Steven Claes's Linkedin Analytics

The most expensive mistake of your career? Staying too long with a toxic boss. Life has no place for bad bosses. You know that pit in your stomach every Sunday night? That anxiety when their name pops up on your phone? That feeling of walking on eggshells in every meeting? That's not "paying your dues." That's not "part of the job." That's not normal. You're not lazy. You're not too sensitive. You're not the problem. A toxic boss will cost you more than just a pay check: → Your joy → Your future → Your health → Your confidence Don't wait for it to get better. Don't lose another year hoping they'll change. Don't dim your light for someone else's darkness. Apply. For. That. Job. Take. That. Interview. Make. That. Move. Your future self will thank you. Trust me - on the other side of that resignation letter is a weight lifting off your shoulders you didn't even know you were carrying. Life's too precious for soul-crushing leadership. Run. Now. ♻️ If this hits home, share it with someone who needs to hear it today. 🔔 Follow me for more workplace truth bombs

Doing what's best for you isn't going to feel good every time. Read that again. If something feels hard, awkward, or uncomfortable—it's probably a sign you're growing. • Want to get stronger? Your muscles will ache. • Want to get smarter? Your brain will hurt. • Want to build confidence? Your fear will spike. Hard isn't a reason to stop. It's a reason to keep going. The next time you feel resistance, ask yourself: Am I uncomfortable because I'm growing? If the answer is yes, lean in. Your future self will thank you. What an inspiring post by my friend Colby Kultgen ♻️ Repost this if it resonates. ➕ And follow Steven Claes for more

I watched a great employee cry in the parking lot. "I just need better time management," he said. That broke me. 58% of workers struggle with burnout. (Gallup, 2024) I've heard every toxic lie. I've even told some myself. Here are the worst ones I'm fighting to eliminate: 1/ "Just take a vacation" 🏖 ↳ Would you fix a broken arm with a band-aid? ↳ I've seen people return more stressed (The system followed them home) 2/ "You need better time management" ⏰ ↳ I said this as well. I was wrong. ↳ No amount of planning fixes a broken workload 3/ "Everyone else is managing fine" 🤫 ↳ No, they're not. I check in personally now. ↳ They're just better at hiding their struggles 4/ "This is just a busy season" 📊 ↳ I stopped saying this after our 6th "busy season" ↳ There is no "normal" anymore. Just burning out. 5/ "We're like a family here" 🚩 ↳ Real families don't terminate for missing targets ↳ I learned this one the hard way Here's what I know now: → Burnout isn't about weak people → It's about systems we can fix I'm changing my system. Will you? 💭 Which toxic lie hit closest to home? ♻ Share to protect your team

It's not just a red flag...   When good people quit without a backup plan, it's a full-blown crisis.   I see it happen frequently.   A top performer walking away.   No job lined up. No safety net. Just... gone.   Here's the deal:   None of us ghost a pay check unless sticking around burns worse than breaking free.   In their ledger of loss:   ↳ Mental health > Mortgage ↳ Peace of mind > Pay check ↳ Self-worth > Security   Top 5 crisis signals:   1/When they stop speaking up, it's not that they've run out of ideas... ↳ Silent Meetings—They're done butting heads against brick walls.   2/When eager beavers stop volunteering... ↳ Taking on "extra" Work—Not My Job.   3/When your healthiest folks catch a bug every other Friday... ↳ Increased Sick Days—their body's keeping score.   4/When the once-reliable responder goes off the grid... ↳ After-Hours Responders—They've. Stopped. Caring.   5/When nobody's plotting world domination... ↳ Not Discussing the Future—in next quarter's roadmap, it's 'cause they don't plan to be there.   Cold Hard Truth: If your top talent would rather jump into the unknown than stick around...   You've got bigger problems than retention:   Survival.   What's the most toxic thing you've seen drive good people away?   — ♻️ Share to spark change in toxic workplaces ➕ Follow me for more unfiltered workplace truths

I watched my most talented employee quit not so long ago. Not with words. With silence. The scary part? Our metrics showed her "crushing it." But here's the reality that's killing our best people: 1. The Hidden Burnout Crisis → 84% of teams show "record performance" → While 89% are silently breaking down → I was that manager. I was wrong. 2. The Focus Fallacy → Your brain gets 364 notifications daily → Switches tasks 209 times → Deep work? Dead on arrival. 3. The LinkedIn Effect → Everyone's posting their "best life" → While drowning in back-to-back meetings → "High performance" has become code for "help" But there's hope. I tested this with many teams. The results? Mindblowing. The 3/2/1 Sanity Formula: 3: Slash three recurring meetings (do it now) 2: Guard two 90-min deep work blocks (like your life depends on it) 1: Have one real talk with your team (no stats, just truth) Simple math: → 3 meetings = 2 hours saved → 2 focus blocks = 3x output → 1 honest talk = priceless Hard truth: Your top performers aren't quiet because they're focused. They're quiet because they're updating their resumes. Try this tomorrow. Document what changes. Tag me in your results. What's your team's biggest energy drain? Share below 👇 --- ♻️ Share to save a teammate 🔔 Follow for more workplace truth bombs

"'Being kind won't get you far in life.' I smiled when I heard that. Because the strongest people I know? They lead with kindness. They succeed through kindness. They change lives with kindness. They're the ones who: • Stand their ground (with grace) • Tell hard truths (with compassion) • Show up for others (even when tired) • Make tough calls (while preserving dignity) It's easy to be cold. It's easy to be harsh. Anyone can build walls. But it takes real strength to: • Stay soft in a hard world • Care when it's easier not to • Listen when everyone's shouting Whether you're leading a team Or just trying to get through today Your kindness matters. It ripples. It stays. And we all know: People won't remember what you achieved. They'll remember how you made them feel. Be strong enough to be kind. That's not weakness. That's your superpower. 💭 What's the kindest thing someone did for you recently? ♻️ Share if this touched you - someone might need to hear it today. ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more.

Everyone talks about the Great Resignation. But here's the billion-dollar truth: I once turned down a $50K raise. Yes, you read that right. Money doesn't make people stay. Culture determines if they even look at other offers. The proof? → Apple engineers turned down $1M signing bonuses → Google's 'best places to work' status beats top salaries → Startups steal talent from tech giants with half the pay → And undersigned sticked around for the very same reason. Because when culture is toxic, no golden handcuffs are strong enough. Here's what your CFO won't tell you: • Toxic culture + premium salary: = 4-month tenure • Good culture + market rate: = 3-year retention • Exceptional culture + fair pay: = Infinite loyalty The magic isn't in your compensation package. It's in your leadership DNA: 1. Trust beats bonuses ↳ People quit cultures, not companies 2. Impact over income ↳ Purpose pays better than premium benefits 3. Learning beats earning ↳ Growth opportunities > Stock options The expensive truth: You're not losing talent to better offers. You're losing them to better environments. Building a unicorn? Stop obsessing over your salary bands. Start obsessing over your culture code. Because when culture is exceptional... Money becomes irrelevant. Trust me on this. I see it work. Every day. 💚 — 💭 What makes you choose culture over compensation? ♻ Repost before your best talent does.

10 Toxic Phrases at Work That Kill Trust (and what to say instead) Ever had that sinking feeling when someone drops these words? Your stomach tightens. Your energy drains. Trust vanishes. Did you know? 82% of professionals say they'd quit their job because of poor leadership communication. I've coached quite some leaders, and believe me, these words ruin more careers than any other mistake: 1. "That's not my problem" ❌ - Says “I don't care about the team” ✅ Try this: "Help me understand how I can support you" 2. "We've always done it this way" ❌ - Kills innovation on the spot ✅ Try this: "What if we tried a fresh approach?" 3. "Just deal with it" ❌ - Low EQ, low IQ ✅ Try this: "This is tough. Let's break it down together" 4. "I don't have time" ❌ - Makes people feel worthless ✅ Try this: "I'm focused on X right now. Can we meet at 2pm?" 5. "You should know this already" ❌ - Creates shame and fear ✅ Try this: "Let me share what helped me learn this" 6. "Don't bring me problems" ❌ - Forces people to hide issues ✅ Try this: "What solutions have you considered?" 7. "I'm the boss here" ❌ - Destroys respect instantly ✅ Try this: "Here's my thinking. What's your perspective?" 8. "That's impossible" ❌ - Kills motivation on the spot ✅ Try this: "What would make this possible?" 9. "You're too emotional" ❌ - Invalidates real feelings ✅ Try this: "I see this matters to you. Tell me more" 10. "Because I said so" ❌ - Creates robots, not leaders ✅ Try this: "Let me explain the bigger picture" The truth? Words build or break trust in 0.2 seconds. Choose them with care. Which toxic phrase do you hear most often? ⬇️ _______________________________ 📌 Save this post for your next tough conversation ♻️ Share this to help leaders build trust, not break it 🔔 Follow me for leadership insights that transform teams

Last week, a VP asked me: "After 1000+ hires, what's the ONE trait that predicts success?" It's not what you'd expect. (Not experience. Not skills. Not even IQ.) The answer? People who turn problems into possibilities. These rare gems have 5 superpowers: • They learn like crazy • They stay cool in chaos • They put results over ego • They make others successful • They show up when it matters Simple? Yes. Common? No. The recipe for success: ✅ DO: • Lift others up • Keep your cool • Say "I'll figure it out" • Listen more than talk • Make it happen ❌ AVOID: • Playing the blame game • Quitting when it's hard • Acting like you know it all • Starting drama • Making excuses Fun fact: EQ is 2x more valuable than IQ in today's world. The best part? These traits can be learned. Pick one. Practice daily. Watch doors open everywhere. What's your most valuable trait? Happy weekend ! 💚 --- ♻️ Share if this helps someone 🎯 Follow Steven Claes for more leadership truth bombs

7 Brutal Career Truths I Learned the Hard Way: (So you don't have to) My journey in numbers: ⚡ 27-year battle scars ⚡ 8x make-over ⚡ 1x rock bottom ⚡ 10x salary explosion Here's what I wish someone told me sooner: 1/ No salary justifies burnout ↳ Your mental health isn't for sale. ↳ Better opportunities exist if you're willing to find them. 2/ Your manager determines your trajectory ↳ A great one accelerates you, a bad one stalls you. ↳ Choose your leaders wisely. 3/ Relationships matter most ↳ Your network opens doors talent alone can't. ↳ Invest in genuine connections—internally and externally. 4/ EQ trumps IQ ↳ Understand the human side of business. ↳ Build empathetic connections—your net worth is your network. 5/ Career paths are messy ↳ There's no corporate ladder—it's more like rock climbing. ↳ Sideways can lead to the biggest moves. 6/ Don't wait for feedback ↳ Initiate strategic career conversations. ↳ A regular check-in with your manager should be standard. 7/ Always be exploring ↳ The best time to dig is when you don't need to. ↳ Stay informed, stay ready, and stay moving. Here's the real plot twist: The most valuable career truth isn't on this list. There's an 8th truth that changed everything for me. I'll share it in the first comment - it's too important to miss. Remember: Your next breakthrough might be one insight away. 🤔 Which of these truths resonated most with you so far? — ♻️ Repost if this helped you ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more leadership and HR insights

You deserve a job that lets you sleep like a baby every night. When's the last time you slept soundly? No midnight email checks. No Sunday night anxiety. No 3 AM project panic. For many of us: → Deadlines haunt our dreams → Toxic meetings replay in our heads → Weekend work "requests" steal our peace This isn't living. It's surviving. And you weren't born to just survive. Here's your sleep-well-at-night job checklist: → Is success clearly defined? → Do you control your calendar? → Can you say "no" without fear? → Can you disconnect after hours? → Do you feel valued, not just busy? → Are emergencies truly emergencies? → Does your team respect boundaries? → Is your workload actually human-sized? Your peace of mind isn't negotiable. Don't let anyone tell you different. Ready for change? Start with one small boundary today. Your future self will thank you. And remember - you've got this! 💚 Happy weekend friends. ____________________________  ♻️ Repost if you believe everyone deserves better sleep 🔔 Follow Steven Claes for daily posts on Leadership, HR, and Culture

Truth bomb: "We're like a startup family here!" Translation: We'll exploit your boundaries. 🚩 The biggest lie in modern workplace culture? Companies selling "belonging" when they mean "compliance." I've been there. Made this mistake. Learned it the hard way. Here's what they don't tell you about "startup families": 🔍 The Hidden Costs: 1. Emotional Manipulation → "We're all in this together" really means "You can't say no" 2. Unpaid Overtime → "Extra mile" becomes "Expected marathon" 3. Guilt-Driven Culture → "letting the family down" becomes their control tool The reality? Great companies don't need family metaphors. They build professional cultures. Here's what actually works: ✅ Clear Contracts Over Pseudo-Relations → Define expectations in writing, not emotions ✅ Professional Boundaries Over "Family Bonds" → Respect personal time like it's sacred (because it is) ✅ Results Over Relationship Theater → Judge performance by impact, not "family loyalty" Remember: Your real family doesn't fire you during tough quarters. Your work family will. Build connections at work? Absolutely. But keep it professional. That's how real success happens. Agree? Disagree? Share your experience ⬇️ _____________ ♻️ Repost to show a job is not your identity. ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more insights on ascending leadership

The brutal truth about change nobody tells you. It's got nothing to do with motivation. Nothing to do with knowledge. Nothing to do with timing. The real reason 95% fail to change: They're stuck in the comfort Loop: → Monday: "I'll start tomorrow" → Wednesday: "After the weekend" → Friday: "Next month is better" → January: "This year for sure" 5 years later: Same life. Same excuses. (While life is slipping away) High performers think differently: → Bad day? Still show up → Uncertain? Still try → Scared? Still act → Tired? Still start THIS is maturity. THIS is how life changes. Remember: Your future self is watching you right now. What story are you giving them? The Transformation Formula: 1. Small steps > Big plans 2. Today > Tomorrow 3. Done > Perfect Your excuses or your dreams. You can't keep both. Choose now 👇 "I'm ready" = Like "Starting today" = Comment "No more excuses" = Repost --- 🎯 Follow Steven Claes for daily posts that create actual change 💡 Save this. Read it when the excuses come.

Not so long ago, I had to hire between two candidates. One had a perfect resume. The other did something unexpected during our Teams call: 'I'm sorry - my daughter's school is calling. There might be an emergency.' Most recruiters would be annoyed. But in that moment, I saw something RARE: • Zero pretense • Complete authenticity • Immediate problem-solving Guess who I hired? 👇 After 20+ years recruiting at major stock quoted companies, here's the truth about character that nobody talks about: 1/ The Hidden Test Most candidates try to: → Look perfect → Hide reality → Play safe Real candidates: → Show up human → Own their mess → Take brave calls 2/ The Reality Check I watch for tiny moments: → How they treat cleaning staff → Their reaction when tech fails → What they do when no one's watching These 10-second glimpses reveal more than 10 hours of interviews. 3/ The Crisis Window Average response: → "Let me check with my boss" → "I'm following protocol" → "That's not my job" Character response: → "I'll handle it" → "Let me help" → "Here's a solution" 4/ The Trust Question I always ask myself: "Would I want my child working for them?" Because character isn't: • Your rehearsed answers • Your polished LinkedIn • Your perfect resume It's who you are when: • Systems crash • Others need help • Deadlines explode ______ Hard truth: → Skills get you noticed. → Character gets you hired. → Impact makes you unforgettable. Want proof? The best hire I ever made had: • Half the required experience • Twice the character • Now leads a big division 🔥 Your turn: What's the biggest "character over skills" moment you've seen? ----- ♻️ Share to change how we hire forever 🎯 Follow me for more unfiltered workplace truths.

The 5 Most Dangerous Types of Toxic Leadership (And how to Fight it) 🚨 This post will make some leaders uncomfortable. After driving change across massive stock quoted companies and coaching executives, I've seen what silently destroys great organizations from within. Here are the 5 uncensored truths: 1. The Strategic Manipulator ↳ Takes credit for team wins ↳ Shifts blame during failures ↳ Creates competing factions Solution: Document everything. Build cross-functional alliances. 2. The Networking Narcissist ↳ Brilliant with senior leaders ↳ Dismissive with their team ↳ Promises big, delivers small Solution: Focus on measurable outcomes, not PowerPoint dreams. 3. The Shadow Puppeteer ↳ Masters of subtle intimidation ↳ Uses "just joking" as cover ↳ Creates fear of speaking up Solution: Create anonymous feedback channels. Build psychological safety. 4. The Change Blocker ↳ Says yes in meetings ↳ Does no in reality ↳ Suffocates innovation Solution: Set clear milestones. Make resistance visible. 5. The Culture Killer ↳ Preaches values ↳ Practices favouritism ↳ Rewards toxic behaviour Solution: Exit them fast. Culture damage compounds daily. 🔥 Hard Truth: Organizations take 18 months too long to address toxic leadership. The cost? I've seen: → 40% of top talent exit → 3x normal burnout rates 💡 Remember: ↳ Culture isn't what you say ↳ It's what you tolerate 🎯 Your Action Plan: 1. Identify these patterns 2. Document impact 3. Build support networks 4. Take decisive action The health of your organization depends on it. Have you encountered any of these types? Share your experience below 👇 ♻️ Repost to help others spot toxic behaviour before it destroys teams. 👉 Follow Steven Claes to Unlock Potential, Lead with Purpose

Last week, a team member apologized for joining our call from her kid's soccer practice. I had to pause. Is this what we've come to? Apologizing for living our lives while delivering great work? The secret to an unstoppable team? Stop watching the clock. I'll say it loud and clear: • I don't track when you log in • I don't mind if your kid crashes our video calls • I don't care if you work from your local coffee shop Why? Because I hired YOU. Not your schedule. Not your location. Not your ability to sit at a desk for 8 hours. Here's what I care about: → The value you create → The results you deliver → The problems you solve The old way of leading? ❌ Clock-watching ❌ Demanding face time ❌ Micromanaging every minute The new way? ✅ Focus on outcomes ✅ Trust from day one ✅ Clear expectations Here's the truth: Great work can happen anytime, anywhere. My 5 rules for high-performance teams: 1/ Hire for attitude → Skills can be taught. Character can't. 2/ Trust immediately → Don't make people earn basic respect. 3/ Set crystal-clear goals → Define success, then get out of the way. 4/ Provide resources → Give them the tools to win. 5/ Measure impact → Focus on results, not activity. Remember: The best leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders. Trust your people. Watch them soar. 🔥 What's your take? Share if you believe in trust-first leadership — ♻️ Repost this to inspire better leadership  ➕ Follow me for more real talk on modern leadership

Success isn't about what you know. It's about how fast you learn. (Wisdom shared by my friend Mike Leber) It took me years to accept, that imperfection is the beginning of growth. Knowing it all was just an illusion. No one has all the answers. And we all are wrong sometimes. High achievers just move thoughtfully faster. Accepting this truth opens doors for growth. Let go of the "know it all" mindset: 🚫 Avoiding collaboration with more knowledgeable peers 🚫 Overestimating understanding of complex issues 🚫 Dismissing others' ideas without consideration 🚫 Refusing to acknowledge when you're wrong 🚫 Resisting feedback or constructive criticism 🚫 Dominating conversations without listening 🚫 Avoiding topics outside your expertise 🚫 Interrupting others mid-sentence Instead become that "learn it all" person: ✅ Being curious ✅ Listening with intent ✅ Being open to new ideas ✅ Asking thoughtful questions ✅ Seeking diverse perspectives ✅ Showing humility in all interactions ✅ Challenging your own assumptions ✅ Taking feedback as a gift of wisdom Knowing it all won't get you further. Becoming a relentless learner will make you unstoppable. ♻️ Repost to inspire someone growing beyond their limits. ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more insights on ascending leadership

People don't burn out from hard work, they burn out from poor leadership. Here's some wisdom shared by my friend Dora Vanourek 10 leadership mistakes that break teams: (and destroy trust and talent) 1. Micromanaging: ↳ Constant oversight drains energy, destroys trust, and causes rework. 2. Constant urgency: ↳ Multiple priorities and unrealistic deadlines create chronic stress. 3. Lack of appreciation: ↳ Hard work without rewards or recognition is a top reason for burnout. 4. Not respecting life-work alignment: ↳ Blurred boundaries and the inability to disconnect are exhausting. 5. Ineffective communication: ↳ Lack of clarity creates confusion, decision paralysis, and mental fatigue. 6. Not providing support: ↳ Lack of knowledge, resources, or tools makes people feel inadequate and isolated. 7. Ignoring feedback: ↳ Not being heard increases frustration, destroys trust, and creates feelings of powerlessness. 8. Information hoarding: ↳ Operating in the dark causes constant stress, uncertainty, and preventable mistakes. 9. Impulsive decision making: ↳ Constant pivots exhaust teams and waste energy. 10. Tolerating toxic team members: ↳ Allowing destructive behaviour signals that well-being isn't a priority. Create space where high achievement doesn't equal chronic stress. And where everyone feels valued, supported and heard. Lead with empathy, not just with metrics. ♻️ Repost to promote healthier cultures. ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more.

Stop Saying Sorry at Work (Your Success Will Thank You) We all know those times we need to communicate - so why are we apologizing? Let's break it down: Instead of: ↳ "Sorry to bother you at work" → "Hey, got a minute to talk?" ↳ "Sorry, I don't get it" → "Could you walk me through that again?" ↳ "Sorry for the slow reply" → "Thanks for being patient" Here's why your success will thank you: 1/ Your Confidence ↳ Less "sorry" = stronger presence at work ↳ You stop second-guessing yourself (Game-changer for your career!) 2/ Your Impact ↳ People notice how you communicate ↳ Clear words = more respect from colleagues 3/ Your Professional Growth ↳ Smart professionals apologize when needed ↳ But focus on solutions first 4/ Your Relationships ↳ You can be nice without saying sorry ↳ You can be assertive while being kind 5/ Your Workplace Impact ↳ When you speak clearly, others follow ↳ Good communication habits spread naturally The Simple Rule: Keep "sorry" for when you really mean it. Don't apologize for: • Taking breaks • Doing your job • Asking questions • Contributing in meetings Try This Tomorrow: 1. Notice when you want to say sorry 2. Ask: "Do I really need to?" 3. Use "thank you" instead Remember: Success comes from being both confident AND kind. What will you say instead of sorry at your next conversation? — ♻️ Share this with someone who needs to hear it ➕ Follow Steven Claes for more

The most dangerous lie in business today:   'We need to monitor our people to ensure productivity.'   A friend CEO shared his 'productivity tracking' results with me.   The data was shocking when I saw it! Their most monitored team? → Highest turnover rate. → Zero innovation. → Lowest output.   And here's a controversial take ahead 🔥 (which I shared with him)   Every keystroke you track Every minute you monitor Every bathroom break you log...   You're not measuring productivity. You're documenting distrust. (a bit black or white, but still...)   So, what actually drives performance?   1/ Crystal Clear Expectations → Set measurable outcomes → No gray zones on deadlines → Define what winning looks like   2/ Trust by Default → Zero surveillance → Focus on deliverables → Celebrate achievements, not hours   3/ Adult Conversations → Quality check-ins → Address issues head-on → Solutions over surveillance   Companies still playing digital babysitter? They're losing the war for talent. (And their best people are already interviewing elsewhere)   The future belongs to companies that: ✓ Trust first ✓ Measure impact ✓ Enable autonomy   The harsh reality? Your turnover rate tells the real story. P.S. Later from that same CEO: "Deleted a lot of that monitoring. Our new productivity metric? Trust."   💭 Are you brave enough to lead with trust in your life?   — 👉 Share if you're committed to building better workplaces 🎯 Follow for more unfiltered leadership insights