S6 E1: What is Fundamental to Managing Talent in a World Where Everything Has Changed-Melanie Burns

The Inspire Podcast

In this kickoff episode of Season 6 Bart is joined by Melanie Burns, Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer of TD Bank, to discuss the vast array of changes in the last five years in the world of talent, and the foundational principles that leaders can still build their relationships on. Melanie explains how COVID, remote work, the Great Resignation, return to office, and now AI are all transforming the relationship between companies and their staff. She offers perspective on the positive implications of these changes and what they mean for leaders who must cultivate talent. Melanie offers a positive message for leaders: despite these shifts, the good news is that the fundamentals of attracting, engaging and managing talent are the same as they ever were. Melanie's insights and experiences make this a must-listen for any leader who is grappling with the age-old task of cultivating talent in a world that is rapidly changing. Show Notes: 2:16 Introducing Melanie Burns 2:38 Bart asks about the rapidly changing environment 3:52 What do the different parts of the bank think about our times 4:11 Hybrid work 4:34 Politics at play 5:03 Customers in turmoil too 5:33 Unstable nature of politics like DEI 6:02 What's led you to this point? 6:56 Upbringing 7:41 Picked business 8:30 Opening doors 8:38 Continually asking questions 9:06 How did you get into the world of "talent" 10:30 Unprecedented changes in the last 5 years 10:58 Switch to remote/hybrid workers 11:16 Trust and remote work 11:29 The great resignation 11:41 Did TD lose people in the Great Resignation? 12:57 Great resignation didn't really happen - don't get duped by the hype 13:49 Inverted relationship between leader and direct report 14:36 We are in the trust business 15:13 The power of in-person human connection 15:49 What has changed in talent management 16:36 A collection of experiences 17:00 Exceptional talent have options 17:05 How to get talent to consistently choose TD 17:47 Pressure from employee base 18:37 What are the fundamentals that haven't changed? 19:23 Advice to people managing teams 19:38 The fundamentals: People really want 2 things 19:51 The opportunity to do challenging things 20:14 Want to work for someone who is talented 21:20 You didn't mention money! 21:26 Didn't mention culture 22:42 Truly talented people do not get hung up on titles and compensation 23:21 People don't know the culture that they want... 24:48 Left TD reference 25:52 Philosophy of cultivating talent 26:14 Bart proposes thought experiment 26:47 Leader's job is to manage the tension between present and future 28:06 Signs to look out for in talent management 28:24 Never take things for granted 28:55 Have regular check-ins with people 29:45 Give clarity - not certainty about the future 31:21 Be honest with reports about where they are 31:44 Another mention of leaving 33:19 What's the biggest mistake you've made in talent management 33:45 The importance of succession planning 37:48 Bart summarizes the conversation 38:33 Be authentic 40:05 Thank yous