The People Success Circle
The People Success Circle is your source of strategies for creating thriving workplaces and careers.
Join me bi-weekly for thoughtful conversations on how to drive business growth, enhance employee engagement, and achieve personal and organizational success.
With over 28 years of experience as an HR leader, I’ve seen firsthand that when companies prioritize people, profits follow. Yet, we’re facing a crisis in employee engagement and well-being.
Each Wednesday, this podcast we’ll explore how businesses can turn the tide, fostering environments where employees feel valued, confident, and inspired to contribute their best.
But this isn’t just for business leaders—The People Success Circle also serves individuals seeking more fulfilling, rewarding careers. Whether you’re looking to land your dream job or thrive in your current role, we’ll dive into proven strategies for professional growth and career satisfaction.
From building confidence to aligning your work with your values, get ready to unlock full potential!
Visit www.limerockcareerco.com to learn more, and listen every Wednesday to transform your business and career.
The People Success Circle
Change at Work and How to Build Relationships That Bring People Along
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Change is constant at work — yet organizational change can still catch teams off guard. In this episode of People Success Circle, I sit down with Jess Rodriguez to explore what it really takes to lead teams through change with clarity, empathy, and trust. From change management to workplace communication, we discuss how leaders can move beyond control and guide their teams through uncertainty at work in a people-centered way.
Jess shares how her background in improv shaped her approach to corporate leadership: put people first, communicate change clearly, ask better questions, and build employee trust before jumping into strategy. We also unpack why “cheerleading” change can backfire, how emotional responses show up during change at work, and how leading with empathy helps create genuine team buy-in instead of reluctant compliance.
In this episode, I cover:
- Why people aren’t “bad at change” — and what they’re actually reacting to during organizational change
- How fear and uncertainty at work can impact trust, performance, and team dynamics
- Why curiosity strengthens employee trust faster than forced positivity
- Communication strategies at work that help leaders surface real concerns instead of making assumptions
- How a structured curiosity phase supports workplace communication without slowing progress
- The difference between compliance and buy-in — and why connection drives stronger team leadership
- How to involve employees early so they feel included in the change management process
- The four attributes of effective team leadership during change: curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and adaptability
- A hard but important truth: not everyone will land in the same place — and strong leaders guide their teams with transparency anyway
Whether you're leading teams through a large organizational change or navigating everyday shifts in the workplace, this conversation reinforces a powerful leadership principle: successful change management starts with people. When leaders prioritize connection, communicate with intention, and lead with empathy, they build the trust teams need to adapt, collaborate, and move forward with confidence — even when the future feels uncertain.
Resources:
- Jess' Website: https://www.jessrod.com/
- The Sales Creative website: https://www.thesalescreative.co/
- Connect with Jess on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessrodspeaks/
Join Networking School & Become Known In Your Industry: https://www.limerockcareerco.com/networking-school-1
People Success Playbook: https://limerockconsulting.myflodesk.com/peoplesuccessplaybook
Company Website: www.limerockcareerco.com
Speaking Website: www.mindyeast.com