Upskilling Your Team for What's Next

Upskilling Your Team for What's Next

Author: John Jantsch February 26, 2026 Duration: 22:50

The rules of hiring have changed—and many small business owners are still playing by an outdated talent playbook. In this episode, John Jantsch sits down with Rob Levin to explore how to upskill employees for AI, navigate the ongoing talent shift, and build a future-ready team for small and midsize businesses. They discuss why culture and KPIs matter more than ever, how to redesign workflows with an AI-first mindset, and what it really takes to manage AI instead of being replaced by it. If you want to create a resilient organization that thrives amid rapid technological change, this conversation is your roadmap.

Today we discussed:

00:00 The New Talent Playbook Explained

05:43 The Hidden Talent Crisis for SMBs

07:12 AI Upskilling for Small Business Teams

12:00 Building Culture in Remote Teams

14:56 Over-Communication and KPI Clarity

17:30 Using AI to Design Smarter KPIs

20:28 AI, Job Security, and Team Buy-In

22:00 Book, Resources, and Final Thoughts

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For anyone trying to navigate the noisy world of small business growth, The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast offers a grounded, practical conversation. Host John Jantsch, recognized as a leading expert in this space, doesn't chase fads. Instead, he sits down with authors, seasoned entrepreneurs, and other practitioners who have actually built something. The discussions focus on actionable marketing tips and sustainable growth strategies you can apply, regardless of your budget. This isn't theoretical; it's a resource built on real-world experience. Each episode of the podcast feels like a direct consultation, breaking down complex ideas into manageable steps. You'll hear about systems that work, tools that save time, and mindsets that shift outcomes. Whether you're running the show yourself, working inside a marketing department, or building an agency, the consistent insight is how to do marketing that sticks and genuinely grows your business. The value comes from John's focused questioning and his guests' willingness to share what they've learned the hard way. Tune in for a clear-eyed take on what effective marketing looks like when the theory meets the road.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Duct Tape Marketing Podcast
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