Category Talent

The skills crisis is a funding crisis

People and money bag with coins on scales. Decent wages. Social payments. Workers deserve to be financially compensated for their time and skills. Investments. Hired force. Financial support.

Jeni Burckart argues the skills crisis is not motivation but money: workers expect massive skill shifts by 2030, yet many pay out of pocket or skip training entirely. She explains why ‘figure it out yourself’ fails, and how upfront employer-funded…

Read MoreThe skills crisis is a funding crisis

Why skills intelligence is the missing link in workforce planning for the talent crisis

Office, business people and woman with discussion for laptop screen, financial strategy and report. Teamwork, employees and manager in meeting for accounting firm, profit growth and planning by flare

Workforce planning is being rewritten by AI, and old build-or-buy thinking can’t keep up. Ciara Harrington sets out the Four Bs framework, Build, Buy, Borrow and Bot, powered by skills intelligence and skills gap analysis. It helps HR and L&D…

Read MoreWhy skills intelligence is the missing link in workforce planning for the talent crisis

The efficiency paradox: Why AI is speeding up work but slowing down leadership

Slow growth, inefficient or stupid mistake, businessman idiot leader riding slow snail never reach goal, losing business competition

Andrew Bryant argues that AI-driven efficiency is outpacing leadership capability, creating an “efficiency paradox” where organisations perform better on paper but grow strategically weaker. He explores Klarna’s AI lesson, the shift from performance management to potential development, and why L&D…

Read MoreThe efficiency paradox: Why AI is speeding up work but slowing down leadership

How can culture gaps in the workplace be turned into strengths?

Workplace culture concept. Silhouettes drawn on sheets.

Anna Flynn explains why commercial and technical teams often pull in different directions, and how growing tech businesses can build shared purpose without flattening diversity. She explores culture, structured communication and meaningful recognition, showing how better alignment reduces friction, improves…

Read MoreHow can culture gaps in the workplace be turned into strengths?

The qualification trap: Why apprenticeship frameworks are excluding capable talent

Apprenticeship on wooden blocks as education or job training concept.

Apprenticeships were designed to prioritise applied capability, yet assessment frameworks can still exclude individuals who can perform the role itself. And exclusion means less people getting what they need. Michelle Carson examines how this misalignment is narrowing workforce pipelines and…

Read MoreThe qualification trap: Why apprenticeship frameworks are excluding capable talent

Building the bridge between competence and capability

Wooden mannequin jumping across a gap while a human hand provides a bridge labeled Opportunity on a dark background

Ben Satchwell explains how organisations can integrate competency and capability frameworks, avoiding duplication by clarifying where each operates. Ben shows just why levels mean different things, position skills taxonomies are the connecting layer for digital interoperability, and outlines practical ways…

Read MoreBuilding the bridge between competence and capability

Why competency frameworks hit a ceiling for development

Competence Concept: Developing Skills and Expertise for Professional Growth.

Ben Satchwell explains why competency frameworks can support development only within the boundaries of current role performance, because they were built for assurance and consistency. Ben contrasts this with capability frameworks, designed for future readiness, and argue the strongest approach…

Read MoreWhy competency frameworks hit a ceiling for development

Does reaching the top of the corporate ladder really bring happiness in 2026?

Career progress and personal happiness concept with wooden blocks and smile icon

Rochelle Trow argues that today’s senior roles sit at the centre of global turbulence, where pressure rarely eases and success no longer guarantees fulfilment. Drawing on research from WEF, Gallup and Deloitte, she explores cognitive load, organisational strain and why…

Read MoreDoes reaching the top of the corporate ladder really bring happiness in 2026?

Stop calling everything a skill

Words matter symbol. Concept word Words matter on beautiful black wooden hand with finger. Beautiful shop display background. Business words matter concept. Copy space.

Ben Satchwell argues that muddled language is undermining people frameworks, HR systems and L&D credibility, especially as skills data becomes machine-readable. Ben clarifies the building blocks from knowledge to behaviour, explains why competencies evidence individual performance while capabilities describe systemic…

Read MoreStop calling everything a skill

Beyond generative: The leadership playbook for agentic AI learning

Businesswoman Analyzing Data with AI Assistant in Modern Environment

As agentic AI moves to setting goals and acting, workplace learning is shifting into the flow of work. Johnson Wong argues leaders must design AI-enabled workflows, reskill for human oversight, and enable department alignment of IT, operations and the people…

Read MoreBeyond generative: The leadership playbook for agentic AI learning