30 Memories for Artisan Creative’s 30th Anniversary

Monday, February 2nd, 2026|

Recently, I’ve been introduced to lyrical writing by my friend Laurie Wagner.  It’s not prose, nor poetry, but has a lovely lyrical, rhythmic style to it.  I’ve adopted it as my own and have been writing in this style a bit lately.

This week, it’s Artisan Creative’s 30th anniversary, and I’m using this lyrical approach to share 30 memories that are alive for me about this incredible community of talented individuals. The prompt…. I remember when….This is a glimpse into some of my memories from the past thirty years, in no particular order.

  1. I remember when we moved into the Sawtelle office.
  2. I remember when we had wall-to-wall giant black metal cabinets to house all of our artist portfolios.
  3. I remember when we had to “check out” the portfolios using little library cards so we could physically drop them off at client offices.
  4. I remember when we held weekly portfolio reviews every Thursday, and our talent came in and presented their work.
  5. I remember when Sawtelle was a sleepy little street with great food.
  6. I remember when Apple’s new iMac first came out: blues and greens all over the office.
  7. I remember when we painted all the office doors bright orange, green, yellow, and blue.
  8. I remember when Margaret got excited about something, and I could hear her stomping and clapping throughout the office.
  9. I remember when we planned a company trip to Mexico.
  10. I remember when the fax paper used to roll into little cylinders and fall on the floor.
  11. I remember when the Northridge earthquake happened.
  12. I remember when Carol’s son would come over afterschool. He is now married with his own kids!
  13. I remember when we unveiled our new logo. It still feels fresh and relevant.
  14. I remember when the dot.com crash happened.
  15. I remember 9/11. All of us sat around the conference room, stunned. One of our colleagues got in his car and drove all the way to NY.
  16. I remember when MJ got married, and we all danced together for hours.
  17. I remember when we first introduced our full-time /direct hire services in addition to our staffing model.
  18. I remember when Jo used to tricycle to work.
  19. I remember when our office was used as a location shoot for a movie.
  20. I remember when Jamie G and Jess brought their babies to the office.
  21. I remember when we moved out of the Sawtelle office and went remote in 2009.
  22. I remember all of our co-working gatherings.
  23. I remember when we opened the SF office, and when we closed it because we took the team virtual.
  24. I remember all of our Christmas parties and MJ’s Chinese food feast
  25. I remember when, during Covid, we held training sessions for our clients on remote best practices.
  26. I remember when we launched our social media presence. Now 42K strong on LI.
  27. I remember when we started creating vision boards together as a team 13 years ago
  28. I remember when we had team off-sites in museums, bowling alleys, restaurants, and on the beach.
  29. I remember when we launched our leadership and team development services
  30. I remember all the amazing people who have worked with us over the years.

Thank you, Artisan Creative, for 30 amazing years. Here’s to making more memories together.

Creating Your 2026 Vision Board

Saturday, December 27th, 2025|

Tomorrow is a new day.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Each new year, we’re presented with a fresh opportunity to create the next chapter of our lives.  We have the opportunity to reflect, reset, and reimagine the road ahead, envisioning space for growth, learning, and thoughtful change, both personally and professionally.

At Artisan Creative, one of our favorite traditions is creating vision boards to map out our intentions for the year. In our first team meeting of January, we each present our board as a visual representation of our goals, dreams, and aspirations. Some teammates craft physical boards, while others go digital using tools like Canva, Pinterest, or PicMonkey.

This ritual speaks to one of our core values: accountability. By sharing our boards with one another, we not only stay committed to our goals, we also deepen our understanding of each other’s aspirations. Many team members choose a theme or word to guide their year, layering in quotes, images, and actions that bring their vision to life.

We revisit these boards mid-year and again in our year-end recap. It’s a way to stay connected to our vision even when the year brings unexpected turns.

Year after year, this practice remains one of our most meaningful team-building activities.

Ready to bring your vision to life? Here are 8 tips to help you get started:

Choose the right canvas (Paper or Digital)
A 22″ x 28″ poster board (these from Staples) offers plenty of space to dream big, while still being easy to display on your wall or workspace. You can either divide your board into sections for business and personal or mix the elements throughout to create an integrated board where both your personal and professional aspirations are represented.  Hang the board where you can revisit it daily—read the inspirational messages out loud— and often!  I save mine as my desktop wallpaper, so I can see it daily.

Gather your tools.
A sturdy pair of scissors and a reliable glue stick will ensure your images and words stay in place all year long. Or if going digital, select or create a template to start with.  Here are a few free Canva templates for ease of planning.

Find your inspiration and choose a theme for your year.
Flip through a variety of magazines ( or search the web) to discover the words, quotes, and images that truly speak to you. Trust your instincts—if it resonates, it belongs.

Add your personal touch.
(Optional and fun!) Use markers, stickers, illustrations, or personal photos to add flair and personality to your board. Let your creativity shine.

Take your time.
Reflection is key. Set aside time to think about your intentions and what you want to invite into your life.

Make it a process.
Don’t rush—collect images and words gradually. Then, block off a dedicated day to bring it all together.

Be patient and stay open.
Harness your creativity in any way that works best for you. This is your space to explore, dream, and imagine. There’s no right or wrong way—just your way.

Share the board with others.
Voice your goals out loud. Having an accountability partner will help you get closer to achieving your goals and bring your goals to life.

Here’s to a Happy New Year.

Katty & the Artisan Creative a.Team

Giving Thanks: Gratitude 2025

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025|

As we enter this season of gratitude, we pause to reflect on the many things we’re thankful for, including our health, our families, our friendships, and the meaningful connections that enrich our lives both personally and professionally.

Soon, we will be celebrating Artisan Creative’s 30th year in business, and we are especially grateful for our incredible community of clients, candidates, and teammates.

This year, we’re also grateful for the launch of our services and expanding beyond staffing to include talent development and facilitation. These offerings for leadership development allow us to further support our clients’ retention initiatives while continuing to connect amazing talent with incredible new recruitment opportunities.

Here are Artisan Creative’s a.team Gratitude 2025:

  • Grateful for my small family. They have always been my “why,” and I can’t wait for us to become four very soon!
  • Grateful for all the memories I was able to make with my friends and family this year.
  • Grateful for good health and a safe home.
  • Grateful for amazing sunrises and sunsets.
  • Grateful for my two cats.
  • Grateful for good health and staying consistent with working out.
  • Grateful for my family and friends and getting to spend quality time with them.
  • Grateful for my mom, who is 96 years old and still pretty healthy, happy, and present.
  • Grateful for my husband, who is there for me no matter what and loves me unconditionally
  • Grateful for good health affects everything we do, and it’s an investment that shapes our present and future.
  • Grateful for the freedom to travel
  • Grateful for working with leaders who have a positive impact
  • Grateful for living in the mountains
  • Grateful for working from home
  • Grateful for access to nature so readily
  • Grateful for creating deep-rooted relationships
  • Grateful for a year filled with visits from friends and family

We are grateful to you and wish you a happy and healthy holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

Awareness And Avoiding Recruitment Scams

Tuesday, October 28th, 2025|

In today’s digital age, job seekers have more opportunities than ever to connect with potential employers through a variety of online platforms, and so do scammers. As the recruiting landscape evolves, so do the tactics of those looking to take advantage of job seekers. At Artisan Creative, one of our core values is to build trusted relationships, so that’s why we’re sharing this guide to help you navigate your job search safely and confidently.

Scammers often pose as recruiters, offering enticing opportunities to lure candidates into sharing personal information, paying unnecessary fees, or even committing time to non-existent jobs. The good news? A little awareness can go a long way in protecting yourself.  No reputable recruitment agency would ever ask you for payment, fees or your personal information upfront without meeting you.

Here are five best practices to safeguard yourself during your job search:

1. Verify the Recruiter and the Company

Before engaging with a recruiter, do your research. Look up their name,  the company they represent on LinkedIn, and the company’s website and reputation. Check out the company’s social sites, years in business, testimonials, and professional presence. If you have doubts, double-check and trust your gut.

2. Be Wary of Upfront Requests for Personal or Financial Information

Reputable recruitment companies will never ask you to share sensitive personal information—such as your Social Security number, banking details, or copies of your ID—early in the hiring process. These details are only typically required once a formal job offer has been made and accepted, and even then, through secure channels. Be aware, if a recruiter asks for money for training materials, background checks, or equipment.

3. Pay Attention to Communication Style and Method

Professional recruiters communicate with clarity, respect, and consistency. Be cautious of poor grammar, vague job descriptions, or emails that pressure you to act urgently. Because of AI, many outreach emails may now sound professional, so double-check your sources. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to create a false sense of urgency and push you into quick decisions. Take your time and ask questions.  Be aware of texting scams, too, where information comes to you without any context, history, or connection.

4. Watch for Unrealistic Offers

If a job offer seems too good to be true, it just might be. Be cautious of roles that offer extremely high salaries for little work, promise remote flexibility with minimal requirements, or don’t require an interview.  A legitimate job will typically involve a clear process, including in-person or Zoom interviews, reference checks, and written documentation.  Beware if you’ve been offered a role without the proper due diligence.  In addition to a company interviewing you, you want to interview them to ensure they are aligned with your values.

5. Use Trusted Platforms and Agencies

Stick to well-known job boards, companies, and work with reputable recruiting agencies. Agencies like Artisan Creative are committed to ethical, transparent practices and candidate care. For the past 30 years, we have never charged candidates for our services, and we maintain clear, open communication (one of our core values) every step of the way to continue building trusted relationships.

This blog was written by a human and enhanced with AI.

Prompts and Hallucinations: A Beginner’s Guide to AI Terminology

Tuesday, August 26th, 2025|

Have you ever felt lost in a conversation about AI? It seems everyone’s talking about prompts, hallucinations, and a myriad of acronyms to confuse anyone. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in feeling there is a foreign language you haven’t learned.

We’ve created a friendly, easy guide to help you navigate the 10 most used acronyms in the world of AI terminology, from the simple act of giving instructions to those head-scratching moments when AI gets it wrong.

  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Broad field of human‑like machine intelligence
  2. Machine Learning (ML) Learning from data without explicit programming
  3. Deep Learning (DL) Neural networks with many layers
  4. Large Language Model (LLMMassive language‑trained models on a variety of content
  5. Generative Pre‑trained Transformer (GPT) A type of LLM via transformer architecture
  6. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) AI that generates new content (text, images, video)
  7. Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI that enables computers to understand, interpret, and respond to human language.”
  8. Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Practices around deploying and managing ML in production
  9. Deepfake AI creates convincing fake visuals or audio.
  10. Hallucination AI gives confident but incorrect information.

AI is transforming how we work and communicate.  It’s also evolving at a hyper-speed rate. By the time this article is published, there will be additional terminology to learn.  For now, we hope this helps with the basics.

This blog was written by a human and enhanced by AI.

Thinking About Implementing AI? Start By Asking the Right Questions.

Monday, August 4th, 2025|

As a leader, you’re constantly looking for ways to grow your business, streamline operations, and stay ahead of the competition. You may be wondering how to grow or streamline efficiencies today.  Enter artificial intelligence (AI).  You’ve heard by now how (AI) is transforming industries and workflows—from design to sales to project management.

If you are unsure about where to begin, this blog is for you. The good news is you don’t need to have it all figured out to get started. You just need to start asking the right questions.

Whether you’re running a small or mid-sized company, exploring AI isn’t about replacing your team or investing in a major overhaul overnight. It’s about identifying where AI can unlock potential from within the team and increase capacity, spark innovation, and reduce redundancies– one step at a time.

Here are 5 questions to start the process about AI and ignite curiosity and clarity.  The answers just might transform your business from within.

  1. Where are we spending time on manual, repetitive tasks?

Every business has tasks that eat up hours (and shouldn’t). Whether it’s formatting proposals, managing email threads, creating sales decks, or analyzing data. Identifying these inefficiencies is often the first step in recognizing where AI can help automate and streamline.

  1. What are our biggest bottlenecks?

Identifying roadblocks to efficiency can highlight where AI tools—such as smart scheduling, workflow automation, or even design assistance—can relieve your team’s workload. Is reviewing resumes or scheduling interviews taking too long? Are projects getting stuck in approvals? Is your team overwhelmed with massive amounts of data to analyze?

  1. How are we using our data to make decisions?

Many businesses sit on valuable data but don’t have the tools or time to turn it into action. AI can help you surface insights, forecast trends, and make more informed decisions faster. It can even create charts and decks for presentations to stakeholders. Your designer will have the ultimate task of finalizing everything; however, their workload will be reduced considerably. The key is understanding what data you have—and what decisions you want to improve.

  1. Do we have the right talent to explore AI?

You don’t need a full AI team to get started, but you may need a curious strategist, a tech-savvy designer, or a part-time consultant to help pilot small initiatives. Ask yourself whether you want to upskill your current team, bring in freelance support, or hire a new role entirely.

  1. What do we want to do more of, but feel limited by time, resources, or expertise?

There are growth areas where AI can help teams scale with impact—without burning out–perhaps it’s launching more campaigns, creating faster proposals, or personalizing client experiences.

Implementing AI doesn’t begin with a tool—it begins with a curious mindset. By asking the right questions, you uncover the specific needs and opportunities that AI can support. Whether you’re in design, marketing, operations, or recruitment, the first step is understanding your challenges and goals—then exploring how AI might amplify your strengths.

You don’t need to go it alone, either. Partnering with an AI consultant, recruiter, or business development expert can help you identify where to start and how to grow—on your terms. Artisan Creative has the resources to support this exploration.  Connect with us to learn how.

This blog was written by a human and enhanced by AI.

7 Tips for Acing Your AI-Powered Video Interview  

Tuesday, July 1st, 2025|

In today’s evolving hiring landscape, many companies are using AI-powered video interview platforms to streamline the early stages of the interview process. Several platforms exist, and although each platform varies in design and assessment style, they all share one thing in common: you’ll often be responding to pre-set questions on video without speaking to a real person.

These types of interviews can feel awkward if you’ve never done one before; however, with the right preparation, they’re an opportunity to stand out.  Below are seven tips to prepare and ace your interview.

1. Understand the Format

AI-powered video interviews typically consist of pre-recorded questions that you’ll answer. You’re given 30 to 60 seconds to prepare and 1 to 3 minutes to respond to each question. Since there’s no real-time feedback, it’s important to deliver your responses clearly, confidently, and with energy and enthusiasm, while remaining authentic to who you are.

2. Practice Makes Confident

Just like an in-person interview, confidence comes with practice. Speak your answers out loud and record yourself using Zoom or your webcam to review your body language, tone, and pace. Focus on sounding natural and not scripted. Aim to prepare bullet points rather than word-for-word answers to avoid sounding robotic.

3.Create a Pro Setup

Treat your video interview like any professional meeting or audition:

  • Find a quiet, well-lit space with minimal background noise.
  • Sit in front of a neutral background; a blank wall works best.
  • Place your laptop at eye level to maintain natural eye contact.
  • Frame yourself so your head and shoulders are positioned properly on camera.
  • Dress professionally, just as you would for an in-person interview.

4. Prep for Common Question Types

Knowing what to expect can calm your nerves. Here are a few of the most common question types and how to approach them:

  • “Tell us about yourself.”
    Craft a 60–90 second pitch covering your experience: include past and present role, and future goals. Make sure it connects to the job you’re applying for and also speaks to your values, accomplishments and passions.
  • Behavioral Questions
    These often focus on how you handle challenges, conflict, or teamwork. Use the STAR method to structure your responses clearly and concisely.
    The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a framework that focuses on answering behavioral questions. Have 3–5 strong stories ready that highlight your skills, challenges you’ve overcome, and the value you bring.
  • Process-Based or Design Thinking Questions
    Hiring teams want to understand your problem-solving mindset. Walk through your process step by step: Define → Research → Ideate → Prototype/Test → Reflect.
  • “Why do you want to work here?”
    Do your homework! Study the company’s website, social media, and industry. Mention specifics about the company’s mission, culture, or recent news, and tie it back to your values and interests.
  • Creative or Personal Questions
    You might get questions like “What’s something you’re passionate about that’s not on your resume?” Use these to showcase curiosity, passion, or a surprising skill—bonus points if it relates back to your professional strengths.

5. Simulate the Real Experience

Set a timer and practice with the same time constraints you’ll face during the interview. This helps you get comfortable answering within a time limit. Rehearse until you can deliver answers that are clear and complete without sounding rushed or memorized.

6. Final Tips for Success

  • Smile and show personality—even AI can detect energy and enthusiasm.
  • Use prep time wisely—pause, breathe, and mentally organize your answer before hitting record.
  • Progress over perfection—authenticity and confidence matter more than delivering a flawless script.

7. Sample Questions You Might Encounter

  1. Can you walk us through your background and what led you to where you are today?
  2. Tell us about a time you faced a conflict. What did you do, and what was the outcome?
  3. What’s a project you’re proud of, and why?
  4. How do you apply design thinking in your work?
  5. What drew you to our company and this role?
  6. What’s something you’re passionate about that’s not on your resume?
  7. How do you handle feedback?
  8. What motivates you to do your best work?

Below are some of the platforms you may come across:

  • HireVue –on-demand interview platform well-suited for enterprise-level companies.
  • Modern Hire – often used for recorded video and voice interviews with AI-backed analysis.
  • VidCruiter – used for both live and pre-recorded video interviews, sometimes with built-in automation.
  • Pymetrics – uses neuroscience-based games to assess traits and match candidates to roles.
  • myInterview and Spark Hire – both provide one-way video interview experiences, sometimes paired with AI insights.

With a little preparation and the right mindset, you can turn a one-way video interview into a compelling story about who you are and why you’re the right fit. You’ve got this!

~Stephany Yu/Creative Recruiter

15 Icebreakers & Communication Boosters for Creative Teams

Sunday, March 23rd, 2025|

At Artisan Creative, we love icebreakers and conversation starters. Over the years, we’ve experimented with different ways to get meaningful conversations started and have found the  3000 Questions About Me book as one of the most comprehensive ways to get started.

Here’s a list of 15 team-building exercises that focus on design thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, These make a great opportunity for integrating new team members,  bonding a team, or adding some fun into a weekly meeting. Enjoy!

  1. Speed Networking involves 3-minute conversations to learn about teammates’ interests and hobbies. Groups aim to discover as many commonalities as possible within the allotted time.
  2. Desert Island Survival – Teams list 5 items you’d bring with you and Why?
  3. Personal Coat of Arms Design – Each person creates a Coat-of-Arms or logo that represents their personality and work style.
  4. Two Truths and a Lie – Each person shares two true facts and one lie; others guess the lie.
  5. An item from home: Team members bring one meaningful item from home and share why it’s important to them
  6. Cross the Line – Participants step forward if a statement applies to them, fostering discussions on the diversity of life experiences.
  7. Storyboarding Challenge – Teams create a storyboard of their lives from earliest memory to today.
  8. Pecha Kucha life story challenge. Teams create their life story using 20 slides for 20 seconds, using the Pecha Kucha framework
  9. My AI-life. Teams use AI to create a picture of their lives based on what is on social and public domains.
  10. Mood Board Relay – Teams collaborate on a shared Pinterest board or Canva template based on a creative brief.
  11. Doodle Challenge – Each person starts a doodle, and then passes it along for others to add to until a final design emerges.
  12. Storytelling Through Objects – Each person picks an object nearby and creates a story about its history and future.
  13. The “Yes, And…” Game – Someone starts a sentence with an idea, and the next person expands on it with “Yes, and…” to build a collective vision.
  14. Design Your Perfect Day – Everyone sketches, or uses Canva or writes about their ideal day, then compares ideas to find common themes.
  15. Silent Collaboration – Teams must solve a challenge (like assembling a puzzle) without speaking, using only nonverbal communication.

If you are looking to increase connection and commitment within your team, click here to learn about our talent development offerings.

Boosting Employee Engagement with Team Building Offsites

Tuesday, February 18th, 2025|

At Artisan Creative, we believe in investing in professional growth and have long advocated team offsites to foster connection, learning, and camaraderie.

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, employee engagement is more important than ever. However, according to Gallup, employee engagement was at an all-time low this past year. There are several ways to boost morale through leadership development, communication training, and collaboration workshops to enhance engagement and foster teamwork.

One of the most effective ways to promote engagement is through team-building offsites—strategically planned retreats that take employees out of their usual work environment and immerse them in activities designed to strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration, and reignite motivation.

At Artisan Creative, our team offsites over the years have ranged from personality assessment sessions to learn about ourselves, museum outings to appreciate art in our city, and a camping trip (well, a glamping trip!) to connect more as teammates.

The Importance of Employee Engagement

Engaged employees demonstrate higher levels of performance, creativity, and loyalty, leading to higher retention. However, achieving engagement requires more than just offering competitive salaries and benefits; it requires creating an inclusive, inspiring, and dynamic work culture.

Why Team Building Offsites Work

Team-building offsites provide a break from routine and allow employees to interact in a different setting, free from the pressures of deadlines and emails leading to a more creative and productive gathering. Here’s why they are so effective in boosting engagement:

  1. Strengthening Relationships: Offsites create opportunities for employees to connect on a personal level, fostering trust. When colleagues get to know each other in a relaxed, informal setting, communication improves, and teamwork becomes more effective.
  2. Encouraging Collaboration: Activities designed for team-building offsites often involve problem-solving, creativity, and collective decision-making, reinforcing the importance of working together. This collaboration translates back to the workplace, improving overall team dynamics.
  3. Boosting Morale and Motivation: A well-planned facilitated offsite can re-engage employees to a company’s mission and values and reignite passion for their roles.
  4. Identifying and Nurturing Leadership Skills: Offsite activities often highlight natural leaders who may not always shine in the office environment. This provides management with an opportunity to identify and nurture emerging talent.
  5. Encouraging Innovation: A change of scenery can spark creativity. Employees who participate in engaging discussions and brainstorming sessions during offsites often return to work with renewed enthusiasm and innovative ideas.

Planning a Successful Team-Building Offsite

To maximize the impact of an offsite, careful planning is essential. Here are some key considerations:

  • Set Clear Objectives: Define what you want to achieve, whether it’s improving communication, resolving team conflicts, or simply boosting morale.
  • Choose the Right Location: Ditch the standard conference room! Select a venue that fosters relaxation and creativity—whether it’s a nature retreat, an adventure park, or a country club.
  • Include Balanced Structured Activities: Workshops and strategy sessions, with fun, informal experiences like outdoor adventures, cooking challenges, or mindfulness exercises.
  • Gather Feedback: Pre and post-event surveys can help gauge the success of the offsite and provide insights for future improvements.
  • Hire a Facilitator: A professional facilitator can help guide the activities, create a safe space for conversation and reduce planning on your part.

Team-building offsites are more than just a fun getaway—they are a strategic investment in your company’s culture and employee engagement.

What offsite activities have you engaged in?

Who Owns Onboarding Anyway?  LUV is the answer

Wednesday, November 20th, 2024|

It’s a long-held belief that employers should create a strong onboarding plan and process.

According to Dr. Talya Bauer from the SHRM Foundation, successful onboarding involves proactively covering The Four C’s of compliance, clarification, culture, and connection.

In many organizations the HR team handles onboarding and “owns” it, in others, the hiring manager and team lead manages the process.

But what about the employee and their role in successful onboarding?

At Artisan Creative, we believe onboarding is a two-way street — both employer and employee OWN the onboarding process and must work to LUV the journey together so we’re adding another acronym to the onboarding mix.

L: Learning

U: Understanding

V: Values

The first step in any onboarding is “Learning”.

For the new hire, this means learning about the organization, the systems, and the processes. Learning about their new co-workers, the specifics of their role and about the company.

For the employer, it means learning about their new hire’s skills, expertise, learning styles, and communication preferences.

The second step in onboarding success is Understanding.
This means understanding self, the team, and the company

For the new hire, this is done by applying the learning to better understand how things work the way they do.  This means understanding the company culture, social norms, and DNA of the team they are now a part of. For example, knowing who is the tea drinker in the group, who has pets, and who is high on EQ, among many other nuances …..Understanding and having an unbiased approach are foundational blocks for relationship building and belonging.

For a hiring Manager or HR team; understanding the needs of the new hire is paramount to a successful onboarding. Creating the time and cadence for talent development and integrating the new employee into the company culture takes time.  Integration is not an overnight occurrence.  Understanding that onboarding and communication are ongoing processes, and creating a shadowing or mentoring program sets up the new hire (and company) for success.

At Artisan Creative, we utilize the CliftonStrengths assessments for all new hires to build better communication and understanding of our team’s strengths into our conversations.

The final component of a successful onboarding process is incorporating Values into these conversations.

Discovering and applying a company’s core values is a critical component for success. Core values aren’t meant to be a plaque on the wall or a page on a website, they are meant to be operationalized and alive in every process of recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and talent development process.

For the new hire, this means embracing these values and putting them into practice in how they interact with team members and customers.  For example at Artisan Creative “Enthusiasm in life and work” means we bring our whole selves to work and bring that same enthusiasm when we come home afterward. We talk about personal and professional opportunities and challenges, and one of the ways we make this value alive is by creating vision boards together annually.

For employers it means living those values at every stage…from the interview process to training a new hire, through conducting performance reviews based on values, and giving feedback based on values.

If you LUV your onboarding process, please share a few of your processes below in the comments.