Experience Builders

The struggle to repopulate the workforce has become a key problem for most businesses as the industry recovers and companies are rebuilding after the pandemic. A prevalent challenge is the collision between post-covid employee wants and expectations, and the mindset of business owners and leaders.

Michael McMahon of Hill & Partners and Chris Griffin of CrewXP address the issue and discuss why business leaders should be concerned about the availability of qualified individuals, not just in their own company, but across the industry.

Time Stamps

00:52 - Episode Intro
01:16 - Difference in Workforce Expectations Before and After COVID
10:46 - What Conditions Are Setting Employee Expectations?
21:32 - Addressing the Gap Between Expectations & Performance
32:56 - Shift in Hiring Mindset Post-COVID
46:20 - Episode Recap & Takeaways
48:02 - What Employees Should Expect Coming Into a Role?
54:34 - Episode Outro

Power Quotes From The Show

"I built my company on the concept of hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. And then when you're talented, work harder." - Michael McMahon
"If you're in the trade show and event business, it's a team sport." - Chris Griffin
"We can either do something different, but not really just call it different, but have the same energy around it." - Michael McMahon
"When I'm interviewing people, I'm looking for reasons why this isn't a good match for them, not me. And then I hit them with it." - Michael McMahon
"I am caring more about finding the right people and making sure not only that, can they do the job that we're offering, and are they going to be happy. Because I know what unhappiness looks like in the rest of your culture." - Chris Griffin

Resources

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Hill & Partners
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In an industry that’s regarded as having one of the most stressful jobs in the US, how do you resist burnout and recharge creativity?

Seasoned experience and exhibit design professor, Sachel Josefson, joins Chris & Khalil to talk about finding creativity through vulnerability, mindfulness, and openness to failure.

Time Stamps

00:50 - Episode & Guest Intro
02:49 - Vulnerability & Becoming Your Authentic Self
10:38 - Creating Space for Failure
26:12 - Considering Customer Burnout
31:33 - Halftime Takeaways
33:48 - Dealing with Designer Burnout
37:12 - Developing the Bench
48:11 - How to Recharge Creativity
01:00:03 - Setting the Career Expectations of Students

Power Quotes From The Show

"I love creativity, and I love design, and I love art. Why not wear it on the outside too?" - Sachel Josefson
"If you look in the mirror and you look good, you feel good." - Chris Griffin
"Part of being a designer is being vulnerable." - Sachel Josefson
"Design is problem-solving." - Chris Griffin
"It's important to understand that being creative is not linear. It's rather cyclical." - Sachel Josefson
"You, as a leader of your organization, are creating an experience for not only your customers, but you're also creating an experience for your employees." - Sachel Josefson
"When we pay double time, we're getting the worst work." - Sachel Josefson
"The easiest customer to get is the one you already have. And if you can alleviate their burnout, they're going to stick with you for life." - Sachel Josefson
"If you're running the business, part of your job is to be a good listener." - Sachel Josefson
"Bench strength doesn't get stronger if leadership is not investing in that next generation of talent." - Chris Griffin
"Creatives need to be mindful that they need to participate in self-care and take care of themselves, and it's outside of the job." - Sachel Josefson

Resources

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What exactly is great, professional project management? Chris draws inspiration from Seth Godin and reevaluates project management as we know it!

Time Stamps

00:48 - CrewXP's Recent Leadership & Team Meetings
03:33 - Episode Intro
04:33 - What Defines Great Project Management?
06:51 - A Project is a Promise
12:01 - Signs of Amateur Hour in Project Management
14:34 - Tyranny of the Urgent
16:14 - What Makes a Good Project Manager?
17:59 - Episode Takeaways
18:48 - Episode Outro

Power Quotes From The Show

Really great professional project management is not about saving the day. It's really lining up and having your systems, and processes, and resources in place that you're able to adjust for whatever it is that comes up.
2023 is really all about those blocking and tackling written procedures and behaviors as we move to 2024.
A project is a promise. It really is about coordinating the unknowable future events to deliver something of value.
The real PM work is in not needing the last-minute save. Isn't that what we're all after? It's just a nice, calm, hassle-free experience. That's the ultimate gift to the client.
I think great project management is intentional. It's not just showing up as Superman waiting for the bad thing to happen. It's better than that.

Resources

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CrewXP
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Timestamps

02:12 - Intro to Noelle Webster
07:29 - Noelle's Professional Background
09:41 - Noelle's Remote Work Journey
11:49 - Working Remotely During the Pandemic
14:54 - Remote Work Before the Pandemic
17:11 - Changes in Work Culture Post Pandemic
21:02 - Remote Work Self-Discipline
23:28 - Measuring Productivity for Remote Workers
35:46 - Building Culture in a Remote or Hybrid Workforce
41:59 - Remote Work Challenges
44:51 - Advice for People Considering Remote Work
54:47 - Episode Takeaways

Resources

Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP
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More from Noelle

Noelle on LinkedIn

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It's time for a midyear review! Chris answers 11 rapid fire questions about Crew XP's 2023 developments, forecast for the next six to twelve months, and personal goals for this year!

Time Stamps

00:53 - Episode Intro
01:38 - Personnel Development
02:46 - Cashflow
03:41 - Key Areas of Investment
04:19 - Working "IN" versus "ON" the Business
05:29 - Processes & Systems
07:03 - Getting New Customers
08:05 - Company Culture
09:42 - Q3 & Q4 Forecast
11:14 - Work-Life Balance
12:38 - Personal Goal for the Next 6 Months
14:03 - Episode Outro

Power Quotes From Chris

“This [2023] was always going to be a year about blocking and tackling issues, processes and systems, new behaviors and protocols.”
I'd say our company culture is the best. It feels like it's the best it's been in years. We've had such an extraordinary first two quarters.
I like the level of attentiveness that coworkers are giving each other without being asked.
The great thing about halftime is there's an entire rest of the game to be played in 2023.

Resources

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More from Chris

CrewXP
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What is your sales system, or do you even have one? A sales system is key to growing your business and keeping up with the competition. Listen in as Chris Griffin outlines the components of a successful sales system and the basic principles of a structured sales process. You should not pass this up!

Time Stamps

00:42 - What is a Sales System?
01:20 - 3 Things You Need to Know About a Sales System
03:09 - 7 Basic Principles in a Structured Sales Process

Power Quotes From Chris

“A system is a structured process designed to get you the desired outcome you're looking for.”
“Sales don't happen by accident. The pros never wing.”
“If you've ever pitched the right solution to the wrong client, or you pitched the wrong solution to the right client, it's because you didn't do a good job qualifying that opportunity.”

Resources

Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP
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More from Chris

CrewXP
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As the events industry welcomes the increase in projects following the pandemic, how do you make sure you have enough people on your team? Should you compromise your company’s values to fill your workforce gap?

Michael McMahon of Hill & Partners joins the show to discuss his experiences and challenges in building and developing his workforce, and what the future holds for the events industry in the current climate. Listen in to learn more about hiring and people development best practices.

Show Notes

00:31 - Chris, the “Hurricane Magnet”
00:59 - Chris' New Hires
04:04 - Intro to Michael McMahon
06:19 - Michael's Entry into the Event Industry
11:37 - How Michael Got Involved in the EDPA
16:40 - The Value of Associations like the EDPA
24:09 - The Great Human Capital Shuffle
27:20 - Hiring People: What's the Right Formula?
30:27 - A Huge Shift in Michael’s Hiring Philosophy
33:48 - The Talent Gap & Distorted Employee Expectations
35:36 - Hiring Based On Values or Skills?
40:10 - Challenges in Workforce Development Post Covid
42:19 - The H&P University
47:12 - Why Developing Your Workforce is a Team Effort
50:19 - How to Retain Talent
53:43 - The Cost of Hiring
57:09 - What is Your Hiring Risk Tolerance?
1:00:58 - 2023 Talent Pool Forecast
1:08:40 - Pandemic-Related Stress Disorder in the Workforce
1:12:49 - Khalil’s Episode Recap
1:15:53 - Michael's Advice for Small Businesses Hiring in This Climate
1:17:35 - Chris’ Episode Takeaways
1:19:46 - Join the EDPA Access Year-End Event!

Power Quotes From The Show

“I think the serendipity of it is, just keep moving forward and keep doing the next right thing, and doors do open.” — Chris Griffin
“When times are tough, it's nice to sit around and raise a glass and commiserate. When times are great, it's nice to sit around and raise a glass and celebrate.” — Chris Griffin
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” — Michael McMahon
“When you hire for values, you can find the right people that want to be there for the right reasons.” — Khalil Benalioulhaj
“Being the leader means being able to tell the story, being able to cast the vision, and get people along for the ride. If they're not along for the ride, then you probably don't want them there.” — Khalil Benalioulhaj
“Allow yourself to pause and let the future happen and trust your decision with that new person or that new employee.” — Michael McMahon
“Great culture is more than just free Panera. You've got to figure out how to really walk the walk.” — Chris Griffin

Resources

Need Help With An Event? Get in touch with CrewXP
Watch On YouTube
Follow Us On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook
Have Questions? Email us

Experience Builders: Recent Episodes

Chris Griffin