2026 South Dakota SHRM State Conference

MBS People Operations team members, Natalie and Jessica, recently had the privilege of attending the 2026 South Dakota Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Conference in Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Throughout the conference, sessions focused on topics including attitude, emotional intelligence, burnout prevention, curiosity, work-life balance, and leadership development. A consistent theme emerged: organizational success is driven by people. In addition to the educational sessions, the conference provided valuable networking opportunities with HR professionals from a variety of industries, allowing attendees to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and learn from real-world experiences. The insights gained will help strengthen our HR practices and enable us to support our clients even more effectively.

Conference Highlights

Matt Booth:  The Power of Attitude

Matt Booth kicked off Day 1 by emphasizing the importance of intentionally choosing a positive attitude every day. He challenged the audience by asking:

“Do we value attitude like we say we do? Are we willing to put a grade on the attitude of ourselves, the five people we spend the most time with, and our team members?”

Booth also shared simple but impactful advice on building relationships:

• What is the fastest way to get someone to like you? Smile.
• What is the fastest way to get someone to trust you? Make eye contact.

While these concepts may seem simple, they serve as powerful reminders of how small actions can strengthen workplace relationships and improve communication.

Natalie Remund: Elevating Emotional Intelligence

Our own Natalie Remund presented a breakout session titled “Elevate Your Emotional Intelligence: The Secret Weapon of High-Impact HR Leaders.”

Natalie introduced the Bar-On Model of Emotional Intelligence, reviewing its five composite scales and the three subscales within each category. Through storytelling and video examples, she shared practical strategies for strengthening the 15 emotional intelligence competencies that help people to:

• Develop and maintain healthy relationships
• Navigate challenges effectively
• Perceive and express themselves
• Use emotional information in effective and meaningful ways

Ultimately, emotional intelligence enables us to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. As leadership expert Warren Bennis stated:

“Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than IQ or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work.”

Dr. Terry Wu: Understanding and Preventing Burnout

Day 2 began with an insightful session from Dr. Terry Wu on workplace burnout and stress management.

Dr. Wu shared his perspective that burnout is a medical condition linked to depleted dopamine levels, explaining how chronic stress can disrupt the brain’s ability to regulate motivation, focus, and well-being. He noted that our stress response was designed to protect us from immediate threats, not to remain activated for long periods of time. He explained that chronic stress can have significant effects on both well-being and performance.

One of his key messages focused on autonomy in the workplace. Employees experience less stress when they have greater control over aspects of their work, including the what, when, where, how, and who. When managers choose to micromanage, employees lose all five factors of autonomy, which can cause stress to increase significantly and reduce engagement.

Dr. Wu also emphasized the importance of healthy stress outlets and strong social support systems. Activities such as spending time outdoors, exercising, journaling, reading, listening to music, and connecting with loved ones can help manage stress in positive ways. He encouraged attendees to identify people they could both lean on for support and support in return. He also cautioned against relying on negative stress outlets, such as overeating, substance abuse, or isolation, as well as negative support systems that may feel helpful in the moment but do not provide meaningful support, such as gossiping with friends.

Another insightful takeaway was the danger of passing our stress to one another. One way we may relieve our own stress is by “dumping” it onto someone else—a co-worker, spouse, friend, or family member. While venting may help us feel better in the moment, it can also unintentionally transfer that stress to someone else.

Finally, Dr. Wu discussed the relationship between stress and performance. Too little stress can lead to boredom and disengagement, while too much can result in burnout. The optimal level of stress helps employees feel challenged, capable, and fully engaged in their work, creating a sense of mastery that allows them to perform at their highest level.

James Robilotta: Finding Balance and Building Community

James Robilotta delivered two sessions on Day 2:  “Find Your Third Place: Work-Life Balance Conversations That Are Actually Helpful”  and “Choosing to Care: How Curiosity Creates Community in the Workplace.”

Finding Your Third Place

During his work-life balance session, Robilotta introduced the concept of “third spaces.” Work is one space and home is a second space, but he suggested that we all need a third space to help us recharge, maintain our sanity, and bring our best selves to both home and work.

A third place might be:

• A coffee shop, park, or community space
• A hobby or creative outlet
• Exercise or recreational activities
• Classes, volunteering, or even a side hustle

One of his key messages was that we have time for what we choose to make time for. His challenge to us was simple: add yourself to your calendar. Book the trip. Take the class. Make time for the things that help you thrive.

Choosing to Care

During his second session, Robilotta explored how curiosity creates community in the workplace. He challenged attendees to move beyond assumptions and become genuinely interested in the people around them.

One practical takeaway was learning how to move beyond small talk by simply asking:

“Tell me more about that.”

He explained that curiosity is a skill set and a choice. Assuming things about others is often easier than taking the time to learn about them, but doing so can cause us to miss important opportunities for connection and understanding.

He left us with a thought-provoking question:

“What stories are you missing because you aren’t asking the right questions?”

Lora Hayes: HR Isn’t a Therapist

The conference concluded with speaker Lora Hayes.

Hayes highlighted a common organizational challenge: many employees are promoted into management roles without receiving adequate leadership training. As a result, managers often lack the skills needed to effectively support and develop their teams.

She encouraged organizations to invest more heavily in leadership coaching and manager development. Strengthening management capabilities not only improves employee engagement and retention but also helps reduce burnout among HR professionals who are often asked to fill leadership gaps.

Final Thoughts

As we reflect on the conference, one message stood out across every session: effective workplaces are built through intentional leadership, meaningful connections, and a commitment to personal well-being.

Whether discussing attitude, emotional intelligence, burnout prevention, curiosity, work-life balance, or leadership development, each speaker reinforced the idea that people perform at their best when they feel supported, empowered, and connected.

We look forward to applying these insights to continue strengthening our HR services, supporting our clients, and helping organizations create healthier, more engaged workplace cultures.