HR, is the search for relevance and meaning doomed?
There is nothing the HR profession loves more than ‘the next big thing.’ The initiative, activity or idea that will finally give the function its desired relevance and meaning to the organisations they work in. Moving on to the new ‘big thing’ is also helpful of course given the fact that very often the ‘last […]
Connecting transformational leadership, purpose and the triple bottom line
Of all the issues that executive teams and HR directors face, one of the most challenging is how to achieve a sense of purpose among employees. Initiatives in this area are just as likely to provoke employee resistance as they are to stimulate employee engagement. Too often, the process of instilling a powerful sense of […]
Why traditional performance management may be hurting your engagement — and what you can do about it
Why traditional performance management may be hurting your engagement — and what you can do about it Today, plenty of experts and studies confirm what we already know: traditional performance management is broken. But it’s not just slightly flawed. It’s seriously damaged. So much so, that it’s actually creating disengagement and turnover — exactly the […]
It takes two to tango: getting employees in the game
Can you imagine Sir Dave Brailsford—formerly performance director of British Cycling—waiting until the end of the season to give his players feedback? Of course not. (If that were the case, his team wouldn’t have led the cycling medal table at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games). The same idea holds true in the workplace. It’s […]
Talent rising – train your way to the top
As the buzz around ‘Gen Y’ ‘digital natives’ and ‘millennials’ continues, it’s time to consider that the fundamental differences in motivation, training and development that exist between the generations, require radical reform within the workplace. A recent study by Deloitte described Gen Y as opportunity-driven, seeking new chances for career enhancement over greater salary or […]
Book Review: The Values-driven Organization
HRZone has a range of books available for review. If you would like to receive one of our business books, free of charge, please contact the editor on editor at hrzone dot com and we can send you a list of what's available. In return, we ask for a 400-700 word review of the book, […]
Your guide to ‘relationally-intelligent’ leadership
Effective leadership today is dependent upon a new covenant between leader and led which guarantees not only acceptable levels of security and prosperity for employees but also a sense of tangible contribution to decision making. In this article we justify the changed details of the covenant which optimises energy, engagement and active participation, utilising long […]
Unfair treatment experienced by pregnant women “astounds me”
There's so much rich insight coming out of the academic sector that HR professionals need to know. At Academics' Corner we feature the best HR researchers that tell you what they’ve found and what you need to do differently on the back of the research. Get connected to the academic sector through Academics’ Corner and […]
Book review: Humble Inquiry by Edgar Schein
HRZone has a range of books available for review. If you would like to receive one of our business books, free of charge, please contact the editor on editor at hrzone dot com and we can send you a list of what’s available. In return, we ask for a 400-700 word review of the book, […]
Science of Engagement: the key is trust
An understanding of some aspects of how the brain is ‘wired’ can help you to increase the likelihood of people being engaged at work and avoid creating situations that destroy engagement. There is no set of system in the brain that ensures people are engaged. It’s more complex than that but there are a number […]
Easton vs B&Q – what does duty of care now mean for employers?
In recent times there has been an increase in reports of individuals suffering from stress at work, stress related absences/conditions and termination of employment on the ground of these factors. In assessing why there has been increase in the above number of incidents, it may largely be due to the stigma associated with psychiatric and […]
How to implement data-driven succession planning
A leadership succession plan can help you create a pool of high potential candidates ready to step up to critical roles. The problem is that many companies don’t know which of their middle managers have the capability or the aspiration to succeed in senior positions. That can leave your talented people feeling unrecognised, unappreciated and […]
The art of facilitation – and five tips to make it work
“You’ve got to help people walk down the road with you rather than dictating the style of the session. Ultimately, it’s engaging people all the way through.” Making the most of situations is what we do practically every day. We try to take care of clients’ problems, or resolve our own, as they come across […]
Get help by creating a personal following
Regardless of how prepared, knowledgeable, and organised you are, the ability to access the support, time, and guidance of those around you is a major advantage. Gaining the assistance of others or getting them on your team, however, is easier said than done. One of the best ways to earn the consistent support of a […]
Induction: a function of HR or masterclass of leadership?
Alison Lowe is our CEO keynote at The Employee Engagement Conference on September 10th in London. Grab your ticket today and join us! At Touchstone, a West Yorkshire mental health charity, staff numbers have steadily doubled over the last 11 years. As CEO, I was rarely involved in new staff inductions though, thinking this was […]
Presenteeism: Physical presence and psychological absence combined
There’s so much rich insight coming out of the academic sector that HR professionals need to know. At Academics’ Corner we feature the best HR researchers that tell you what they’ve found and what you need to do differently on the back of the research. Get connected to the academic sector through Academics’ Corner and […]
Exit the leadership vortex: to whom do operational leaders ultimately owe allegiance?
I was recently at a function at the House of Commons at which the seasoned CEO of a multinational financial services organisation aptly described the environment of business leadership much akin to operating in a vortex. In reality, amidst widespread confusion, if not chaos, leaders lack effective control of the speed, direction, indeed the ultimate […]
Don’t believe the Accenture ‘end of appraisals’ hype
Accenture’s recent decision to abandon the annual performance review looks on the surface to be a bold and progressive move, which has been well received throughout the business community. A “massive revolution” is how CEO Pierre Nanterme described the decision, but is it all just smoke and mirrors? The truth is that annual performance reviews […]
Netflix goes unlimited on parental leave
With last week’s announcement, Netflix reasserted itself at the cutting edge of workplace practices and policies, alongside a band of innovative US tech companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook. What did Netflix do? It announced unlimited paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents. Compared to some European countries, granted, that doesn’t seem all that […]
Why did Ruby Wax promote silence on mental health?
Comedian Ruby Wax has become a leading voice on mental health issues in the UK, a high-profile campaigner who’s just been offered a new post as visiting professor for mental health nursing at the University of Surrey. So when she advises employees to never tell their boss about a mental health problem, people are going […]
