Jeff Williams: How to Engage Employees in Change

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcastFor all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com  Takeaways- The biggest misconception is that most people are excited about transformation.- A small percentage of the workforce drives the majority of results.- The top 20% of employees contribute to 80% of outcomes.- The top 1% can drive a quarter of the results.- Most employees are tied to their current work methods.- Transformation may not feel significant to the majority.- Business leaders often assume support without engagement.- Engaging employees is crucial for successful transformation.- There is often an under-investment in change management.- Leaders must facilitate change rather than just declare it. 00:00 – Welcome & Jeff’s Backstory in HR TransformationAdam kicks off the POZcast and introduces Jeff Williams, president and CFO at Aptia, walking through his career leading massive HR and business transformation efforts at Paychex, ADP, Alight, Aon and more.01:13 – Growing Up With a Self-Made FatherJeff shares his family story: born Canadian, raised American, youngest of eight, and the journey of his dad going from drafting apprentice to CEO at the same company over 33 years—and the lessons embedded in that.02:35 – Early Lessons: Hard Work, Humor & LossJeff reflects on what he learned from his father before losing him at 19: the value of hard work, eating fast at a crowded table, and keeping humor and lightness at the center of life and leadership.03:45 – From Telecom to the People Business (ADP Entry Point)Jeff explains how he moved from technology and telecom into human capital, taking on the role leading ADP’s Canadian operations and discovering the power of the HR and benefits space.04:38 – Hiring at a High Bar: Talent, Drive & InstinctsAdam asks how Jeff hired to ADP’s level. Jeff lays out his hiring philosophy: ambition beyond natural gifts, complementary skills, people better than him in key areas—and why he trusts his instincts on fit.06:25 – Real Leadership: Hiring People Better Than YouThey dig into succession, “making yourself dispensable,” and the idea that if you can’t take a vacation without everything falling apart, that’s a failure of leadership, not a badge of honor.07:30 – Pre-Email Days & The Human Side of WorkJeff remembers the 286/386 era and talks about how, before digital tools, people invested more in each other in person—inside and outside of work—and how that shaped deeper relationships.08:43 – Remote Work, COVID, and an Isolated WorkforceThey go deep on the pandemic: the rapid shift home, the early productivity spike, inflation pressures, relocation, and the rise of isolation and mental health issues as remote work took hold.11:10 – Young Workers, Office Longing & Loyalty ShiftsAdam shares what he’s seeing with candidates who actually want to be in-office to learn through osmosis. Jeff talks about building the next generation of leaders and how in-person time rebuilds fabric and loyalty.13:32 – Mental Health, Home Setups & Productivity RealityThey unpack the assumption that everyone has an ideal home workspace—calling out caregiving, cramped spaces, kids, and distractions—and how that’s quietly driving some people back to the office.14:51 – Why Jeff Bet on Aptia & the Move to BostonJeff explains what drew him to Aptia: the chance to build something differentiated and lasting, formalize his cross-border life, and finally live and work in the same country as his family.17:42 – The Big Vision: Building the Best Benefits Company in AmericaJeff outlines his ambition to build the best (not necessarily biggest) benefits services and administration company—one loved by clients, employees, and partners while supporting the communities they serve.19:04 – Benefits as a Talent Magnet: Total Rewards, Not Just SalaryThey talk about smart candidates, how benefits (health, financial, time off, ancillary) close offers, and why companies need to position total rewards early and clearly in the hiring process.21:13 – Closing the Benefits Understanding GapJeff shares the reality: most employees don’t fully understand or appreciate their benefits. He talks about accessibility, education, and surfacing value in ways employees actually grasp.22:33 – Introducing Aptia One: Seamless, AI-Led Benefits ExperienceJeff breaks down Aptia One—how it’s designed to create simple, AI-led, consumer-grade experiences for employees, employers, and partners across phone, web, and natural language interfaces.25:14 – How Jeff Is Personally Upskilling in AIJeff shares his approach to AI as a leader: consuming everything he can, learning from experts, applying lessons from previous waves of tech disruption, and staying hyper-relevant to where markets are heading.26:54 – Realistic AI: Simplicity, Accuracy & Avoiding AI-WashingThey discuss using AI to simplify journeys, NOT over-hyping capabilities, and why, in a business where you must be nearly 100% accurate on benefits, you must apply AI carefully and responsibly.28:43 – The Hard Truth About TransformationJeff calls out a big misconception: leaders assume everyone’s excited about transformation. He explains why frontline employees often aren’t enlisted as deeply as leaders think and why change enablement is under-invested.30:18 – Service, Soul & Corporate PhilanthropyThe conversation shifts to service: Jeff’s history with DEI, United Way, and community work, and why doing something for others makes him feel more complete as a human and leader.31:25 – Why People Want Companies With a SoulJeff explains how corporate philanthropy, whether via one flagship cause or hyper-local initiatives, shapes belonging, engagement, and the desire to work for companies that care about more than profit.33:55 – Jeff’s Son’s Cancer Journey & Life Perspective ShiftsJeff shares the powerful story of his son Kevin’s osteosarcoma diagnosis at 13, the grueling treatment, and how that battle reshaped his view on perseverance, priorities, and what really matters.36:26 – Adam’s Own Cancer Battle & Shared PerspectiveAdam opens up about his recent Hodgkin’s lymphoma remission, the physical and emotional toll, and how surviving cancer reframes life, work, and gratitude for both of them.40:04 – What Keeps Jeff Up at Night: Stewardship & FamilyJeff talks about being a “work in progress,” how life is now about his kids, his wife, and his responsibilities, and the ongoing chase to be a good steward for his family, business, and community.41:48 – Optimism About Humanity & The Future of BenefitsJeff shares a global perspective: wherever he goes, people want similar things for their families and communities. He then lays out the “big three” of benefits—health, wealth, and time off—as core holdings.43:26 – Designing Benefits Like a PortfolioThey dig into tailoring benefits to your population (e.g., menopause benefits, pet insurance, nonprofit-oriented perks), feeding what works, starving what doesn’t, and iterating to truly serve your people.44:37 – Redefining Success: Energy for the Journey AheadIn closing, Jeff defines success not by titles or money, but by whether you still wake up excited for what’s ahead—at work, at home, on the golf course, and in life overall.46:08 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Jeff and AptiaAdam closes the episode, sharing where listeners can learn more about Aptia, connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, and reminding everyone to review, subscribe, and keep being good to themselves and better to others.