Episode 197: Smart Tech for Team Retention and Talent Growth

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Tim Sackett, the President of HR Technical Resources, to chat about using technology to enhance team engagement and hiring. Tim shares how workplace relationships can foster personal and professional growth, his innovative solution to the talent crisis, and how AI can align team and organizational values.

In this episode…

The rapid rise of AI and other smart tech has changed the workplace landscape, but it’s also led to an epidemic of loneliness among employees. So how can HR leaders use these innovative tools to boost team retention and foster meaningful workplace connections?

HR expert Tim Sackett believes that instead of relying on AI for repetitive tasks alone, HR professionals can leverage it to nurture relationships and improve team retention. By using tools that compile employee feedback or gather personalized insights, leaders can pair employees with mentors and align their strengths for professional growth. Sackett also encourages experimenting with AI-driven recruitment tools, such as LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant, to streamline hiring and reduce bias.

In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast, host Traci Austin sits down with Tim Sackett, the President of HR Technical Resources, to discuss how smart tech can enhance engagement, recruit top talent, and help HR leaders align technology with organizational values. Sackett shares his solution to the ongoing talent crisis, tips for middle managers to uplevel their teams, and strategies for using AI to support both personal and professional development.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[3:46] Fostering shared experiences to help individuals grow personally and professionally

[8:56] How technology can help middle managers uplevel their teams

[13:53] Tim Sackett’s solution to the talent crisis

[21:00] Tech strategies and tools to recruit and hire talent

[29:30] Advice for HR leaders to leverage AI

[37:55] Tim shares his personal and professional bucket list items

[40:48] How to use AI for value alignment

Quotable Moments:

“I believe it’s our job as HR leaders to actually make sure our employees have a best friend at work.”
“I’ve embraced AI, and I’m forcing myself to answer the question: If AI takes away 75% of my job tomorrow, what’s next?”
“We just have this epidemic of loneliness, and I think we’re uniquely positioned to help our employees create friendships.”
“The leaders’ number one priority is to increase the talent on their team, not just perfect their function.”
“AI is going to disrupt every single function; we have to start answering the question, what could we do?”

I've embraced AI, and I'm forcing myself to answer the question: If AI takes away 75% of my job tomorrow, what's next? Share on X

Action Steps:

Implement a new hire buddy program: Establish a program where new employees are paired with a peer buddy before their first day. This approach fosters early connections, helps new hires feel supported, and combats workplace loneliness.
Adopt AI coaching technology: Explore and integrate AI-driven coaching tools to aid middle managers in providing real-time feedback and developing their teams. These technologies can help managers craft better feedback and maintain consistent communication, improving retention rates.
Host cross-departmental coffee chats: Encourage employees to participate in informal meetings across various departments to build a broader network within the company. This strategy can help overcome the siloed nature of many organizations, offering employees opportunities to form new connections and potentially find “best friends” at work.
Utilize AI for talent acquisition: Consider implementing AI tools like Paradox or LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant to streamline the recruitment process. These technologies can automate repetitive tasks and allow HR professionals to focus on strategic initiatives, addressing the need for efficiency and innovation in talent management.
Foster a culture of positive feedback: Train leaders to prioritize positive reinforcement and recognition over critical feedback. Highlighting employee strengths can boost morale and engagement, ensuring a supportive work environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

About Tim Sackett

Tim Sackett is the President of HRU Technical Resources, an IT and engineering contract staffing firm. With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and HR, he worked as a staffing director, recruiter, and HR manager at companies, including Applebees, ShopKo Stores, and Pamida. Tim has been named a Top 10 Global HR Influencer.

Sponsor for this episode…

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