General election 2019: Which of the party pledges on adult education will best support lifelong learning?
The neglect of adult education has come to the fore given the fierce acceleration of digitalisation in the workplace. Whilst for most businesses the human workforce will always exist, both business and policymakers now recognise the need to prepare for automation and technology, and how it will impact the type of work humans do. A […]
Ten steps to making apprenticeships work in a small business
As a small business owner, I know only too well that there is never enough time. The day-to-day necessities of running a business consume every waking hour, leaving little or no room to work on those projects that you would love to do but never quite find the time. Small businesses often give this reason […]
Six steps to better learning and development for small businesses
Are you an HR professional within a small business? Do you support small businesses with HR consultancy? If so, how often do you have conversations about learning and development? I know that you are busy. If you work in an organisation, I know that you are called upon to wear many hats: HR manager, health […]
HR job seeking: how to stand out in a crowded market
This year has been one of change on both a global and local level, and this evolving political and economic environment is drastically affecting how companies recruit. In an unstable market, candidates can be nervous about their job prospects and reluctant to consider a move. There are a number of reasons for this, the main […]
Why ‘investors’ (not ‘savers’) are the secret to a high-performing company culture
There are organisational cultures that deliver great performance, and then there are organisational cultures that not only deliver great performance, but crucially, ensure that performance is sustained: next week, next month, when things get tough, when leaders change. Whatever is thrown at the culture, it copes and is exceptionally resilient yet, at the same time, […]
Reaching for the stars: skills advice from a NASA astronaut
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which took place on 20 July 1969, astronaut Dr Story Musgrave explores how his thirst for learning has led to an extraordinary career. Even in our current world of uncertainty anyone can go the distance, he argues, but it requires embracing a new set […]
Personal development: is passion a key ingredient for a successful career?
It’s a widely held myth that passion is essential when trying to forge a successful career, but it takes a little more than this for our brains to master new skills. One of the implicit assumptions about work is that we should be passionate about what we do. A lot of anxiety and dissatisfaction occurs […]
The last mile: turning insights into actions in workplace learning analytics
In part three of a six-part series on workplace learning analytics, Trish Uhl explains how to overcome this common issue – known as ‘the last mile problem’ – transforming insights into positive action that will help steer the business in the right direction DDI research estimates that 79% of analytics programmes fail due to ‘the last mile […]
Employee engagement: how HR leaders can restore employees’ faith in career opportunities
The key to retaining talent is to offer continued career progression, but how can HR do this in the face of increased economic pressure and a volatile trading environment? Nearly half (45.6%) of UK employees who departed their jobs at the end of 2018 reported they left due to a lack of future career opportunities […]
Onboarding: why new starters need a ‘travel guide’
Joining a new company can be a bit like entering a foreign country, so how can we better translate the new language, customs and traditions for new starters during the onboarding process? When we go on holidays to a different country, we usually take a travel guide with us. We want to know the basics […]
When resilience training isn’t the answer
Resilience training can be hugely beneficial for many – but it has a time and a place. Are some managers offering this training as a solution to a difficult situation just to avoid conflict? Have you ever witnessed someone being asked to go on a resilience training course after bringing up a workplace issue or conflict […]
Are those cliché HR metrics working for you?
Traditional HR metrics focus too much on macro events that HR professionals in reality have little influence over. Here are the micro KPIs you should be working towards instead… When I ask people in HR to talk about achievements, the things that they are proud of and what might make it onto their CV for the […]
Are leaders really committed to talent development?
Are senior leaders only paying lip service to talent development? If so, it may be wasting time, money and be jeopardising the success of your programme. Discover tips on how to gain real commitment from the important people in your organisation. A talent development strategy may feel like it is yours to deliver but it […]
10 ways to unleash the potential of dyslexic employees
Supporting employees with dyslexia not only requires offering emotional and practical support to those affected, but also educating other members of staff so everyone benefits. Dyslexia is predicted to affect approximately 10% of the British population, according to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA). Subsequently, around 2.9 million workers are living with this learning difficulty, meaning it’s […]
Activate and amplify: making social learning work
Social learning is happening all around us but there is still an opportunity to embed these experiences into L&D culture to expand its reach more into strategic planning. Despite the title, L&D professionals do not need to make social learning work in an organisation – because it already works. Whenever somebody taps a colleague on the […]
How mentoring can benefit your business
Mentoring schemes are hugely beneficial, and not just because they enhance personal development. They can also contribute to the overall success of an organisation. I started my human resources career by joining a two-year graduate programme where I was partnered with a mentor from the outset. At the time, I wasn’t aware of the benefits of […]
How to support an ageing workforce
Find out how companies can create an environment and culture that retains staff beyond retirement age. Britain is growing old and as the population increases, the proportion of the population aged 85 and over is projected to double over the next 25 years and the number of those working for longer rises with it. Recent […]
The blockchain effect: why businesses need to prepare employees
Blockchain will soon be disrupting the business world in ways that are difficult to fathom. To prepare for the changes ahead, organisations need to upskill, retool and transform their workforce. But how? How much do you know about blockchain? Perhaps your mind instantly moves to bitcoin, the most widely known of the hundreds of ‘cryptocurrencies’ […]
Why wellbeing should be promoted in the workplace
Mention wellbeing and people often associate it with intangible benefits, but did you know when companies invest in wellbeing schemes it’s been proven to boost productivity and performance? In the last few years, the wellness trend has taken over, but wellbeing is about more than mindfulness, superfoods, and #livingyourbestlife. Your sense of wellbeing is about how […]
People management: how to create a psychologically safe environment at work
How psychologically safe is your workplace? If you want to attract and retain valuable team members, it’s time to get to grips with this. Psychological safety, in a work capacity, is all about creating environments in which employees feel accepted and respected. There are ways to identify if your workplace is psychologically safe or unsafe. […]
