Talking Point: Lembit Opik – Do you know how to manage a maverick?
I suppose you could say that I was a ‘maverick.’ Of course, it all depends on the definition. Personally, I’d define a maverick as someone who follows their conscience and imagination rather than following the ‘norm’. But other people might define such people in a different way: for example, as an unpredictable, uncontrollable […]
Blog: Four simple ways to improve how senior leaders communicate
Happy New Year to you all! Some of the great blogs and articles I’ve read on HRZone across 2012 were about HR’s role in supporting leaders. They led me to think back to a number of recent conversations I’ve had with our Strategic Communication Research Forum members about the overall issue of leadership comms across […]
Blog: How to live long and prosper
After the indulgences of the festive period, it is worth considering the findings from a 60 year study into what makes us happy and healthy or sick and sad. It shows that we have a lot more influence over our long term health and well-being than previously thought…Your life and happiness are in your hands. […]
Four easy steps to plan for career change
Of course skills, qualifications and abilities are vital, but when I am coaching people who want to change career, it often transpires that they have not stopped to consider what they really want. It’s natural to some extent to want to just move on quickly, but this research and reflection time will be time very […]
News: Deloitte’s Bersin buy signals HR’s growing strategic importance
In recognition of the HR function’s growing strategic importance, Deloitte Consulting has acquired analyst company, Bersin & Associates, in a bid to access a new customer base. The aim is to keep the existing Bersin team intact and run it as a business unit under the moniker of ‘Bersin by Deloitte’, with the aim of […]
Blog: Dealing with the thorny legal issue of vicarious liability
Employers should not turn a blind eye to allegations of harassment. They should be investigated fully as quickly as possible and dealt with appropriately and fairly. In cases of sexual or racial harassment that are taken to an employment tribunal, an employer may have to defend an allegation of vicarious liability. […]
Blog: What to do when 2012 anxieties becomes 2013 stress
2013 is now well and truly underway. The Christmas trees are down, New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, and employees are back at work. But, after the hype of the festive season, and when faced with hundreds of emails to sift through, it can be difficult for employees to settle back in – particularly […]
Book Review: From complexity to simplicity – Unleash your organisation’s potential!
Okay: so let’s be clear from the start – the authors, Simon Collinson and Melvin Jay, have a consultancy to promote. Their company, cunningly called The Simplicity Partnership, provides business consulting to a range of impressive clients. All of which is fine since their approach is something that I’ve been interested in for a […]
Talent management in a post-recession world
The UK may have officially emerged from recession towards the end of last year, but many employers are still worried about the stability of their workforce – especially if greater business confidence and improving job opportunities make it more likely that talented staff will start jumping ship. In our HR 2012 Salary and Market Insight […]
Blog: Boosting employee energy for 2013
"Managing your energy is more important than managing your time." (AG Lafley, former CEO of Procter & Gamble). Whilst a great many organisations now run excellent health and wellbeing programmes for their staff, the elephant slumped in the corner of the room is employee energy. The simple fact is that after four tough years, […]
In a Nutshell: Four considerations when holding a tricky conversation
As an HR pro, being able to talk about sensitive and emotive issues is an important part of the job, but it’s also one of the toughest. If handled badly, such conversations, ranging from performance and conduct to personal matters, can damage team dynamics, lower morale and have a negative impact on attendance and performance […]
News: Top 10 talent trends for 2013
From the continued impact of the difficult global economic situation on HR departments to a growing focus on workforce diversity, 2013 looks set to be a dynamic and exciting year. Recruitment consultancy Futurestep, a Korn/Ferry company, outlines the top 10 trends that it expects to see in the talent management arena: 1. To outsource […]
Blog: Five ways to fire up your team for 2013
Christmas and the festivities may be over, but helping managers to keep the season of good will going with their teams will have a huge influence on how engaged and motivated staff will feel as they return to work in 2013. January is all about new beginnings but it often takes a few weeks for […]
Blog: 2013 – A new HR business model emerges
“HR must have the knowledge of the organization’s P&L, but more importantly, they should develop a people P&L.” This was a statement by Cynthia Trudell, Executive Vice President Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer of Pepsico. Before Christmas in New York there was an event called the HR Leadership Summit (built “by HR Execs, for […]
Blog: Hiring migrant workers is now a boardroom issue…
The revocation of London Metropolitan University’s student licence this summer shook the Higher Education sector. Although the financial fallout for the university is still yet to be quantified, it is anticipated that the loss of hundreds of international students, coupled with the damage to the university’s reputation, will translate into a massive dent in revenue. […]
Case Study: Inchcape Shipping Services standardises global HR to boost efficiency
Inchcape Shipping Services is in the process of standardising its HR processes in a bid to boost efficiency and better understand its workforce across the 67 countries in which it operates. Rapid growth and global expansion meant that the maritime services provider had so far failed to introduce global HR or any other IT systems […]
What does the future hold for HR?
The world of work has changed beyond recognition in recent years, with commentators predicting we are on the verge of a seismic shift not seen since the industrial revolution. In her book ‘The Shift: The future of work is already here’, Lynda Gratton highlights five forces that will result in profound changes to the […]
Blog: Punk Rock HR – Christmas countdown part 2
In this mini series, we’re counting down 10 HR tips as seen through the eyes and ears of Punk Rock. No need to pogo whilst reading these unless you must! For more on all this, ping me a note with PUNK in the title to claim your free Christmas HR gift – a […]
Blog: Five ways to ensure your meetings are effective
HR can play a big role in improving organisational communication simply by establishing a precedent for office meetings. Effective office meetings lead to improved communication in the workplace, higher levels of productivity, and increased employee morale. So how can you get the most out of meetings in your company? 1. Establish a Meeting Objective: The meeting organiser should […]
Blog: Getting your champagne stories ready for Christmas
December is a time of celebration, thanks and appreciation for many people in business. For others it’s also the end of a financial year and so appraisals are happening too. One leader I am working with described the appraisal season as the most remarkable time where she’s been reminded of what her team […]
