How to take care of people, the planet and profits
Twenty-first century businesses need to prioritise more than the traditional bottom line – the new world order is about the social, environmental and the financial. Traditional businesses are set up with one aim and one aim only: to make as much profit for the shareholders as possible. In fact, in many states it has been illegal to have […]
‘The Wild New World of Technology’ – Josh Bersin at UNLEASH London 2019
If you missed Josh Bersin’s fast-paced, ears-on-the-ground update on the HR tech landscape at UNLEASH London this year, fear not. Here’s a condensed version to get you up to speed. Closing day one of UNLEASH, Bersin’s session ‘A wild new world of HR technology’ endeavoured to help the HR professional make sense of a highly […]
When resilience training isn’t the answer
Resilience training can be hugely beneficial for many – but it has a time and a place. Are some managers offering this training as a solution to a difficult situation just to avoid conflict? Have you ever witnessed someone being asked to go on a resilience training course after bringing up a workplace issue or conflict […]
Management transformation: time for change
In this time of rapid change leaders must remain agile and flexible in their approach. We examine how staff can help management identify ways to lead effective transformation. We are in a new world of unimaginable uncertainty. Not just with our Brexit woes, but with AI tech, emerging markets, globalisation, new competition et al. Monzo, Netflix, […]
Psychological safety: how supportive teams enable innovation
Companies that embrace psychological safety often focus on the positive effect it has on team cohesion. Whilst that is important, it also allows people with different personality types the chance to share innovative ideas. Psychological safety has become something of a trendy topic in management, even though there is much confusion about what it actually means and how it might be measured. […]
Management hierarchies: are they still necessary in the workplace?
Digital technology has transformed the workplace and companies at the cutting edge are embracing flatter hierarchical management structures. It’s time for businesses to unpick bureaucratic processes and focus on developing an innovative and agile workforce. Most employees value clear direction from leaders, but they also value autonomy. In our modern, fast-moving world, the most successful organisations are those who are […]
Groupthink: how to avoid the follower mentality
Businesses must remain vigilant against the dangers of groupthink and create a workplace culture that encourages and listens to diverse opinions. Back in 2007 I ran a session for senior traders in a financial services organisation. A participant was presenting a project about a complex new financial product to the room. As the presentation rolled […]
Are those cliché HR metrics working for you?
Traditional HR metrics focus too much on macro events that HR professionals in reality have little influence over. Here are the micro KPIs you should be working towards instead… When I ask people in HR to talk about achievements, the things that they are proud of and what might make it onto their CV for the […]
Four things you should never say about change
Communicating change requires management to look beyond trite cliches and consider the emotional complexities staff members will experience and support them appropriately. I’ve never liked clichés. Beneath many clichés there is a truth, but there’s also a lie. As HR professionals, we need to look hard at our assumptions if we aren’t going to perpetuate […]
Next-gen performance management: an interview with David Mallon, Bersin by Deloitte
Ahead of the 5th Annual Spring UNLEASH Conference & Expo, we spoke to David Mallon, Chief Analyst at Bersin by Deloitte, about what the future holds for performance management. David will be speaking on this topic in his session ‘Performance Management, Disrupted: An updated look at the evolving state of PM and related technologies’, taking […]
Five ways to ensure a smooth transformation to global HR
Choosing an HR software system that enables you to transform the way you handle data globally requires careful consideration, research and preparation for the complexities that lay ahead. Regardless of whether you have thousands of employees or a just a few hundred, if you operate internationally, you’ll be more than aware that in today’s increasingly connected (and […]
How can HR create change for women at work in the Post-#MeToo era?
Gender equality is not going to be achieved through creating special groups for women. For real change to occur in the workplace, HR professionals must empower both men and women to take shared responsibility for one another. Genetically, we are all born different even though in principle we function in the same way regardless of […]
Strategic data: unlocking HR’s secret weapon
Businesses are failing to recognise the importance of data managed by HR teams. Equally HR professionals are not yet skilled enough in data to harness its power and help secure their future strategic function within an organisation. Something has to change. HR holds some of the most critical data within any organisation. This includes everything from data on employee engagement […]
The future workforce: align your employee benefits to workers’ shifting attitudes
Don’t let your employee benefits offering lose touch with what your people actually want. The workplace is ever-evolving – and at a far greater pace today than we’ve ever seen before, as are the motivations and priorities of the UK workforce. As we speed towards the end of one decade and into the next, UK workers […]
EU Settlement Scheme: time for UK businesses to prepare for Brexit
Is your HR team supporting EU citizens in preparation for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU? Read our guide and make sure your staff fill in the correct paperwork before the deadline in 2021. With the UK set to sever its ties with the European Union on 29 March, major changes are set to ripple through the UK workforce. While […]
Business benefits: what do employees really want?
In an employee-led labour market, businesses carefully guard details of their benefits packages to maintain competitive advantage. But without a point of comparison, companies must look internally to discover what will entice and secure talented staff. Despite growth slowdown and Brexit fears, the UK labour market is more vibrant than ever. While this is good news for those looking for their […]
It is time to rethink your pension communications?
How can HR make pensions communications more relevant, engaging and impactful? Here are eight research-backed tips… According to the British Confederation of Industry and Aegon, just one in 10 companies are satisfied with their employees’ level of engagement with pensions. Many HR professionals want to change this. Pensions are an important employee benefit, they support recruitment […]
Why office culture is the most valuable employee benefit
Hit the right note, and the uptake on, and engagement with the benefits your organisation has to offer will see the return on minimal and passive investment. Often the case though, the benefits offered don’t hit the right note and instead please some but not the others. The latter feel as though they are missing […]
Driving network innovation: how HR remains vital for digital transformation
CEOs today not only expect their CHROs to secure them the best digital talent in a tough market, but to also champion innovation and disruption across the business. Are HR leaders doing enough to meet these requirements? Digital transformation is happening at a quicker pace than ever before. Businesses around the world, in all sectors, are devoting more […]
Taking control of your career journey: preparing for future skills
How can employers and employees prepare for a future demand in skills, particularly when they may not even exist yet? Well, one thing’s for sure, collaboration will be key to ensure the sustainable evolution of the modern workplace. Skill sets change over time. They always have; they always will. Assessing the impact of this is part […]
