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2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

Released Wednesday, 3rd January 2024
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2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

2024 Future Forward with MRA’s CEO, Susan Fronk

Wednesday, 3rd January 2024
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0:04

Hello everybody and welcome to 30 minute Thrive, your go to podcast for anything

0:09

and everything HR, powered by MRA, the Management Association.

0:13

Looking to stay on top of the ever changing world of HR?

0:16

MRA has got you covered. We'll be the first to tell you what's hot and what's not.

0:21

I'm your host, Sophie Boler, and we are so glad you're here.

0:25

Now it's time to thrive. Well, hello, everybody, and thank you for joining us and happy New Year.

0:31

And welcome back, Susan. Hey.

0:33

Well, Susan, since your New Year podcast from last year

0:36

is actually in our top ten podcasts of all time,

0:39

we thought it would be great to really bring you back this year

0:42

and share your insights for the coming year of 2024.

0:45

Yeah, I saw that, that it was in the top ten, but you know,

0:48

sort of thing too much credit because I was one of the first podcasts.

0:51

So it's top ten for a still call me season, right?

0:54

Okay. But for those of you who may not know, Susan

0:58

Fronk is MRA's president and CEO.

1:01

And you're really here today to help you get your new year off

1:04

to a great start, really help you and your business thrive.

1:08

So speaking of where to start, Susan, let's take a look at a recent national

1:12

Business Trends survey from the Employers Association of America, the EAA.

1:18

I know, Susan, you always talk about using data

1:21

THRIVEn decisions and using those for results.

1:24

So let's take a look at the results that we're seeing from the 2024

1:28

National Business Trends Survey.

1:31

We know that the economy impacts everything every day, life in work.

1:35

So let's talk about the numbers for this year specifically.

1:39

According to the survey, 67% of organizations

1:43

say the economy will improve or stay the same.

1:46

And that's an 18% increase from last year's report.

1:50

So we're really seeing greater confidence in this year's economy.

1:54

So my first question to you is, with business leaders

1:57

feeling more confident, how will that impact employers for this year?

2:02

Sure. Well, first, a word about the National Business

2:06

Trends survey and how relevant it is for our members.

2:11

The EAA, the Employer Associations of America.

2:14

Organizations like us across the country.

2:16

So employers of all sizes in all industries

2:20

and tens of thousands of employers.

2:24

So this survey is really reflective

2:27

of kind of coast to coast thinking in how they're planning for the next year.

2:32

And you're right, there is a greater confidence

2:35

that business will at least stay the same

2:38

or improve in the year ahead.

2:41

And that's great because where confidence goes,

2:45

usually production follows, sales follow and hiring follows.

2:50

So I know we're going to get into that, but

2:53

that's kind of a mixed blessing.

2:56

So hiring is still really tough.

2:59

When you look at the comfort index in production and sales

3:02

and where companies are going, that means there will be investments, investments

3:07

made in their companies, in mergers and acquisitions, plant expansions,

3:12

maybe more experimentation and innovation

3:15

as well as additional hiring.

3:18

Yeah, absolutely. And according to the business Trends survey, 52% of employers

3:23

here in the Midwest are looking to hire permanent staff.

3:26

So when it comes to hiring and recruiting for 2024,

3:31

what suggestions do you have for employers out there?

3:34

Really? Sure. Generally, when I'm talking with members, whether those are

3:39

our constituents or the C-suite,

3:42

they are still having great difficulty

3:45

finding qualified experience hires.

3:49

So if you think of hiring as filling positions

3:53

and not just hiring somebody from outside the organization

3:56

and bringing them in, it may make a little more sense.

3:58

And that's some of the creative D that I see.

4:02

Employers are not necessarily looking for that needle in a haystack.

4:06

Well, they certainly are, but they're also saying,

4:09

who in my organization

4:11

may have the ambition and the skills and characteristics

4:15

to move up and what kind of development

4:18

most training and professional experiences would I need to give them

4:24

to grow them into that position?

4:27

If you can't buy it, meaning hire,

4:30

you've got to make it and that'll develop.

4:34

Yeah, absolutely. And we'll talk a little bit more later, especially on emerging leaders and

4:40

from a CEO perspective, what qualities and characteristics

4:43

do you specifically look for in those emerging leaders?

4:46

We'll talk more later. But Susan Talent acquisition TA has been a serious challenge

4:53

for employer employers in the past year and this year looking ahead.

4:57

So let's talk about what executives identified as some other top

5:01

challenges of this year. Talent acquisition was top at 50 to 2%,

5:05

but also making the top five list was cybersecurity at 44%.

5:10

Talent retention also at 44%,

5:13

inflation coming in at 41%.

5:15

And then developing future leaders, as you've mentioned, at 34%.

5:19

Looking at that, cyber security is new on this list for this year

5:24

and really an issue top of mind for executives And,

5:27

you know, all employers.

5:30

What are you hearing from other organizations

5:33

in business leaders overall on how

5:36

what they are doing to increase cybersecurity?

5:39

Sure. And it's coming up in many business conversations.

5:43

Before we move to that with your commission,

5:46

Sophie, could I circle back to the talent, get perhaps a lesson?

5:49

Because the survey did highlight some things

5:52

that I think are worth underscoring in this conversation.

5:56

One is that compensation, as a starting wage went up.

6:01

No surprise there, but also that the ranges of the jobs

6:05

themselves have been adjusted upward

6:09

in the majority of organizations.

6:11

And again, no surprise with inflation

6:15

being kind of break away in 2022

6:18

and maybe moderating a bit in 2023,

6:22

just that those are table stakes.

6:25

Right. We all know that compensation alone

6:29

isn't a satisfying necessarily, but it's a dissatisfying.

6:32

So what I mean by that is if you don't get it right, people will leave.

6:37

But even if you have it right, meaning that you pay competitively

6:41

and you know what the market pay is and your benefits are appropriate,

6:44

the right amount of paid time off, just the fact that you get that right, those are table stakes.

6:48

That doesn't mean people won't leave.

6:51

You have to have culture and environment and professional growth

6:54

and development opportunities as well.

6:56

The innovation is just the doubling down on the fact that it is a total package

7:01

and human resources is right at the center of that and leadership

7:05

conversation to say, here's

7:08

here's how we have to touch all those bases.

7:11

So pay alone will get you there.

7:13

But you do have to know how your jobs stack up to off.

7:18

And I think business leaders may say

7:22

this job title and what does this job title pay?

7:26

That almost doesn't matter because titles are just that.

7:30

You have to really look at the responsibilities and the role itself and the job duties

7:35

to make sure that you're comparing apples to.

7:38

Absolutely. Thank you for circling back. Sure. Yeah.

7:40

I think that was an important point, and I neglected to say that originally.

7:44

Absolutely. If you asked me about cybersecurity. Yes.

7:47

Well, I think it is a big question.

7:51

It's like describing the you and I am no cybersecurity expert,

7:56

but I do have the catbird seat, I guess I would say, and I always feel

8:02

honored to have those conversations with so many business leaders.

8:06

But our members do share confidential information with us,

8:10

and cybersecurity is keeping people up at night.

8:13

It can ruin a business in the blink of an eye.

8:16

Before I get to a couple of recommendations that I would make

8:20

as a layperson, not as a cybersecurity expert,

8:24

but as a business leader, that that does have this advantage

8:27

of talking with a lot of other smart business leaders.

8:30

Anecdotally, I happen to be

8:34

in Las Vegas last fall for my husband's birthday,

8:38

and it was during the MGM

8:40

data breach and Hurd worldwide, everybody was talking about it

8:45

because they decided not to play ball with the threat actors.

8:50

And there are a thousand decisions that businesses need

8:54

to make about cybersecurity.

8:56

But one of them is am I going to capitulate,

9:01

potentially pay ransom, try to secure my data and hope and pray that

9:06

that the bad right. You're going to honor their word, which is interesting all by itself mean

9:11

you trust in criminals to do what they say.

9:13

That makes no sense. But then the other branch is to say, forget it.

9:18

I'm going to take what comes right.

9:21

And what was so unique about the MGM?

9:24

Brett breach is that just prior to that, the whole Caesars

9:28

Entertainment family worldwide was in it.

9:32

They paid a seven figure ransom.

9:36

Whether that was there's two huge

9:39

hospitality, gaming, entertainment, playing in the same space,

9:44

trying to attract the same customers in the same industry.

9:47

And they went in it very different ways.

9:49

So I guess an umbrella is you have to know your own company,

9:54

your own culture, your appetite for risk, and

9:59

that the subject matter experts you've got on hand and higher

10:03

tech to move you through any threat, hopefully to prevent a threat.

10:08

And then what's the fallout?

10:11

Can your company with stand whatever it is

10:15

from your employees, from your customers, from your vendors who say,

10:20

maybe I don't trust you as much anymore,

10:22

So now two organizations, very similar,

10:28

could have been brought to their knees,

10:30

and I witnessed it staying at an MGM property.

10:34

My husband and I saw it was basically shut down.

10:38

They must have lost millions and millions every day.

10:42

So just having that kind of ringside seat

10:46

and talking to who I could.

10:50

Dealers and Uber THRIVErs. Yeah, customer service people,

10:54

they highlighted the fact that it was really only one employee

10:59

who unintentionally who

11:01

did a very bad and reckless thing against the training that he'd had,

11:06

which brought the company to its knees,

11:09

and that because they were networked so thoroughly

11:13

at all of their properties worldwide for economy and efficiencies,

11:17

a scalability, knowledge and interest locking this out.

11:22

It also was once somebody got in their room, they got in every.

11:28

So how does that relate to our members

11:31

here in the Midwest, wherever you happen to be?

11:36

It's that employee training is an absolute

11:41

again, just ticket to the show.

11:44

If you're going to be in business today, you have to realize

11:48

the threat really is everywhere and your employees,

11:54

advertently or inadvertently are likely going to be the access point.

11:59

So train your employees and keep training

12:03

and keep training and can don't take no for an answer.

12:06

You just have to have that level of

12:10

knowledge of what the risk is out there

12:13

and and how they could jeopardize your organization.

12:17

It's one thing. The second thing is

12:21

I would really advocate for an independent outside

12:26

audit of all of your systems.

12:29

Yes, it takes time and yes, it costs money,

12:33

but they will highlight

12:37

areas of opportunity, areas of risk.

12:41

Can I give you a report card and a game plan to say

12:45

if this is your report card, where you're strong and where you're weak,

12:49

here are some gaps. Here are some systems or practices

12:54

that make you vulnerable.

12:57

The devil you know is better than the devil you don't.

13:00

And then you can address those gaps that an outside third party,

13:04

nothing in the game has identified to help make your company stronger.

13:10

And it isn't a one and done sort of thing.

13:12

I undertook one in 2020 and again in 2022.

13:17

We plan to do it again next year.

13:19

So that's just like

13:22

maintenance review. You do what you can and that doesn't

13:27

that, that doesn't ensure you're not going to have a problem, right?

13:30

It just maybe reduces the likelihood.

13:33

So those two things extensive of ongoing

13:38

kind of black and white employee training must do it.

13:41

And second and a regular practice of outside

13:47

objective audits of your systems so that you can

13:52

become stronger and less vulnerable.

13:54

Absolutely. Those are great takeaways, Suzanne.

13:56

And I appreciate the examples, too, that came with it

13:59

was very interesting to watch in real time.

14:03

Cybersecurity has been one of our was highly requested

14:06

topics coming from our 30 minute Thrive listeners.

14:10

So I'm glad we can address that today.

14:12

Well, I'm not a cybersecurity expert. I would suggest we get some for future podcasts.

14:18

We will really dig into it. Absolutely.

14:21

Another topic that's been very highly requested is I

14:25

we have a couple episodes out there if you'd like to go in depth about A.I..

14:30

But Suzanne, I guess I'm curious from your perspective how you feel about a A.I.

14:36

in HR overall,

14:39

MRA's first steps to kind of incorporate air in our company.

14:43

I'm sure just kind of briefly touch on that.

14:45

I will. I wouldn't say that we're ahead of the game.

14:51

I would say we're writing this tsunami with most of the organizations

14:55

out there and learning as best as we can so we understand not only do

15:00

we need to get it right and become more knowledgeable

15:03

about our own services and how we're going to offer,

15:09

connect with produce what we do,

15:12

and that our members are 4000

15:15

strong, are turning to us to say, What should I be concerned about?

15:19

And specifically, I guess as it pertains to human resources.

15:23

So my thought is there is no

15:27

there is no value in saying a AI is bad, more A.I.

15:32

is dangerous. It can be in the wrong hands.

15:35

And without a plan. But I just is it is coming on strong.

15:40

So it's not it's not an argument to be debated.

15:46

It's a fact to be managed

15:49

and wrestled with and resolved.

15:53

And as best as each company can. So

15:58

what do I think the impact on each I would be, I think is going to be huge.

16:03

I'm making this big universal statement without a lot of detail under it.

16:07

But we're learning, as I said, as fast as we can.

16:09

This practice might work for our members too.

16:13

We have developed last year we developed an AI task force

16:17

so people internal, aided

16:20

by some external experts

16:24

that would just make us smarter, that would take a look at it

16:28

and study it regularly and carved out a bit in their time and their goals

16:33

to be help us elevate our skills with regard to artificial intelligence,

16:39

not necessarily deciding what our projects would be

16:42

because it's a small group of people, but elevating the knowledge

16:46

of our leader team, our employees in general, our senior leaders,

16:50

and to say, here's what we're learning and to keep that in front of us

16:54

so that we can make good decisions about both internal and external

16:59

offerings, program services and expertise we may do, I will say, one thing.

17:04

I strongly recommend that every company who is trying to get their arms around

17:09

AI and who isn't, that they start with something that sounds like

17:13

you're putting on the brakes before you even get in the car, which is

17:17

data governance policy,

17:21

because every company has employees, whether you know it or not,

17:26

who are already working with A.I., It could be in a side hustle.

17:31

It could be that they're using it for what they do for your organization

17:35

and you just don't know it. Or it could be that innocently.

17:39

They're just one of those early adopters that are saying,

17:43

Well, I'm just going to experiment through having listened to some outside experts

17:47

and some people in the legal realm who talk about copyright and

17:54

many other legal issues, I guess I would just say

17:57

help your employees be the best they can be

18:01

by having a data policy and guidelines

18:05

that give them the parameters.

18:08

So you want to make sure you know what's going on in your organization

18:13

so you can make sure you don't get in trouble.

18:16

But also you want to make sure that it's a conversation daily, weekly, ongoing,

18:21

so that you can harness whoever is an early adopter and excited about it

18:26

and use that to help further whatever you're trying to do.

18:30

So it's really going to impact and this is just fundamental,

18:34

you know, the basic knowledge of of things

18:36

I've seen, it's really going to impact the employment world,

18:40

how you hire and attract source, bring on board employees.

18:45

Absolutely. So HR needs to get its arms around that

18:49

second thought. When you think about marketing production and content production

18:55

communications, it's really going to impact that as well.

19:01

I would never put something out there

19:05

written by a guy who. What is that and who is that?

19:08

You know, the the very old adage garbage in, garbage out applies might

19:13

be more garbage, might be digital garbage, but it could still be art.

19:17

So that

19:19

I almost think artificial intelligence, I'm never going to change the title.

19:24

That is what it is universally,

19:26

but it's almost like it should be called augmented in time.

19:29

Just plainly put a computer brain is helping humans do their job better.

19:34

So you augment how you do your job with artificial intelligence.

19:40

So artificial always kind of gives me the creeps,

19:43

but neither it's real or it's not right and it's real.

19:47

So I would I would say you want to use augmented

19:51

and I like the do your job from the heard it here first.

19:55

All right. We're changing artificial intelligence.

19:58

Right. It's just you know, it's not even 9 a.m..

20:02

We're getting things done. Get things that I would just add to that, too, from the conversations

20:07

that I've had with some subject matter experts

20:10

specifically on AI and how it will affect the workforce.

20:13

And each are specifically

20:16

I feel like they're seeing that A.I.

20:18

is going to help with operational and more routine tasks.

20:23

And that's going to leave HR Professionals and professionals in general

20:28

more room to focus on the strategic planning tasks

20:31

that maybe they don't have enough time on right now.

20:35

That's well said. And i think HR People should be excited about that.

20:39

But first, it's scary. Before you get excited about said you first have to get your arms around it

20:45

and know how i'm going to harness it and you don't left behind and and and and

20:50

though I do think it could help

20:53

HR People focus on the more strategic conceptual things

20:58

and getting more routine tasks out of the way.

21:02

It won't stop there, though. I think that's a bridge to to something even bigger.

21:06

Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you for those recommendations.

21:08

In fact, we have a hot topic survey coming out

21:13

very soon on ai in the workplace, so stay tuned for that.

21:18

And if you want to learn more about how I will affect

21:21

your workplace in HR specifically,

21:24

that hot topic survey is going to be coming out

21:26

next week, actually, so the week of January 7th.

21:31

And we will also have a podcast covering

21:34

those results of survey results.

21:37

But so, Susan, let's talk more about some other business

21:41

trends, survey results here to our attention was among the top business

21:45

challenges for 2023 and heading into 2024.

21:49

So what are organizations doing now to really retain top talent once hired?

21:55

There's very little like earth shaking and VR and tremendously different.

22:01

But I can say again with the confidence

22:04

of thousands of employers weighing in,

22:08

that some fundamentals that again

22:10

put it, are right in the middle of that business conversation session.

22:15

You need to be an employer of choice.

22:17

You need to be an employer that competes not just on

22:20

being in the top of the range

22:23

you need to pay competitively, as we've determined.

22:26

But there are so many other things.

22:29

And one of those other things that is trending more strongly

22:34

isn't new, but trending much more along strongly is learning in growth.

22:38

How how are you going to take a new employee,

22:42

an existing employee, a long service employee, and continue

22:46

to give them opportunities to learn and to grow in your organization,

22:53

that that deserves

22:56

more time and attention on a regular basis?

23:00

Then then most of us either

23:03

devote to because you're there's a crush of other things to do,

23:06

or maybe we don't realize just how important it has become and

23:13

the talent shortage and the fact that employers are looking

23:18

to hire more in a stronger economy

23:21

and those people just don't always exist.

23:25

And so for self-preservation as well as for growth,

23:31

you really need to keenly focus on career

23:35

paths and opportunities to develop your current team.

23:39

That doesn't mean you all have to create a university.

23:43

That doesn't mean you need to have a ladder, a and a ladder being a ladder.

23:48

I guess it would be the other way around. Let's see. Matter be ladder.

23:51

But in some organizations that makes sense.

23:55

Maybe more of a manufacturing organization, but it does mean the quality

24:00

of supervision and management, the quality of those conversations

24:05

are really important so that that employee knows.

24:09

All right. The job to which I aspire

24:12

or the pay that I'd like to earn someday

24:17

is achievable with these steps.

24:20

My employer is going to do these three things and I'm going to do these

24:24

five things and we're going to arrive at this happy destination together.

24:28

So spending more time

24:31

and thoughtful consideration of each employee's

24:35

career path, no matter the job, is really trending strongly.

24:41

And that's not going to change as the talent

24:44

market stays really challenging,

24:48

challenging in that there just aren't

24:51

enough experienced, qualified candidates out there.

24:55

And even at the very entry level

24:59

or new to the job market

25:02

range, I'm not letting

25:05

those great employees get away and happy somewhere else.

25:08

Absolutely. And I have a follow up question for that.

25:11

Then, in addition to,

25:14

like you said, table stakes, the competitive wages we've seen variable

25:19

pay has also come into play to overcome these

25:23

recruiting and retention challenges.

25:26

Are you seeing

25:28

any incentives used by our members or other organizations, employers

25:33

with variable pay to kind of overcome the retention challenge?

25:38

Sure. I'll give you what we've learned from our survey

25:44

and then I'll give you a little Susan Twist, because, well,

25:49

my opinion doesn't always carry the day, but we want to hear it.

25:54

Well, it is what it is.

25:57

What I think would work if you had an organization that you started from scratch

26:02

with people that you were able to select

26:05

carefully and grow the way you wanted to.

26:08

You would treat everybody in a very custom way.

26:13

Your best employees would get 10% raises

26:16

and you, your average steady,

26:20

at ease would get far less than that, and you wouldn't have

26:26

poor quality employees. And in real world that doesn't exist.

26:31

But I do see to sell them

26:36

that employers use whatever matrix they have for

26:40

pay and benefits, they use it to

26:43

too much the same year.

26:46

At the end of the day, what is the difference

26:49

to you or to me or to anyone?

26:54

You know the difference between a 2.7 raise and a 3% raise.

26:59

It just isn't meaningful.

27:01

So if you really want to keep that better employee,

27:04

what is meaningful for great performance.

27:08

So again, that's the real trend with my twist using

27:15

HR Being very nimble

27:17

and able to

27:21

layer on its policies and practices

27:23

not as consistently maybe as a lifetime has taught us.

27:27

You need to treat everybody the same. Not necessarily.

27:30

You need to have business justified reasons for doing that.

27:34

You need to make sure it's tied to documented

27:36

perform means but achievement of goals.

27:40

Those employees who truly are head and shoulders above, they're going

27:43

to go elsewhere in this market unless you do treat them differently.

27:47

Ways that you can do that.

27:50

Variable variable pay tied to performance,

27:55

not universal bonuses, but those that say

27:59

if the company achieves this, then we all get that.

28:02

That means gain sharing, Whatever you call it, it's gain sharing.

28:06

Second would be if you in this role achieve this, you're going to get this.

28:11

Those things benefit the organization and they will lift all boats instead of

28:18

variable pay that isn't as tightly tied for goal achievement.

28:22

And again, that brings the spotlight right down

28:26

on the quality of management in supervision.

28:29

Are your managers and supervisors

28:32

savvy, trained and strong enough to say,

28:38

Sophie, here's where you hit your goals.

28:41

Here's where you missed your goal.

28:43

Here's what that earned in our variable pay plan

28:46

and here's what you going to do next year. That should be a dialog.

28:50

Usually saying that's achievable might be a stretch goal, but I can do it.

28:54

Not pie in the sky. What are you talking about? I could never do that.

28:58

So it should feel like a partnership,

29:02

but it should also feel like a stretch

29:04

and your manager has to be able

29:08

anyone's manager has to be able to say, Great job or here's the gap.

29:15

And that's saying a lot. If you're not going to use things very consistently

29:21

which can water down performance if you treat everybody the same,

29:25

the great performers say, What the heck?

29:29

Why should I tie on my son Jr's every day and run at 100 miles an hour

29:33

when he is and she is and they are running at 50 miles an hour?

29:37

No, you know, why would I do that? It tends to it tends to breed mediocrity instead of excellence.

29:44

So the key to that

29:48

is high quality management and supervision and the ability to have conversations

29:53

in a partnership way so that people understand,

29:57

here's how I can excel, here's how I can earn that variable pay,

30:01

and here's, you know, what caring what I do to improve.

30:05

If that was Susan's twist, that makes sense.

30:08

Yeah, but it doesn't exist.

30:11

It doesn't reflect. Well, Susan kind of rounding out the top five challenges

30:16

from this year's survey is developing future leaders.

30:19

So I know we touched on this briefly, but what recommendations do you have

30:24

for developing an organization's up and coming leaders or emerging leaders?

30:28

I would say, well, one of them, I think, is what I just touched on

30:33

with regard to variable pay. People work for intrinsic feeling of accomplishment.

30:38

That's true. I think if you hire good employees, they want they come in saying,

30:43

I want to do a good job because that's just how I'm wound.

30:46

That's my theory. But let's not make the mistake that

30:51

an achievement is an important and compensation isn't important.

30:55

And recognition and rewards are an important and

31:01

I'm probably wound a little differently that way.

31:04

I'm not saying intergenerational, but it tends to be in that

31:11

newer workers in the workplace

31:13

just need more care and development and to feel a part of the team.

31:18

And I think sometimes longer service workers missed that.

31:23

By missed that, I mean don't recognize that enough.

31:26

Don't think about it often enough.

31:29

Not out of bad intention, but because that's not what they experienced.

31:33

So so you don't want to allow that disconnect to become pervasive

31:38

in your company. You want to make sure it's fluid and organic is a word I like to use there,

31:43

meaning it's growing and changing all the time and it's an in an into flow

31:49

of information going back and forth, people communicating about what they need

31:53

and what they want and what they have and they like and what they don't like.

31:57

I mean, then you can respond to it back to the career passing.

32:01

Just make sure that's part of your performance system.

32:04

Whatever your performance system is, it isn't just about goals, it's

32:08

about what's next and where you want to go and what you want to achieve

32:14

and and help with how you get there.

32:17

So if any employee is willing to say, I want to grow my job

32:21

and I'm willing to put in these things, room

32:25

managers should want to work with them all day long.

32:28

It's great advice. Well, common sense, right?

32:33

Well, Susan, unfortunately, we're running out of time here.

32:36

But I know we asked this question a lot to our members,

32:40

but now I'm curious to know what keeps you up at night, Susan,

32:44

looking forward into the future, 2024 for business?

32:47

Well, thanks, Sophia. You you actually gave me some nightmares

32:51

during this conversation because most things.

32:54

Yeah, this is what I'm you.

32:56

You you touched on two of them

33:00

because they're so external to an organization.

33:06

I think many leaders and I like to feel that I really know

33:10

how to run this business and that I communicate with this team

33:15

really well that you that you know where we are financially.

33:19

You know what our goals are. Our strategic placement is tucked up in your cubicle, whatever,

33:25

you know, where we're going. But cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

33:32

that are tiger by the tail, both of those things,

33:36

you can do everything right

33:38

and not see the train coming on the track.

33:41

So again, business people are paid to square their shoulders

33:46

and say, how do I how do I capitalize on those opportunities?

33:51

Not how do I run afraid from them?

33:53

What your question was, what keeps me up at night?

33:55

I would say it's those two things, among others,

33:59

because they are so external to minimization.

34:02

They are so foreign and fast

34:06

moving and in the hands of other people

34:09

and things and technology that today

34:13

a few of us are expert in.

34:17

So so that's what keeps me up at night.

34:19

And that's why through our conversation I highlighted

34:23

just the fundamentals of policy governance practice.

34:27

Outside audits, you do what you can and then hopefully you can just

34:32

put your head down on the pillow and sleep because you've done what you can.

34:36

That doesn't mean it will protect or be perfect

34:39

or optimize artificial intelligence the impact on your business.

34:43

But you can't be an ostrich either and stick your head in the sand

34:47

and just say, I hope it doesn't impact me for two years or five years.

34:51

It will come in my CEO roundtable.

34:54

We talked about cybersecurity and there were 14 really smart

34:59

business leaders, owners in the room,

35:02

and four of them had had data incidents,

35:06

let's call it threat actors

35:09

attack their business.

35:12

So four out of 14 just in the last year,

35:16

it's not if, but when.

35:19

So make yourself as bulletproof as possible.

35:23

Absolutely. And we have resources linked in the charts below.

35:26

You can also find them at MRA Talk.

35:31

But Susan, we wrap up here. Any last thoughts, any words of inspiration for the new year,

35:36

your mike drop moment here?

35:39

I'll tell you what I told my employees and my partner over the holidays.

35:43

Bring it on, We’re Ready! I love it. I need to.

35:46

I'm excited. Perfect. Well, thank you, Susan.

35:48

I really appreciate you coming on. And I appreciate your leadership here, too.

35:53

Like I mentioned, we have resources in the show

35:55

notes below, so make sure to refer back to those.

35:58

They are also found on our website, mranet.org.

36:03

And thank you so much for listening and tuning in today.

36:06

We hope you have a great New Year in a successful New Year

36:10

and we are always here to help. So thank you again, Susan. Happy New Year.

36:14

And that wraps up our content for this episode.

36:16

Be sure to reference the show notes where you can sign them to connect.

36:19

For more podcast updates, check out other Amari episodes on your favorite podcast platform.

36:25

And as always, make sure to follow MRA's 30 minutes THRIVE

36:29

so you don't miss out. Thanks for tuning in

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