HR Disrupted

Why Performance Management Sucks (And What to Do About It)

Every year many managers and employees have to go through an ordeal that costs time, money and effort but which delivers little value - actually, it’s worse than that, it decreases employees’ motivation and can occasionally make them leave the company. Yes you guessed it! It’s performance appraisal time!

It’s amazing that so many of us are unwilling to let go of a system that costs so much and yet doesn’t improve performance. Fortunately, the tide is turning and many HR teams are introducing different approaches that do actually work. In this episode, Lucy talks to Doug Dennerline, the CEO of Betterworks - a leading performance management software and author of the book ‘Make work better’ - about why traditional approaches don’t work, why we cling to the old ways when they are obviously not delivering, and what the alternatives are. 

Doug offers insights from his tech industry journey, revealing how companies can evolve by adopting AI-driven tools that revolutionize goal setting and communication. We also shed light on the challenges managers face in delivering effective feedback and how technology can be an invaluable ally, acting as a coach for managerial skills.

Chapters

(00:03) Reimagining Performance Appraisals for Success

(12:24) Empowering Employees Through Goal-Setting

(18:03) Leveraging Tech for HR Transformation

Contact Doug: doug@betterworks.com

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

The two-year itch: Rethinking Retention for the Modern Tech Workforce

Many of our talent and career development models stem from another age - when we joined a company, got a number of promotions and stayed as long as the company allowed us to. Of course, nowadays, the reality for many of us is very different. Flatter structures offer fewer promotional opportunities. Volatile markets mean that the longevity of companies has declined. And whilst there is some debate about whether Gen Z and Millennials do want to change companies more often - in one sector, there’s clear evidence that retaining your people is more of a challenge. In the tech sector, employees are changing jobs and companies every 2 years or so. This is a particular challenge for smaller tech companies where promotional opportunities are more limited.

So, how does an HR Director tackle this challenge? Is it about creating golden handcuffs or just accepting that this is the new normal? To discuss this issue Lucy is joined by Matt Kennedy, CPO at Go1, a leading learning content provider. Matt provides an intriguing perspective on the evolving challenges of employee retention in the tech industry, where traditional career paths are being upended. He shares his story of transitioning from Microsoft and Starbucks to a cutting-edge tech company . We explore how smaller tech companies can distinguish themselves from larger corporations by offering more personalized growth opportunities and promoting impactful projects. We discuss the importance of being transparent about career paths and creating a culture that not only retains talent but also transforms former employees into ambassadors for the organization. His experiences highlight the vital role of informal mentorship and real-world experiences in developing soft skills that complement formal training. For HR professionals eager to challenge the norms and enhance employee retention, this conversation is packed with practical strategies and thought-provoking insights that will leave you rethinking your approach to building a resilient workforce in the dynamic tech landscape.

(00:03) Navigating Career Challenges in Modern HR

(10:11) Career Challenges in Tech Sector Retention

(20:29) Creating a Culture of Retention

Contact Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kennedy-b695603/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Making HR comms less ‘meh’: Real talk, real connection, real impact

HR communications too often fall flat; drowning in a sea of data, facts, and formal language that fails to connect. In this episode, Disruptive HR co-founders Lucy Adams and Karen Moran explore why traditional HR comms so often miss the mark — and more importantly, how you can make yours truly stand out.

Lucy and Karen share practical insights on how to transform dry, fact-heavy messaging into communications that cut through the noise, grab attention, and inspire genuine action. They explain why storytelling beats spreadsheets every time when it comes to engagement, and how honesty and authenticity can build far greater trust than polished corporate speak. You'll hear how short, human updates directly from leaders can be more powerful than lengthy newsletters, and why personalising your messages to different employee personas can make all the difference.

They also highlight how tapping into employee trust through peer-led communications can amplify your impact, and why ditching jargon in favour of clear, relatable language is critical if you want your messages to land.

Packed with real-world examples from organisations like Santander, Dropbox, Coca-Cola, HSBC, and more, this episode offers a fresh and practical guide for anyone who wants to transform the way HR communicates — making it more human, more engaging, and ultimately, far more effective.

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

When Politics Walk Into Work: Managing Ideological Tensions

The social and political landscape is getting more complicated and divided—things like Trump, Gaza, climate change, and so-called wokeism are just a few examples. And all that tension is spilling into the workplace. With misinformation spreading fast, people stuck in their own online bubbles, and fading trust in traditional institutions, employees are showing up with all kinds of different—and often conflicting—opinions.

For employers and HR teams, this growing divide makes it harder to keep things running smoothly and respectfully. It’s tougher to encourage open, honest conversations, and disagreements can escalate quickly, leading to conflict, disengagement, or even people leaving. If it's not handled well, it can seriously mess with team dynamics, hurt productivity, and damage the overall culture.

Joining Lucy on this week’s episode to discuss these issues and to offer her insights is Edel Holliday-Quinn - the Chief Leadership Psychologist and founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology. Edel shares her tips for encouraging ‘courageous conversations’ that welcome diverse perspectives and balancing empathy with action. 

Chapters

(00:03) Navigating Workplace Polarization and Authenticity

(14:24) Building Psychological Safety for Diversity

(20:57) Navigating DEI Challenges in Organizations

 

Contact Edel https://www.linkedin.com/in/edel-quinn/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Leadership development reinvented: Moving beyond traditional training

Tired of the same old leadership development strategies? Join Lucy Adams and Karen Moran as they challenge the status quo. Promoting top performers into leadership roles without considering their people skills is a recipe for disaster. Discover why the "superhero" leader model is outdated and doesn't work for modern organizations.

Revitalize your leadership training with insights from industry leaders like Salesforce, SAP, Standard Charter, and Nestle. These companies are transforming leadership development by replacing complex competency frameworks with clear, actionable goals. Discover how to create inclusive, personalized, and effective leadership development that drives high-performance and engagement. Learn from real-world examples and practical tips to build a leadership development approach that works!

Chapters

(00:03) Reimagining Leadership Development Strategies

(06:34) Moving Beyond Traditional Leadership Training

(20:11) Expanding Leadership Development Opportunities

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Check out Disruptive Leaders https://disruptive-leaders.com/

Take our diagnostic to discover your leadership skills https://disruptivehr.typeform.com/leadersquiz

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Gen Z and the 'snowflake' myth

It seems as though there’s a news article every day about how the younger generation lack the resilience or work ethic of their parents. There’s even a nickname to sum up this apparent lack of discipline and disregard for the demands of the workplace - the so-called Snowflake generation. Do younger people present problems for employers in terms of laziness or being too fragile? Or is it just a myth?

With nearly 25 years of experience in secondary education, our guest Alex Atherton provides invaluable insights into the resilience and work ethic of today's youth, offering a fresh perspective on whether the perception of Gen Z as fragile and lazy is a stereotype or reality. 

Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of the Gen Z workforce, examining the challenges and solutions for both employers and employees. We highlight strategies for attracting and retaining young talent by fostering authenticity, transparency, and aligning company culture with the aspirations of Gen Z employees and examine the benefits and strategies for a diverse generational workforce. 

Contact Alex info@alexatherton.com

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Can AI Solve Recruitment’s Biggest Challenges? HMRC Says Yes!

There doesn’t seem to be any area of HR that isn’t impacted by AI. Whether it’s personalised learning experiences or employee benefits, accessible employee survey tools, enhanced data and analytics or simply the automation of transactions, most HR teams are having to get to grips with the potential of AI. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Andy Headworth, Deputy Director of Talent Acquisition at HMRC, to discuss the impact of AI in HR, and more specifically in recruitment. 

Andy’s team, who were early adopters of AI, have been experimenting with emerging technologies to help hiring managers make more informed decisions for the last two years. He explains how AI-driven tools have streamlined the recruitment process, using talent insights and addressing common pain points faced by hiring managers. 

With AI fast becoming a creative collaborator rather than just a search engine, we discuss the challenges and strategies of introducing AI in a traditionally cautious sector, and the importance of supportive leadership whilst fostering curiosity.

This episode is a must listen for anyone who is AI-curious in HR or recruitment roles.

Contact Andy https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyheadworth/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Is it the end for DEI?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - or DEI as it’s known - has had a rough ride lately. Legal challenges, political pressure, and polarized public opinion have resulted in many big brand names stepping back from their DEI commitments. Does this mean the end for DEI? To discuss this and to offer a more optimistic view, Lucy is joined by her co-founder at Disruptive HR, Karen Moran.

They debate whether the recent rolling back on DEI commitments from US corporations are a necessary pragmatism or cynical opportunism. Or whether this could even mean a welcome reset for DEI strategies. 

Lucy and Karen explore the problems with the way DEI has been delivered in recent years and how this has potentially led to DEI becoming, ironically, quite alienating for many people. They question the impact of the compliance-focused approach to DEI and provide examples of alternative strategies from more progressive companies, including using nudges and AI to check and avoid bias. Finally, they look at how companies are using more human language and focusing on helping managers and their teams have great conversations as a way of ensuring DEI can actually be more inclusive!

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Inclusion Nudges by Tina Nielsen and Lisa Keplinski https://inclusion-nudges.org/

Lessons in how to lead engineers from Google

Whenever we ask HR professionals about the biggest barriers to innovative people practices, they almost always mention leaders and managers - and this is particularly true in sectors such as engineering and technology. They tell us that, because engineers respond well to process, they struggle to move away from bureaucratic, people processes in favour of more fluid and agile approaches. In this episode, we’re going to prove that engineers can absolutely make great people managers - and hear what HR can do to work with them more effectively.

The guest on this episode of HR Disrupted is Kiranbir Sodhia, a Senior Staff Engineering Manager at Google. Kiranbir shares his personal journey from an individual contributor to a people leader at industry giants like Microsoft and Google, candidly reflecting on early mistakes such as micromanaging and the vital role of formal leadership training. We discuss the growing trend of offering career paths for engineers that do not require transitioning into management, highlighting the value of individual contributors and the importance of HR in supporting managers who might not have initially aspired to those roles. Kiranbir's insights shed light on the challenges and opportunities of transforming engineers into effective people managers in a process-driven environment.

(00:03) Leadership Development in Engineering and Technology

(16:03) Effective Onboarding in Tech and Engineering

(21:25) HR and Engineering Manager Relationships

Kiranbir Sodhia https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiranbir/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com

Rethinking Retirement: Embracing Age Diversity and Career Transitions

Hear from Victoria Tomlinson, CEO and founder of NextUp, to explore the concept of "unretirement" and the evolving landscape of age diversity in the workforce. In this episode we challenge the outdated perceptions of older workers, particularly in light of a recent controversial post from a global recruitment company which labelled workers over 55 as being ‘in decline’! Together, we confront these stereotypes and discuss the importance of shifting societal and corporate attitudes towards ageing. Victoria shares her inspiring journey and the role lifelong learning and reinvention have played in her career, offering a compelling case for continuous growth and contribution beyond traditional retirement.

We explore the option of embracing intergenerational workforce diversity, rather than seeing it as a problem and rethinking age diversity in employment. The discussion highlights the responsibilities of both employers and older workers in fostering inclusive workplaces that leverage the skills and experiences of all ages. Together, we advocate for a holistic approach to employee well-being that extends beyond traditional retirement, ensuring continuous learning and purpose for all.

Chapters

(00:03) - Navigating Unretirement and Career Transitions

(12:11) - Professional Transition Workshops for Women

(15:33) - Embracing Intergenerational Workforce Diversity

(24:20) - Rethinking Age Diversity in Employment

Next-Up https://www.next-up.com/

Disruptive HR

Website: www.disruptivehr.com

Join the Disruptive HR Club https://disruptivehr.com/welcome-to-the-future-of-hr/

Email: hello@disruptivehr.com