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photo of Rupert Merson

Talent Wars: The Employer Strikes Back
Rupert Merson, Partner, BDO Stoy Hayward

A long time ago, in an economy far, far away, the war of talent was skewed in favour of the employee. The recession has turned the tide for now and Rupert Merson explains the subtle changes at play that will turn it yet again.

photo of Liggy Webb

Workplace wellness works wonders
Liggy Webb, The Learning Architect

It's a New Year, and most of us have returned to work a bit unhealthier than we were when we left. We all know New Year's Resolutions don't work, so what can workplace wellness schemes offer us? Liggy Webb shows us the way to creating a healthier, happier and more productive environment at work.

photo of Margaret Parkin

There really is another way - using stories and metaphors for creative, productive thinking
Margaret Parkin, Author, Tales for Change

Margaret Parkin discusses the value of imaginative and productive solutions to problems and the ever growing value and need for this as credit continues to be crunched.

photo of Michael Keating

Salary sherlocks beware!
Michael Keating, The People Bulletin, AP Information Services

Do you ever wonder how much your workmates earn? You're not alone. Michael Keating explores the positives and the pitfalls of salary transparency.

photo of Richard Pound

Influencer: The power to change anything
Richard Pound, Business Development Director, Robb Associates

Richard Pound explains why he believes that the most important capacity all of us possess is our ability to influence behaviour and provides a proven approach to literally make change inevitable.

photo of Joan Henshaw

You might have to fight for the right to party, but do you need to fight for the right to manage?
Joan Henshaw, Ladder Consulting

Managers - are you afraid of your staff? Joan Henshaw explains the importance of being unafraid to manage and appraise your team, and the difference it can make to your company.

photo of Sarah Lewis

Using psychology to encourage green behaviour at work
Sarah Lewis, Managing Director, Appreciating Change

Do you want your organisation to go green? Sarah Lewis explains how to encourage your employees to break out of their habitual behaviour and help make a real difference to our environment.

photo of Tim Holden

Retaining skills in an economic downturn – encourage people to volunteer!
Tim Holden, Managing Director, Fluid Consulting

Is the recession affecting your company's ability to offer benefits and bonuses? Tim Holden explains how you can keep your employees engaged and enrich lives through volunteering.

photo of Sarah Lewis

The credit crunch and the leadership challenge
Sarah Lewis, Appreciating Change

Sarah Lewis explains the problem of leader paralysis when facing big and unpredictable events, arguing that trying to predict the future and agonising over the consequences might be part of the problem.

photo of Joan Henshaw

Managing by numbers is easy – but how do I manage behaviours?
Joan Henshaw, Ladder Consulting

Is it possible to manage behaviours? Joan Henshaw thinks that while managers appreciate it is crucial to business success, they often dodge the issue. But being able to define and describe behaviours may provide the answer.

photo of Joan Henshaw

People don’t actually like being managed, do they?
Joan Henshaw, Ladder Consulting

The assumption that staff do not like to be managed is a misnomer, argues Joan Henshaw. What they really want is effectively performance management. And a little appreciation now and again.

photo of Dr.Emma Parry

The war for talent moves online
Dr.Emma Parry, Senior Research Fellow HRM, Cranfield School of Management

Current skills shortages mean that employers need to engage with potential employees and build relationships with them in order to attract them into their organisations. Dr.Emma Parry outlines how the internet is being used to do this.

photo of Pat Hutchinson

NLP - the 21st century business success toolkit
Pat Hutchinson, Director, Quadrant 1 International

Over the past few years Neuro-Linguistic Programming has really come into its own in the world of business. Why is this? Pat Hutchinson explains.

photo of Clive Leake

Leadership Development - a practitioners dilemma!
Clive Leake, Managing Director, Cognitive Development Ltd.

What does Clive Leake do for a living? He helps leaders who aspire to do things 1% differently. Here, he explains what that means, how 'informal' leadership development works and the challenges of Creative Disturbance.

photo of David Molden

NLP in business: do you know what it is and what you can use it for?
David Molden, Director, Quadrant 1 International

NLP is often heralded as the cure-for-all by followers and enthusiasts, like the latest film or fashion fad to hit town. So why is David Molden never surprised to hear the question ‘what does NLP have to offer?’

photo of Gail Franks

A false economy
Gail Franks, Managing Director, Summersault Communications

Budget cuts might be on the agenda for many boards as they react to news of a likely recession. Gail Franks argues that HR departments should be fighting to preserve effective employee communications through troubled times.

photo of Gary Saunders

Teamwork in pole position?
Gary Saunders, HR & Change Partner, fe3 consulting

There’s a lot spoken about teamwork and sport – but how important is teamwork in achieving sporting success? Or is it simply the brilliance of an individual Beckham that achieves the glory? Gary Saunders looks at teamwork and his personal passion – Formula 1 racing - to see if teamwork really does hold pole position.

photo of Bryan Edwards

Email Frenzy
Bryan Edwards, ABC Training Solutions Ltd.

With an estimated 183 billion emails sent every day, many going in and out of an estimated 516 million business email boxes, there’s a huge potential for mis-communication, misunderstandings, angry words, bad feelings and loss of productivity. Bryan Edwards offers some advice on email etiquette.

photo of Tessa Hood

Are you a "stranger to yourself"?
Tessa Hood, Managing Director, Changing Gear Ltd.

Tessa Hood explains how Personal Branding plays a vital role in how we are perceived by others and how it can become a powerful tool in enhancing the reputation of companies.

photo of Matt Somers

The manager as coach
Matt Somers

What excuse do you use to avoid coaching? Matt Somers presents some insights to guide managers through the path to effective coaching.

photo of Tim Holden

Survivor syndrome and outplacement
Tim Holden, Managing Director, Fluid Consulting

As the UK weathers the economic downturn, some HR departments will have to contemplate redundancies. As Tim Holden explains, outplacement programmes need to address the concerns of 'survivors' as well as those leaving the organisation.

photo of Robert Wagner

Can you self-assess your management skills?
Robert Wagner, General Manager, map Assessment

What managers see in the mirror is not necessarily the way they are seen by others. Robert Wagner provides a guide for effective self-assessment.

photo of Carole Ray

Giving children's home leavers a chance in the workplace
Carole Ray, Writer/Editor, NCH

Being placed in a children's home need not be the end of a child's eventual employment prospects. Carole Ray of NCH explains some of the work that the children's charity perform in helping care leavers into the workplace.

photo of Graham Simons

Are we sending our employees to their death?
Graham Simons, Online Editor, The People Bulletin

RoSPA figures indicate that 15,000 cyclists are killed or injured each year. With the rise in popularity of tax-free bicycle schemes, Graham Simons wonders how inexperienced cyclists might cope on dangerous city streets.

photo of Leila Hutchins

Apprentice hired despite CV lies
Leila Hutchins, The People Bulletin, AP Information Services

Last night saw the hiring of Lee McQueen in the final episode of the BBC's The Apprentice, however, his CV left much to be desired and contained lies and numerous spelling mistakes. But if Lee can be hired despite his prospective employer's knowledge of these inaccuracies, where does this leave the rest of us? Leila Hutchins investigates.

photo of Geoff Trickey

Lie detection - voodoo or science?
Geoff Trickey, Managing Director, Psychological Consultancy Ltd.

You're recruiting a potential new employee and are unsure whether the candidate is telling the truth. Geoff Trickey investigates lie detection and other integrity measures to find whether it is all mumbo-jumbo or is there actual science upon which we can rely.

photo of Mike Keating

If music be the food of training...
Mike Keating, The People Bulletin, AP Information Services

Can music help concentrate the mind? Mike Keating looks into the use of music to enhance the learning experience.

photo of Dr.Sue Hewitt

Vive la difference
Dr.Sue Hewitt, Women's Development Co-ordinator, Milecastle Consultancy Ltd.

Dr.Sue Hewitt tells us why throwing women's CVs in the bin is not only bad business practice but could fatally erode your competitve edge.

photo of Karen Drury

Employee engagement – a work in progress?
Karen Drury, Consultant, fe3 consulting

Does employee engagement simply equate to good HR practice? Karen Drury assesses the latest thoughts on employee engagement and uncovers some complex concepts and a lack of definition.

photo of Valerie Fawcett

Are British workers getting angrier?
Valerie Fawcett, Principal Consultant, Syntagm Ltd.

We're all getting angrier apparently. Here Valerie Fawcett of Syntagm tell us how we can understand our anger and channel it to positive ends.

photo of Dr. Sue Hewitt

Stereotype your way to success?
Dr. Sue Hewitt, Women's Development Consultant, Milecastle Consultancy Ltd.

When women are told men have greater mathematical ability they tend to perform worse on mathematical tasks than when they are not made aware of this negative stereotype. Sue Hewitt wonders whether trainers can harness stereotyping positively.

photo of Barry Johnson

Training cost and value
Barry Johnson, Head of Research & Development, Learning Partners Ltd.

Barry Johnson outlines an issue that bedevils training and that is the overriding focus on cost at the expense of value.

photo of Stuart Gray

Failing by default
Stuart Gray, Managing Director, Portus Consulting

Stuart Gray points out that the majority of employees in defined contribution pension schemes are failing to maximise investment returns as a result of settling for the default option. He tells us why the solution is to offer them access to one-to-one investment advice.

photo of Leila Hutchins

The importance of being hydrated
Leila Hutchins, The People Bulletin, AP Information Services

While we are aware of the need to drink the recommended amount of water, studies show that 93% of us are dehydrated at any one time. How is this affecting performance and what can companies do about it? Leila Hutchins investigates.

photo of Dr. Sue Hewitt

Women and work – must try harder
Dr. Sue Hewitt, Women's Development Consultant, Milecastle Consultancy Ltd.

Sue Hewitt takes apart two new reports to tell us just why true equality is as distant a dream as it was when employment legislation first came into force 30 years ago.

photo of Sally Duff

The seven traits of great leaders
Sally Duff, Managing Director, Caliper UK

How do leaders differ from managers? What are the key personality traits of great leaders? Sally Duff has the answers.

photo of Tim Holden

What value can sabbaticals add in the current climate?
Tim Holden, Managing Director, Fluid Consulting

The word sabbatical is often one associated with academics looking to get away from the classroom and into some books. However, as the recession continues to bite, more and more companies are offering them as a way of retaining valued staff and saving a bit of money - but how do they work? Tim Holden explains.