HR Professionals
Editor’s blog: Is the people profession unique in the organisation?
Is the role of the supporting and developing the workforce actually unique? Jo Cook reflects. A lot of questions were posed at the HR Leaders Unconference in London yesterday – everything from AI and organisations processes, through to finding time to decide how to “be” a supportive people function. Many things piqued my interest, and one in particular stayed with me: it was the statement that HR is unique in the business, in it’s challenges and responsibilities. We can appropriately…
UK workforce productivity stagnates as adult training declines
Revamping human capital strategies and transformational change in people practices is needed to boost productivity – Hugh Billot shares a human capital barometer The UK has seen a significant decline in adult education and training says the Institute of Fiscal Studies. My barometer of human capital performance (below) confirms the case. Workers in general are now less productive than in the past. Almost on all critical measures of human capital performance the outcome is poor. There has been a slump…
Performance lessons for organisations from football, tennis and F1
Techniques used in elite sports offer valuable insights for business to improve performance and wellbeing. John McLachlan shares the strategies Our research on organisational performance originated from two key problems. Firstly, that organisations were demanding approaches that balanced performance with employee wellbeing and sustainability. And second, that academic research into organisational performance lacked real-world practical application. Defining what performance means for the organisation or role is essential Elite sports offered us an ideal context to study because it defines performance…
How organisations can bring the best of social media into workplace learning
Imagine a workplace where learning feels as rewarding as your most positive social media interactions. Andrea Sennett explores leveraging digital dynamics for higher engagement and professional growth How much time does the average person spend scrolling and interacting with others on social media? Research has found that UK users spend three hours and 41 minutes online every day, with 77% agreeing that being online helps them stay in contact with friends and family. If companies implemented functions such as likes,…
Investing in success: Building the multi-generational dream team
Navigating a multi-generational workforce can be challenging, but differences can be transformed into organisational strengths. Graham James reveals how managers can achieve a united team Do you view a multigenerational workforce as posing a challenge or being a massive benefit? Many might say a challenge, but the correct answer is a benefit when a collaborative force is in play. Personal and professional development is a great way to plug the existing skills gap and alleviate workplace divisions and burnout Co-operation…
TJ interviews: L&D strategist, author and speaker Paul Matthews
Today is the 25th anniversary of People Alchemy: Jo interviews founder and CEO Paul Matthews Training Journal: What was different in L&D 25 years ago? Paul Matthews: 25 years ago, the range of things that L&D got involved with was much smaller. And that range was mostly delivering training on demand with little thought beyond the classroom. In hindsight, except for rare pockets of excellence, what we were doing back then was not good in terms of impact and business…
Embracing a strengths-based development approach
Do you focus on faults or strengths? One approach can help improve engagement and productivity – Steve Macaulay and Sarah Cook report When a mistake or problem arises, how do you and your organisation typically react? A common response is what we would call the “dumping a pile of bricks” approach: coming down hard on the individual responsible, focusing intensely on the weakness or difficulty, and pouring resources into solving the problem. Employees who use their strengths daily are six…
How does your business know that its coaching and mentoring investment is fit for purpose?
Unlock the potential of coaching and mentoring with this checklist of insights and actionable steps from Diane Newell Coaching and mentoring can be powerful tools for developing a strong leadership culture and fostering personal and professional growth, in service of business success. Managers with coaching skills increased business performance by 130%, and 80% of employees reported higher performance and wellbeing Organisations, large and small, have seen their use of coaching, especially external coaching and mentoring, grow exponentially over the last…
Am I being AI-washed?
Are you being misled by AI claims? Helen Marshall delves into the concept of AI-washing and its implications With the rise of AI-powered solutions it’s more important than ever to adopt a critical thinking approach. In mid-May, OpenAI released a new and updated version of ChatGPT: ChatGPT-40. It offered things like conversational audio responses, better image recognition, and more human-like qualities akin to a coach. Less than 24 hours after its release, a number of well-known learning technology products started…
The future belongs to the curious
In a world of AI and constant change, it’s the curious that will outperform others. Thomas Bergen shares with us about developing meta-skills Traditional training methods that neatly separate hard and soft skills are often inadequate. They do not address the multifaceted challenges of contemporary learning and knowledge management in the workplace. Emphasising meta-skills empowers employees to become self-reliant problem-solvers, elevating the value of human contribution within the organisation. Blending human expertise with advanced AI technology is what is needed…
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