If you've never had an underperformer, you are a leadership unicorn! It's something every people-manager deals with at some point in their career, and how you handle it impacts the whole team.

In this episode, we walk through how to handle underperformance before it spirals, including: the honest questions every manager needs to ask themselves first, how to consider the full context around an employee's performance, and what to do when you really feel like you've tried everything.

Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude

How do you balance a meaningful career with being present for your family, without completely depleting yourself in the process?

In this episode, we talk with the winner of our goal-setting contest about her biggest challenge for 2026: refilling her energy bucket so she can show up fully for the things and people that matter most to her.

It's a candid conversation about building meaningful professional connections while protecting what you need to show up fully at home.

If you've ever felt like your own needs always come last, this conversation offers both recognition and some permission to approach things differently.

Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude

00:00 Introducing Our Guest, Elena Skorupan

05:46 Elena’s Priorities for 2026

07:34 Deepening Relationships at Work

13:34 Refilling Personal Energy Buckets

16:28 Denise and Maggie’s Commitments for 2026

If you're tired of setting goals only to abandon them by “Quitter’s Friday” (the second Friday in January), this episode is for you.

We're sharing a better way to approach goals (that actually makes them stick), inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, lessons from legendary coach Nick Saban, and our own experiences.

Denise opens up about how one candid moment helped her break a lifelong habit of procrastination. We also break down why most workplace goals fail (hint: it's not about willpower) and what to do instead.

If you want to turn your 2026 resolutions into REVolutions, this episode will help you take the first step.

Learn more at candorandcourageatwork.com & connect with us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hr-habitude