In this article, we delve into an enlightening conversation with Jamie Hansen, a professional counselor and organizational strategist.

With an impressive background in mental health, enhanced communication, human behavior and employee assistance, Hansen brings a unique angle to the table. She couples her industry knowledge with expertise in human behavior to effectively bridge the gap between leadership and employees and create positive work environments. Over the past eight years, she has led Alloy Solutions, helping businesses of varying sizes boost their 'people pieces', especially amid an era of unprecedented change. Join us as we talk about her motivations, range of advisory capabilities, current industry trends, and recollect a particularly impactful project she played a key role in. From culture improvement to conflict resolution, virtual organizational dynamics to courageous leadership, this discussion offers a unique insight into the role of an organizational counselor in today's fast-evolving workspace.

What are your areas of expertise?

My mental health and employee assistance background lend themselves well to helping organizations cultivate mentally healthy and psychologically safe working environments. My communication expertise lends itself well to helping organizations break down silos between departments and to communicate consistent messages from top to bottom. An understanding of human behavior supports organizations who are wanting to develop the people skills of their employees. Finally, when it comes to navigating change, I enjoy helping organizations and leaders support the human side of it.

What is your main motivation for being an advisor?

I'm a professional counselor by training, so helping people is part of my nature. The ability to assist many people at once by supporting an organization's leadership is incredibly fulfilling for me and it is why I started Alloy Solutions. For over eight years now, we've been helping organizations of all sizes elevate their "people pieces". I firmly believe that you are an expert in your industry and what your organization exists to do. When you combine that industry knowledge with our expertise in human behavior, you lift an organization to a higher, lighter, stronger, and more flexible place, just like an alloy.

What types of situations are you capable of advising on?

People-related challenges are always at the foreground. I can help organizations improve culture, onboard new leadership, craft leadership values, and align organizational communication. Additionally, when it comes to helping leaders coach for performance, hold team members accountable, and assist struggling employees, my experience as an advisor proves helpful. Lastly, when an organization anticipates, or is struggling with unresolved conflict that's threatening productivity, we can engage in helpful conversations.

Do you see any disruptive trends on the horizon in your industry or position?

The most significant disruptive trend witnessed in our industry in the last few years has been the significant shift towards virtual and hybrid meetings and workplaces. This shift has its benefits, but also presents challenges such as maintaining team unity, effective communication, and preventing the isolation of team members or departments. The upcoming trend I foresee here is that successful organizations will strive to ensure their teams have as connected an experience as possible, while maintaining the benefits of a hybrid and virtual workplace. The challenge here is that the solution would not be the same for any two organizations, or perhaps even teams within the same organization. Leaders need to cultivate a mindset for "courageous experiments" that will preserve the benefits of a hybrid workspace while also fostering an integrated and engaged team atmosphere. This is a process that leaders can be taught to optimize for their teams.

Tell me about the most impactful project or decision you’ve been involved in as an executive.

One memorable project that comes to mind involved helping a team of global HR professionals determine their own group's norms and values. These would help them maintain consistency in their relationships with each other and guide their individual divisions and teams. Additionally, designing a year-long leadership development program to drive internal alignment and a common language amongst a discordant leadership team was an immense challenge, but also a great success. While great content is crucial, the secret ingredient was the commitment to progress together, no matter the hurdles encountered. This instigated transformational growth among the team members and collectively uplifted the organization as a whole.

In conclusion, it is clear that professionals like Jamie Hansen are indispensable in today's challenging business environment. Armed with a background in mental health and employee assistance, her strategic prowess in developing mentally sound and psychologically safe workplaces is of paramount importance. Moreover, her acuity in communication tactics is crucial for propagating a cohesive organizational message, eliminating departmental barriers and forging a unified corporate vision.

Hansen’s proficiency in understanding human behaviour proves incredibly valuable in fostering an inclusive culture that enhances interpersonal skills, indicating her resourcefulness. Furthermore, her knack for gracefully handling change, by prioritizing and supporting the human element, illustrates her remarkable change leadership capabilities.

Given these numerous talents, we strongly recommend considering Jamie Hansen as a potential advisor on AdvisoryCloud. Her multifaceted expertise is an asset to any evolving institution in today's fast-paced world, delivering both immediate results and long-term growth. Step into the future, secure in the knowledge that with Hansen, your organization is receiving guidance rooted in compassion, understanding, and strategic prowess