Interview: Tom Berquist, CEO, Saba
Tom Berquist, CEO of HR technology company Saba Software, discusses his extensive enterprise software background and insights into talent management trends. He highlights how larger companies struggle to modernize outdated HR systems and attract millennial employees, while forward-thinking tech firms lead transformation efforts like shifting away from traditional annual performance reviews.
Passionate employees deliver superior CX
Engaged employees who are passionate about their work deliver superior customer experiences. True employee engagement extends beyond customer-facing roles to encompass the entire organization, creating a consistent culture that ultimately improves company performance and customer satisfaction.
Three things talent professionals must know
Talent professionals must understand their organization’s unique context, select talent management approaches that fit their business needs, and establish clear measurements aligned with business strategy. Success requires close collaboration with leadership and HR partners, not following generic models or frameworks.
How to integrate outsiders into your team
Team leaders can successfully integrate talented outsiders by understanding their perspective and explaining the broader context of work. Rather than removing misfits who challenge norms, effective leaders should leverage their innovative thinking while addressing communication gaps through patient guidance and clear expectations.
Book review: The Team Formula by Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn
The Team Formula uses a leadership fable to explore team-building challenges in a post-merger insurance company. Through storytelling, authors Flint and Hearn deliver practical insights on establishing team purpose, building trust, and creating effective behavioral foundations for high-performing teams.
There’s no place for egos in a highly effective team
Effective teams require members to set aside egos and prioritize shared goals over individual recognition. Drawing lessons from Team Sky’s Tour de France success, high-performing teams combine clear vision, strong leadership, identified strengths, and flexibility to achieve exceptional results.
Is loneliness the next workplace ticking time bomb?
A new Relate survey of 5,000 people reveals that 40% of workers report having no close friends at work, with many prioritizing employment over family relationships. The study links workplace isolation to low self-esteem and poor work-life balance, raising concerns about loneliness as an emerging workplace issue.
Leadership – too much, too soon?
As the job market improves, businesses are racing to hire leaders quickly, but prioritizing speed over quality in recruitment can backfire. High-profile leadership failures demonstrate the importance of thorough assessment and alignment with clear business objectives before hiring.
How can I support my partner when they’re stressed with work?
Support your stressed partner by listening actively, respecting their coping style, and managing stress together. Couples who actively support each other improve relationship durability, reduce stress, and strengthen their bond through shared activities and quality time.
Five steps to building a robust sales team
Build a robust sales team through five structured steps: evaluate current performance, recruit for cultural fit, invest in ongoing training and development, establish clear progression pathways, and implement fair reward systems. This methodical approach creates a solid foundation for long-term sales success.
Move over teamwork – what about the other forms of co-operative working?
Teams aren’t the only effective way to organize work. Organizations function through multiple overlapping forms of cooperation, and research shows traditional teams often fall short due to artificial structures, groupthink, and unstable membership. Managers should consider a broader spectrum of cooperative working options tailored to specific contexts and conditions.
Book review: Leading Teams: Tools and Techniques for Successful Team Leadership
This 330-page book explores leadership competencies used by sports coaches and their applicability to business team management. Authors Guenzi and Ruta establish that relational leadership, built on credibility, technical competence, and consistency, effectively translates across both sports and business contexts. Drawing on interviews with professional coaches, the book identifies personal leadership and attention to detail as key differentiators for successful team management.
Office politics: what HR practitioners need to know
Office politics exists in every workplace, but HR practitioners often take a passive approach rather than helping employees understand organizational dynamics. Recent research shows 50% of respondents view office politics as constructive rather than destructive, suggesting HR could help shift perceptions and teach positive political navigation skills.
Why no team can survive without conflict
Workplace conflict is natural and necessary for team success. When managed respectfully, differing opinions drive innovation and prevent stagnation. Welcome conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than something to fear.
Elephants and crocodiles: the real challenge of corporate teamwork
Effective corporate teamwork often fails because companies promote strong individual performers who struggle to collaborate as equals. Using neuroscience insights, this article explains how people relying heavily on instinctive decision-making resist the compromise required for true peer-level teamwork.
I want to be alone – but it’s not good for business!
Nearly half of UK employees report their organisations don’t support effective teamwork, risking productivity losses. A survey reveals that 37% prefer working alone, while team leaders often fail to resolve conflicts and build trust, creating toxic workplace environments.
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.
Blog: Five ways to fire up your team for 2013
Help your team start 2013 energized with these five manager engagement strategies. From team bonding activities to inspiring vision-sharing conversations, learn how to reconnect staff after the holidays and keep them motivated through January.
Talking Point: Why put all your eggs in one talent management basket?
Traditional talent management focuses on developing individual high-performers, but this approach is risky and inefficient. Instead, organizations should adopt a “whole team” strategy that builds capability across all employees, ensuring stronger overall performance and reducing vulnerability when star performers leave or underperform.
News: Men who wear pink shirts earn more and are better qualified
Men who wear pink shirts earn significantly more and are better educated than those who prefer white or blue, according to a study of 1,500 male office workers. On average, pink-wearers earn £1,000 more annually and are twice as likely to hold a Masters degree.
