Some companies – like Apple – become famous for their products. A few – like Virgin, Oracle or Ryanair – become famous for a flambuoyant CEO. But – despite decades of evidence linking HR and performance – very few companies become famous for their management practices. We can probably list them on one hand: W.L. [...]

See full article

Prominent female leaders are emerging in the Middle East, and in India Infosys is asking whether women could be an answer to the talent crisis. Yet too often, women still see the rewards of leadership as ‘pointless’ and ‘not worth it’. We need ‘Female Vision’, argue Helgesen & Johnson. It’s complicated, as shown by this [...]

See full article

Thanks to input from well-known employers in India, Europe and the US we are discussing plans for a new ‘Innovation Academy’, in collaboration with MLab. This will equip HR and business leaders to solve business challenges by challenging the beliefs and assumptions underpinning six fundamental activities: 1. Strategic Planning 2. Agile Work Design 3. Real-time [...]

See full article

I was with a group of Talent & OD professionals from the City of London, talking about the perils of the ‘9-box matrix’ and other common management practices. They nodded enthusiastically: “We agree – it is complete nonsense”. Then I asked: How many of your organisations have these practices? To my astonishment all nodded again: [...]

See full article

Recent headlines have been sobering. We’ve seen the gradual painful overthrow of Libya’s dictatorship. Unexpected riots and looting in England. The anniversary of 9/11. Another rogue trader. Greece and the Euro on the brink of ruin. All this is disturbing; what does it mean? It would be foolish to attempt a single explanation. But it [...]

See full article