It’s time for my second Editor’s note (you’ll now be hearing from me every other month) and I’d first like to get into some data.
We’ve been looking at what’s actually landed with you over the past couple of months and a clear pattern has emerged.
Our mid-year review of HRZone’s most popular content themes tells us you’re interested in:
- Leaders who are struggling
- The fear of getting things wrong
- The “why” not just the what
- Financial wellbeing
- Productivity anxiety
- A lack of trust in AI.
Does this match what’s actually happening?
We wanted to check this matches what’s going on on the ground right now, so we’ve launched our latest pulse survey.
We’re asking readers which two areas they’re struggling with most and we’re already getting some interesting responses in.
If you haven’t already let us know what challenges you’re facing. It’s one question and will take a few seconds, we promise.
We’ll let you know the results later this year and use them to keep honing what we cover.
We’re asking readers which two areas they’re struggling with most
Our new practical content series is proving its value
As mentioned in my first ‘from the Editor’ piece, our survey revealed that an industry under pressure deserves content that actually helps and delivers real practical value.
You may have already seen our new practical content series. These how to guides, frameworks and and five-step plans harness practitioner and leader expertise to give you a concise, useful way to actually do things: make a change, an improvement, do your job quicker, reach your goal faster.
We’ve already had some strong examples of this in action. Kerry Unflat’s article on why CHROs need to stop running HR and start running the business gives a genuinely practical five-step framework for becoming an operational architect, not just a policy steward.
Penny Haslam did something similar with her five ways to stop senior meetings ending in agreement but no action: real, usable techniques, not theory.
These are performing well, which confirms what you’ve been telling us: you want content that’s actionable, that you can pick up and use straight away.
Some of the best insight comes from conversations
I’m also really conscious that some of the most valuable content is the conversations happening behind the ‘how to’.
Dr Jo Burrell and Dr Felicity Baker’s 2026 HR Mental Wellbeing Report is a good example of this. Hearing about the three years of data and what it’s actually telling us about the industry’s wellbeing was eye-opening.
Only 13 per cent of HR professionals feel well supported themselves, which says a lot about an industry that spends all its time supporting everyone else.
I want more of this: real conversations with people who have a story to tell.
What did you do in your organisation, why did it work (or not) and what did you learn from it? We’re all human and keen to hear from those who have walked the same path.
That’s what makes these conservations so real and the most relatable content is often the easiest to learn from.
Indeed, in the age of AI, the human element matters more than ever. HRZone is a community of professionals looking for connection and support as much as resources. People helping each other and stories are what build that.
You want content that’s actionable, that you can pick up and use straight away
Get involved
If you have one minute to spare, please answer one quick question and tell us what you’re struggling with most right now. It will directly shape what we cover next to best support you in your role.
And if you’ve got a story to share, whether it’s a case study, a lesson learned the hard way, or a conversation you keep having with a colleague (or yourself!)I’d love to hear it.
It’s clear this is an industry with plenty of stories and experiences to share and HRZone is the space for that. For an easy way to stay up to date with our content, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Until next time!
Lauren, Editor, HRZone
lauren.haigh@hrzone.com
www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-joanne-h
Did you read my first Editor’s note?: From the Editor: An industry under pressure deserves authentic, actionable content
