The key to 21st century leadership
Today’s business leaders must navigate rapid market disruption from technology, regulation, and new competitors. Successful 21st-century CEOs need decisive leadership, a culture of innovation, and the ability to overcome analysis paralysis to drive organizational change and growth.
Leadership figures in focus – Napoleon Bonaparte
Explore Napoleon Bonaparte’s complex legacy as a military leader—a figure of contradictions who inspired soldiers through practical reforms yet ultimately failed through endless warfare and territorial expansion that drained France’s resources.
Simon Sinek – how do great leaders inspire action?
Simon Sinek explains how great leaders inspire action through his “Golden Circle” concept: successful organizations communicate their “why”—their purpose and beliefs—before their “what” and “how.” People buy based on shared values, not just products or services.
Secret to brand engagement? Trust in good leadership
Effective brand engagement requires employee trust in leadership at all levels. Leaders must demonstrate commitment through consistent behavior, employee involvement, and clear communication rather than relying on internal marketing alone. Trust, built through participative leadership and alignment with organizational values, is the primary indicator of strategic engagement success.
Cheerfulness is the most important leadership quality
Research from the Royal Navy’s leadership manual reveals that cheerfulness is the most critical leadership quality. The ability to maintain a positive attitude influences team morale, productivity, and organizational success across military, business, and nonprofit sectors.
Interview: Ann Francke, Chief Executive, Chartered Management Institute
Ann Francke, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute, discusses how employer expectations of managers are changing, from managing complexity and change to adopting inclusive, coaching-based leadership styles. She explains why many managers fail to take their role seriously and how different generations approach management differently.
Changing world of work must drive management makeover
The Chartered Management Institute says managers need significant skill development to prepare for future workplace changes, including blurred work-life boundaries, flexible hours, and increased performance monitoring. Key priorities include building partnerships, creating agile teams, and mastering social media, though many managers report weakness in these areas.
The HR identity crisis and what we can do about it
HR departments face an identity crisis, often perceived as administrative rather than strategic partners. Modern HR has evolved into a key business function capable of driving corporate strategy and competitive advantage through talent management and employee engagement.
Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela’s life
Nelson Mandela’s life reveals two critical leadership lessons: transforming a nation requires inspiring leaders at every level, not just at the top, and character matters more than strategy. Though Mandela inspired the anti-apartheid movement, his failure to develop strong moral leaders around him left South Africa facing corruption and continued economic inequality.
Lessons from Colonel Chris Hadfield, astronaut extraordinaire
Former International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield shares candid life lessons from his Reddit discussions, offering practical advice on career development, managing fear through preparation, and finding fulfillment in daily decisions rather than distant achievements.
Nelson Mandela has passed away and we’ve lost a visionary leader
Nelson Mandela passed away on November 5th. As the world mourns the loss of South Africa’s first black president and visionary leader, we examine his most influential quotes and their lessons for business, leadership, and personal success.
HR technology toolkit, written by Professors
Explore a free HR technology toolkit featuring academic research from leading business schools in Italy, Germany, the UK, France, and America. Topics cover social media, big data analytics, employee self-service, Generation Y, and technology in multinationals.
Leadership development is not working. Here’s why…
Most leadership development programs fail to produce behavioral change despite significant investment, according to new research. A study of over 2,000 UK workers reveals that telecoms leaders rank highest on brain-savvy effectiveness, while financial services and manufacturing struggle most. The key to better leadership lies in understanding neuroscience principles and how leaders help employees navigate change.
A guide to creating employment ads that stick to the rules
Learn how to create compliant employment ads that attract the right candidates without misleading applicants. Discover the Advertising Standards Authority rules, common violations like misleading job titles and salary claims, and best practices for writing effective recruitment ads.
Financial services & manufacturing leaders ‘worst in UK’
Financial Services and Manufacturing leaders rank lowest in the UK according to a leadership development study of 2,000+ workers. The research, based on neuroscience principles, found that only 11% of Financial Services employees felt their leaders helped them understand organizational change effectively.
Interview: Brian Bowden, Director of HR Operations at Aer Lingus
Brian Bowden, Director of HR Operations at Aer Lingus, discusses how the airline repositioned its HR function to focus on strategic activities like talent development while standardizing administrative processes, and explains HR practices specific to high-reliability organizations in the aviation industry.
An iceberg sunk the Titanic, right? Wrong.
While an iceberg struck the Titanic, multiple system failures caused the disaster: missing binoculars for lookouts, calm seas masking icebergs, and poor ship safety procedures. Complex causality—not single events—typically underlies major catastrophes.
Has BBC HR director Lucy Adams really ‘killed’ off the HR profession?
BBC HR director Lucy Adams faced criticism for excessive executive severance packages, sparking debate about whether the controversy will damage the HR profession. While some argue the scandal reflects poorly on HR, experts contend the industry is strengthening through professional engagement and recognition efforts.
Interview: Kathy Allison, Head of HR at boohoo.com
Kathy Allison, Head of HR at boohoo.com, shares insights on employee engagement, scaling recruitment challenges, and managing a workforce dominated by Generation Y talent in this candid interview about building culture during rapid growth.
Why measuring the impact of training is absolutely essential
Most organizations fail to measure training impact, with only 28% actively using data to monitor effectiveness. Measuring training impact demonstrates value, enables continuous improvement, and provides evidence to leadership—making it essential for justifying training budgets and enhancing program results.
