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Curiosity over assumption: decoding digital body language in teams
Body language has always been tricky. Crossed arms, raised eyebrows, leaning in or looking away; all signals we interpret constantly, sometimes accurately, sometimes disastrously. Whilst we’ve had telecommunication for a long time, Covid transformed our work and learning spaces to be even more digital and virtual. Jo Cook shares more. Much of our professional life now is hybrid, online, and text based. That means our digital body language (DBL) — the emojis we use, the speed of our responses, whether…
The power of psychological safety in uncertain times
Psychological safety helps people speak up, share ideas, and learn from mistakes, essential in fast-moving workplaces. It’s not about removing fear but creating trust and openness. Steve Macaulay and David Buchanan explore what psychological safety looks like, why it matters, and how leaders can create a culture that supports it. Do you feel safe to speak up at work? Can you ask questions, raise concerns, and offer new ideas without hesitation? If not, you’re not alone, and your organisation could…
Neurodiversity at work: how inclusive policies drive success
Professor Adam Boddison OBE talks about APM’s latest survey that reveals nearly all project managers see clear benefits from adjusting policies to support neurodivergent staff. This National Inclusion Week, the findings highlight a profession already making progress while still seeking better guidance to ensure even greater inclusivity across the industry. An overwhelming majority of project managers believe their company has directly benefited from extra adjustments to accommodate neurodivergent staff, a survey conducted by the Association for Project Management (APM) has…
Talk saves lives – why suicide needs to be part of your wellbeing strategy
Suicide remains a taboo topic in many workplaces, yet managers are often the first line of support. Joseph Conway shares why it’s vital we break the silence, and how organisations can foster safer, more compassionate environments where people feel heard, supported and able to seek help before it’s too late. Whether it’s remote or in-person, work is where most people dedicate the majority of their time. This makes managers and leaders not only highly influential in shaping the employee experience,…
Stop building and hoping: why client-first thinking is reshaping IT and training
Clients are navigating a perfect storm of regulation, deeper cyber threats and complex AI disruption. Valerie Merrill explores why off-the-shelf training and tech no longer cut it, and how providers must shift towards customised, compliance-savvy solutions that reflect the real challenges facing today’s organisations and the people who power them. The maxim “if you build it, they will come” has long shaped the ambitions of IT innovators and training providers. Also, as trainers we do have preferences over the courses…
The future of work: Stop confusing performance with capability
Many organisations confuse past performance with future capability – and it’s costing them. Ban Satchwell explains why relying on outcomes alone leads to flawed decisions, missed potential and ineffective people development. To build resilient, adaptable teams, we must treat performance and capability as utterly distinct, and assess them through separate processes. In HR, we often mistake what someone has done for what they can do. This confusion between performance and capability is one of the most persistent and costly errors…
Six leadership essentials for a changed world: From the legacy of Andrew Kakabadse
Professor Andrew Kakabadse’s leadership insights remain vital for today’s HR and L&D professionals. Drawing from decades of research and consultancy experience, Steve Macaulay distils six essential principles that equip leaders to thrive in a complex, unpredictable world. These lessons demand a fresh, values-driven approach to development, governance, and organisational culture. Leadership and governance expert Professor Andrew Kakabadse, who died recently. His work is particularly relevant for L&D and HR professionals today: these core essentials are highly focused on meeting the…
Beyond specialisation: Multi-skilled teams are your best defence against market chaos
As rigid hiring models fall short, cross-functional, multi-skilled professionals are emerging as the new must-haves for future-thinking organisations. Uliana Martynova explores how these adaptable employees help teams bridge gaps, drive company innovation, and build resilience—making them prime candidates not just for today’s challenges but for tomorrow’s leadership roles too. Old-school hiring methods are increasingly falling short, especially with project-based structures and rapid market shifts now the norm. Teams assembled solely around narrow specialisations often struggle to adapt. In today’s landscape,…
Meetings that spark commitment, not eye-rolls
When facilitated badly, leadership gatherings waste time and money. Facilitated well, they create energy, commitment and momentum. Laura Thomson-Staveley shares her fabulous toolkit for turning meetings into engines of collaboration. From Liberating Structures to visible accountability, she shows how skilled facilitation can transform in-person time into outcomes leaders can’t ignore. Picture this: 50 people in a room equals 50 working days of investment. Are you getting genuine value from that time, or watching one person dominate while others mentally check…
Learning that lifts: designing for social mobility in the workplace
Learning that supports social mobility requires more than accessible content, it demands intention, empathy and inclusive design. Anna Ogilby explores how workplace learning can be a catalyst for equity, connection and career progression. When we prioritise flexibility in design, representation and lived experience in every step of the learning journey. For the best learner experience, it goes without saying that learning design must go beyond knowledge transfer into creation of opportunity. In the modern workplace, however, socio economic background remains…
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