Book review: Beyond the Call by Marc Woods & Steve Coomber
Beyond the Call examines discretionary effort—why some employees go the extra mile while others don’t. Authors Marc Woods and Steve Coomber identify six key drivers of discretionary effort, including autonomy, self-sacrificial leadership, and individualized consideration, demonstrating how organizations can close the gap between actual and potential employee performance.
Book Review: Stretch: Leading Beyond Boundaries by James Brook & Dr Paul Brewerton
Stretch: Leading Beyond Boundaries uses an engaging fable to teach leaders how to shift from a “Path of Limitation” to a “Path of Possibility.” Through practical habits like sharing vision, sparking engagement, and sustaining progress, the book shows how effective leaders can unlock their team’s potential and drive innovation.
Talent Spot: Mark Simmons, HR director at supply & logistics firm Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK Ltd
Mark Simmons has been HR director at Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK Ltd since 2007, leading HR strategy at the 10,000-person international supply chain firm. His career spans cosmetics and logistics, shaped by early roles at Procter & Gamble, Revlon, and Christian Salvesen before joining Norbert Dentressangle during a major acquisition and integration.
News: failure to attract and develop talent is undermining business strategy
Many executives fail to prioritize talent development despite recognizing it’s critical to achieving their business strategy. A Harvard Business Publishing survey found that over a third of business leaders wouldn’t increase focus on attracting and developing talent, yet one in five lack confidence their organization has the skills needed to meet strategic goals.
HR and the CEO – not quite good enough yet…
While Western European CEOs value HR relationships, most don’t see HR leaders as strategic partners. Only 38% believe their head of HR plays a key role in strategic planning, with concerns that HR focuses too much on process rather than understanding the broader business.
Executive deafness to employee voices creating lack of engagement
UK employee engagement has hit a record low, with only 35% actively engaged, largely due to executives failing to listen to staff concerns. Public sector workers are particularly affected, with just 21% trusting senior leaders and 62% feeling excluded from important decisions. The CIPD survey highlights that responsiveness to employee voices is critical for engagement and organizational performance.
Final pensions RIP for the private sector?
Private sector final salary pensions closed to new staff at a record rate in 2012, with only 13% remaining open to new joiners, down from 19% the previous year. A NAPF survey reveals employers increasingly shutting schemes to existing staff too, while shifting workers toward defined contribution pensions instead.
The changing market for HCM applications
The HCM applications market is experiencing rapid transformation as cloud-based SaaS solutions gain adoption among medium-to-large organizations. IDC projects the market will grow at 8.1% annually through 2016, driven by organizations seeking to replace aging legacy HR systems. Major vendors like Workday, SuccessFactors, and ADP are competing for market share as cloud delivery becomes the preferred model for HR procurement.
News: Management on the move in 2013
Nearly a third of UK senior managers planned to change jobs in 2013, driven by higher pay and new challenges, but only 37% felt confident securing a new role. The research revealed most business decision-makers overlooked social media for career promotion, relying instead on traditional channels like job websites and headhunters.
Generating success: How to build a culture of confidence
Building a culture of confidence requires embedding positive expectations into organizational interactions and company culture. HR directors can foster success cycles by helping employees recognize their strengths, encouraging positive work practices from managers, and creating environments where confidence drives better performance.
The art of change management
Effective change management begins with comprehensive 360-degree feedback from all organizational levels to understand current state and future direction. HR leaders must then address critical decisions about outsourcing, workforce restructuring, compensation, and compliance to guide successful organizational transformation.
News: EU – Employers ‘must retrain or redeploy redundant staff’
The European Parliament has approved proposals requiring medium and large employers to retrain or redeploy staff facing redundancy. The regulations would apply to organizations with over 100 employees in a single EU member state, obliging them to provide retraining, job placement support, and paid time off for job searches.
Blog: Seven career questions to ask yourself for 2013
As we enter a new year, consider seven critical career questions: Do you have a clear three-year plan? Have you developed new skills and knowledge? Do you have a mentor providing feedback? These reflections help ensure meaningful career progress and professional growth.
Living Leader Learnings: How can I get my team to trust me?
Building team trust requires consistent actions rather than words. Focus on listening genuinely, following through on commitments, and being authentic by sharing concerns and involving your team in problem-solving rather than just presenting answers.
News: Female solicitor warned off having relationship or babies, tribunal hears
A female solicitor has accused her former manager of unfairly dismissing her due to gender discrimination after she began a relationship against his wishes. Kate Baker claims she was warned not to have a relationship or babies and describes a bullying workplace culture at the law firm. The case is proceeding to a full tribunal hearing.
Blog: Four simple ways to improve how senior leaders communicate
Senior leaders can dramatically improve their communication effectiveness through four key strategies: establishing genuine two-way dialogue channels, tailoring interventions to individual leaders and employee needs, and implementing other targeted approaches that enhance strategic focus and employee engagement.
News: Low income NHS staff “not paid properly” since transfer to outsourcer
Low-income NHS staff at Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital have experienced payment problems since being transferred to contractor Sodexo, with some workers missing wages and overtime payments. The GMB union reports employees have had to collect emergency cash at company offices, though Sodexo says it remains committed to resolving the issues.
Blog: 2013 – A new HR business model emerges
In 2013, HR leaders are adopting a new business model centered on creating a “people P&L” that measures human capital metrics alongside financial performance. Leading HR executives recognize that workforce skills directly impact business growth, elevating HR’s strategic importance in executive decision-making.
Blog: Getting your champagne stories ready for Christmas
Prepare memorable “champagne stories” from your year’s achievements to share at Christmas networking events and office celebrations. Use these anecdotes to showcase your accomplishments authentically, engage colleagues in meaningful conversation, and make lasting professional impressions beyond dry facts and figures.
Vox Pops: How can you best build a business case for buying HR software?
HR professionals share practical advice on building a compelling business case for HR software investment, covering ROI analysis, stakeholder buy-in, and implementation considerations discussed at the CIPD conference.
