The Work Besties Culture podcast, hosted by Dr. Mechelle Roberthon, EdD, and Tessa Brown, dives into the essential elements of building a thriving workplace. As "work besties," they explore HR practices, company culture, and strategies to create environments where employees not only want to work but also excel. Through their dynamic discussions, Dr. Roberthon and Brown provide valuable advice for HR professionals, leaders, and teams. Premiering Jan 2025.
We’ve reached the finale of Season 1—and we’re wrapping things up with a topic that sits at the heart of retention: recognition.
In this episode, we dig into why employees really leave when they don’t feel valued, and how the success of any recognition effort—big or small—comes down to clear communication and mutual expectations.
We explore creative, meaningful ways to build a culture of appreciation that doesn’t always require a big...
Episode 9 – More Training Isn’t Always the Answer
“Let’s just do a training…” It sounds like a quick fix—but is it actually solving anything? In this episode, we break down the all-too-common trap of using training as a checkbox or a one-size-fits-all solution. We’re talking about why training won’t fix behavioral issues (that’s a management convo, friend), and how misusing it can waste time and energy.
But don’t worry—we...
Internal mobility—promoting or transferring talent within the organization—can be a powerful
tool for retention, engagement, and growth. But when companies say they support internal
transfers, are they truly prepared to follow through?
In this episode, we unpack what internal mobility really means and explore the
behind-the-scenes decisions that leave companies unprepared to support the very moves they
claim to champion. From policy to ...
From First Day To First Year - Essentials for Orientation and Onboarding
While orientation is often a well-oiled machine, onboarding can be a different story. Some organizations overwhelm new hires with too much information, while others leave them feeling lost with too little guidance. The right onboarding strategy protects your investment in new talent and sets them up for long-term success. In this episode, Mechelle and Tessa ex...
A fancy tumbler won’t fix disengagement! True employee engagement goes beyond perks—it’s about creating a meaningful employee experience. In this episode, we break down what engagement surveys should really measure, why leaders must close the loop with thoughtful action, and how to craft a solution story that builds trust. Plus, we clarify the difference between engagement programs and employee activities—because while both matter,...
Performance reviews should be straightforward, honest conversations about how employees are doing—not just a once-a-year formality. Employees deserve ongoing feedback, not a surprise at the end of the year. And if you’re using self-evaluations, are they actually shaping the conversation, or just a checkbox exercise? In this episode, we break down how to use job descriptions as a foundation for performance reviews and make sure thes...
What did you do and how did you do it? These are 2 leading questions Tessa and Mechelle ask in performance conversations with leaders and employees. You know what accountability, performance, and productivity all have in common? They all require your intentionality and direct conversations. You can hold employees accountable and get top performance from them, but they (And other members of your team) are depending on you to lead th...
Because “I’m the supervisor” isn’t enough to lead well. Leadership is more nuanced than a title. It requires holding hard conversations well, proactiveness, organization, empathy, clarity, and so much more! Leaders need the people promoting and hiring them into leadership roles to actually prepare them for success through proper onboarding and orientation, coaching, and continuing education.
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We are hooked on employees being and feeling psychologically safe in the workplace. Psychological safety at work isn’t optional—it’s essential. When employees feel unsafe, it hits their satisfaction, engagement, and likelihood of sticking around. In this episode, we break down the warning signs, what unsafe environments do to your team, and the ripple effects on your company’s success.
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This is the origin story of how Tessa and Mechelle met as workplace colleagues over a decade ago, and how they formed a friendship amidst Tessa’s Black Sweater Energy. You’re sure to laugh listening to our stories about co-worker lunches, being clear, and ultimately how this podcast finally made it out the group chat.
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Follow the co-hosts on LinkedIn
Tessa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessabrownhr/
Mechelle: https://w...
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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