Tough Conversations to Have With Employees 8.13.21

Sexually offensive behavior, poor communication and leadership skills, body odor, and attitude problems – whether you’re encountering commonplace or exceptionally serious employee relations issues, you’ll need a down-to-earth strategy to protect yourself and your organization and get your employee back on the right track. Verbally addressing problems head-on can be a daunting task because of the confrontational nature of “constructive feedback,” not to mention the record that you’re creating, which could land your company in legal hot water if not handled correctly.  But fear not – HR practitioner and employment expert Paul Falcone will join us to share insights from his 101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees—A Manager’s Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges (HarperCollins Leadership, 2^nd ed. 2019), recognized as Amazon’s #1 bestseller in the areas of “Business Conflict Resolution and Mediation,” “Business Mentoring and Coaching,” and “Business Decision-Making and Problem Solving.” We’ll address handling some of the most challenging conversations you’ll ever encounter in the workplace (and teaching your line managers to do the same), including:

• Foul language and insubordination
• Bad hair days and body odor
• Tattletales, whiners, and subordinates who leave you flying blind
• Terminations for cause and layoffs 
• Convincing an employee to leave voluntarily when there are no formal warnings on file

We’ll discuss the rules of workplace engagement, holding people accountable for their actions, and treating adults like adults – all while shifting responsibility for individual improvement away from the company and back to the employee – where it rightfully belongs.  More important, we’ll develop a structured model and framework that will allow you deliver even the most difficult messages effectively while treating people with dignity and respect at all times.

Paul Falcone is a renowned expert on effective hiring, performance management, and leadership development, especially in terms of helping companies build higher performing leadership teams.

Paul currently serves as the chief human resources officer for the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills, CA, a healthcare nonprofit dedicated to the needs of entertainment industry retirees. 

He is a bestselling HarperCollins Leadership, American Management Association, and SHRM author and long-term contributor to HR Magazine. Paul is a long-term instructor in the UCLA Extension School of Business and Management. 

Paul is also a top-rated presenter/keynote and a human resources executive who's served as head of human resources for Nickelodeon, head of international human resources for Paramount Pictures, and vice president of human resources for the TV production unit of NBC Universal, where he oversaw HR operations for NBC's late night and prime time programming lineup, including The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and The Office. 

Prior roles include director of employee & labor relations for the City of Hope Cancer Hospital as well as an executive recruiter for a private equity firm, where he was responsible for recruiting C-level talent for newly acquired portfolio companies.