People Managers

Lack of confidence - a metaphor showing human struggle with Lack of confidence. Resigned and exhausted person chained to Lack of confidence. Depressed by a continuous struggle,3d illustration

Unlocking potential: The power of believing in your team

Julie Smith

Don’t know what to say to someone struggling with confidence? We have four effective practices! Julie Smith dives into the topic Confidence plays a crucial role in personal growth, career success, and overall wellbeing. But it can be like a roller coaster with ups and downs throughout our lives. Even the most capable and experienced can find themselves grappling with self-doubt from time to time. If we keep pushing ourselves eventually it becomes less scary As a manager, knowing how…

Group of people connected by network. Generative AI.

Fostering connection: The antidote to workplace loneliness

Thom Dennis

A lack of connection at work has impact both for the organisation and the individual. Thom Dennis explores this and shares ways to improve A paradox has emerged in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven work environment: increased connectivity often leads to a sense of disconnection. Social media was supposed to bring us closer together, but it seems we’ve never felt so alone. Collecting ‘friends’ and followers has become a ploy that keeps us engrossed in our technology, yet lost without genuine connection.…

Diverse Modern Office: Black Businesswoman

UK workforce productivity stagnates as adult training declines 

Hugh Billot

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…

Soccer Football Championship: Blue Team Forward Attacks and Scores Goal, Win the Match, Players Happy, Celebrate Victory, Win Tournament. Sport Channel Broadcast Television Concept.

Performance lessons for organisations from football, tennis and F1 

John McLachlan

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…

Hand of businessman using laptop with icon social media and social network. Online marketing concept

How organisations can bring the best of social media into workplace learning

Andrea Sennett

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,…

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Investing in success: Building the multi-generational dream team 

Graham James

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…

Paul Matthews, white male in a suit

TJ interviews: L&D strategist, author and speaker Paul Matthews

Jo Cook

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…

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Embracing a strengths-based development approach 

Steve Macaulay

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…

Businesslady giving instructions telling about corporate goals to multiracial staff

How does your business know that its coaching and mentoring investment is fit for purpose?

Diane Newell

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…

AI

Am I being AI-washed?

Helen Marshall

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…