Category: Employee Experience

Getting the Best Out of Your People Isn’t Luck. It’s Intentional.

You know what doesn’t work anymore? Managing people like they need to be managed. Policies written for the lowest common denominator. Performance reviews designed to protect the business instead of grow the individual. Engagement surveys that read like compliance checklists. If you want to build a workplace where people thrive—not just survive—you need to recognise that […]

The Real Work: Holding the Mirror Up to Culture, Leadership and the Future of Work

There’s a reason most businesses would rather slap up a new mission statement than ask their people what culture really feels like day-to-day. Because asking the question means you have to be ready for the answer. It takes courage to hold a mirror up to your culture — not just your vibe or your branding, but […]

When Employer Branding Becomes a Psychosocial Risk

Employee-generated content (EGC) has become the darling of employer branding. A team selfie here, a video of the Friday BBQ there — it’s authentic, it’s engaging, and it gives people a peek into what it’s really like to work in your business. But let’s pause for a second. Because if your employer brand strategy includes filming your […]

Workplace Culture: Your Inner Hipster Might Just Hold the Secret

Ah, the late 2000s. A time when fixie bikes, ironic moustaches, organic cold-brew, and obscure indie bands ruled the streets.If you remember arguing if Bon Iver is too mainstream over a $7 flat white… congratulations. Deep inside you lives a tragic hipster — and honestly, it’s time we set them free.Because when you strip away […]

When the Boss Is the Business: Why Culture In SMEs Needs a Different Playbook

Let’s be honest — most leadership advice floating around the internet is written for the Googles and the Westpacs of the world. Unlimited budgets, whole HR teams, and enough corporate buzzwords to fill a bingo card. But what about the business owners who are the HR team, the payroll officer, the complaints department, and the person still […]

Why It’s Time to Rethink the 40-Hour Work Week

Nearly 100 years ago, the 40-hour work week was considered revolutionary.Today? It’s starting to feel a little… outdated. When Henry Ford made headlines for introducing a five-day, 40-hour week in 1926, it was a bold step towards a better balance between work and life — for the times.Back then, most households had one breadwinner (usually […]

Beyond the Paycheque: What Really Drives Engagement?

Let’s have an honest conversation.At a certain point, money stops talking. I was listening to a brilliant episode of This Working Life recently (one I think every business leader should have on their playlist). It was about employee purpose — or, more accurately, how organisations often miss the mark chasing satisfaction through financial rewards alone. One point really hit […]

Let’s Talk Performance Reviews — and Why It’s Time to Burn the Bell Curve

Remember when performance management meant forcing everyone into a neat little bell curve? Top 10%, solid middle, bottom 10% — all sorted. Then came the “war rooms,” where senior leaders would argue over who was a high potential and who needed “managing out.” Ratings were adjusted, not to reflect truth, but to hit distribution quotas. […]