Episode 8: The #1 Investment You’re Probably Not Making: Why Untrained Managers Are Hurting Your Business
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
Promoting someone doesn’t make them a leader. And waiting until you need someone to lead is too late. In this episode of The Employee Help Desk, we’re talking about the high cost of skipping leadership training — and why investing in new and emerging managers is the #1 thing you should be doing to protect your people, performance, and culture. I’ll share practical tools, real data, and one simple shift that could change how you promote and support leaders forever. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: Why promoting someone won’t solve performance problems The 6 mindset + behavior shifts...
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Episode 7: What the HR Just Happened at the Coldplay Concert? And what Business Owners Can Learn From It
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
Today’s episode is inspired by a listener-submitted question—and wow, it’s a juicy one. You may have seen the viral moment at a Coldplay concert that turned into a full-blown HR scandal. Yes, this really happened. And yes, this is why The Employee Help Desk exists. We’re unpacking the moment that sent shockwaves through the business and HR worlds—and pulling out powerful lessons for leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: What really happened at the now-viral Coldplay concert—and why it became an HR crisis The ethical expectations of HR...
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Episode 6: Making Decisions Without Leaving People Behind
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
When your business or nonprofit grows, the way decisions get made can’t stay the same—but shifting from group input to clearer leadership calls isn’t always easy. People get left out. Feelings get hurt. And if you’re not careful, things start falling through the cracks. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to lead that shift without losing trust—and how tools like RACI charts can help clarify who does what, when, and why. Whether you’re running a growing team or building better processes, this is essential listening for every small business and nonprofit leader. This...
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Episode 5: What to Do with Hearsay at Work (When You Didn’t See It Yourself)
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
Somebody comes to you and says, “I heard that…” or “So-and-so told me…”—and now it’s in your lap. Welcome to the world of running a business with employees. Is it gossip? Is it something serious? What do you do when you didn’t actually witness the situation yourself? In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to handle secondhand reports, complaints, or concerns without jumping to conclusions, ignoring it, or making it worse. This is one of the most important people leadership skills you can build—and one that every small business owner needs. 🔑 What You’ll...
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Episode 4: Leadership Skills You Actually Need Right Now
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
If you’ve ever wondered why all the leadership advice out there sounds good but doesn’t always help in the moment, this one’s for you. In today’s episode of The Employee Help Desk, Susan gets real about what leadership actually looks like in 2025—not the poster quotes, not the jargon, but the practical skills you need to lead people right now. 💡 You’ll learn: Why most leadership training misses the mark The 5 real-world skills that separate effective leaders from overwhelmed ones How to be clear (not just kind), stay calm, and build trust—even in messy situations ...
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Episode 3: Dealing with People Problems Before They Blow Up
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
Easy ways to improve employee relationships—even the tough ones. You know the feeling. Someone on your team is off. There's tension. Things are getting weird. You hope it’ll pass—but spoiler: it usually doesn’t. In this episode of The Employee Help Desk, I’m sharing simple, effective ways to deal with people problems early—before they turn into drama, resentment, or turnover. No formal HR process required. 🔑 In this episode: Why waiting too long to address problems always backfires How to open a conversation without making things worse What most people are actually afraid...
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Episode 2: How to Build a Team That Works Well Together
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
If you’ve got employees, you’ve probably wondered why some teams just click—and others feel like pulling teeth. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly what it takes to build a team that doesn’t just get work done—but works well together. Forget the trust falls and expensive team retreats. This is about practical, real-world strategies that actually improve collaboration, communication, and accountability in your small business. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: Why teams fall apart (hint: it’s not about skills) What “working well together” really looks like 5 simple but...
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Episode 1: What Kind of Leader Are You (and Is It Working?)
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
If you have employees, you’re a leader—whether you meant to be or not. But what kind of leader are you? And more importantly… is it working? In this first episode of The Employee Help Desk, I’m digging into the core of everything: your leadership style. Not the buzzwords. Not the theory. But the real, everyday way you show up—and how it shapes your team, your culture, and your results. I’ll introduce the idea of your Leadership Signature—and why every business owner, manager, or team leader needs to uncover theirs. 🔑 In this episode: Why how you lead is the foundation of...
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Employee Helpdesk Trailer
The Employee Help Desk with Susan Mahaffee
Welcome to The Employee Help Desk—the podcast for small business owners who are great at what they do… but never signed up to manage people. Hosted by HR pro and executive coach Susan Mahaffee, this podcast delivers straight talk, real fixes, and all heart when it comes to the people side of your business. Each week, Susan answers the real questions you’re asking about employee situations—what to consider, what to say, and how to move forward with confidence. It’s practical, honest, and built for business owners who just want to get it right. The people stuff is hard—but you...
info_outlineWelcome to The Employee Help Desk—the podcast for small business owners who are great at what they do… but never signed up to manage people.
Hosted by HR pro and executive coach Susan Mahaffee, this podcast delivers straight talk, real fixes, and all heart when it comes to the people side of your business.
Each week, Susan answers the real questions you’re asking about employee situations—what to consider, what to say, and how to move forward with confidence. It’s practical, honest, and built for business owners who just want to get it right.
The people stuff is hard—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.