I am in the lucky position that I am speaking directly to HR Directors and Chief People Officers across industries and find out what’s actually showing up in their world of work. I get the no fluff, no spin, just the honest pressures, priorities, and challenges HR leaders are navigating right now.
Their reflections are both practical as they are thought-provoking.
Culture, Clarity & Casework
“There’s no single topic anymore. The HR leader today has to be multi-topic. But if I had to pick a headline act, it’s culture.” - CPO
From recruitment to retention, performance to productivity, culture is everywhere. But it’s not just about values on a wall; it’s about data, feedback, and decisive action.
Supporting this cultural focus were three key themes:
Talent in a Tight Market
The challenge isn’t just hiring, it’s reframing roles to get the best from the talent you do have. Businesses are exploring how AI can absorb the mindless work, so people can focus on the mindful. A lot of people think it’s about cutting jobs but its actually about elevating them.
Structured Career Paths
Career development has shifted from a “choose-your-own-adventure” model to one of clarity and prescription. People want structured, transparent pathways now.
The Return of Employee Relations
Perhaps the most surprising theme? Employee Relations is back, front and centre highlighted by the pending employment rights bill.
Many HR teams, particularly those that came of age in the more strategic, culture-focused era, may need to reskill in ER fundamentals, fast.
Redefining the Role of HR Leadership
Today’s HR leaders are expected to be more than strategic partners. They’re expected to be agile, emotionally intelligent, data-literate, and creative, all at once.
Leaders I talk to describe it as being multi-personality and a number referenced the popular Insights Discovery colours:
Red – Decisive, assertive, action-driven; Green – Empathetic, people-centred; Blue – Analytical, data-driven; Yellow – Creative, visionary
“You’ve got to be all four. It’s one of the hardest jobs on the exec team because the fabric of the organisation runs through you in ways it doesn’t with others.” - CPO
If you’re an HR Director or CPO and would like to share what’s really happening in your world, I’d love to hear from you.