Summary:
In this episode of the HR Impact show, Dr. Jim interviews Amanda Bailey, Vice President of HR for Boston University, about the importance of restructuring talent teams to meet strategic initiatives. Amanda shares her insights and experiences from her 30-year career in HR, emphasizing the need to align values, listen to employees, and act quickly to drive change. She also discusses the role of technology in HR and the importance of understanding the desired outcomes before implementing any solutions. Amanda provides a framework for building high-performance teams, focusing on culture, values, and talent alignment. She emphasizes the need for patience and time in the process, as well as the importance of prioritizing resources and creating a sustainable level of change.
Key Takeaways:
- Restructuring talent teams requires aligning values and understanding the culture of the organization.
- Listening to employees and understanding their pain points is crucial for driving meaningful change.
- Technology solutions should be informed by desired outcomes and the experiences of employees.
- Talent alignment involves upgrading skills, identifying roles for development, and considering hybrid work and mental health.
- Prioritizing resources and creating a timeline based on the HR organization's culture is essential for successful change.
Quotes:
"Building a high-performing team is about the values that are evident within the leadership at the time of the HR organization."
"Listen long and listen always as your first posture."
"Technology solutions have to be informed by experiences and our desire to create successful experiences."
"Talent alignment involves upgrading the skill sets of our existing workforce."
"Prioritization cannot be achieved without the necessary resources."
Timestamp
0:00:00 Introduction to the topic of restructuring talent teams
0:00:39 Introduction of guest speaker, Amanda Bailey
0:01:47 Amanda's background and experience in HR leadership
0:02:36 Amanda's realization about career progression and leadership
0:04:32 The game-changing realization in building high performance teams
0:06:59 The importance of aligning values and listening to the organization
0:09:17 Avoiding the mistake of relying solely on technology solutions
0:11:08 Considering talent alignment in driving meaningful change
0:14:15 Using feedback and prioritization to avoid paralysis mode
0:18:01 Best practices: listen, learn, consult, plan, and execute
About Amanda Bailey:
Amanda Bailey joined BU as the Vice President for Human Resources in August 2021. Prior to her role at BU, Amanda served as the Vice President of Human Resources at Brown University and held the roles of Associate Vice President and Acting Chief of Staff at Morehouse College.
She brings nearly thirty years of professional experience in human resources and has held senior human resources leadership positions over the past two decades at secondary and post-secondary educational institutions.
Amanda is a board member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, the American Research Universities’ Human Resource Institute, the New England HR Association, and Skills for Rhode Island’s Future. She frequently participates in panel discussions addressing human resources trends and key considerations for the future of work and redefining the workplace environment and culture.
Amanda has been featured in several publications and recognized as an influencer in HR in 2023 by Who’s Who in America for Top Executives, INC Magazine for Top HR Business Leaders in 2023, Making Boston University Resemble Boston by Vision Magazine, and Top 10 Influential Business Leaders in 2022 by CIOViews.
Amanda remains an active member of SHRM, the Boston HR Council, many other CHRO Roundtable groups, and she previously served on the board of the SHRM-Brevard County chapter. Prior to joining the education industry, Amanda held HR positions at private and public organizations such as American Express and the National Labor Relations Board. When available, Amanda enjoys volunteering at local food banks and mentoring first-gen students in high school.
Connect with Amanda: linkedin.com/in/amanda-baileyleadforward
Learn more about Boston University: https://www.bu.edu/
Find Boston University on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/boston-university/mycompany/verification/
Connect with Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk
Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung
Learn more about Engage Rocket: www.engagerocket.co
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