How to drive culture change when your boss doesn’t want to
Senior leaders now widely recognise the strategic value of workplace culture. But not all bosses embrace the challenge of changing a problematic one. Ella Overshott, Director of Pecan Partnership, outlines the reasons why so many resist or ignore the problem, and how you can overcome (or divert) their defiance.
Are we really facing a leadership crisis. Or is Gen Z simply changing the rules?
Rather than rejecting leadership, Gen Z is reshaping it, argues Barbara Matthews, Chief People Officer at Remote. Here, she challenges outdated models and pushes companies to reimagine leadership as flexible, authentic, and aligned with values.
The games at play in your company’s culture – and how to stop them
Since Eric Berne’s groundbreaking book Games People Play, leaders are more aware of the unconscious dynamics that influence the way people work together. In today’s context of hybrid working, multi-cultural teams and AI, are games still at play? If so, how do we spot them and what can we do about them? Ella Overshott, Partner at Pecan Partnership, examines these questions below.
Rethink performance: How overdone strengths cause teams to fail
The usual narrative on performance fails to account for the contexts in which people work, and results in unnecessary conflict and blame. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook looks beyond ‘development areas’ toward ‘overdone strengths’, to reveal how HR can shift the conversation for the benefit of all.
The QUIET Listening Framework: Talk less to achieve more
We’re conditioned to think influence comes from pushing our views. By choosing to be QUIET, we can transform the way that we lead.
Age discrimination or a polarising world? Four ways to tackle distrust and misinformation at work
A recent survey shows 90% of older workers experience workplace ageism, but other research reveals fear of discrimination spans all demographics. The real culprit? Growing societal polarisation, warns Blaire Palmer, CEO of That People Thing. Here, she outlines how to tackle this through transparency, bias awareness, and fostering cross-generational collaboration.
Interview: How Tesla’s former DEI director, Kristen Kavanaugh, chose courage over fear
Courageous leadership isn’t about saving the day. It’s about taking small steps to stand up for your beliefs, when retreating would be easier. In an interview with HRZone, Kristen Kavanaugh, former DEI director of Tesla, reveals her journey to resilience, her proudest moments at the automotive company, and how courageous leaders can respond to corporate pullbacks from DEI.
Five psychological safety challenges for hybrid workplaces
Building psychological safety is a complex venture for any organisation. But the very nature of hybrid work makes it even more difficult to foster. Here, Jacqueline Towers of Hubstar presents five common barriers to speak-up cultures in hybrid settings – and how to remove these through small changes to everyday behaviours.
Beyond the strategy deck: How HR can turn sustainability promises into action
Your sustainability strategy looks impressive, but are your people systems actually delivering change? Professor Matthew Gitsham from Hult International Business School explores the critical disconnect between organisational promises and performance – and shows you exactly how HR can bridge that gap through culture, capability, and leadership transformation.
Return to office: How not to upset almost everyone
With return-to-office (RTO) mandates back in the news, Quentin Millington of Marble Brook explains why there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy for where to work. Here, he outlines eight questions HR leaders can pose to their organisations to encourage meaningful thinking, rapid decisions and practical action.
The science behind what makes or breaks a team
Teams don’t fail because they lack talent – they fail because of invisible choices made every day. From the split-second decision to speak up or stay silent, to whether someone steps forward or holds back. Here, Perry Timms and Kirsten Buck of PTHR reveal the science behind what really drives team success.
Lessons from the depths: What OceanGate teaches us about toxic leadership
The OceanGate investigation revealed that toxic leadership played a crucial role in a preventable tragedy. But these destructive patterns exist in workplaces everywhere. Here, occupational psychologist Fran Pestana explains how gaslighting and manipulation operate – and their profound psychological and commercial costs.
Culture is the strategy: Why the most innovative leaders are rewriting the rulebook
A good culture is your competitive edge in a world of disruption. But how do you get there? Learn from leaders who know what works, and what doesn’t, at our 2025 Culture Pioneers Leadership Forum on 16th October, in London.
Money versus people, the conflict ChatGPT cannot resolve
As OpenAI restructures to chase profits, raising doubts about the firm’s commitment to AI for the benefit of all, we see writ large the unremitting conflict between self-interest and stakeholder value. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook makes sense of the complex dynamic, offering ideas to quieten this near-universal distraction from good work.
Three ways to boost workplace connection: No mandates required
Workplace leaders are discovering that forcing in-person social connection through mandates often destroys the very culture they’re trying to build. Here, Jacqueline Towers of Hubstar explores what to do instead.
From cricket fields to coaching wisdom: Roland Butcher on what makes great leaders
As the first Black cricketer to play for England, Roland Butcher has learned a thing or two about leadership, coaching, and personal growth. Translating these lessons from the pitch to the workplace, Debra Corey of Step It Up HR shares five standout tips from Roland’s inspirational journey.
Assemble your inner hero: Leadership lessons from Marvel’s Fantastic Four
What can superheroes teach us about leadership? Following Marvel’s latest release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Mark Leisegang of Insights reveals how to unlock your inner powers of self-awareness, fluidity, and collaboration.
Dangerous HR liaisons: Threats, knives and throuples
There’s a common misconception that HR’s role is limited to hiring and firing, but there is so much more to it than that. And many of the situations that an HR professional finds themselves dealing with are things that you’d never consider, even in your wildest dreams.
Executive bonuses: Rewarding failure or failing to reward?
As scrutiny intensifies on executive bonuses in public service firms, Simon Cook of Innecto Reward Consulting unpacks the thorny debate. Using Thames Water as a case in point, he explores whether tighter regulation is the answer or if a more balanced approach to reward could protect both public trust and business competitiveness.
Here comes the Sun: How to boost productivity and wellbeing this summer
The UK has already hit it’s third heatwave of the summer. How can employers keep productivity flowing while also allowing extra flexibility? Five HR experts share their tips.