In this episode of HR in Action, Aaron Robbins sits down with Russell Lookadoo, president of HR Architecture and “HR Guy for Small Business,” for a candid and practical conversation about performance management, motivation, and leadership in small organizations.

Drawing on decades of experience spanning government, Fortune 500 compensation strategy, and entrepreneurial consulting, Russell shares what he’s learned about aligning people, pay, and performance — especially in organizations that don’t have three floors of HR support.

A central theme of the conversation is clarity of expectations. Russell introduces his memorable “E-I-E-I-O” framework — Expect, Inspect, Expect, Inspect, Operate — emphasizing that performance problems often stem not from poor effort, but from unclear communication and inconsistent follow-through. The discussion explores how small business owners frequently assume employees think like they do, and why that assumption can quietly derail performance.

Contact Russell at answers@TheHRGuy.biz or his website: theHRguy.biz

Aaron and Russell also dive into:
-The difference between performance evaluation and true performance management
-Why you can’t coach “attitude” — only observable behaviors
-The importance of adult-to-adult conversations instead of parent-child dynamics
-Delegation as a leadership skill (and why entrepreneurs struggle with it)
-The nuanced relationship between pay, fear, motivation, and lifestyle expectations
-Why compensation conversations and performance conversations must be connected — but not conflated

Throughout the episode, Russell reinforces a core belief: people want to be successful. When leaders hire intentionally, set clear expectations, provide tools and training, and communicate consistently, performance improves — not through pressure, but through alignment.

This episode is especially valuable for small business owners, leaders scaling their organizations, and HR professionals working without large internal infrastructure — anyone trying to build clarity, accountability, and engagement without unnecessary bureaucracy.

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