EP 208 | You Invest. Your People Invest Back. | Katherine Kobs
About a decade ago, a company told a young team member, "We wanna send you to college and we'll pay for it." Kate Kobs said yes. Nearly a decade later, she invests in people the way that company invested in her. In this week's episode, Kate talks with Dr. Joey about attracting top talent with total rewards and retaining them as you follow through. Who on your team waits for you to invest first?
ABOUT THE GUEST
Katherine (Kate) Kobs is a human resources leader who creates people-first HR functions. She created them across manufacturing, municipal government, energy, and retail companies. She loves translating compliance into practical guidance managers use to positively influence their culture. Today she leads HR for an organization with entities spread across Wisconsin. She also serves as a human resources sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Kate lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She shares inspiring stories about work culture on LinkedIn. She welcomes your questions there.
Key Insights
Attract top talent with total rewards. Base pay is one part of the package. Boomers through Gen Z each weigh it against their own values, from paid parental leave to time to care for an aging parent.
Let candidates hear your values lived out. A car dealership supervisor once walked Kate from site to site and told his team, "Tell her your story."
Follow through on every interview promise. Kate says, "If you invest in people, they're gonna invest back in you."
Listen, then tell your people what you heard. Stay interviews, exit interviews, and pulse checks work when you say, "We heard this. In response, we're doing this."
Little things retain people. One team asked Kate to bring back Doughnut Fridays. She brought them back.
Hire for culture fit. One rotten fruit in the bowl spoils the fresh fruit faster. Dr. Joey calls those team members, Eeyore Vampires.
Give continuous feedback. Kate asks, "Why wait until your annual review?"
Check in before anyone needs you. Kate calls her store managers so a call from HR becomes a touch point.
Your Do One Thing Challenge
Kate's Do One Thing (DOT) for you this week: Invest in your people. "They're gonna invest right back in you," she says. Discover which benefits your culture offers that align with your team members' values. Then use your total rewards to attract people who fit your culture.
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