233. The 1st HR leader who didn't carry a gun: Meet Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly Services
Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning podcast where behavioral science meets workplace culture.
Hosted by Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott, this episode features one of the most brutally honest interviews we've ever had about what it really takes to lead people the right way.
Episode Summary
Picture this: you're in your mid-twenties, walking into a Detroit manufacturing plant for your first day as head of labor relations. Your job involves firing at least one person every single week, and you discover that you are a very different person to everyone who did this job before you - because you're the first woman in the role, and more importantly, the first one who doesn't carry a gun.
Today's guest, Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly Services, shares stories from her 30-year career in HR that most C-suite executives would never dare share publicly. From devastating personal loss that changed her leadership philosophy to investigating phantom poopers and naked Barbies in compromising positions, Amy gives us an unfiltered look at the messy reality of leading people.
What We Cover
Transformative Career Moments
Amy's early days in Detroit manufacturing plants where armed security walked her to her car
Leadership Myths Busted
Why the myth that "leaders are born, not made" is holding organizations back
Real-World Advice for Small Businesses
How to build culture when money is tight using the "Yes, And" approach
Having Difficult Conversations
The Content-Pattern-Relationship framework for performance issues
Key Takeaways
1. Connection Beats Command Amy learned the hard way that moving fast and making decisions quickly meant nothing if her team didn't want to work for her. Slow down, invest in relationships, and yes - it matters if your team likes you.
2. Embrace the Messy Middle Sometimes you do work Sundays. No, you might not be comfortable with someone working 20 hours for 40 hours of pay. It's okay to admit the complex reality instead of pretending everything's perfect.
3. Have the Conversation Script it, practice it, breathe through it - but have the difficult conversation. Not having these conversations isn't kindness; it's disrespectful to your team who already knows who's not pulling their weight.
Resources
Amy Bouque on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-bouque-she-her-hers-520a855/
- Kelly Services: https://www.kellyservices.com/
Connect with Your Host
- Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/
- Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne
- Join the discussion about this episode on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/
- Email: podcast@TruthLiesandWork.com
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Want a chat about your workplace culture? hi@TruthLiesandWork.com
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Amy's confessions remind us that even C-Suite executives are learning as they go. The difference is Amy is brave enough to admit it. We all deserve leaders who see our humanity, even when they're having to make the hard decisions - even if those decisions involve investigating naked Barbies.