Episode 160

160 Morgan McCaughey - Hiring 3.0: AI, Bias, and Empathy in the Workplace

Dive deep into the world of SaaS businesses, from culture to negotiation, and everything in between as Jeff Mains is joined by Morgan McCaughey – the founder of Braggin Right Consulting. Morgan brought her expertise to the table, discussing the importance of salary negotiation, especially for women and minorities. She shared her personal journey of starting her own business after being put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) and how it led her to focus on helping others negotiate equitable compensation.

Morgan also provided actionable tips for job candidates to assess culture fit and for leaders to create a culture intentionally, underscoring the importance of shared mission, vision, purpose, and core values in creating a harmonious and high-performing team.

Tune in to forge a career path that truly aligns with your worth and well-being.

Key Takeaways

[00:02:00] - The Importance of Culture in Companies

[00:05:10] - Assessing and Creating Company Culture

[00:09:03] - Morgan's Journey to founding Braggin Right

[00:10:36] - Understanding PIPs (Performance Improvement Plans)

[00:13:14] - The Focus on Salary Negotiation

[00:18:09] - Advice for Employers on Candidate Evaluation

[00:23:02] - The Human Aspect of Candidate Communication

[00:25:08] - Legal Obligations and Human Decency in Hiring

[00:29:14] - The Ethics of Resume Keyword Optimization

[00:35:16] - The Role of Career Pathing and Education in Retention

00:37:14] - The Impact of Mass Layoffs on Company Culture

[00:43:01] - Setting Clear Goals and Expectations

[00:47:24] - Layoffs and the Importance of Employee Development

[00:49:09] - Career Pathing and Long-Term Employee Growth

[00:54:06] - Work-Life Balance and Mindset Well-being

[00:55:11] - Personal Reflection on Workaholism and Self-Employment

Tweetable Quotes

"Building a great culture isn't just a nice to have, it's a make or break factor that can determine the success or the downfall of a company." - 00:02:00 Jeff Mains

"A great culture attracts top talent, inspires loyalty, and drives performance." - 00:05:52 Jeff Mains

“Put one number in every single bullet point on your resume, because that is really what executive recruiters are looking for." - 00:15:31 Morgan McCaughey

"Impact is so important. And having something, you know, people do want to be a part of something bigger than themselves." - 00:51:49 Jeff Mains

“So when we think about the role that happiness plays in work, it actually shows up in a couple of different financial ways." - -00:57:46 Morgan McCaughey

"I've started telling people, practice some tenacity here, like push yourself, send that extra LinkedIn message, send that extra email, that extra two emails maybe, because you have to think, you have to cut through the noise of that person's very, very busy life." - 00:22:17 Morgan McCaughey

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Advocating and Negotiating Employee Value: Adept at recognizing and advocating for the value of their team members. By sharing tools like the Salary Triangulation Worksheet and promoting self-advocacy, it empowers their teams to negotiate compensation that reflects their contributions.
Communicate the Company Mission: Inspire and empower employees by consistently communicating the company's mission and vision, ensuring that everyone is aligned and motivated towards a common goal.
Enhancing Hiring and Onboarding Processes: Providing feedback to candidates, whether they're hired or not, is a demonstration of respect and investment in the broader professional community. Optimize onboarding processes with frameworks like the 30, 60, 90-day success plan, which sets clear expectations and success metrics, leading to better employee engagement and retention.
Balancing Well-being and Business Profitability: A happy workforce is not a luxury but a cornerstone of a thriving business. Strive for a balance that promotes mental health and well-being while achieving business goals. Investing in employee happiness and retention can save on healthcare costs, training, and the loss of institutional knowledge.
Investing in Continuous Learning and Employee Development: View AI as a tool to enhance job performance and invest in employees' education to ensure they stay relevant and engaged. This investment reflects a commitment to the workforce and a recognition of the importance of employee development in the long-term success of the company.