The Top 15 Developments - Celebrating 15 years with The Next Step

I have loved working with the best team of people (past and present) who make my job fun and rewarding and full of joy. I have learned from the people and businesses I have supported. I have watched HR/People and Culture functions lift to become the right hand to CEOs and business leaders across all industries.

I have followed the careers of junior HR people taking their firsts steps into the discipline to now sitting as HR executives in leadership teams. And I have seen the trends that have shaped Human Resources today. The years have certainly changed the HR profession along with the world we live in.

The top 15 developments I have seen over these 15 years:

1. The range of titles of people led functions and roles have grown and developed enormously.
   
   
2. Self-service HR technology, social media and comprehensive data analytics are a small sample of the developments in technology ultilised to better support and engage with employees.
   
   
3. Learning and development teams are taking a broader blended approach with interactive and employee-led programs using multimedia tools to increase capability, productivity and engagement. 
   
   
4. Future of work design, organisational design and development, workforce planning and capability uplift are working together to build resilient organisations adapting to market changes.
   
   
5. Companies are developing their values and purpose as members of the broader community and society, and empowering employees to “give back”.
   
   
6. Talent acquisition and talent management functions have become proactive in using EVP, targeted selection models and talent pipelining to manage the employee experience and better onboard and retain people.
   
   
7. Remuneration has grown beyond just the financial benefits to include sophisticated reward and recognition tools for attracting and retaining talent.
   
   
8. Companies are offering flexibility, hybrid working models, remote working, part time, compressed 4-day weeks and 9-day fortnights rather than a cookie cutter approach to the way we work.
   
   
9. A more proactive approach is being taken in supporting the mental wellbeing and Workplace Health and Safety of both individuals and organisations. 
   
   
10. With an increased acknowledgment of employees as customers, the connection between EX, CX and DX strategies to deliver improved outcomes across the business is enhanced.
    
    
11. A greater requirement is placed on commercial acumen as a key capability in P&C leadership.
    
    
12. A brighter light is shining on the diversity, equity and belonging opportunities in our multi-faceted organisations.
    
    
13. The ongoing simplification and clarification of Industrial and Employee Relations frameworks in a collaborative and inclusive manner is driving for mutually beneficial outcomes.
    
    
14. Business partnering has evolved to being a specialty in its own right, working with centres of expertise (COEs) to provide tailored solutions within organisations to capture and consult in a more meaningful manner.
    
    
15. Clear, purposeful change plans and communications are delivering effective strategic solutions that engage an organisation’s people.

I would like to say thank you to The Next Step and to my HR community for allowing and encouraging me to continue to do what I do.

I truly love being part of this ever changing, improving and evolving HR function, and I still love helping HR people find their people.