Episode 42

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Published on:

3rd Jun 2025

How Listening Protected Culture During the Remote Work Shift with Wendy Rummler

Join Jason for a powerful conversation with Wendy Rummler, Chief People Officer at Credit Acceptance. Wendy shares the inside story of how their organization transformed from a conventional, in-office workplace to a high-performing, remote-first organization, while earning multiple workplace awards year after year. The secret, she says, is fostering a culture where listening leads to meaningful action, and where transparency and feedback are non-negotiable.

 

Key lessons highlighted in our conversation include:

👉 True “listening cultures” require managers to close the feedback loop every time. Either by implementing suggestions, explaining their reasoning for declining, or seeking more information.

 

👉 Organizational change is a long-term journey. The best results occur when leaders approach engagement as a continuous and rigorous discipline.

 

👉 Transparency about “why” decisions are made, especially about difficult topics, builds trust, even when the answer isn’t what people want to hear.

 

👉 The most valuable employee feedback often points to operational obstacles, not just perks or benefits. Addressing these issues directly enables your people to do their best work.

 

👉 Remote work success hinges on proactive onboarding, strong mechanisms for relationship-building, and frequent, meaningful leader check-ins with every team member.

 

👉 Strong cultures assume positive intent. Leaders who communicate trust and aspire to help everyone succeed redefine performance expectations and team cohesion.

 

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Connect with Wendy:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-rummler-69777611/

 

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JOIN THOUSANDS OF LEADERS WHO ARE HARNESSING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK.

Subscribe to our newsletter:

https://jasonlauritsen.ck.page/950d3cff1f

 

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Connect with Jason:

Website: https://jasonlauritsen.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonLauritsenVideo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlauritsen/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasonlauritsen/

 

#Leadership #PeopleFirst #CompanyCulture #FeedbackLoop #WorkplaceExcellence

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About the Podcast

Check-In with Jason Lauritsen
A weekly podcast exploring how to create a more human work experience through the power of relationship and connection. Host Jason Lauritsen interviews those HR executives and thought leaders who are paving the way towards a better future of work.

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Jason Lauritsen