a discussion on leadership and team dynamics within organizations. Wendy shared examples from her book where granting employees ownership of tasks led to significant transformations. Amy emphasized the importance of affording employees opportunities to assume leadership roles. Wendy recounted an incident involving disrespectful behavior in a meeting, underscoring the need for self-awareness and recognition of diverse responses to change among team members. They agreed that a one-size-fits-all approach to employees is ineffective, and each individual's response to change and feedback should be handled uniquely.

🤝 Managerial Challenges and Training Needs
Wendy and Amy explored the challenges faced by managers in organizations, particularly the dearth of training and support for new managers. They noted that many younger employees are hesitant to accept promotions due to the increased responsibility and expected workload, which can result in attrition. Wendy recounted advising a friend against accepting a promotion due to the lack of training and support. The discussion also delved into the importance of feedback and management training, with Wendy emphasizing her recent focus on management training, particularly in providing feedback and understanding employment laws.

🛠 Managerial Learning and Team Building
Effective training and communication within a company emerged as a focal point of discussion. Wendy emphasized that managers should be willing to admit when they don't know something and be open to feedback. Amy concurred, asserting that a manager's willingness to learn and admit mistakes is pivotal. They also explored the challenges organizations face in attracting new team members, with Wendy advocating for realistic job descriptions and effective onboarding. Wendy stressed the importance of meticulous planning and preparation for interviews and the first day on the job.

💼 Recruitment, Expectations, and Leadership Balance
Recruitment practices came under scrutiny, with an emphasis on the need for thorough preparation and realistic expectations. The importance of aligning with potential candidates' values was stressed as a means of avoiding wasted time and effort. Wendy and Amy also highlighted the significance of retaining excellent employees, rather than exclusively focusing on those who face challenges. Wendy underscored the need for leaders to actively seek feedback and adjust their leadership style, while Amy acknowledged her own struggles with striking the balance between directness and empathy in professional settings.

🔄 Generational Differences in the Workplace
The conversation turned to the topic of generational differences in the workplace. Wendy noted that while most individuals seek similar elements such as respect, fair compensation, and opportunities for career growth, generational distinctions do exist. Stereotyping based on generational categories was cautioned against, with an emphasis on treating each individual as unique. Wendy also highlighted the role of technology in shaping these differences, suggesting that an understanding of an employee's comfort and familiarity with technology can aid in communication and management.

🌐 Remote Work and Travel Experience
Wendy shared her unique experience of living and working remotely in an RV, traversing the United States while attending conferences. She alluded to an upcoming video and booklet chronicling her travels and work. Amy, who also harbors an interest in adopting a minimalist lifestyle, appreciated Wendy's perspective on the advantages of possessing fewer possessions and enjoying enhanced freedom. Wendy committed to sharing her work with Amy by the end of the week.

Connect with Wendy (The HR Lady):

The HR Lady's Training Services
The HR Lady's Speaking Engagements
The HR Lady's Podcast
The HR Lady's Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
A rich and enlightening discussion that touched upon crucial aspects of HR management, leadership, and workplace dynamics concluded with Wendy's commitment to share her work with Amy by the end of the week.

Please feel free to rate and review this podcast episode. For more about Amy Singleton, her speaking engagements, or collaboration opportunities in marketing, visit AmySingleton.net.