Everyone is talking about productivity, layoffs, and job redesign. In this week’s podcast I share much of what we’re learning in AI-based job design, all with a focus on productivity.

I discuss the role of Reejig, Gloat, Draup and the shift from “skills-based organization” strategies to “task and activity” redesign. And I also share my experiences with the “chainsaw” model of layoffs.

Additional Information

Busting Bureaucracy: Are Layoffs The Only Way To Go?

How To Create Talent Density

The Road To AI-Driven Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation

Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this episode of the WhatWorks podcast, Caryn McGarry, CHRO of ICF, describes her journey to CHRO how she manages HR in a highly competitive professional services company. Caryn shares insights on the detailed nature of the C-suite partnership and how her unique career path contributes to her C-level business role today.

ICF is a large professional services company headquartered in Washington, DC with over 7,000 employees globally.

Additional Information

Why Is It So Hard To Be A Chief HR Officer (CHRO)?

New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO

Systemic HR Overview

How Systemic HR shapes TomTom’s Strategic HR Journey

After an intense week in Europe at an HR Technology conference, I want to share my deep perspectives on Trust, which is in very short supply these days. Not only do European leaders mistrust the US right now, the Edelman Trust Barometer shows that 2/3 of employees no longer trust the CEOs of their own companies.

In an effort to help you think this through, I share the three dimensions of trust and give you some important things to think about in your own career and in your role as an HR professional, leader, friend, or advisor to other leaders in your company.

Additional Information

2025 Edelman Trust Barometer: A Crisis of Grievance

Citizenship At Work: Dealing With Politics Inside and Outside The Company (podcast)

Corporate Citizenship Defined: Trust, Inclusion, and Responsibility

Giving Voice to Values: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

After a long week of meetings about AI transformation with many companies, I want to highlight the big paradox we face. On one hand, AI is now seen as a proven, pragmatic solution to productivity, growth, and customer experience. So every company is pushing for AI transformations in every domain. But on the other hand, AI is also likely to eliminate many routine jobs, already leading to a white-collar recession. (White collar and college educated workers are having a hard time finding new jobs.)

How do we deal with this paradox? Listen in and I’ll tell you the story, and also explain how companies are redesigning their entire job architectures to accommodate the AI change.

Additional Information

First HR AI Success Metrics Beyond “Saving Time” Emerge from Josh Bersin Company Analysis

The Rise of the Superworker: AI Imperatives for 2025

Meet Galileo, your essential AI assistant for everything HR.

This week I summarize some of the hard-hitting AI transformation and productivity stories we’re hearing from clients, and I explain the various ways to approach these topics. I also discuss the surprising pushback on DEI and how workforce fear and stress has risen in our companies. All this leads to a new and important new role for HR leaders: driving and leading the push toward productivity and automation throughout the company.

And finally I try to give you some perspective on the Elon Musk DOGE work going on in Washington and how this impacts our business strategies.

Additional Information

Busting Bureaucracy: Are Layoffs The Only Way To Go?

New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO

Despite Political Firestorm, Diversity Investments Are Alive And Well

The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI

Edelman Trust Barometer 2025

Resources For You

The Organization Design SuperClass (Josh Bersin Academy certificate program)

Elevating Equity: Comprehensive Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR

This week I interview CEO of Arist Michael Ioffe, one of the most innovative entrepreneurs I’ve met. Michael and his team have built an astounding message-based learning platform that uses AI to build content, distribute content, and even do needs analysis.

For those of you who are L&D or learning geeks, you really need to listen to this podcast. Arist was developed for “learning in the war zone,” and that’s pretty much what business is like.

Additional Information

Experience Arist: HR Predictions and Imperatives for 2025 (Josh Bersin Academy – Free)

Autonomous Corporate Learning Platforms: Arriving Now, Powered by AI

The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI

This week I share perspectives on the huge theme of “taking a chainsaw to bureaucracy” and improving productivity. Is it fair to “Blame the Workers” for the bureaucracy we face?

There is a growing trend toward strategic layoffs and workforce redeployment around AI, and this is just the beginning. But rather than blaming the workers for the problem, I suggest the problem starts at the top. When leaders over-hire, fail to clarify goals, and under-invest in strong leadership alignment, bureaucracy grows as a result.

Along our new theme of “Creating the Superworker Organization,” I try to explain a new way of thinking about this challenge, and push for CEOs and CHROs to take responsibility.

Additional Information

The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI

New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO

The Road To AI-Driven Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation

“The moment your HR organization can be ‘replicated’ into another company, you’ve failed as a CHRO.”

In this podcast Arne-Christian explains why the CHRO is no longer an HR leader, but now a business transformation executive.

Arne-Christian describes his career path to becoming a CHRO, identifies the key behaviors and characteristics that helped him become a high-performing CHRO, and discusses the evolving role of the CHRO and how it can shape the journey to Systemic HR®. He also provides actionable guidance for rising HR leaders, current CHROs, and CEOs to create business impact.

If you’re a senior HR leader and would like to join our podcast, please reach out to us.

Additional Information

Why Is It So Hard To Be A Chief HR Officer (CHRO)?

New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO

CHRO Insights Research Report

CHRO Insights Benchmarking Survey

CHRO Insights Video (Youtube)

In this podcast I want to talk about Jamie Dimon’s recent town-hall at JP Morgan Chase. He describes his frustration with remote work, bureaucracy, and lack of productivity in vivid language. As you’ll hear from my comments, I have 100% sympathy for his feelings, but the answer is not as simple as forcing people into the office or laying off 10% of the workforce.

Stay tuned I promise you’ll learn something. This is a problem in job design, culture, middle management roles, and overly complex job architecture. And we’re witnessing this precise situation with layoffs at Salesforce, Workday, Meta, and other fast-growing companies.

Additional Information

New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO

Understanding Organization Design

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this week’s podcast I introduce our new research on the important and fast-changing role of CHRO, or Chief People Officer.

Over the last decade this role has exploded in scope and importance, leaving many CEOs and CHROs working to keep up. After a year of research studying the career history and performance of more than 20,000 senior HR leaders, I explain how the role has changed and share our new research on the backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities of the world’s leading Chief HR Officers.

If you’re a senior HR leader, please join our benchmarking survey to learn more.

Additional Information

New Research Unlocks Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO (article)

CHRO Insights Research Report

CHRO Insights Benchmarking Survey

CHRO Insights Video (Youtube)