Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It!

In this episode, Siân Harrington speaks with Rob Briner about the challenges and benefits of adopting an evidence-based approach in HR. They discuss the focus on HR fads and the need to shift towards a more informed and effective HR practice. They explore the role of data and analytics in evidence-based HR and the mindset and skills required to implement this approach. They also highlight areas of HR that are poorly evidenced and discuss how taking an evidence-based approach can lead to more meaningful, healthy, inclusive and sustainable work.

 Key takeaways

·       Why HR fads are often ineffective and can be corrosive to the profession

·       How evidence-based HR involves looking at multiple sources of evidence, including data, personal experience, stakeholder input and scientific research

·       Challenges in implementing an evidence-based approach 

·       How data and analytics play a crucial role in evidence-based HR but it is important to consider the quality and relevance of the data

·       Areas of HR that are poorly evidenced include diversity and inclusion, employee engagement and leadership development

·       Some organisations are leading the field in evidence-based HR but there is still a need for more widespread adoption

·       Taking an evidence-based approach can help make work more meaningful, healthy, inclusive and sustainable by focusing on what is important and making better-informed decisions.

·       Three steps to help you start on the journey towards an evidence-based approach.

About Rob Briner

Rob is professor of organizational psychology at Queen Mary, University of London and associate research director at Corporate Research Forum (CRF). He is also currently a visiting professor of evidence-based HRM at Birkbeck (University of London) and professor at Oslo Nye Høyskole. He was previously co-founder and scientific director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management and has held positions at the Institute for Employment Studies, London School of Economics, King’s College (University of London), Bath University and University of Edinburgh. For more information on his recent work with the Corporate Research Forum on evidence-based HR please check out the Evidence-Based HR Knowledge Hub. 

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this episode, Siân Harrington speaks to innovation expert Cris Beswick about misconceptions about innovation and how the way we approach it today is not delivering the outcomes businesses want.

Cris emphasises that innovation is not just about new products or technology. He defines innovation as the introduction of new or different solutions that solve genuine problems and add value.  He highlights the importance of innovation in today's rapidly changing business landscape and explains why it is crucial for organisations to focus on it.

Cris also addresses the challenges in approaching innovation, the role of leadership and the need for a culture of innovation. And he shares practical steps for leaders to foster innovation within their organisations.

Key takeaways:

• Innovation is not just about new products or technology; it is about introducing new or different solutions that solve genuine problems and add value
• Innovation is vital for organisations to thrive and stay competitive in today's rapidly changing business landscape
• Organisations needs to focus on how owns, drives and contributesto the innovation agenda
• Why does everyone blame the 'permafrost' middle manager? Managers are frozen by the system around them
• Innovation should not be limited to a specific department or team; it is a capability that should be embraced by everyone in the organisation
• You can't build a culture of innovation, so what do we mean by that phrase? Building a culture of innovation requires a clear purpose, conscious leadership decisions and alignment of processes, practices, behaviours and culture
• Why HR needs a seat at the innovation table
• Practical steps you can take to become more innovative.

About Cris Beswick

Cris Beswick is a leading thinker and strategic advisor on innovation leadership and culture and a pioneer in the field of measuring corporate innovation maturity. He’s the co-founder of innovation advisory firm Outcome and best-selling author of Building a culture of Innovation.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this episode of Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It, Siân Harrington and acclaimed thinker Michael Jenkins, author of Expert Humans: Critical Leadership Skills for a Disrupted World, explore why a blend of altruism, empathy and compassion is key to transforming today's workplace into a thriving, humane environment where individuals and organizations can succeed together.

Today's workplaces, more often than not, lack these essential qualities. Transactional relationships, metrics-driven evaluations and mechanistic tasks can sometimes make us forget the genuine human connections that form the essence of a thriving organisation. Yet, evidence suggests those who embrace compassion who understand and act upon it, are the ones more likely to climb the professional ladder, to earn higher incomes and to contribute more profoundly to their organisations 

Just imagine a workplace where the heart meets the machine, where compassion intertwines with technology to create a harmonious, productive environment. In this age of AI let's not forget our intrinsic human advantage, our ability to care, connect and create meaningful relationships. This is what Michael calls being expert human.

Key takeaways

• Importance of compassion and empathy: Why these traits are crucial in the workplace for fostering a humane environment conducive to growth and how 'expert humans' leverage care, connection and meaningful relationships
• Digital transformation and disruptors: How AI, the pandemic, inequality, sustainability and trust are disrupting modern society, plus the "tyranny of the algorithm" and why being an expert human matters more than ever
• ACE Model - Altruism, Compassion, Empathy: An explanation of the ACE model and what each of these traits mean in practice
• How you can personally develop altruism, compassion and empathy: Practical approaches to enhancing your personal empathy and your organizational compassion
• ROI of Empathy and Compassion Training: How to develop the business case for  empathy and compassion training
• Real-life business implementations: Hear how organizations are using ACE
• Practical steps for leaders: The first three steps you should take to become a compassionate and empathetic leader

About Michael Jenkins

Michael Jenkins, born in Malaysia, has had a distinguished career across continents. A Durham University alumnus with advanced studies from Nanzan University, he's worked at Toyota and was a director at INSEAD. A former CEO of Roffey Park leadership institute, he founded Expert Humans and partners with the Future Work Forum. He is author of Expert Humans: Critical Leadership Skills for a Disrupted World and Toxic Humans - Combatting Poisonous Leadership in Boards and Organisations,  published in January 2024.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

Sustainability has become a top agenda item for organizations globally. But many get stuck in a compliance rut, missing real opportunities for innovation and competitive edge. In this episode Dean Sanders tells Siân Harrington how leaders can move their organizations from box–ticking to transformational and profitable sustainability.

As chief enterprise officer at ESG consultancy Anthesis Dean has decades of experience guiding major brands and multinationals. He believes we’re at a pivotal "reality of now" moment. The data shows shocking resource depletion and climate impacts. But there’s still time to act, if leaders can shift mindsets and strategy. 

Key takeways: 

• The difference between sustainability and sustainable performance. The latter views sustainability through the lens of business strategy and competitive advantage, not just compliance
• Many businesses get stuck in compliance mode, box-ticking to meet regulations. This is the "day one" survival mentality
• Leaders need a "day two" mindset – re-approaching sustainability as an opportunity for innovation, new partnerships and strategic advantage. This requires entrepreneurial spirit, social purpose and grit
• People/HR functions have a key role in attracting talent who care about purpose and embedding sustainability across the organization's culture. But accountability must sit with senior leaders
• Have optimism backed by science/evidence. Many sustainable businesses are growing underground and will shoot up. Focus on your purpose and the few material sustainability issues where you can drive real change
• On a personal level, find your purpose and role in serving others. Challenge short-termism and selfishness. Derive joy from having a positive impact.

 The urgency of sustainability issues calls for a pivot from compliance to performance, from survival mode to seizing opportunities. This is a time for radical innovation, not incremental change. HR leaders have an obligation to foster the leadership mindsets, organizational culture and human capabilities to lead on sustainability – and gain competitive edge. Listen now to find out what role  you can play in making your organization a true sustainability leader.

About Dean Sanders

Dean is chief enterprise officer at global sustainability consultancy group Anthesis and  founder and chairman of GoodBrand, a corporate social innovation consultancy. He believes imagination and courage and a commitment to serve the common good are the hallmarks of the wise leaders of the future. Prior to establishing GoodBrand Dean held a number of international marketing and sales positions at Kraft Foods. He is an Honorary Fellow at Durham University Business School. He is co-author of The Adventure of Sustainable Performance, Beyond ESG Compliance to Leadership in the New Era with founder of Anthesis, Stuart McLachlan.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this episode of Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It, Siân Harrington chats to celebrated comedian and communications expert Neil Mullarkey about why we need to improve communication in the workplace and the potential of improvisation as a tool for doing so.

Neil recounts his journey from teaming up with Mike Myers in the 1980s and co-founding the Comedy Store Players to exploring how improvisation can enhance workplace collaboration. Delving into the business realm, he emphasizes how crucial 'soft skills' like listening and adaptability have become, especially with research highlighting the lack of communication skills in modern work environments. In fact, poor communication has been estimated to cost businesses dearly in terms of productivity.

Key takeaways:

• Modern communication platforms (eg emails, WhatsApp, Teams) have increased, leading to confusion and overwhelm
• Pandemic lockdown revealed an abundance of formal communication but a lack of informal communication, affecting rapport-building
• The importance of oracy: the ability to express oneself fluently in speech.
• Key improv skills: the philosophy of 'Yes, and,' where one listens, accepts and then adds to the conversation.
• From LAGER to LASER: tools to approach improvisation
• Tips for improving virtual collaboration
• In a fast-changing world, predictability is a myth; leaders should be prepared for uncertainty
• How to bridge the gap between structured strategy and spontaneous adaptability 
• How leaders can develop an 'In the Moment' mindset 
• Humour's role in work today
• Siân and Neil do some live improv!

If you want to cultivate environments where effective communication fosters productivity, creativity and confidence  - or you want to build these skills - then this episode is for you.

About Neil Mullarkey

Neil is a communication expert based in London, UK. He has delivered hundreds of keynotes and workshops to various organizations across the world in 25 countries and counting including Microsoft, KPMG, WPP, Saatchi & Saatchi, Vodafone, EY, Google, Deloitte and GSK. He is a guest speaker at London Business School, London Business Forum and Bayes Business School.

He is also a prominent comedian. He performs weekly with the Comedy Store Players, Europe’s top improv troupe which he co-founded in 1985 and often appears on TV and radio shows such as QI and The Pentaverate.  He has also appeared in two Austin Powers movies. He is author of In the Moment: Build your confidence, communication and creativity at work published by Kogan Page.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this episode, Siân Harrington interviews Catherine Garrod, author of Conscious Inclusion: How to ‘do’ EDI one decision at time  who helped entertainment company Sky become the Most Inclusive Employer in the UK, about why, despite billions of dollars of investment, little progress has been made in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in organizations.

We discuss the importance of inclusion in the workplace, the challenges  organizations face in creating more inclusive cultures and the practical steps they can take to make progress.  We also talk about the traps that organizations can fall into when trying to create more inclusive cultures and how to avoid these traps to make real progress towards inclusion.

Key takeaways:

• Inclusion is not about ticking boxes or meeting quotas. It's about creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard and involved
• There are three main traps that organizations can fall into when trying to create more inclusive cultures: fear, accountability and the illusion of inclusion
• The first step to creating a more inclusive culture is to start with inclusion, not diversity
• Create a clear plan for inclusion and track progress regularly
• Identify the good things that you're already doing and the gaps that need to be filled
• Be aware of the challenges of flexible working and the evolution of technology and how to ensure that these changes are inclusive for everyone.

If you're interested in learning more about how to make your organization more inclusive, then this episode is for you.

 About Catherine Garrod

Catherine  is the founder of Compelling Culture and author of Conscious Inclusion: How to ‘do’ EDI one decision at time. She led Sky to become the Most Inclusive Employer in the UK, with 80% of teams increasing their diversity. Now as a consultant, she combines the power of listening, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, to make the complex simple. And collaborates to define practical actions people can implement today, tomorrow and the day after, to transform the organisations she works with. Clients using her inclusion diagnostic are achieving a 15% improvement within 18 months.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

In this podcast, Siân Harrington interviews Daniel Strode about the connection between culture, innovation and a growth mindset, emphasising the importance of psychological safety in fostering a growth mindset within organisations. 

Dan argues that culture is the primary factor driving innovation, regardless of business size or type. He highlights the rapid pace of technological advancements in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the need for companies to innovate daily to stay relevant and competitive.

Daniel discusses eight consistent principles for creating a culture of innovation:

1. Rethinking business models
2. Fostering creativity with constraints
3. Embracing a growth mindset
4. Leveraging the wisdom of crowds
5. Embracing technology
6. Hire well
7. Putting your people first
8. Ensuring leadership participation in culture. 

He stresses the significance of culture in shaping behaviour and mindset, defining it as "the way we do things around here when no one is looking" and emphasising the importance of caring for all stakeholders.

Dan discusses the impact of a growth mindset on individuals and organisations, highlighting the importance of taking risks, learning from failure and embracing change. He offers advice to overcome the challenges of creating a culture of psychological safety, where employees feel safe to take risks, share ideas and engage in open dialogue.

He concludes by encouraging individuals to try new things and embrace new experiences as a way to develop a growth mindset. He advises organisations to implement structured feedback models, create safe spaces for open debate and learn from successful leaders to improve psychological safety and foster a culture of growth and innovation.

About Daniel Strode

Daniel Strode is head of culture for Banco Santander – a 200,000 strong global bank – where he leads the global effort to implement a strong common culture across the whole workforce. For the past five years his culture work sees him cross 32 different countries globally, implementing “The Santander Way” and embedding the culture across a range of activities. 

Dan is also an academic, teaching at universities and business schools around the world including Madrid’s IE Business School in Spain, and Bologna Business School in Italy. His main topics of teaching focus on how to create cultures where innovation can thrive, how to lead in the digital era, and, how to give and receive world class feedback. 

 In 2023 he released The Culture Advantage – Empowering your people to drive innovation published by Kogan Page.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

Productivity growth has slowed down in many economies since the global financial crisis of 2008. Despite advances in technology and investment in workforce training and development, productivity growth has remained low, puzzling economists and policymakers. Wages are stagnant or declining.

 Traditionally technology has been the primary driver of productivity gain – and today technology is advancing at an exponential rate. So why aren’t we seeing the growth we would expect? Is it that too often technology in the workplace today is a distraction? Are there just too many tools? And what about the dark side of tech, such as employee surveillance? What is its impact on productivity? 

In this episode international people operations partner Natasha Wallace discusses:
 
 • Why it is so hard to solve the productivity puzzle
 • What makes a highly productive organisation?
 • New research which identifies the most important differences between high and low productivity organisations
 • Are new ways of working helping or hindering productivity?
 • Employee monitoring - a necessary evil or productivity shackle?
 • Using technology to improve productivity
 • The importance of a strong and inclusive culture
 • Natasha's personal productivity tip

Natasha Wallace  is the international people partner at ClickUp, an all-in-one workplace productivity platform that flexes to the way that people want to work. 

She joined the ClickUp team to do what she does best – making sure people feel valued and supported in their roles and driving business initiatives. As a seasoned professional with over eight years of experience working with global technology companies, Natasha has spent time honing her skills in many areas of HR including employee development, performance management, organisational design and wellbeing at work. 

With an LLB Law degree specialising in employment and discrimination law, and a post-grad certificate in international law, Natasha decided to bring her legal know-how to the world of HR, where she could use her expertise to help companies build a people-focused strategy. She says she likes to help scale regions in hypergrowth businesses.

ClickUp is currently valued at $4 billion and has some 8 million users across 1.6 million teams. Natasha is part of the EMEA team, which has around 200 people and serves nearly 600,000 teams. 

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

Companies today are failing at a record pace. In 1958 the average age of a company on the S&P500 stock index was 61. Today it is 18. It is predicted that within the next five years three-quarters of S&P500 companies will have disappeared.

Artificial intelligence and automation is everywhere. But, rather than automating us out of work, these technologies are taking the more repetitive bits away from our jobs. The result is that more and more jobs are becoming hybrid – they combine skillsets that never used to be included in the same job.  To keep up with the pace of automation we need to keep upskilling. 

Meanwhile, while we may be hearing about large scale layoffs in some companies, many organisations are struggling to fill roles. 

Global future-of-work thought leader Josh Bersin discusses:

• Why we should be talking about work, not jobs
• Why humans are the only appreciating assets in a business so just cutting staff is a false economy
• How companies are tearing up the traditional job descriptions and entry paths to work, such as degrees, and what they are doing instead
• What do we as workers need to do to keep our skills up to date?
• Where human resources fits into this debate

Josh Bersin founded corporate learning, talent management and HR research and advisory company Bersin & Associates in 2001, selling it to Deloitte in 2012. On retiring from Deloitte in 2018 he went on to launch the Josh Bersin Academy for HR and learning and professionals. In 2020 he brought together a team of analysts and advisors to form The Josh Bersin Company, which undertakes research and advises companies in areas such as HR technology, employee experience and diversity equity and inclusion. 

Josh is a prolific blogger with more than 860,000 followers on LinkedIn and frequently appears in top business publications. He recently published a book Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring Employee-Focused Organizations which is based on thousands of interviews with innovative leaders at the world’s best-run organizations, revealing the secrets of success of more than 5,000 companies he and his team have been researching.

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook

The pandemic gave many of us a time to reflect on what we wanted from life and where our values lay. So it’s perhaps no surprise organizations were suddenly faced with what became known as The Great Resignation in 2021. This was the trend in which employees voluntarily resigned from their jobs in what appeared to be a mass exodus as they rethought their work conditions, careers and long-term career goals. 

One of the reasons cited for the Great Resignation has been the lack of career advancement opportunities. We’re not getting enough opportunity to grow in work. But is this the fault of organisations or ourselves? 

Top #10 Business Thinker Whitney Johnson reveals the forces that are stopping us from growing, the six stages of growth – including Explorer and Collector - and how we can use this to chart our growth. 

Whitney Johnson is the CEO of Disruption Advisors, a tech-enabled talent development company. She was named a 2021 Top #10 Business Thinker by Thinkers50, and is a globally recognized thought-leader, keynote speaker, executive coach, and consultant. A LinkedIn Top Voice since 2019 with 1.8 million followers, Whitney has a passion for personal disruption, helping individuals transform their lives, careers, teams, and companies. Her LinkedIn Learning course Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship has been viewed more than 1 million times. 

Interested in insights about people leadership, HR and the future of work?
Seize and shape the future of work with The People Space, a leading digital HR magazine for forward-thinking leaders. We empower you to put people at the heart of work, navigating the evolving intersection of technology, business and human insight. Join us in building a future where people and machines collaborate for a more human-centric workplace

• Sign up for our free fortnightly newsletter on the future of work, human-centric organisations and people-first leadership
• Follow Siân on LinkedIn
• Are you an HR professional seeking to raise your profile? I can help!
• HR vendor or consultant? Check out how I can help you reach senior HR leaders.
• Follow The People Space on Facebook