Opinion
Say it better, hear it smarter – the new rules of workplace feedback
Feedback without the freakout: smarter ways to share and receive input, and overcome feedback anxiety by Becky Westwood Feedback has become an essential part of the training and development process in organisations. Not only is it seen as crucial to the business for maximising workforce skills and contribution, it is also often seen as a valuable contribution for personal and career growth by individuals. However, because work is deeply intertwined with people’s sense of identity, purpose and social connection it is…
Quiet quitting or quiet learning? How to reignite employee motivation through development
If employees are checking out, it’s time to spark their ambition with new growth opportunities – Jessica Kriegel explains In a bustling midsize marketing firm in London, Alex, a high-performing project manager, began declining new assignments. Colleagues whispered about “quiet quitting,” but Alex had a different story. “I’m not disengaged,” Alex shared in a candid chat with HR. “I feel stuck. I want to grow, but there’s no path forward here.” 76% of Gen Z employees believe learning is the…
Struggling with trust at work? Blame ‘attachment theory’
Anxious, avoidant or secure? Our early attachments shape how we connect and communicate at work – but coaching helps rebuild trust and foster healthier workplace relationships, writes John Perry Attachment theory, a concept introduced by British psychologist John Bowlby, provides profound insights into how early-life relationships shape our ways of connecting with others. Originally centred on caregiver-child bonds, it has far-reaching implications in the workplace. It reveals how our ability – or struggle – to trust, connect and communicate is…
Everyone wins if we employ more trained former prisoners
Hiring ex-offenders helps to fill skills gaps, strengthen businesses and create wider benefits for society – Sid Madge explains Too many former prisoners reoffend after release – a problem the UK urgently needs to address. Reoffending rates vary based on factors like offence type, age and sentence length, but shockingly, up to 50% of ex-inmates will reoffend within a year. By employing ex-offenders, businesses aren’t just filling job vacancies – they’re contributing to a powerful ripple effect that can reshape lives, families…
Managers: Are you fuelling conflict in your team?
Calling all fixers, ostriches and bureaucrats, it’s time to try the owl approach to management – Anna Shields explains A recent CIPD study found that managers could inadvertently be fuelling tensions in their teams. L&D need to identify counterproductive approaches to conflict management and build the skills to overcome these. Owl managers see the world from a wider range of perspectives, identify issues with an open mind, and handle relationship breakdowns with empathy and care Do managers fuel conflict? The…
Scaling skill adoption with AI and a human-centric approach
Take a phased approach and keep people at the heart of strategy, advises James Swift Leyton, like many businesses, prioritises client retention as a crucial driver of sustainable growth. Recognising that their consultants’ skills directly impacted client relationships and retention rates, Leyton’s talent development team sought innovative solutions to improve skill adoption and consistency across their workforce. The business challenge was to boost client retention. AI provided unprecedented visibility into employee skill usage… replacing subjective observations with objective data …
The AI revolution and navigating the future of talent management
By fostering human skills alongside artificial intelligence, organisations can better prepare their workforces for success – Pete Humphreys explains The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the people profession has become crucial in order to remain competitive. As candidates and employees increasingly embrace AI-powered tools, Human Resources (HR) departments must swiftly adapt to remain relevant and effective. This shift presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in talent management. The most successful HR departments will be those that strike the right balance between…
How infusing creativity into your CV helps you stand out from the crowd
A well-designed curriculum vitae can help you catch recruiters’ attention. Faye Longhurst shares key tips A curriculum vitae (CV) is one of the most important projects we design in our lifetime; taking a blank canvas and filling it with achievements, skills and experience as we grow our career. With more applicants than ever for each role, today’s job market has become increasingly saturated. Because of this, recruiters are often overwhelmed with the number of applications and, crucially: cookie cutter CVs that all…
From code to culture: How AI can embed company culture
Artificial intelligence can help turn company culture from words on a wall into something real – Elie Rashbass explains how Strong and healthy cultures help businesses and employees thrive. Weak or toxic cultures, on the other hand, harm both the workforce and the business’s bottom line. Companies know culture matters and recognise exactly what values they want. However, listing and wanting certain values, even if you mean it (which most companies do!), doesn’t make them a reality. The missing link…
First-time Chief People Officer? How to build for success in 2025
Focus on enhancing employee experience, navigating legislative changes and upskilling your workforce, advises Emma-Claire Kavanagh As business leaders grapple with new legislation, evolving technology and customer demands, they’ll be relying on their Chief People Officers (COPs) to build a workforce that can adapt to market changes in the year ahead. Stepping into the CPO role demands strong HR expertise, but also a deep understanding of an organisation’s long-term goals and the confidence to advise the board at every turn. This…
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