Robin Elledge Blog | Los Angeles | Janus Coaching + Consulting

Hiring for Growth: Embrace Diversity and Challenge to Avoid the Echo Chamber

Transforming Hiring Practices: Embrace Change or Fall Behind

Big shifts are happening in how we hire—and if you’re still doing things the old way, you’re already behind. Here’s what’s reshaping the hiring landscape:

Rethinking Leadership Identification: Moving Beyond Traditional Hiring Practices

🚨 77% of companies can’t identify their future leaders. That stat should stop us in our tracks.

Embracing Gratitude: A Powerful Tool for Stress Management and Wellbeing

Gratitude has become a bit of a buzzword. We know it's good for us. We've seen the articles, heard the TED Talks. But when life gets stressful, gratitude is often the first thing to fall off our to-do list.

Example: ✅ “During Tuesday’s kickoff (S), you jumped in with a clear summary when things got off track (B), which refocused the team and saved us 20 minutes (I).” That’s not just a compliment—it’s a confidence builder. The best recognition doesn’t just make people feel good. It helps them repeat what worked.

Elevate Your Praise with the SBI Formula for Impactful Feedback

If “Nice work!” is your go-to praise, it’s time for an upgrade. Vague compliments are the junk food of feedback—tasty in the moment, zero staying power. Try the SBI Formula instead: 📍 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – When/where it happened 🎯 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 – What the person actually did 💥 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 – Why it mattered

Rehiring ex-employees is no longer questionable. It’s a smart strategy. In March, 35%

Embracing Boomerang Employees: A Strategic Advantage in Talent Management

But here’s the real opportunity for leaders: ✅ What story do former employees tell about your culture? ✅ Did they leave because they outgrew the role—or felt undervalued? ✅ Would they come back… and would you want them back

Let’s be honest—what’s happening right now with DEI isn’t a needed course correction. It’s a retreat; a rush to abandon diversity and inclusion in the name of “optics” and “politics,” as if facts no longer matter.

The Critical Role of DEI: A Business Imperative for Success

✔️ Companies in the top quartile for ethnic diversity are 33% more likely to outperform on profitability (McKinsey). ✔️ Gender-diverse teams outperform less-diverse peers by 21% (McKinsey) ✔️ Organizations with inclusive cultures are 6× more likely to be innovative and 8× more likely to achieve better business outcomes (Deloitte). ✔️ Diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time (Harvard Business Review). ✔️ Companies with diverse leadership generate 19% more innovation

In March, 35% of new hires were “boomerang employees”—people returning to former companies (ADP data). In tech? That number jumped to 68%. Why the shift? → The job market has cooled. → Employers are pickier. → Familiar talent = faster ramp + lower risk.

Hiring Ex-Employees is Smart Strategy

It’s also: 👉 “What did their exit teach us about how we develop and retain talent?” Because every exit is feedback. And every return is a second chance—to get it right. What’s your take on hiring back former employees? Have you done it successfully—or regretted it?

How many toxic culture bingo squares did you check off? (If it’s more than a couple... grab a snack. We need to talk.) Let’s be honest: you don’t need a fancy engagement survey to know when a culture is toxic. You feel it. In your gut. In your group chats. And in that voice in your head that says, “Is it me... or is this place actually insane?”

Strategies for Surviving and Thriving in a Toxic Workplace

Toxic workplaces drain more than just your energy—they chip away at your confidence, your well-being, and your empathy. They’re a leading cause of burnout, and unfortunately, they don’t come with a warning label. So if you're stuck in one, don't just brace yourself—arm yourself. Here’s how to survive with your sanity (and soul) intact: