Welcome to The Team Check-in !

Looking for employee engagement ideas? Performance management tips? Discussions on human resources management that can get surprisingly deep? You've come to the right place! Welcome, to The Team Check-in, hosted by Teamflect.

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Anything you want to get off your chest about human resources or performance management? Come join the fun! We would love to have you as a guest: [email protected]

Episode 31: Employee Retention is Overrated!? feat. Steve Cadigan

From LinkedIn’s first Chief HR Officer to the author of Workquake, Steve Cadigan has long been at the forefront of how work is evolving. In this episode of The Team Check-In, Steve sits down with Emre to talk about what today’s leaders get wrong about retention, why employee departures shouldn’t be feared, and how the employment contract is being rewritten in real time. Together, they unpack why returning employees might be more valuable than long-tenured ones, what we can learn from movie studios and college basketball teams, and how companies can future-proof their talent strategy by embracing movement instead of resisting it. Steve also shares behind-the-scenes stories from his time at Electronic Arts, LinkedIn, Cisco, and more, including the nightmare moment his boss at EA discovered he was interviewing with LinkedIn!

Episode 30: Inspiring Stories of Leadership & Growth feat. Aakash Gupta

From VP of Product Management to full-time content creator, Aakash Gupta has built a thriving business through his insights on leadership, growth, and product strategy. In this episode of The Team Check-In, Aakash shares his journey from writing LinkedIn posts during COVID to launching a paid newsletter and a top-performing podcast. Along the way, he and Emre discuss the challenges of leadership in high-growth companies, what makes great (and terrible) leadership, the hidden struggles of running a content business, and why HR’s role in organizations is more critical than ever. Plus, Aakash shares fascinating stories from his time at Epic Games, Apollo.io, and ThredUp, revealing what truly sets great leaders apart.

Episode 29: Relationship Building and Trust in Recruiting feat. Keirsten Greggs

Keirsten Greggs is one of the most prominent voices in recruitment today. As a Forbes Coaching Council Member, the founder of TRAP Recruiter, and a top recruitment influencer, she shares her insights on recruitment with thousands of followers every single day. She joined The Team Check-In for a very special episode, discussing how organizations can integrate relationship-building and trust into their recruitment processes in today's chaotic HR landscape. Along the way, Keirsten and Emre discuss the implications of organizations rolling back their DEI practices, areas where traditional recruitment methods fail, groups of people often left out of the DEI conversation, and more!

Episode 28: A Workplace Feedback Masterclass feat. Anna Wildman

On this "All Things Workplace Feedback!", episode of The Team Check-In, we were beyond excited to welcome Anna Wildman to the show. You might be familiar with Anna's work as the founder of The CEDAR feedback model! This episode covers everything from all the do's and don'ts of feedback in the workplace, why the feedback sandwich may not be as effective as you think, as well as how different power dynamics can affect how feedback is received. Anna is not only an expert on feedback in the workplace but is also exceptionally talented in sharing her breadth of knowledge, making this one of the most insightful conversations you will find on the topic of feedback!

Episode 27: Being a Woman in Tech feat. Femke Cornelissen

On this episode of The Team Check-In, we welcome Femke Cornelissen to the show. Femke is a Chief Copilot, a Microsoft MVP, and a founding member of the Dutch Women in Tech community. This is a truly inspiring episode as Femke walks us through what it means to be a woman in tech in 2024, shocking statistics, how to build and manage strong, organic communities, and so much more. This episode also provides quite a lot of helpful insights into how AI agents will affect the world of work in the coming years.

Episode 26: Neurodiversity, AI Agents, and Boats! feat. Mark Smith

Sometimes the best team-building happens beyond the office walls. In this episode of The Team Check-In, we welcomed Mark Smith, aka NZ 365 Guy, to share his unique insights into harnessing AI in the workplace. With an extensive career in Microsoft’s Power Platform and a commitment to making tech accessible, Mark brings a refreshing, hands-on perspective to AI's role as an “extension of the self.”

Episode 25: Is Your AI Use Sustainable? feat. Chris Huntingford

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we had the pleasure of welcoming Chris Huntingford! One of the most entertaining voices in digital innovation and a Microsoft MVP, Chris has plenty of incredible insights to offer when it comes to building a digital ecosystem for your company, using AI responsibly, and so much more! Emre and Chris go into detail on digital ecosystems, sustainable AI, Ed Zitron's concept of "The Rot Economy", and their shared confusion when it comes to drinking whisky!

Episode 24: Fostering an Outward Mindset feat. Mitch Warner

What does it mean to have an outward mindset at work? In this episode of The Team Check-in we welcome Mitch Warner, managing partner at The Arbinger Institute. Hot off the heels of the release of the fourth edition of "Leadership and Self Deception" by The Arbinger Institute, Mitch joined our show to go over how the book has transformed mindsets over the years, the growing disconnect between employees and managers, fostering an outward mindset, the problem with performance reviews, and so much more!

Episode 23: AI and Changing Mindsets feat. Dual Microsoft MVP Jannik Reinhard

On this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome dual Microsoft MVP Jannik Reinhard to the show! Jannik is well-versed in all things Azure AI and brings a unique and educated perspective into the AI conversation! Jannik and Emre go over some of the common misconceptions about the use of AI at work as well as how the mindset changes organizations will be going through as AI tools become more and more prominent. They also went over what it means to be a Microsoft MVP and everything that comes with the title.

Episode 22: Building Remote Teams Effectively! feat. Daria Rudnik

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome Daria Rudnik to the show! Daria is one of the premier voices when it comes to team building. Emre and Daria go deep into what it means to be a team architect, the effects of leadership in team chemistry, her interesting venture into an AI leadership assistant, and so much more! If you are currently running a remote team or planning to in the future, this is one episode you can't afford to miss!

Episode 21: Are Your Skills Future-Proof? feat. Chris March

On this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome Chris March to the show! Chris is one of the top voices on LinkedIn when it comes to everything leadership, coaching, and development. Chris and Emre take a deep dive into some of the misconceptions around coaching, training programs in the workplace, and most importantly how people can make sure their skills are future-proof!

Episode 20: All Things Power Apps! feat. Microsoft MVP Emmanuel Gallis

What does it mean to be a Microsoft MVP? How do you become one? In this episode of The Team Check-in, we had the pleasure of welcoming Microsoft MVP Emmanuel Gallis to the show! He not only answered our questions on being a Microsoft MVP but as the Power Apps Jedi master, he took a deep dive into all things Power Apps with Emre. If you want to start getting into creating apps with Power Apps, you can't go wrong with insights from Emmanuel Gallis!

Episode 19: High Performance Teams! No Burnout! feat. Anatoliy Labinskiy

Anatoliy Labinskiy is one of the first names that come to mind when discussing e-commerce. However, he is also a seasoned people leader and manager, with methods and outlooks that not everybody will agree with. Do you know what is hard to disagree with? His results! Anatoliy is a leader who has been keeping his remote team engaged and performing at an exceptionally high level for years now! He also happens to have an amazing story as a completely self-made man. Both his management style and his personal stories offer great insights and lessons to those who are willing to listen. In this episode, Emre and Anatoliy dive deep into how he has kept his remote team engaged under the harshest of circumstances and high demands! For any leader considering running remote teams, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode 18: Why Do People Hate HR? feat. Bonnie Dilber

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome one of the most notable voices in the world of HR, Bonnie Dilber, to the show! Bonnie answers some of the most heavily debated questions in people and culture today, alongside some age-old classics. Bonnie and Emre go over why HR gets such a bad rep, the recent backlash against DEI, the use of AI in recruitment, and more!

Episode 17: Attracting Top Talent! feat. Wendy Sellers

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome The HR Lady herself, Wendy Sellers to the show! Wendy is not only a seasoned pro in the world of HR but also is the author of "Suck It Up, Buttercup: Be A Leader People Will Follow". Emre and Wendy discuss how organizations can build a company culture that attracts and retains top talent!

Episode 16: Everything Wrong With Your CV! feat. Matt Warzel

Jobseekers rejoice! In this episode of The Team Check-in, we had the pleasure of welcoming one of the best career coaches out there, Matt Warzel! When it comes to crafting the perfect resume, Matt has insight for days! Emre and Matt go into detail on how to write a CV that stands out, as well as how to make sure your application gets past applicant tracking systems!

Episode 15: Creating a Positive Candidate Experience feat. Tim Sackett

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we welcome Tim Sackett! Tim is famously NOT a life coach! He is a seasoned HR leader and influencer, who not only has a lot of experience under his belt but is also always researching and staying active. Tim and Emre both agree and disagree on many different issues but as they both acknowledge, those are usually the best conversations! Emre and Tim cover areas like creating a positive candidate experience, handling rejection, and of course some of the ways AI can be used in recruitment.

Episode 14: Were You Recruited by Robots? feat. Helder Figureido

In this very special episode of The Team Check-in, Emre shares with you an unedited clip from his interview with Heldeer Figureido! This clip is part of a larger series of interviews on the use of AI in recruitment. Helder is not only a seasoned HR director and a top voice on LinkedIn, but also simply a really fun guest to listen to! Emre and Helder discuss the benefits and implications of using AI in talent recruitment, as well as some of the common misconceptions around it!

Episode 13: Being The New Hire feat. Deniz Imer

A very special episode of The Team Check-in as Emre interviews none other than Deniz, the latest member of our marketing team. On that note, they have a not-so-serious conversation about what it means to be "the new hire". They also discuss topics such as the ideal first day at work, onboarding challenges in remote workplaces, and of course, just how overrated first impressions are!

Episode 12: Can You Freelance HR? feat. Rebecca Ives

In this episode of The Team Check-in, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Rebecca Ives, an independent HR consultant with some serious experience. If you've ever asked yourself the question "Can I strike out on my own and do this HR thing freelance...?", then this is the episode for you! Emre and Rebecca go over her decision to become an independent consultant and her journey as a freelancer in the world of HR. They also hit crucial topics such as managing probationary periods effectively, transferring skills gained in other professions into human resources, and of course, PUPPIES!

Episode 11: Bracing for Change feat. Tim Spearin

In this episode, Emre is joined by the one and only Tim Spearin, Director of Organizational and Community Impact at Gas South. They cover how Tim as a leader handled the switch to remote and hybrid work, how he is keeping remote employees engaged, the emotional intelligence work they do over at Gas South, and so much more. Tim is an amazing leader with some great insight to offer. He just so happens to be a really fun person to have a conversation with!

Episode 10: The Problem with Pizza Parties feat. Tara Furiani and Justin Boggs

Welcome to the only episode of The Team Check-in, rated "E" for explicit. In this episode, Emre has the honor of welcoming the hosts of one of his favorite podcasts ever, "Not The HR Lady" to the show. Tara Furiani and Justin Boggs are two people who have taken the world of human resources by storm with just how

Episode 9: Surviving Your Toxic Workplace

In this episode, we cover what it means to be in a toxic workplace. While the word "Toxic" is a bit too easily thrown around these days, we can all tell a toxic workplace when we see one. Just to be on the safe side, Emre goes over some of the tell-tale signs of a toxic workplace, some tips on surviving them, and a long-winded digression into his experience with terrible escape rooms.

Episode 8: People Strategy vs. HR Strategy

In this episode of The Team Check-in, Emre takes a dive into the world of people strategy! He talks about some of the best ways to develop a people strategy, some great examples, and people strategy vs HR strategy! All while Jack the puppy sleeps and makes little noises in the background. If you want to learn more about developing your people strategy, you can check out this helpful article from our blog!

Episode 7: Who Killed Employee Loyalty

This week on the show, Emre discusses the death of employee loyalty! More specifically focusing on answering questions such as: Is employee loyalty dead? Is it really bad to have independent employees? What even is loyalty in the workplace!?

Episode 6: Gamification & Onboarding

In this bite-sized episode of The Team Check-in, we talk about gamification in the workplace. Specifically, the gamification of employee onboarding. We hope you enjoy our ideas for making the onboarding process a bit more fun and productive for everyone!

Episode 5: Digital Transformation & AI Utopias feat. Nick DeCourcy

In this episode, Emre talks to Nick DeCourcy, a brilliant digital transformation consultant at Bright Ideas Agency and one of the key voices about Microsoft Teams on Youtube. Nick and Emre discuss digital transformation in the workplace, the emergence of Microsoft 365 Copilot, the use of AI in the workplace, video games, and more!

Episode 4: Using AI in HR

Between having awesome guests, we like to talk about some of our favorite topics from the Teamflect blog. In this episode, Emre talks about some of the benefits and drawbacks of using AI tools in Human Resources. He also goes into detail on some of the better use cases of artificial intelligence in human resources.

Episode 3: Diversity & Inclusion

Between having awesome guests, we like to talk about some of his favorite topics from the Teamflect blog. In this episode, Emre goes talks about diversity management, the paradigms of diversity, some interesting case studies, and of course some of the common misconceptions surrounding the topic. Is this the first "controversial" episode of The Team Check-in? Probably not!

Episode 2: Engagement. Empowerment. Action!

Between having awesome guests, we like to talk about some of his favorite topics from the Teamflect blog. This episode is all about employee engagement! Emre talks to you about some creative employee engagement ideas, creating an employee engagement action plan, and implementing a culture of empowerment in your organization!

Episode 1: Turning Bats Into Butterflies feat. Amy Brand

The one that started it all! In this very first episode of The Team Check-in, Emre talks to the one and only Amy Brand, Chief People Officer at Competitive Capabilities International. They talk about the shift from Human Resources to People and Culture, changing HR trends, probation reviews, badass interns, and more!

Frequenly Asked Questions

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