Is it time to get out of HR?
HR professionals can advance to board-level roles by gaining cross-functional experience outside HR, such as line management positions in other departments. This broader business exposure helps leaders understand commercial operations, build credibility with stakeholders, and develop the strategic skills needed for senior leadership.
In a Nutshell: Five ways to boost employee performance
Boost employee performance by aligning individual goals with business objectives. This five-step approach—clarify organizational targets, cascade goals to teams, develop manager skills, focus on results, and embed performance management—helps employees understand how their work impacts the bottom line.
The art of influencing and making your ideas stick
Discover how to make your ideas stick using six proven principles of influence: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, liking, social proof, and consistency. Learn from behavioral science expert Steve Martin why information alone isn’t enough to persuade others, and actionable strategies to influence people’s decisions and actions effectively.
News: NHS “pay cartel” proposes staff pay cuts and longer hours
NHS managers across 19 South West trusts have formed a “pay cartel” proposing staff pay cuts of up to 5%, longer working hours, and reduced holiday entitlement to address financial pressures. The scheme could affect 1.5 million health service employees, potentially ending the national Agenda for Change contract.
In a Nutshell: Five tips to motivate yourself and others
An HR director shares five practical tips for boosting motivation at work, inspired by a children’s book about a dog who can fly when happy. Her advice emphasizes finding joy in your role, building authentic relationships, and inspiring others through storytelling and engagement.
How to get a seat on the board
HR professionals are severely underrepresented on UK corporate boards, with less than 1% of FTSE 50 board members having HR backgrounds despite the critical importance of talent management. This underrepresentation reflects a broader perception that HR professionals lack strategic business relevance and remain disconnected from senior leadership decision-making.
Podcast: LOCOG’s CEO Paul Deighton talks diversity and inclusion
Paul Deighton, CEO of London 2012 organizers LOCOG, discusses embedding diversity and inclusion in organizational culture. In this exclusive podcast interview, he shares how the Games actively recruited from diverse talent pools and the leadership legacy he aims to leave.
Banking crisis: Should staff pay be linked to customer service?
Banking customers face significant service issues, with a third having filed complaints in recent years. FSA head Hector Sants suggests linking staff pay to customer service metrics could improve bank-customer relationships and demonstrate industry reform.
In a Nutshell: Five tips for being an effective manager
Effective managers recognize the importance of gratitude, fairness, and trust while adapting to challenges. Learn five essential management tips from Charles Elvin, chief executive of the Institute of Leadership & Management, including the power of saying thank you and taking calculated risks.
How business savvy are you – really?
HR professionals must demonstrate business savvy by understanding their organization’s business model, generating data-driven insights, and proactively connecting across departments. True commercial HR leaders focus on aligning people strategies with business objectives rather than simply labeling themselves as commercial.
HRD Insight: Fujitsu UK’s Ella Bennett on HR’s role in supporting change
HR directors play a vital role in helping organizations adapt to rapid change by developing strong leadership, fostering the right culture, building organizational capacity, and ensuring they have the right talent in place. A survey of 250 C-level executives revealed these elements are critical for responding effectively to external business dynamics.
Are you being paid what you’re worth?
Discover whether you’re earning fair market value with these five benchmarking strategies: job alerts, recruiter consultations, salary surveys, reward professional networks, and technology tools. Compare your total compensation package against similar roles to gain clarity on your earning potential.
In a Nutshell: Five considerations when creating a welcome pack for new hires
Creating an effective welcome pack for new hires requires clear objectives, input from across your organization, and messaging that reflects your brand’s true culture. Separate essential information from nice-to-know content, prioritize what matters most to new starters, and ensure your tone authentically represents your company’s values and personality.
Book Review: Judgement Calls by Thomas Davenport and Brook Manville
“Judgement Calls” by Davenport and Manville examines how organizations resolve crises by leveraging employee talent through collaborative decision-making. The book explores four key approaches: increasing staff participation, using technology and analysis, leveraging organizational culture, and setting effective leadership context, supported by real-world examples.
A typical HRD: Part 4 – FTSE 250 companies
Modern FTSE 250 HR directors require broad business expertise beyond traditional HR skills, with responsibilities extending to talent management, change leadership, and strategic business partnering. These executives increasingly work closely with finance and CEO-level colleagues to drive organizational transformation and add value to the bottom line, often bringing experience in talent management and international HR operations.
In a Nutshell: Five considerations to help boost staff innovation
Foster staff innovation by granting autonomy, organizing smaller teams, promoting transparency, providing support, and establishing clear frameworks for action. These five considerations help create an environment where employees feel empowered to share creative ideas and contribute meaningfully to organizational success.
In a Nutshell: Five top tips for staying stress-free
Stress is the leading cause of long-term sickness absence in UK workplaces. HR experts recommend five practical strategies to manage workplace stress: address changeable issues, talk to your manager about workload, use employee support programs, delegate tasks, and maintain healthy habits like exercise and good nutrition.
The value of networking
Networking builds valuable professional relationships beyond traditional face-to-face interactions, with success depending on the value you create for others rather than follower counts. Effective networkers share knowledge, offer expertise, and strengthen both strong and weak ties to unlock career opportunities and innovation.
In a Nutshell: Five tips for doing an MBA while working full-time
Balancing an MBA with full-time work requires strategic planning and support. An HR professional who recently completed her Open University MBA shares five essential tips: align your studies with career goals, leverage online resources and support networks, secure commitment from family and employer, apply theories to your workplace, and embrace the learning journey.
Investing in your career with an MBA
An MBA strengthens your ability to advance in management careers by developing strategic financial skills, enhancing communication abilities, and providing access to leading academics and peer networks. This credential helps professionals overcome career ceilings and gain competitive advantages in job markets while improving both personal satisfaction and organizational impact.
