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[00:01:37] Hello. And welcome back. This episode is the first of a two part series covering my panel interview with several current members of the talent trust my six month mentoring and peer learning community for talent leaders. The second episode will air a week from today. Listen in for a sneak peek behind the curtains about what it's really like to be part of this peer community.
[00:02:05] In this episode, you'll discover what helped members make the decision to join their biggest takeaways so far and results that the program has helped them accomplish. Next week, we get into insights into the monthly themes that have resonated the most tips on how to get the most out of the program and how to manage the time commitment.
[00:02:26] And finally, what surprised members the most about their experience in the program? Wow. That's all I can say. Really. It was so fun spending extra time with this group of members and rather humbling to, you know, you never know what you're going to get. When you ask for feedback live on a recorded meeting.
[00:02:45] I'm honored to know that the talent trust is making such an impact on people's lives and careers. Thank you for listening.
[00:02:52] Lisa Mitchell: Welcome to talent management truths. I'm your host, Lisa Mitchell. And today I'm joined by a wonderful group of, of very important people in my life. They are current members of the talent trust, which is my premier offering and program. It's a peer learning and mentoring community for talent management leaders.
[00:03:18] So that's people who are leading in HR talent management, employee experience, organization development, L and D, and so on. So these folks with me today joined in the first cohort when we started back in April of this year, 2022, and this first six months run wraps up in September with an option to continue.
[00:03:39] And there'll be another cohort beginning with some new people as well in October. So today really is about I wanted to give a little bit of a sneak peek, a look behind the curtains of what it's actually like to be in the program. Cuz I have people that say, oh, it sounds great, Lisa. And I'm talking to people right now having virtual coffees and so on, but they're, you know, sometimes they're on the fence.
[00:04:01] They can't quite picture what it's like, cuz it's not a traditional. Training program, even a traditional coaching program because it's very much based on learning from each other. So no one person me included is the expert. We are all experts and we're pooling our expertise and giving ourselves the space and the grace to, to reflect and to be very intentional and to take powerful action over time.
[00:04:28] So it's a really safe space where I, you know, I think we've created something quite exceptional. So without further ado, I'm going to ask everybody to briefly introduce themselves. Tell, tell the audience who you are, Well, I'll
[00:04:43] Speaker 1: go first. My name is Marie Yolanda and I manage several training programs at a company called dental Corp.
[00:04:52] And one of the, the biggest project right now that we have is Workday. And the other title that I have that I'm, I'm still very, very much attached to it as I'm a mom of twin boys. We're going to college in
[00:05:04] Lisa Mitchell: two weeks. Fantastic. So exciting. Thank you so much, Marie. I'm
[00:05:09] Speaker 3: Sheila L and I'm director of talent management.
[00:05:13] Add Adco here in Calgary,
[00:05:16] Lisa Mitchell: Alberta. everyone. Thanks for joining us, Sheila, all the way from Calgary. Love it. Well, you know, we have somebody who beat you on the distance department though, as far as where distance from GTA. We, yeah. Yeah. Hey, I'm Susan Salamon. I'm the assistant vice president for workforce development career services at a health system in Louisiana.
[00:05:37] I'm actually in Phoenix. So, I'm at an airport right now, but I really wanted to visit and, and
[00:05:42] Speaker 3: share my experience, cuz this has been such a,
[00:05:45] Lisa Mitchell: a great program for me. So I appreciate you inviting me, Lisa. Thanks. Wonderful. Thanks Susan and Susan, just visiting Phoenix, but she's actually out of new Orleans.
[00:05:52] So, welcome
[00:05:53] Speaker 4: Hi Lisa. I'm Jennifer Hall. I'm the director, sorry. I'm the new vice president at access employment. Forgot that I just recently had a promotion and love being part of your group. Tele
[00:06:08] Lisa Mitchell: trust is great. Wonderful. Thank you, Hi,
[00:06:11] Speaker 2: I'm Candace Barton and I'm an HR generalist at foster and associates financial services in Toronto.
[00:06:18] And it's been an amazing journey to be here and to
[00:06:21] Lisa Mitchell: get along with all of you. Wonderful. Thank you so much for, for being here. Okay. Well, so, so let's dig in a little bit you know, the first question I have and, and some of this is, is information gathering for me a little bit, right. To get a little bit of Intel so I can keep adapting and, and improving the program over time.
[00:06:40] When you think back to the February, February, March, kinda April timeframe when you joined, when you made that decision, what kind of tipped the decision in the program's favor?
[00:06:52] Speaker 1: I think for me, there was a couple of things, both in my professional life and in personal life going on. The first thing was that I had first attended the reframe.
[00:07:03] Lisa Mitchell: Oh, the you
[00:07:04] Speaker 1: reframe program. Yeah. Which was really, really awesome. And to me, it was going to be kind of a continuation of, of that journey.
[00:07:13] But also my company wanted to invest more in me and not, not only from a professional standpoint, but they wanted They were willing to give me more important project that would, you know, would ask me to stretch. And in the past I haven't taken on those type of project because my, my excuse was that, you know, I was too busy being a mom and wanted to fully embrace that.
[00:07:38] But with my kids going to college that excuse no longer, no longer stand. so I knew that I needed to go on a journey of self discovery. One of my, the, the biggest barrier for me was, was fear. And I knew that I had to do something about it and then go over that. And so this program for me was the conduit that for me, I was going to use to help me through that.
[00:08:05] And then to, to overcome that fear and then go, and then explore you. What was on the other side. So yeah, I knew, yeah. I knew I needed help. I knew it was not something that I could have done by myself.
[00:08:20] Lisa Mitchell: Okay. Okay. Thanks for sharing that. I, I like that you called it a conduit because, you know, I think it's so easy for, for leaders in corporate, not just in talent management in HR to to think that, oh, they shouldn't, they shouldn't have, have to have help aren't they either supposed to know all the answers, but I think we do sort, sort of tell ourselves that.
[00:08:37] And so to have a community where you can speak safely and think things out and get help, you know, tools and just talk things out loud, it is really, really key. Jen, it looked like you were gonna say something,
[00:08:48] Speaker 4: I can for sure. It was actually my conversation with you, Lisa. At first I was actually concerned about the amount of time that I could put into this program.
[00:08:57] I was wondering whether this group would actually get real with each other. you know, those were some of my Relu reluctant points about joining this group. But when I had my one on one discussion with you, you added so much value and insight in a short discussion. The questions that you asked me really got me thinking, and I actually had some actionable nuggets out of that quick call that we had together.
[00:09:19] And it made me reflect and I thought I need to do this. I really need it. That it's gonna help me ver to be much more successful in the next step of
[00:09:28] Lisa Mitchell: my career.
[00:09:29] Speaker 4: And I think it's proven true.
[00:09:32] Lisa Mitchell: So thank you. Well, and that, it's so funny though, that, that, you know, you were clearly already on that trajectory of getting that promotion and then it happened during, during the, the course of the program.
[00:09:41] Yeah. So fascinating. Thanks for sharing that. And, and I think, you know, the, the time piece will, will touch on that a bit later, that time commitment that's always on people's minds. Everyone's so busy, there's so much going on. So we can talk about your tips for how to manage that. Anyone else, one more person, like anything that, that kind of helped you make that decision, Sheila.
[00:09:59] Speaker 3: Yeah, sure. For me, it was the field of talent management has been changing rapidly for what's required for today and uncertainty concepts like rehumanizing in the workplace. Well, isn't that what we've been doing and trying to unpack it all and talk to other people about that was really. Great for me to have colleagues and those I could talk to about that.
[00:10:26] and that's why I wanted to go in and, and just explore, not have a full on agenda, but explore what are others doing to keep up with a lot of what's coming
[00:10:38] Lisa Mitchell: at us today. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It's so powerful, right. Just to hear like we all, oh, what's that person doing over there. And even if it's not something you can, you know, manage to apply where you are, it gives you, it, it just, it gets the juices flowing.
[00:10:52] I think that's important. So easy to get stuck and, and not be as innovative as we'd like to be as creative. Okay. So let's, let's change it up a little bit. And I'm just curious about, you know, we're, we're just, we've just embarked really on our fifth month. So, in our fifth team and so on, but what's been your biggest takeaway not having completed the program, but biggest takeaway overall so far.
[00:11:15] Speaker 1: So for me so far there two things. The first one that really blew me away was the piece around creativity because I've always considered myself not creative at all. And when we had the chat about being creative, it completely changed every conversation I've ever. After that it it's just it's, you know, to have those questions and be able to navigate through conversations, especially with leaders and especially in situations that are a little bit, you know, murky it's being, I think it has really made a difference.
[00:12:06] So that was one. And then the second one most definitely was around intentionality and courage and about, you know, the session that we had this morning, in fact, which is, you know, what, you, you get through it very much. Like, you know, you learn how to swim by swimming while you learn courage by ING it's has such a big impact on, on my career.
[00:12:32] And then also the
[00:12:33] Lisa Mitchell: relationships at work. Yeah, thanks for that, that comment, Maria, for sharing that, cuz I think that's, that's part of, what's unique about this. This isn't just about, I mean, it's about accomplishing great things, right? With more ease with more grace, like to help you get those, those big deliverables out the door and it's about how you do it.
[00:12:53] Right. And so it's mindset and how how you give yourself some permission to get there in the best way. And so it's not just this
[00:13:01] Speaker 1: push that I think how's probably the most important and, and the thing that has totally changed how I view things, how I define success, even for myself and, and for every project that I touch and even in my personal life, the how is, is, is so important.
[00:13:22] And I think for me, the biggest thing was that I get to define
[00:13:26] Lisa Mitchell: the, how. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting. Cause it's not just about the, what everybody always, you know, when they join a program, want the tools and the templates and stuff. And we do that and this is that other limit, that application piece.
[00:13:38] Okay. Candace, you've got your hand up. One
[00:13:40] Speaker 2: of the things I've appreciated is I have a habit of sort of poking my nose in, in rooms maybe where I don't belong in the sense of being a Neo fight to HR and just this whole sector I'm in learning mode. And so when you ask the biggest learning so far, it's easy for me to say everything, but I think if I were to narrow it down, it's that, although in terms of experience, I'm just getting started.
[00:14:08] I've learned that from the other members here, all of you that we share common Maybe vision or goals or even fears. Right? So that to me has been really valuable in that I don't have to feel, I wouldn't say not ashamed, but just shy about expressing certain things because when we have a breakout session, for example, and I get to speak with one of you and, oh my goodness, we have that common commonality and you may have 10, 15 years experience ahead of me.
[00:14:39] It, it actually encourages to know that you can always grow, right. And you can always have somewhere to progress shoe board. So for me, that's a good thing in that it helps to allay the nervousness of
[00:14:54] Lisa Mitchell: being a new. Mm. So I'm hearing it's, it's sort of like, it's, I'm safe. Like I'm not by myself. That, that sense.
[00:15:02] Yeah. That sense of community really, really, really important. I mean, I , I, I put this together based on what I wish I had when I was back in corporate, you know, that's, that's, what's so interesting hearing you say that. Okay. One more, anything that, that you wanna share about biggest takeaway? Was that Susan?
[00:15:19] Sorry. Biggest
[00:15:20] Speaker 3: takeaways
[00:15:21] Lisa Mitchell: is we had, I think our theme last month was around reflection. And for me that has just been such a powerful takeaway personally, and also for the learning that. My groups is to make sure that we're building that reflection opportunity and for people and for myself.
[00:15:38] Thank you. Yeah. So the reflection, so the way the program works just for listeners to understand is every month there's a theme. So this isn't about heavy training and PowerPoint slides you have to Wade through. This is there's a pre-work reflection that I send. Before we meet the first time in the month around the theme with some quotes to get you thinking, get you tapping into your own experience and thinking about then, you know, what does this mean?
[00:16:03] What do I wanna apply to my work to, to my life personally? And then we, we get together to discuss in our first call, which is ideation call, which is in and out, which is an hour. And we're kind of just, you know, making meaning of the theme and how it shows up for us in our, in our worlds. And then two weeks later, we get together for 90 minutes in our intentionality call.
[00:16:26] And that's where we're really focused. I mean, there's action coming outta the first one, but this is where we're really talking about how do we start applying this in real time and bringing this in with our teams in our, in our roles, right? AGA with our projects. So it's, that's why you're hearing about creativity for Marie and then reflection from season.
[00:16:44] These are two of the, the recent themes. So let's move on to this piece here. So the, the program has several aspects to it, and I'm actually really curious about the answer to this there's several components. So we got, we've got those two meetings per month as a group, and then there's private coaching every other month, such as one on one with me for an hour to, you know, because no matter what we talk about in group, there's always gonna be some things that, you know, are holding you up personally, or that you really wanna dig into more detail.
[00:17:13] So it gives you that space for that. There's also our WhatsApp group, which is quite active at times with people sharing asking questions. Here's a resource, this kind of thing. Office hours, which I offer on Mondays. And usually there's one person that, that jumps into zoom with me. And, and we talk about what's going on for them.
[00:17:31] The, then there's the bonus workshop that, that many of you, I think, well, several of you attended as well, if you were able to, which was around talent initiative strategy, where we actually hopped your, your, your strategies. So, you know, if you think about those, the tools, the templates, how is that working for you?
[00:17:48] Is there any one component that stands out as your favorite? Or is there something about the mix that's working Sheila?
[00:17:56] Speaker 3: Yeah, I'd like to start with a reflection piece, cause it's for me six 30 in the morning on Thursday when we would have the one the sessions. Yes. And that's such a great time to get your mind.
[00:18:10] Not doing a checklist of work tasks that you need to do, but just sit in a conversation around, on instead of being in it, but on it. And so just kind of going above and looking at what,
[00:18:24] Lisa Mitchell: where, what are we talking about? How does that replay out
[00:18:27] Speaker 3: for me at work and, and not worrying about work? So for me having it at that time is perfect.
[00:18:33] Cuz I can go in and not concern myself of other things going on. Cuz I have a big team and big amount of asks all the time. So it's just the quiet time for me and that's surprised me. And that's also what I've enjoyed most is you, you haven't and the team haven't given me that stress. You gotta have the answers.
[00:18:55] You gotta know
[00:18:56] Lisa Mitchell: what you're doing with this.
[00:18:58] Speaker 3: Yeah. And so I can just hear what all of you were saying, what I need to say on the topic and explore it, like truly explore it. Yeah.
[00:19:07] Lisa Mitchell: So I've been really great, grateful for that. Interesting. So it gives you something very different from what you get in the regular work date.
[00:19:13] And I just wanna clarify, so Sheila is out in Calgary, so she's two hours behind. So, so it's 8:30 AM. ES T when we meet which my, my goal there was, it's not too early, although it kind of is for you, maybe. No, we're good. Not too early for most of us, but not too late so that it kind of doesn't really, you know, kill your day.
[00:19:33] You're you're back into it by 9 30, 10 latest on the second call. How is that timing working out for other.
[00:19:41] That's amazing. It works great. Mm-hmm yeah. Yeah. And it's, you know, it's a Thursday morning, so it's, it's not on the frantic Monday and so on. So it seems to be, seems to be a hit generally that, that particular time slot I'd like to hear from someone else as well, like in terms of the mix of components, the ways that you can access, support, how is it working for you?
[00:20:02] I have a comment
[00:20:02] Speaker 4: about that. If I can. I have to say that the tools that you've provided have been really thought provoking they've really pushed me to think more strategically, more thoroughly about things. Then we had one of our meetings. I'm not sure if it was our creativity meeting or which one practice.
[00:20:17] I don't remember which one it is to be honest, but we had one where we really explored asking strategic questions. Mm. And those helped me immensely. And you know, the great thing is in our discussions, Whether it be in our WhatsApp group or in our, you know, meetings together, there have been times where we will bring up a problem that
[00:20:38] Lisa Mitchell: we're facing.
[00:20:39] Speaker 4: And oftentimes the team kind of chimes in with a great question I should be asking. Mm. Really reinforces. And it reminds me, oh yeah, I didn't do that piece. And it's a really great reminder cuz we have these tools, but it's putting them into practice. Yes. And hearing from other people who are in the similar realm to me who have the same challenges that I do asking a really thought provoking question that gets me like yeah.
[00:21:06] On top of the next actionable item that I like to take it forward. Right. Yeah. And that's been really
[00:21:12] Lisa Mitchell: immensely helpful. Yeah, I appreciate what you're saying. It's that real time application, right? Because it's not, you know, we, we all got tools and we can Google, right. There's all sorts of stuff.
[00:21:22] There's courses out there. So this is about, okay, this is happening right now. And I'm trying to figure out, you know, what's the path to go. And this group has gotten increasingly enthusiastic about offering the questions and really good, really savvy at it because I think, I think that's where the magic is.
[00:21:38] The questions that we ask when we're managing stakeholder relationships. And when we're nurturing, our team dynamics and, and getting stuff done, right. Do you know that needs analysis? The better we, we are on that side of things, the better the implementation and, and, and the, the overall outcomes.
[00:21:54] It's so interesting, right? Those questions are critical. Isn't it? Maryanne, Williamson. That's her book, change your questions, change your life. I might mess up the author, but I love that book. So, you know, now we were just, I was just touching on accomplishments cuz the whole idea here is, I mean, It's such a pleasure working with, with you and, and we've, we've, we've not everybody's here, but because you do the work, right. You came in this isn't for everybody. This is for people that are ready to say, yes, I'm really, I am gonna, you know, make it to the majority of the meetings I'm gonna, I'm really gonna commit to that.
[00:22:27] Not everybody gets to every single one life doesn't allow that, but generally speaking, I'm on and I'm going to do the reflection pieces, the pre-work, and, and I'm going to engage in the conversations. And when you do that, what's interesting is it has a direct impact on what you're able to accomplish and how you show up at work.
[00:22:44] So I'm fascinated to hear at this point, I have a little bit of insight from our meetings, but what has this program allowed you to accomplish that you may have struggled with, if you didn't have the support of the group or which might have taken you longer, for instance,
[00:23:00] Well, I
[00:23:01] Speaker 1: don't think I would've survived our Workday implementation for sure. It's one of those projects where we don't have all the answers and I've always been you know, in my life. I like everything planned. I like to know, you know, the, the, the beginning from the end, and this is, was one of this project where you really had, you really had to, it's not necessarily fly by the seat of your pan, but you have to be comfortable with the unknown.
[00:23:31] And what this program has stopped me is that yeah, you can actually navigate and manage. Full project without having all the elements and then kind of work with what you have and, and, you know, and, and just ask the right questions. I don't think I would've been able to do that. And by doing that, what, what this has done is really expand my capacity and this has been noticed.
[00:24:01] And so people aren't afraid, you know, in the organization of asking more and, and it's not even just about being afraid, but it's, it's about asking more and, and have the confidence that it will get them. Oh, I think that's the biggest, the biggest compliment.
[00:24:22] Lisa Mitchell: So there's lots coming your way, but, you know, I think it's also been interesting to see this shift and you sort of understanding how to, to manage that, right?
[00:24:30] Like the busiest desk gets the most, the most asks you know, being able to, to manage those expectations coming in right. And being very forthright and you know, saying, well, I think we need to sort of step back and get the lay of the land here and get everybody on the same page. Yeah. Yeah. I think, you know, some of your stories have really demonstrated how you gotta add value that way.
[00:24:48] Speaker 3: Yeah, for me, it it came to a great place of here's everything we need you to work through. And so it could be 10 projects, it could be five projects, but then how to prioritize them, how to use your partners in HR, how to talk to your stakeholders and just navigating that swirl of, you know, you've gotta get this success with them so they can see that it's working for the organization and just using the different lens and talking it through with all of you.
[00:25:20] Just the components of how each one of those. Impacts its success. And, and what would you do in this situation? And again, it's back to that time where you can just sit and talk about it and get ideas and, and generate conversation around it versus just doing. And so that's where I've, I've really liked the different topics with each one, cuz each one help as either a guiding principle
[00:25:46] Lisa Mitchell: or a,
[00:25:46] Speaker 3: An element for its success.
[00:25:49] And, and you pulling those out Lisa and everyone here has helped me with each of those projects to think through it, whether it's creative side of it or when we went into the good questions we wanted to ask. So each one kind of set me up for further success when doing non.
[00:26:10] Lisa Mitchell: Well, and it sounds like, cuz you, well, you think you're welcome.
[00:26:13] Like, it sounds like this navigating word keeps coming up. So it's about this skill of, of those conversations, right? Because, because you're all in a tricky position, right? Like it's that, you know, everybody wants something from you when you're in talent, when you're in HR, there's, there's a, a tension between, you know, who's got the port purse strings and who's expecting stuff from you management wise and then the rest of the organization.
[00:26:37] So, you're, you're, you're always needing to balance and manage a diverse group of stakeholders. So, having the skills to do that, it's kind of, Once you have them with those particular questions and that, you know, clear and kind managing expectations approach, then it really makes it all go a little more easily.
[00:26:56] Even if you don't have all the answers or you're not, don't know how to SME necessarily right on, on the topic at hand, you don't have to be a me always it's okay to be ambiguous. Anyone else, anything that stands up for you, Susan?
[00:27:09] I
[00:27:10] Speaker 3: jump in because, um, it's,
[00:27:12] Lisa Mitchell: uh, This group knows I recently changed roles and I was in a role and it was a great learning opportunity and then had just a, a, just a wonderful opportunity fall in my, in my path and, and decided to make the leap.
[00:27:26] The learnings I had with my previous team really has given me the confidence with my new team to,
[00:27:33] Like I know, you know, what my expectations are and I've just come into this new role with a lot more confidence than I think I would've had I not have this group. Ah, okay. Well that makes my heart sing.
