Corporate despotism: The hidden tyranny in business
When we think of despots, political figures like Pol Pot or Ivan the Terrible come to mind – ruthless leaders who consolidated power, silenced dissent, and ruled through fear. A similar dynamic can manifest in the corporate world, though less visible. Corporate despotism occurs when leaders use unchecked control and authoritarian tactics to dominate every […]
2025 People Strategies are proving to be much more that a 1-year plan. Here’s what you need to know.
As we move into 2025, business leaders and HR professionals are navigating a transformative era in employee experience and workplace expectations. This isn’t just about a one-year plan for immediate success; it’s about laying a sustainable foundation to adapt to a rapidly changing future. In the evolving world of work, employee wellbeing, experience, relations, and […]
There’s an overlooked talent pool right under our noses – but we may be too blind to see it!
Companies across sectors are scrambling to fill vacancies and maintain retention rates. Amid this struggle, many organisations are overlooking a vast, untapped resource: workers in roles traditionally viewed as “dead-end” jobs – such as cleaning staff, security personnel, and porters. These workers, often outsourced and undervalued, possess many of the traits that employers actively seek […]
Why Business and Gen Z are struggling to get along and what we need to do about it
Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2010), now entering the workplace in large numbers, has distinct preferences, expectations, and behaviors that often clash with traditional work environments. As a result, many organizations are experiencing high rates of voluntary and involuntary turnover among Gen Z employees, creating a plethora of short and long-term challenges including […]
These misunderstandings mean that organisations keep canabalising their own profit-margins.
With the rise of burnout, stress-related illnesses, and declining productivity levels, it is evident that there is a pressing need to address the root causes of declining workplace wellbeing. However, there are common misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding the factors that are contributing to this decline, as well as the impact it has on individuals, teams, […]
Is There Really Such a Thing as a Great Place to Work?
The idea of a “great place to work” conjures up images for all of us, but are those images all the same? Is there really such a thing as a universally great workplace? Recently, I’ve been having many discussions with leaders and HR professionals that they are struggling to create and then maintain a thriving […]
Could this simplified way of understanding workplace wellbeing make organisational efforts significantly more effective?
The landscape of workplace wellbeing is becoming increasingly complex. With an ever-expanding range of concepts, theories, and solutions, many HR professionals and senior leaders find it challenging to keep up. As someone deeply immersed in this field, I empathize with the sense of overwhelm that can come from the sheer volume of information. The nascent […]
Voluntary childlessness is on the rise. Should we be concerned?
In recent years, voluntary childlessness has become an increasingly prominent trend, with more individuals actively choosing not to have children. As someone who shares this decision, I’ve begun to reflect on the broader implications and rhetoric surrounding this shift and what it may reveal about human wellbeing. While childlessness offers personal benefits, it raises important […]
Knee-jerk policies are undermining your leadership capabilities and killing your culture!
Leaders face immense pressure to respond swiftly to issues as they arise. This urgency can lead to knee-jerk policies that disproportionately respond to the actions of a few, resulting in overbearing and controlling measures. These poorly thought-through policies often cause more harm than good, damaging company culture and undermining leadership capabilities. In this week’s episode […]
A choice for leaders: Destructive polarization or creative collaboration
Regular readers know that I often take inspiration from current affairs to inform these articles and this week is no different. It’s almost impossible to avoid the polarisation of politics at present, and I personally find the political extremes at play quite disconcerting, especially when destruction and not creation are the outcomes. The destructive […]