In April’s webinar, Winning the War on Talent: Recruitment, recruitment professionals discussed a variety of topics. Speakers Denise Gredler, Lindsay M. Smith, and Michael S. Seaver gave insight on topics such as trends impacting recruitment, data from azcentral.com’s Top Companies to Work for in Arizona award, Arizona’s Most Admired Companies award, innovative client approaches and key lessons learned through 15+ years of serving our community.

Results from live polling uncovered that finding qualified applicants was a challenge for the webinar attendees. We learned that attendees were relying heavily on job boards such as Simply Hired, LinkedIn, and Indeed to find talent.

Michael Seaver, a leadership consulting professional, kicked off  the webinar by discussing workforce demographics and their influence on talent acquisition. He reviewed the different generations that exist in the workplace- addressing their similarities and differences. Seaver shared studies about the influence of a diverse workforce on company culture, financial performance, communication, innovation, employee retention, and the recruitment process.

Live polling results showed that many webinar attendees do not have a defined employer brand or talent CRM. However, attendees did have informational career pages and job descriptions and were sourcing proactively.

Lindsay M. Smith, Vice President of Brand Evangelism for BestCompaniesAZ, followed Seaver’s discussion with a discourse on the shortcomings of traditional interviewing processes. She shared about the value of untraditional interviewing approaches such as events, in-job auditions, casual interviews, and virtual reality. Lindsay reviewed big data and how human resources teams can use it. She also shared the best practices for the creation and use of a talent CRM. Smith concluded her discussion with a review of the importance of transparency when sharing about your organizational culture, employee stories, and when reaching out to candidates.  

To conclude the webinar, Seaver and BestCompaniesAZ CEO Denise Gredler talked about BestCompaniesAZ’s involvement with the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona award. Gredler gave insight on recruitment trends and what it takes for a company to make the list. Seaver and Denise discussed a variety of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies award winners. They dove deep into what those companies are doing to retain engaged employees and recruit talent.

What Have We Learned About Recruitment?

The greatest lessons that BestCompaniesUSA has learned while consulting on recruitment topics and building employer brands include:

• Commitment to a process is more important than outcomes
• Expanding your employee referral program draws in a greater number of quality hires
• Never underestimate the value of creative branding
• Invest in your recruiter’s skill development
• Utilize your talent CRM to build community and share culture

If you’re like our webinar attendees, you desire more creative and defined recruitment efforts, but fail to implement successful recruitment activities. You might also need more insight on recruiting in new places. Watching this webinar on our Youtube channel or listening to it on our podcast may be just the thing you need to kick-start your recruitment process!

To register for upcoming webinars, visit us here.

This story is written and provided by Amanda Oliver, Manager Member Solutions, BIS at USAA.

I started working for USAA in 2004. The Iraq war was in full force, and many of the members I spoke with were either deployed or just returning. “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” was still enacted, and of course, same sex marriage was not legal yet. I was very close with my Uncle Sunny growing up, and he was with his partner my entire life. It was somewhat of a shock to me as I got older and encountered what homophobia looked like since it was something that was a non-issue in my household. My uncle suffered kidney failure when I was 10 years old, and while I didn’t quite understand why, I was very aware that whether his partner would be allowed in his room or not really depended on which doctors and nurses were on duty. My uncle passed away in 2010. I was in my early 30’s by then and saw the aftermath of someone trying to muddle through the financial impact of your significant other passing, while having very little legal recourse. My little sister came out the following year and I knew right then that I wanted to show her that there were people that supported her, would stand up for her, and hopefully give her opportunities that my uncle did not have.

When USAA decided to start up the LGBTQIA diversity business group, called BOLD, I felt like I was finally able to connect two important pieces of life together. I was excited and wanted to be involved as much as I could be, my initial desire being to satisfy this personal drive to support local LGBT causes and our LGBT workforce. It was clear from the day BOLD started that our employees not only wanted USAA to have an LGBT resource group, they expected it. In the first year, the Phoenix office had about 200 members, which was something to be proud of. In 2017, the Phoenix chapter walked in the Phoenix Pride parade for the first time. 200 employees and their families showed up to walk with us, and just typing that out makes me tear up. I’ve had people come up to me at events and tell me they came to work at USAA when they saw we had an LGBT business group. I’ve had employees hug me to thank BOLD for making them feel like they can be themselves at work. I cannot express the feeling I have knowing that this wonderful company I work for is here to serve the military community. USAA has stood up and said, we support you, we stand behind you, and you can be yourself here. As an ally to the community, that’s all I’ve wanted to do, and USAA has given me the opportunity to extend that sphere so much further. I’ve since been able to be involved with our additional diversity business groups, and I’ve realized the depth of how important diversity and inclusion is in the workforce. This year, not only did we walk in the Pride parade, but we also participated in the Phoenix Pride Run. The runners were so excited to see USAA there handing out water for them as they ran by! We will continue to support internal events to educate and support our employees on LGBT issues, and we will continue to show up for LGBT community events forwarding the future. BOLD now has over 800 members in Phoenix, and I cannot wait to see where 2018 and beyond takes us.

At the center of every company are the core values that drive day-to-day activities. The core values of a company aim to guide the actions and behaviors of employees and executives alike.

Core values are more than just words on a wall. They’re the backbone of a company, the common thread that holds everyone together, uniting them with shared expectations and values.

The companies on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list have mastered living, breathing and embodying their core values on a daily basis. Here’s a look at 10 of the best core values for companies from the 2018 Fortune Best Companies to Work for winners.  

1. Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are two of the most important core values businesses can have. Large corporations and small businesses alike must make sure all employees feel respected, valued, and welcome. Companies that prioritize inclusion and respect diversity offer equal opportunities to all and create a safe work environment for their diverse workforce.

Financial services company USAA places diversity and inclusion at the center of its business. Though this widely successful insurance company boasts an employee count of more than 32,000, employees and customers of all ethnicities, races, and life paths are welcomed as unique and important individuals.

2. Customer Commitment

Being committed to its customers is crucial to any businesses success. Customer commitment is highly valued at companies like Ryan, LLC., Hyatt, and USAA. These companies attribute their success to their relationships with their customers – relationships that are founded on the value of customer commitment.

3. Teamwork

Teamwork can come in many forms. Companies that value teamwork work to effectively meet a goal. Organizations are more likely to succeed within teams rather than individually. Thus, a career founded on teamwork is personally and professionally beneficial.

4. Importance of Family

Now more than ever, men and women are balancing their careers with their family life. Working for a company that holds family as an important core value means that this work-life balance is respected. Companies like Hyatt work hard to make their employees’ families feel like a part of the Hyatt family. They understand the importance of family and are dedicated to maintaining this core value.

5. Corporate Responsibility

Corporate responsibility means corporations have a responsibility to the individuals and groups that their business affects. Like a social responsibility, the value of corporate responsibility means that a company will work towards the greater good of their employees and customers. A company that holds the value of corporate responsibility as their greatest value is USAA. In fact, USAA attributes a large portion of their success to their dedication to corporate responsibility.

6. Self Improvement

Although one of many core values, self improvement often gets overlooked. However, the importance of personal and professional growth cannot be understated. Companies that value self improvement see greater employee engagement and low turnover rates. A career should be founded on opportunities, growth, and passion. The core value of self improvement is vital to an individual’s growth and  development as an employee and as a human being.

7. Pursue Excellence

Any company that does not value the pursuit of excellence is setting itself up for failure. The pursuit of excellence no matter the cost is so important in the success of a business. Companies that value excellence are driven and excited by their efforts. This passion bleeds into the attitudes and success of employees. A company that highly attributes its global success to the constant pursuit of excellence is Ryan, LLC. The company has maintained its position as one of the world’s most prominent Global 5000 companies due to its relentless pursuit of excellence.

8. Care for the Community

Within the past decade, the desire for environmentally-friendly practices and procedures has grown exponentially. Whether this is through direct efforts or philanthropic pursuits, companies have taken steps to address this need. Caring for the community surrounding a business is an important core value.

9. Professional Development

The opportunity to participate in personal and professional development activities is very beneficial for growth. People should look for a career that offers developmental programs or educational seminars. Employees who are given the opportunity to grow are more likely to be successful in their field.

10. Honesty

The core value honesty is important for companies that are dedicated to establishing trust. Working for a company that values honesty means that you can trust that the work you are doing is founded on integrity. The importance of a trusting relationship between the company and customers cannot be understated.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to align your company’s image with your core values, reach out to BestCompaniesAZ. We specialize in employer branding and consulting and would love to help you become a values-oriented, award-winning employer.

Written by Curtis Crawford – Sr. Talent Advisor, Charles Schwab.

Schwab is an amazing place to work; the people, the leadership, the clients, the work environment, the positivity, and – the opportunity to give back to your community. There are several things I am always grateful for and don’t take for granted when I wake up in the morning; my family, having a great place to work, where I live, and yes; the sport of baseball.

Baseball is a special game; it requires mental/strategic focus, is both individualized and team based, having success on offense 30% of the time is a good day, it has no time clock, and is one of the only sports in which the defense has the ball. I also believe in the power of youth sports, teaching friendship, accountability, camaraderie, and collaboration – and I volunteer extensively to help kids build a passion for the game and become better players, teammates, and members of their community.

As time went on and I became more dedicated to coaching and was invited to be involved on the Board of Directors with my local league, I noticed I was uncovering strengths that were helping me become more comfortable in a leadership capacity. I was inspiring others to become more involved themselves in the league and volunteer, I was leading a coaching staff and building trust with them to provide empowerment, and I was effectively managing parent/player/coach relationships (which anyone will tell you are not easy). But most of all – I was having a positive impact on the lives of others.

This sparked something in me. Something I became passionate about. Coaching, developing, and inspiring others! And I began taking this into my role as a Sr. Talent Advisor here at Schwab.

My leadership team at Schwab began to notice, and in addition to being given opportunities to take on special projects; last year I was approached with a unique chance to participate in the Schwab Aspiring Leader Program, or “ALP” as we refer to it internally. A six month intensive development program that helped me learn more about myself, better understand what leadership means at Schwab, and how to lead with purpose. It opened me up to a network of leaders and colleagues at Schwab that afforded unmatched learning opportunities, and helped me uncover my strengths as an emerging leader.

Through unique lessons, I unleashed my potential in areas I had never before – which I think every emerging leader should be thinking about;

• Self- Leadership: having a mindset and skillset for getting what you need to succeed and being the best at what you do.
• Creating Followership: as another leader in the organization put it, “Motivating and inspiring others to do things that they did not think they could do.” The experience of seeing someone else succeed at something is powerful and energizing.
• Cultivating an Engaged Team: understanding that you are not always going to have the answer. Listening and letting a team build a solution to the task at hand. Letting the creativity and solutions based mindset of a team come out is important for engagement and productivity.

Through the Aspiring Leader Program – I have become more effective in managing myself, and feel more confident than ever in my abilities to lead and inspire others to believe in what they can accomplish in their own careers. My experience in the program is opening up opportunities to take on more leadership responsibility and further develop professionally every day.

Will you join me? We would love to have you! Start your career leadership journey at Schwab today!

Learn more: http://schwabjobs.com/

0418-8VJX

This article is provided by Shawn Bradford, founder of Breathe and Work, PLLC.

Arizona is one of the most stressed out states according to this article and WalletHub. Are you among the stressed out in our city? Stress no more as we’ve got you covered with five quick & proven techniques to combat that stress.

What’s the big deal about being stressed out anyways? First, it is a huge detriment to our health. The top 5 chronic diseases in the United States are all stress related and can be prevented. Learn more here. Stress also messes with our ability to pay attention and show up as our best selves. Employees suffering from high stress levels have lower engagement, are less productive and have higher absentee levels than those not operating under excessive pressure, according to research from professional services firm Towers Watson.

The good news is there are effective and easy ways to implement strategies you can use on a daily basis to combat the negative effects of stress.

Tip 1: Stress Awareness

Start to pay attention to your personal signs of stress. Without awareness of our stress triggers we cannot do anything about it. What gets your blood boiling, your head pounding or causes you shortness of breath? These are your personal stress triggers. Now notice how your body responds. Is it with a clenched jaw, tense shoulders or uneasy stomach? This awareness of how you respond to stress and where your body holds it is the first step to managing your stress. The next time you feel stressed take one minute to scan your body to begin to cultivate this awareness.

Tip 2: Minute Movement Breaks

Once you identify where the stress is being held, take a moment to move the stress out. A one-minute stress buster break will help you to release the stress and regain focus. For instance, if you identified stress being held in your shoulders try this: inhale and roll your shoulders up to your ears and exhale and roll your shoulders down your back. Repeat 3 to 10 times. Feels great, doesn’t it? Not only are you actively doing something to move the stress out, you are also increasing your concentration. Peter Strick, PhD and brain researcher, has documented that the same pathway in the brain for learning and concentration is also the same pathway for movement. Take a minute each time you feel stressed to move the stress out of your body.

Tip 3: Breathe Better

This tip is all about how we take a breath. Notice when you are anxious your breath is shallow and fast. This rapid breathing is simply exaggerating your anxiousness and stress. Instead, to calm the body down and reduce stress take a deep belly breath. To do this, inhale through the nose, fill up your lungs from bottom to top and expand the belly out, now take a slow deep exhale breath out with pursed lips as the belly deflates. This deep breath and slow exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the relaxation response in the body. The Mayo Clinic states that breath work can help to increase alertness, release stress and shift and release negative energy. Set a timer every 30 minutes to take a one minute deep breathing break and notice how much more productive you are.

Tip 4: Mindful Observation Break

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly typing, forgetting to send attachments or find your mind constantly wandering off? Of course you do! We all battle with this. A mindful break provides us with practice to combat this stressful and time-wasting behavior. Here’s how to do it. Take a 5-minute break and head outside or to a quiet place in your office. Sit and begin to engage your senses to notice everything around you. What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you see? What thoughts come into your mind? Acknowledge those thoughts and then let them float away like clouds on a clear blue sky. This practice of mindfulness, paying attention to the present moment, will increase focus, happiness and present moment awareness. When our mind wanders we make errors. Mindfulness tames our wandering mind and increases productivity while decreasing stress. Learn more here. Practice mindfulness 5 minutes a day with a mindful timeout by simply observing yourself and your surroundings and experience the benefits.

Tip 5: Connect to destress.

Dignity Health says that when we feel connected to another person our bodies respond in a way that makes us feel calmer. Showing kindness also reduces our response to stressful circumstances more effectively. Have fun and manage stress by meeting up with friends at your lunch hour or going for a walk outside with colleagues at a break. Do good and lower stress by organizing a company wide charity event. Connection with others increases compassion and decreases stress.

While stress can be a detriment to our health, focus and happiness the good news is that we hold all the tools to bring down our response to stress right now. So, take a moment and take a deep breath, or a few, and then return to the task at hand with more clarity and focus. Your calmer state of being will thank you!

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Shawn Bradford, founder of Breathe and Work, PLLC, is an expert on stress management. She lives and works in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more about her here.

As a business owner or manager, brand awareness is crucial to the success of your business. However, you don’t have to have a million dollar budget or decades of experience to build a strong brand! Your most valuable brand assets are right in front of you.

Companies often employ marketing efforts and advertising initiatives to improve their brand awareness. These efforts can take your company’s brand to the next level, help you attract top tier talent and secure loyal customers. However, one of your greatest assets in brand awareness are your employees.

With a strong brand, companies can grow in profitability and face competition with ease. Your employees are the ones on the front line, connecting with customers and promoting your business. When they feel empowered and engaged in their positions, they become natural brand ambassadors. Their passion for their work will flow into the way they interact with customers.

Here are three reasons why employees are the best brand ambassadors.

Employees are front-of-house representatives for your business.

Your employees are the first faces your customers see when they interact with your business. The words and actions of your employees are incredibly powerful. Customers who experience positive interactions with your employees are more likely to continue as customers in the future. Employees who are excited about what they are doing are willing to go above-and-beyond in their work to provide for their customers. This heightened level of customer experience results in greater customer loyalty.

Consider companies like as Dutch Bros. or Southwest. These businesses are highly regarded for their customer service and employee engagement. Customers feel valued and respected. In turn, these companies have flourished financially. Employees are excellent brand ambassadors because they are consistently acting as representatives for your business.

When employees pave the way for brand recognition, revenue follows.

According to a Hay Group study, engaged and empowered employees can cause company revenue to double compared to companies with low employee engagement. Customer loyalty generates financial success. While your business may have solid values and a powerful mission, without a strong, positive brand presence, growth may be difficult.

Consumers are more likely to commit to a brand based on their customer experience over the products or services being offered. Studies have found that companies with high levels of consumer engagement experienced twice the number of loyal customers than their less-engaged counterparts. This customer loyalty led to repeat purchases and recommendations to friends and family.

While engagement levels seem separate from brand recognition and brand success, a Gallup study revealed that “…companies with high employee engagement levels have 3.9 times the earnings per share when compared to those in the same industry with lower engagement levels.” Employees are the best brand ambassadors because their actions influence brand loyalty and boost revenues.

Your employees know your brand best.

Your employees know the ins and outs of your business. They have experienced a variety of situations and have learned all there is to know about your business.

Employees are great brand ambassadors because they have the ability to share your brand with consumers as they apply their knowledge to each individual customer interaction. A powerful brand is more than brand recognition. Powerful brands have a vision, set a foundation for the business based on that vision, and operate accordingly. Employees are the best brand ambassadors because they can deliver a high level of customer-experience and product knowledge.

Employees can act as brand ambassadors off the clock, too! When employees love their work and workplaces, they tend to share their experiences with friends, family and people in the community. This creates a ripple effect of positive thoughts about your company, prompting new people to give your products and services a try.

Educated and empowered employees are your greatest brand ambassadors. Employee engagement and knowledge highly influences customer loyalty and revenue growth. Give your employees a reason to be brand ambassadors for your company by making your firm a great place for them to work! Your bottom line will thank you for it

BestCompaniesAZ offers employer branding services that build brands locally, positioning them as great places to work. Click here to learn more about our services!

Story written and provided by Gloria Martinez, founder of WomenLed.org.

The days of following one career path until retirement are in the distant past. Today, men and women change careers frequently and at nearly any age. That’s not to say that changing careers is easy: it’s not. Changing careers brings about uncertainty, fluctuations in pay, and many sleepless nights. But, if you are unhappy in your position, want to do something that you love, or realize that you don’t have any room for growth in your present career, it may be time for you to change your life by changing your career. Our three tips will help any woman take charge of her path to happiness and success by changing her career.

1. Take a Step Back and Get an Empowered Perspective

Career coach Kathy Caprino has helped women change careers to gain financial, emotional, and spiritual success over the course of her career. In her Forbes article, she explains that women looking to change careers first need to take a step back and gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Determine “what you’ll give up everything for, what you value, your priorities, standards of integrity, non-negotiables and your style, preferences, and ideals.” By gaining a better idea of who you are, you will choose a direction that is better for you and that will lead to a more successful and enjoyable career.

Then, look at your career and your life through a different lens with the help of others. Find a mentor, friend or coach who has a more objective sense of your potential. This person will help you identify your gifts and talents that you can utilize in your new career. Sometimes, the hardest part of changing careers is allowing yourself to see what you are capable of and truly believing it.

2. Know How You Want Your Life to Change and What Your Ideal Situation Looks Like

Elaina Giolando is a writer and career coach who quit her management consultant position in New York City to get a dream job overseas. Her advice to women looking to change their lives by changing careers is to know how you want to change and what your dream looks like. When you know what your goals are, develop your plan of attack to achieve them. Clear goals and dreams help focus your actions to accomplish them. For example, if your dream is to be a consultant and lead fellow entrepreneurs to success, you first need to research what a consulting business is and exactly what it takes to run one. This will help you plan a concrete strategy and timeline for getting started. Giolando also recommends changing one aspect of your life at a time. So, if you want a new career, go after it before you try to find a new apartment or a new relationship.

3. Determine What It Will Take for You to Change Your Career

Knowing what you want is one thing; knowing how to achieve it is another. Women who want to move beyond daydreaming about changing their lives to taking action to change it with a career change need to know exactly what it will take to make it happen. Former corporate communications director turned almost-all-commission recruiter Jenny Foss took a reckless approach to her career change and wants to help women approach their lives and career changes in a less dangerous way. That’s why she recommends determining exactly what you will need to do to change careers. Determine whether you will need to take classes, get certified or licensed, gain some skills, or need outside support. Will you need to line up child care? Do you want to get your partner’s blessing? How much time will you need to devote to preparing for your career change?

This tip is not intended to make you take one look at the work you will need to put into changing your career and scrap the whole deal. It is intended, however, to help you go into the change with your eyes wide open so you are prepared to do what it takes to make your dreams come to fruition.

Changing your career is a big step. But, if you want to change your life for the better, and you know that a career change is the key to reduced stress or more freedom or more happiness, then start taking the steps to make it happen. Begin by taking a step back to gain an empowered perspective, identifying how you want to change your life and what your ideal situation looks like, and determining what it will take for you to change your career. Good luck!

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Gloria Martinez started WomenLed to celebrate the advancements women have made and inspire women to become entrepreneurs and seek promotions in the workplace.