Proactive Hiring: Avoiding Surprises & Building Stronger Teams A resignation should never be a surprise—it should be a planned and supported event within an organization. Yet, when leaders are caught off guard, they scramble to fill a role, often making reactive hiring mistakes that hurt company culture. In this episode, Bryan Neale, founder of Blind Zebra, shares his Red Light, Green Light framework—a simple yet powerful tool to enhance employee engagement, productivity, and planned exits. Host Rick Girard and Bryan discuss how embedding open, honest conversations into company culture ensures smooth transitions, stronger hires, and long-term business growth. Key Takeaways: 03:10 – Why employee exits should never be a surprise 08:35 – The dangers of reactive hiring and rushed decisions 14:20 – The Tour of Duty concept: Aligning company goals with employee aspirations 21:50 – How the Red Light, Green Light system improves engagement and retention 28:45 – Creating a culture where employees feel safe discussing career moves 35:10 – The power of an abundance mindset in hiring 42:30 – How to schedule and structure quarterly Tour of Duty conversations Guest Links: 🔗 Bryan Neale: LinkedIn 🔗 Blind Zebra: Website Host Links:  LinkedIn:  Rick Girard Company: Intertru, Inc. Podcast: Hire Power Radio Show & Podcast Book: Healing Career Wounds (Amazon) Powered by Intertru