Unleashing the Power of People: Reimagining the Workplace
Experience Management Institute explores what inspires innovators and leaders in people experience—covering people management, mentoring, coaching, training, development, human resources, human capital systems and process improvement, organizational development, and internal communications.
Hear from experts and thought leaders about creating workplaces that are more productive, innovative, and human-centered—all focused on revolutionizing the people experience.
Unleashing the Power of People: Reimagining the Workplace
Stay Interview Strategies with Impact
Why Listen?
Tune in to this episode to explore the challenges of attracting and retaining educators. Discover how two experienced Human Resources leaders from suburban Chicago school districts tackled these issues head-on through innovative stay interview programs developed during their participation in the Executive Human Capital Leader in Education certification program. Learn about:
- Unique approaches to recruitment and retention with the help of stay interviews
- The power of collaborative action research
- Surprising differences in what motivates teachers, support staff, and administrators to remain in their roles
This episode delves into the practical application of stay interviews not just for retention, but also as a powerful tool for recruitment and understanding the employee value proposition directly from current staff. Hear firsthand accounts of challenges, the importance of data analysis versus “just data collection,” and how leadership buy-in impacts success.
As guest Dale Fisher puts it, "Retention is the new recruitment! If you don't understand why your employees are thinking of leaving, or are leaving, or have had considerations about their career in your district, then you're missing a real opportunity."
Guests
- Dr. Naima Khandaker: VP of Strategy, Experience Management Institute
- Dr. Dale Fisher: Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Deerfield Public Schools District 109
- Dr. Julia Wheaton: Associate Superintendent (formerly Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources), Consolidated High School District 230
Topics
The discussion highlights how the guests leveraged their participation in the cohort-based eHCLE program, emphasizing the value of action research, peer feedback, and dedicated coaching to refine their distinct projects, including:
- The rationale behind coupling exit interviews (reactive) with stay interviews (proactive).
- Utilizing stay interview data for both retention strategies and enhancing recruitment efforts by understanding why current employees value the district.
- The process of developing interview protocols, collecting qualitative data, and analyzing it to inform district practices and branding.
- Discovering varied retention drivers among different employee groups (teachers, support staff, administrators) and the need for tailored approaches.
- The critical role of collaboration, vulnerability, and shared learning within a professional cohort and district leadership teams.
The conversation also touches upon the broader landscape of HR in education, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and sustaining initiatives beyond the initial phase. Guests reflect on the future of work in education, emphasizing the need for continuous learning, strategic thinking, and embracing tools responsibly. They discuss the importance of:
- Addressing the national educator shortage proactively.
- Understanding and leveraging AI effectively and efficiently in HR practices.
- The necessity for HR leaders to be advocates, staying informed about local, state, and federal educational contexts.
- Building sustainable programs that are not solely dependent on one leader.
As guest Julia Wheaton advises leaders, "Don't listen to the noise! Be laser-focused on your strategy and outcomes, and don't be distracted by all the other things going on in your world."
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