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Hey, Talent Leaders! 🌟

In this edition, we're diving into two powerful topics that are reshaping the future of work: human-centered leadership and the untapped potential of happy employees. Have we lost sight of what it truly means to lead with empathy? Are we underestimating the business impact of a thriving, engaged workforce? From rising burnout to the gap between HR’s vision and employees’ reality, we’re breaking down why now is the time to lead differently.

Get ready for insights that challenge conventional thinking and reveal how prioritizing people might just be the competitive edge you’ve been missing.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Human-Centered HR Leadership: A Call to Action for HR Leaders 🤝

• How Happy Employees Can Give Your Company an Edge 🎯

• AI: HR’s Secret Weapon? 🤖

• CHRO’s Critical Role in CEO Succession Planning 🏆

• Transforming Work Culture with Radical Candor 🧠

📈 Trending news

• Mastering Human Resources: The Shift Toward Specialized Talent Management

• Shaping Tomorrow's Workforce: The Future of Strategic HR Planning

• 2025 HR Forecast: Key Predictions and Game-Changing Tech for HR Leaders

• Mergers Unpacked: How They Redefine People Management

Human-Centered HR Leadership: A Call to Action for HR Leaders 🤝 Read the full 1,760-word article here

Article published: October 4, 2024

This article from HR Executive titled "Embracing Humanity in HR: A Call to Action for Today’s HR Leaders" gets right to the heart of what HR should be about—real, human leadership.

Jim Horn, CHRO of Ulteig, throws down the gauntlet to HR leaders everywhere, asking if we've lost sight of the human touch. With rising employee burnout and a growing disconnect between HR’s intentions and employee perceptions, it's time to rethink our approach. Shockingly, while 90% of HR pros believe in human leadership, only 29% of employees feel their leaders are truly "human."

The numbers don’t lie. Burnout and anxiety are crippling our workforce. Horn’s message is simple: empathy, authenticity, and visibility are no longer optional—they're the key to thriving in today’s business world.

Key Takeaways:

• 😰 Employee burnout is a crisis: 51% of U.S. workers feel "used up" by the end of the day, impacting productivity and wellbeing.

• 🤔 HR’s perception gap: 90% of HR leaders believe in humanistic leadership, but only 29% of employees agree their leaders are "human."

• 🧠 Psychological safety drives success: Google’s "Project Aristotle" identified it as the #1 factor distinguishing high-performing teams.

• 🌱 Trust boosts loyalty: Workers are five times more likely to stay when their managers are perceived as honest and ethical.

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How Happy Employees Can Give Your Company an Edge 🎯 Read the full 1,160-word article here

Article published: October 7, 2024

In the Capgemini article "Happy Employees Can Give Companies a Competitive Advantage," Jon Harriman presents a compelling case: employee happiness isn’t just a feel-good goal—it’s a performance booster.

Companies often overlook their greatest asset—people. With the right technology, organizations can streamline processes and create seamless employee experiences that unlock massive benefits. From a 59% reduction in turnover to a 21% boost in profitability, happy employees truly transform the bottom line.

Automation, AI, and personalization are the future, making employees’ work lives smoother while driving measurable business outcomes. Harriman argues that the organizations investing in this holistic approach now will lead in the competitive landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• 🚀 Boost in productivity: Happy employees lead to a 17% increase in productivity and a 20% rise in sales, directly driving success.

• 📉 Reduced turnover: A focus on employee well-being can decrease turnover rates by 59%, improving long-term talent retention.

• 🤖 AI-powered growth: Generative AI will soon help employees refine career paths, aligning personal growth with business goals.

• 🔗 Tech-driven engagement: Employee experience platforms enable a seamless employee experience, enhancing engagement and autonomy through personalized tools.

AI: HR’s Secret Weapon? 🤖 read the full 1,848-word article here

Article published: October 3, 2024

I just dove into SAP’s "Three HR Strategies for Managing AI Job Disruption," and it’s clear: AI isn’t just reshaping jobs—it’s reshaping HR itself.

Forget the usual headlines of mass job losses. This article takes a nuanced approach, revealing how AI will influence jobs in unpredictable ways. Some roles will fade, others will thrive, and many will simply evolve. HR’s new mission? Balance these realities while ensuring human talent and AI work hand-in-hand.

Surprisingly, HR needs to treat AI like a new kind of employee—one that doesn’t just follow orders but thinks and learns on its own.

Key Takeaways:

• 🤖 AI is a workforce partner: HR should view AI not just as a tool, but as a team member that works alongside humans.

• 🌍 Multiple futures of work: AI's impact ranges from job loss to job enhancement, with roles evolving differently across industries.

• 🧑‍🏫 Upskilling is the new normal: HR must prioritize reskilling employees so they can collaborate effectively with AI and thrive in an AI-driven workplace.

• 💬 AI needs human oversight: HR must create an inclusive space for employees to voice concerns and ensure AI technology remains human-centered.

CHRO’s Critical Role in CEO Succession Planning 🏆 Read the full 1,190-word article here

Article published: October 7, 2024

In Executive Network’s "The CHRO's Guide to CEO Succession Planning," experts reveal the high stakes involved in CEO succession and how CHROs can play a pivotal role in preparing for this transition. Though 37% of boards admit they’ve neglected this task, the CHRO can help the board see succession as a continuous process, not a last-minute scramble.

CHROs act as quality-control agents, guiding discussions on future leadership needs and developing internal candidates. With the right approach, they ensure seamless leadership transitions while safeguarding organizational stability and future growth.

Key Takeaways:

• ⏳ Succession planning should be routine: Start succession planning the moment a new CEO is hired to avoid last-minute chaos.

• 💡 CHROs guide critical conversations: Help CEOs envision their successor by asking what skills are needed to outperform them.

• 📊 Internal candidates are key: 82% of S&P 500 CEO appointments are internal; develop potential successors years in advance.

• 👥 Involve the board early: Regularly update the board on CEO candidates’ progress and expose them to leadership opportunities.

Transforming Work Culture with Radical Candor 🧠 Watch the full 48-min video here

Video published: October 1, 2024

In this Inside Personal Growth episode, Amy Sandler, a trainer and lead coach for Radical Candor, dives into how the practice of radical candor—balancing care with direct feedback—can reshape work cultures. Sandler explains that the combination of mindfulness, curiosity, and open communication allows leaders to be both caring and clear, which helps drive personal and organizational growth.

She discusses how practices like compassionate feedback can create psychologically safe environments where people feel empowered to speak up. With remote work now the norm, Sandler emphasizes the need for leaders to be even more intentional in fostering trust and inclusion.

Key Takeaways:

• 🌱 Radical candor balances care and clarity: Leaders should challenge employees directly while showing empathy to nurture trust and growth (10:57).

• 🎯 Feedback is key: Build a feedback culture by regularly asking for feedback and publicly acting on it to improve communication (30:58).

• 🚫 Avoid toxic communication: Radical candor helps eliminate passive-aggressive behavior by promoting open, honest dialogue in the workplace (40:20).

• 💬 Virtual culture requires extra care: In remote settings, leaders must prioritize clear, real-time conversations and set time for relationship-building (28:50).

Why It Matters

The stakes have never been higher for HR leaders.

Human-centered leadership isn't just a trend—it’s a necessity in closing the growing disconnect between management and employees. At the same time, happy employees don’t just perform better—they transform your entire business. The organizations that master both will not only survive but thrive in the future of work.

It’s not just about managing your people—it’s about leading them to success, and the time to act is now.

Sophia Bennett
Editor-in-Chief
HR Insights Today