Corey McBurnett, SPHR’s Post

Our employee spotlight for the month of February features Dave Linderman, EVP Operations and Business Development at INT. Read on to learn more about Dave! 1) What does your job entail? I wear several hats at INT, but the commonality between all of my roles come down to internal and external problem-solving and creating effective and meaningful relationships with my peers, colleagues, customers, and vendors. 2) What are words that describe you that start with I, N, or T? Tenacious 3) Who inspires you and why (in or outside of INT)? My team inspires me to do the best work possible. No matter the challenge, we find ways of uniting and solving problems together. 4) What hobbies or interests do you enjoy outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my boys Russell and Henry, fixing stuff around the house, and working on classic cars. 5) What is something you've taken for granted in the past? Being fully remote now, I realize that face-to-face time, water-cooler chats, and team lunches are all things I took for granted. 6) What was your favorite TV show growing up and why? MacGyver, because he is the ultimate problem solver. 7) If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? I wish I had super strength to be able to lift and move anything without assistance. #employeespotlight #companyculture #companyculturematters #communitymatters #employeeappreciation #employeeengagement #employeeexperience

Why Authenticity Matters: When ‘Dog-Friendly’ is More Than Just a Buzzword! I am celebrating two years as a Pawsitivity Manager at how.fm! 😍🎉 I recently found myself thinking back to the summer of 2022 when my human was actively exploring a new job opportunity. Of course, my human and I only come as a (dream-)team, so she paid attention to companies that allow dogs in their offices. One day, she spoke to the CEO of a company that then advertised (and still advertises) their office as "#dogfriendly.” During the conversation, the CEO revealed that they don’t like dogs, started to rant about the mutts in the office, and told my human that they were convinced the dogs would attack their employees soon and, therefore, finally give them a reason to ban dogs from the office. Furthermore, they stated that they dislike frolleagues (colleagues who are also friends) at the workplace. Long story short: The human was shocked, withdrew her application immediately, and from then on started questioning every benefit a company pretended to have. Don't get me wrong - aggressive dogs don't belong in an office. There are specific rules both humans and dogs must obey, and not every dog can be an #officedog. 🐶 But experiences like this are not unique. Highlighting only the real #benefits your company offers is key to attracting the right talents and setting accurate expectations from the start. Overstating perks or opportunities can lead to disengagement and turnover when new hires realize the reality doesn't match the promise. Being transparent, however, helps build trust and ensures candidates who join are genuinely aligned with what your organization provides. Have you ever come across “false benefits” when applying for jobs? I am extremely lucky that the human soon found a more authentic, supportive, and actually dog-friendly workplace where we can be ourselves. I love my fantastic #frolleagues! 💜

Secret Ingredient of a Great Company Culture! Have you ever wondered what makes a workplace truly exceptional? I think I've cracked the code, and it's all about the little things that make a big difference. Not just the industry standards like "great commission" or perks such as "Beer Fridges" and "Incentive Trips." I believe that strong relationships are the foundation of success. That's why we prioritize activities that bring our team closer together, whether it's through friendly competitions or simply sharing a laugh. For example, we were lucky enough to be able to clock off early on Thursday for a game of rounders. Small things like this make a world of difference and genuinely let you let your hair down and have a laugh. It also helps when your team wins! #winnerwinnerchickendinner

Hire the best employees for your business by doing this ⬇️ So…I just got a new staff today and she seems to be on point based on her credentials. She fits the criteria of emotional support, cuteness and entertainment. Bit questionable about the sleeping and tongue thing though 🤷♂️ When it comes hiring someone new in your team, the most important thing to watch is work ethic, skillset and ability to follow through on performance. We’ll see what will happen in coming weeks and keep you updated 🐶 Disclaimer: no animals were hurt in the filming of this video and is purely for entertainment lol Follow for more on building businesses and digital marketing ❤️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀! 💎 #socialmediamarketing #businesscoaching #personaldevelopment #motivation #dogs

I left my corporate career to start carving spoons. Instead of giving all my creative energy to one company, I have an opportunity to serve hundreds of companies in Berlin. Most of my customers come from tech, if they are lucky, they get paid for carving spoons with me because their bosses have hired me. Sometimes they are deeply unsatisfied with their career. I feel a lot of empathy for them, because I have been there too. I am not a therapist, but somehow it happens that while we are carving wood, we also get to the root of their problems. And this is when they start seeing solutions. Very often there is a slight shift in their mindset, that will trigger a bigger change. Sometimes it is time to find a new employer. Both ways there will be a positive change for them and their employer. I also see many teams who are genuinely healthy and happy. This is something I recognize from my own past too. Being in a good team feels energizing and makes you feel included, so it is easy to be your best self. How to create this environment where your team feels nurtured? I can't give you one magic trick, but I do share one of my secrets which always guarantee me a happy group by the end of the workshop. Before we start, I ask my workshop participants what are their expectations to me. Usually it is nothing big, so it is totally doable to meet their wishes. I know very well that as an employer it is not so easy to make everyone happy, but there is something in it if someone shows interest in providing your well being. Probably the sense of being heard and seen. With our team building events it starts from planning a meeting together and having an option to choose an activity. There are many artists and craftspeople in Berlin who provide corporate team building events. You will find them on The Makery or Konfetti. Or simply reach out to me and come carve some corporate spoons with me if you haven't already done it. #teambuilding #employeehappiness #corporatehappiness

In a bustling workplace like ours at Sevenstep, it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind, focusing solely on the tasks at hand. But some of the most valuable moments happen when we take a step back and intentionally create opportunities to interact in new ways. Today was one of those moments. On the day of the NFL Draft (Go Bears!), we hosted our own annual Buddy Draft – a live draft that randomly pairs people together for a year of new connections, fostering friendships and fun over new experiences or shared interests. Jim Becker and Natalie Scheiman knocked it out of the park, leading us through the Draft – costumes, banter and all. As a leader, I'm passionate about making room for serendipitous encounters – moments where individuals from different teams come together, perhaps over a cup of tea, cooking class or city tour. These seemingly small interactions may not directly relate to our bottom line, but they form the fabric of our company culture, weaving bonds that transcend job titles and departments. By carving out time like this, we create a workplace where people feel valued, understood and, most importantly, happy. And a happy team is not only better positioned to deliver exceptional service to our clients but also more likely to stay with us for the long haul. Here's to fostering a culture of connection, one smile, one conversation, one friendship at a time.

🎯Is corporate life = Fun Reel Life We often see that on the reels and Instagram regarding corporate teamwork, bonding, fun friends, and so on. 🎯So do you think is it all about the reel story or it's the reality of Corporate life 🎯Well, corporate life is meant to be a fun, supportive, and creative life. Where you can generate unique ideas 💡 🎯However, we often also see memes related to the toxic side of the corporate world. 🎯We usually encounter tough and toxic situations that usually kill our creativity. We are caged in a loop, of toxic work culture. 🎯What we see is not what it is always. The real face of corporate life is stress and toxic work culture, promoting office politics and every negativity that can be spread to increase competition 🎯So, what's the good face? The good face is the minimum offices which promote healthy work culture. 🎯So when you see a reel that displays fun and stress-free corporate culture and also when you see a reel that indicates toxic work culture, don't believe. You don't know what's behind the curtain. Don't always believe what you see or hear. #corporate #life #work #enviornment

***WINS & OPPORTUNITIES*** Back in the day when I was a Director at The Walt Disney Company and we were building this thing called the internet…I had many people to please. Instead of pleasing them…because that really depended on which way the wind was blowing, daily, for each…I took charge and created transparency. I called it “WINS & OPPORTUNITIES”. It was a weekly summary of what was going right and the successes and where they needed to step in and help their teams get out of the way. It worked extremely well. I didn’t sit in my office fearing phone calls or questions. I was ahead of all of it. I have made it a mission to train companies I consult for and humans I coach on this simple — yet — highly effective approach. I have found that so many of you are still taking dumb advice like “work hard” vs understanding that transparency, communication, consistency in order to build clarity and connection are the tickets to success and growth. Wake up. Here is some help. MY SIMPLE SITE: PowerUnleashedNow.com https://lnkd.in/gZJYwMvP

What exactly does it mean that Plunge is a "Great Place to Work?" 👉 88% of employees at Plunge say it is a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company. 95% say people care about each other here. 93% say they are able to take time off from work when they think it's necessary. 93% say they can be themselves at work. 93% say that when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome. 92% are proud to tell others they work here. Love these words people use to describe working at Plunge!

“We're only hiring rockstar employees!” I’m gonna throw rocks through your window. If I see one more job description with this, I might just start a one-woman boycott of buzzwords. I’ll even make my own colorful picket signs. Seriously. Please. WHAT is this obsession? Follow me on this ultra-cringe metaphor: It's as if companies are hosting auditions for a one-man show when what they really need is a well-tuned orchestra. This fixation with finding the corporate equivalent of a soloist might blind us to the quiet, essential players—the ones who aren’t soloing at center stage but are the actual keystones in our day-to-day operations. A workplace isn’t a venue for solo heroes. The best company cultures are like, idk, neighborhood garage band jam sessions where collaboration - not individual stardom - leads to the best outcomes. Each member, from the interns to the executives, plays a vital part in the company's melody. We need to drop this rockstar nonsense and start appreciating the ensemble—because 1) it’s annoying AF, and 2) it’s the collective performance that truly makes or breaks companies. Also, more cowbell. 🔔