Katie Bussing of Springfield Clinic: Pulse Check - A Tool for Organizational Strategy, Communication to Stakeholders, and Receiving Feedback from Your Team

Katie Bussing of Springfield Clinic: Pulse Check - A Tool for Organizational Strategy, Communication to Stakeholders, and Receiving Feedback from Your Team

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola February 20, 2024 Duration: 28:33

Katie Bussing, Chief Human Resources officer of Springfield Clinic, is Laura’s guest this week on Speaking to Influence. Katie shares some tips on how she pulse checks a room when speaking to different groups, especially key stakeholder groups.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How Katie is working to change the perception of HR by demonstrating the value of having HR function in a strategic role within the organization.
  • How Katie reads the room to get an understanding of the audience’s needs in order to adjust communication style, and then how she pivots her messaging.
  • How job shadowing can provide valuable insights into different roles and departments within an organization, fostering a better understanding and appreciation for the work being done.
  • How Katie approaches receiving feedback from her team.

24 Hour Challenge:

Reach out to someone you don’t know in your organization, have coffee with them, and job shadow them for an hour or two. What do you learn?

About Katie:

Katie Bussing, SPHR, oversees all areas of Human Resources, including Benefits, Compensation, Employee Relations, Training & Organizational Development and Talent Acquisition.

Katie considers one of her top priorities to be championing her team to be as successful as possible in their roles. This is what Human Resources is all about, she believes: supporting the rest of the organization to carry out Springfield Clinic’s mission every day, because a positive environment for employees helps them create a community of caring for patients. This vision is simple, but the work is not always, and that’s what makes each day exciting.

Katie has 17 years of human resources leadership that includes all areas of HR, including leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies in the Chicago area. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and sits on the Board and Executive Committee for Sparc.

Katie also maintains certification as a senior professional of human resources (SPHR) and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

Born and raised in Springfield, Katie has three children, Ryan, Jake and Emily, and her favorite hobby/other full-time job is being a mom and jumping from one kid activity to the next.

You can connect with Katie in the following ways:

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @drlaurasicola
  • Website: https://laurasicola.com
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
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