After a brief hiatus, The Resolution Room is back.

In this episode, host Robert Holmes shares a personal update on what has been happening behind the scenes, including a recent move, a new professional chapter, and the lessons learned during a season of transition. Robert reflects on the importance of growth, adaptability, and staying connected to the work that matters most.

He also introduces the new direction for the podcast. For the remainder of the year, The Resolution Room will focus on employee relations topics that impact leaders, HR professionals, and employees alike. From workplace conflict and difficult conversations to performance management, investigations, trust, accountability, and culture, future episodes will provide practical insights and real-world perspectives on navigating today's workplace challenges.

Whether you're a manager, HR professional, executive, or employee looking to better understand workplace dynamics, this episode sets the stage for the conversations ahead.

Silent agreements tend to lurk in the background, shaping behavior without ever being named. In this episode, we dig into how to identify these unspoken norms by observing team patterns, listening to fringe voices, and asking the right questions. Whether it’s the awkward pause when someone challenges leadership or the universal shrug at missed deadlines, these quiet agreements are powerful—and sometimes toxic. I’ll walk you through practical strategies for surfacing them, evaluating their impact, and preparing your team for change.

This episode builds on ideas from my new book, Human Resources for the Soul: Managing the Human in You, available now on Amazon. If you're ready to lead with more clarity, courage, and emotional intelligence, it's a must-read.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll bring these ideas to life with real-world case studies from the field—messy, eye-opening, and refreshingly honest.

Ever walked into a meeting and just knew not to speak up — even though no one told you not to? Welcome to the world of silent agreements: the unspoken rules that shape everything from who gets promoted to who makes the coffee. In this episode of The Resolution Room, host Robert Holmes peels back the layers of these hidden norms, exploring how they form, what impact they have on workplace culture, and why they often go unchallenged. With real-life examples from corporate, nonprofit, and government settings, you'll learn how to spot these stealthy behaviors, understand their influence, and — most importantly — renegotiate the rules to build healthier, more transparent teams.

Grab a coffee (and remember to refill the pot), because this one’s a culture check you didn’t know you needed.