The empathy gap in management: What HR needs to know
Empathy has become essential to leadership, yet new research reveals that managers consistently score lower than the general population in emotional sensitivity. Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at Zety, explains why this gap might exist, and how HR can help managers stay connected to their teams whilst maintaining the decisiveness their roles demand.
The suspicion economy: Why low-trust organisations are racking up ‘AI cultural debt’
A new Deloitte study finds that artificial intelligence is creating what researchers call ‘AI cultural debt’. When organisations move quickly on implementation whilst leaving trust, clarity and behaviour to chance, the hidden costs compound. Culture transformation expert Deborah Hartung explores the growing suspicion economy and how to address the cultural fallout.
The legal risks of AI-driven recruitment and redundancy (and how to govern them properly)
Over half of business leaders regret layoffs made using AI-driven tools. But regret is not the biggest concern here – legal risk is. Carolina Merlin, Compliance Manager of Mauve Group, highlights the dangers of giving too much control to AI in HR decision-making, and why proper governance is essential at every stage of the employee lifecycle.
The human cost of megamanaging: Why your leaders have an attention deficit
We’re now in the era of the megamanager, with the average team leader now overseeing 12.1 direct reports. As spans of control expand, managers are consuming information more superficially than ever. Matt Poepsel, VP of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index, explains why this combination is dangerous and how attention management has become 2026’s most critical leadership capability.
2026 imperatives for the AI-aware CHRO: Preparing for the superagent
Meet the ‘superagent’, an AI advancement that will become further embedded in HR this year. Global industry analyst Josh Bersin explains how this development could eliminate up to 30% of workflow steps in employee services, and what this means for the humans of HR.
The leadership development paradox: Why your best leaders burn out first
A 20-year study by The Oxford Review found that the most effective, dedicated and authentic leaders are the ones most likely to burn out. Natasha Wallace, a leadership wellbeing and performance expert, examines why 72% of leaders now report burnout and what organisations must change to develop senior talent who can sustain themselves and their teams.
The CHRO in 2026: A role under pressure
The CHRO role has never been more critical – or more complex. Research by Kathi Enderes at The Josh Bersin Company reveals that 86% of CHROs describe their role shift as ‘significant’ or ‘dramatic’, yet 70% are first-timers learning on the job. With demands outpacing capabilities, how can organisations support CHROs through mounting pressure?
Three leadership norms that harm trust and collaboration
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer describes a highly insular world. Quentin Millington of Marble Brook considers how HR professionals can, by questioning three longstanding norms of leadership, enable their organisations to build trust in the face of differences.
Edelman Trust Barometer 2026: 70% retreat into insularity
As fears about the state of the world grow, people are turning inward, new research from the Edelman Trust Barometer reveals. For workplaces already navigating complexity, this retreat into familiarity poses a serious threat to collaboration, innovation, and productivity. But there’s an opportunity here: leaders and HR can act as trust brokers to bridge the divide.
Setting boundaries in the workplace: Four lessons to learn from Gen Z
Generation Z are rewriting workplace rules with unapologetic boundaries around time, energy and wellbeing. While their approach may seem inflexible to some, could their insistence on protecting their health offer valuable lessons? Leadership coach Emma Georgiou PhD explores four boundary-setting practices that all generations can learn from – and what Gen Z can gain from more experienced colleagues in return.
The awkward culture conversations we avoided in 2025 (and how to confront them in 2026)
What tricky conversation have you been avoiding? Whether it’s about an uncollaborative team member, a demotivating micro-manager, or a knee-jerk decision maker, if left unchecked the ramifications can be significant. Here, Ella Overshott of Pecan Partnership outlines the most common workplace culture issues we struggle to talk about and simple strategies for starting the conversation.
HR predictions for 2026: Navigating a “clusterbomb of challenges” in the workplace
The work landscape in 2026 will bring a “clusterbomb of challenges” for HR to wade through. What will this likely entail? We share predictions from 10 workplace experts covering everything from grievance claims and flattening hierarchies, to improved HR wellbeing and, of course, AI transformation.
How to ensure your 2026 HR priorities are business-led
This guide explores how to build your 2026 priorities by starting with what keeps your business leaders awake at night – not with HR’s favourite frameworks.
Hiring executive leaders in the US: What foreign companies need to know
If you’re organisation is looking to break into the US market, securing a strong leadership team in America is essential. Without external recruitment support, you risk making a bad hire and delaying your expansion. Thomas Lore from Pact and Partners highlights the complexities of hiring US executives and how a smart search partner can help you navigate the confusing world of compliance, pay and employer rules.
Restoration strategies for those who really need it: A guide to finding rest in the age of exhaustion
Too drained to even think about rest? Executive and leadership coach Karen Liebenguth presents four neuroscience-backed strategies for finding restoration when you need it most – from tiny daily habits that rebalance your nervous system to culture-shifting practices that make rest a non-negotiable.
2025 in review: Did the HR pros get it right?
At the start of 2025, we asked 10 people and culture experts to share their work predictions for the year ahead. With December almost here, they’ve returned to assess their forecasts and reflect on how the world of work has changed – for better or worse – over the past year.
A new People and Culture Function for 2026: In conversation with David Liddle, The TCM Group
Is your HR function stuck in a cycle of risk mitigation and retribution? David Liddle, CEO of The TCM Group, argues it’s time for a radical shift. In this Culture Pioneers conversation, he reveals how transforming HR into a strategic People and Culture function can unlock high performance and make you the trusted partner your organisation needs.
Polymorphic organisations: The next evolution of people-centric design
What if your company could shift shape as quickly as the world around it? Here, Perry Timms and Kirsten Buck of PTHR introduce the polymorphic organisation – a living system that adapts to multiple forms based on context – and why HR’s role must evolve from maintaining order to orchestrating continuous transformation.
The perfect storm: Middle-aged men, AI disruption and mental health
Men aged 45–49 have the highest suicide rate in the UK, and many now watch AI tools replicate expertise they spent decades building – all while shouldering peak financial pressures. Thom Dennis, CEO of Serenity in Leadership, explains why generic wellbeing initiatives aren’t working, and what you need to do differently this Movember.
Autonomy vs authority: Finding the balance that works
How much freedom should you give your team, and when do they need clear direction? Too much control stifles creativity and breeds resentment. Too little structure leaves people floundering. Internationally renowned conflict specialist Jane Gunn explores what happens when organisations sway too far in one direction – and shows you how to get the balance right for your team.