#11 - Kimberly Prescott: Facts Over Emotion - Mastering Tough Conversations and Investigations

Kimberly Prescott, founder of Prescott HR, joins the podcast to discuss the critical role of courage and confidence in the HR profession. Drawing from her background in the Air Force and her experience as a minority in corporate environments, Kimberly explains why HR professionals must move past the desire to "be liked" and instead focus on providing honest, fact-based feedback. She argues that avoiding difficult conversations erodes trust and lowers performance standards across the entire organization. Kimberly also introduces her "Hierarchy of Needs" for HR, asserting that strategic initiatives like culture statements cannot succeed without a solid foundation of clear policies, manager training, and consistent practices. Using the analogy of a construction site, she warns against hanging "fine art" before the drywall is up. The episode concludes with practical advice on managing investigations and coaching managers to handle conflict with clarity and accountability.Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices