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Why Listening, Not Leverage, Is the Future of Labor Strategy with Michael VanDervort

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Manage episode 497391921 series 3654998
Content provided by TalentMap and Sean Fitzpatrick. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by TalentMap and Sean Fitzpatrick or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Activated: Tuning Employee Insights At Work. Our host Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of TalentMap, is joined by Michael VanDervort, a seasoned labor relations strategist and trusted voice in the employee experience space, to discuss how organizations can build extraordinary workplaces through better employee relations, whether unionized or not.
What You’ll Learn:

  • How to transform labor relations from risk management to relationship building
  • Why approachability is the key leadership trait for preventing union organizing
  • How to create effective listening systems beyond annual surveys
  • Why responding to feedback matters more than collecting it
  • The critical role of middle managers in building employee trust and engagement
  • Why organizational culture change must start with executive commitment and modeling
Michael VanDervort is a seasoned labor relations strategist and trusted voice in the employee experience space. He’s also a key voice behind LRI Consulting Services and HR Acuity, where he leads communications, content, and events focused on building extraordinary workplaces. With over 35 years of experience in labor and employee relations, including roles at the United States Postal Service and various private sector organizations, he brings a unique perspective from both union and management positions. Michael is also Co-Host of The Left of Boom Show and Drive Thru HR.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here: https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review

Highlights and YouTube Chapters:


  • [00:00] Introduction
  • [03:00] From Law School to Labor Relations
  • [06:18] Is Labor Relations More Collaborative Today?
  • [12:40] What Makes a Workplace Extraordinary
  • [16:25] The Approachable Leadership Training Philosophy
  • [19:37] Union vs. Non-Union Listening Cultures
  • [28:54] When Surveys Fail and How to Fix Them
  • [33:07] Why Leaders Don’t Close the Loop
  • [39:32] If I Were a CEO…
  • [43:46] The Hero Assumptions

Quotes:

  • “Trust your people, know your people, assume the best. That doesn't mean everybody's great or everybody's perfect, but don't manage your business because of the bad apples.”
  • “If leaders are approachable, that's like one of the biggest, best starting points.”
  • “Unionized companies do not necessarily have bad labor relations. Unions and companies don't necessarily have to hate each other.”

Episode Resources:



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10 episodes

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Fetch error

Hmmm there seems to be a problem fetching this series right now. Last successful fetch was on July 30, 2025 12:12 (5d ago)

What now? This series will be checked again in the next day. If you believe it should be working, please verify the publisher's feed link below is valid and includes actual episode links. You can contact support to request the feed be immediately fetched.

Manage episode 497391921 series 3654998
Content provided by TalentMap and Sean Fitzpatrick. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by TalentMap and Sean Fitzpatrick or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Welcome to a brand new episode of Voice Activated: Tuning Employee Insights At Work. Our host Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of TalentMap, is joined by Michael VanDervort, a seasoned labor relations strategist and trusted voice in the employee experience space, to discuss how organizations can build extraordinary workplaces through better employee relations, whether unionized or not.
What You’ll Learn:

  • How to transform labor relations from risk management to relationship building
  • Why approachability is the key leadership trait for preventing union organizing
  • How to create effective listening systems beyond annual surveys
  • Why responding to feedback matters more than collecting it
  • The critical role of middle managers in building employee trust and engagement
  • Why organizational culture change must start with executive commitment and modeling
Michael VanDervort is a seasoned labor relations strategist and trusted voice in the employee experience space. He’s also a key voice behind LRI Consulting Services and HR Acuity, where he leads communications, content, and events focused on building extraordinary workplaces. With over 35 years of experience in labor and employee relations, including roles at the United States Postal Service and various private sector organizations, he brings a unique perspective from both union and management positions. Michael is also Co-Host of The Left of Boom Show and Drive Thru HR.
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here: https://www.fame.so/follow-rate-review

Highlights and YouTube Chapters:


  • [00:00] Introduction
  • [03:00] From Law School to Labor Relations
  • [06:18] Is Labor Relations More Collaborative Today?
  • [12:40] What Makes a Workplace Extraordinary
  • [16:25] The Approachable Leadership Training Philosophy
  • [19:37] Union vs. Non-Union Listening Cultures
  • [28:54] When Surveys Fail and How to Fix Them
  • [33:07] Why Leaders Don’t Close the Loop
  • [39:32] If I Were a CEO…
  • [43:46] The Hero Assumptions

Quotes:

  • “Trust your people, know your people, assume the best. That doesn't mean everybody's great or everybody's perfect, but don't manage your business because of the bad apples.”
  • “If leaders are approachable, that's like one of the biggest, best starting points.”
  • “Unionized companies do not necessarily have bad labor relations. Unions and companies don't necessarily have to hate each other.”

Episode Resources:



💬 Comment below your favorite part!

  continue reading

10 episodes

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