When there’s uncertainty, distress tends to follow. Our brains are hardwired for certainty. Evolutionarily speaking, predictability was what kept us alive, and our amygdala can perceive uncertainty as a threat, which kicks off the stress response. A few years ago, it was the pandemic. More recently, it’s been the shifting political climate resulting in unpredictability,… Continue reading Eight Ways to Support Your Employees in Uncertain Times
In January 2025, Gallup found employee engagement hit its lowest point in a decade. One data point says only 39% of employees strongly agreed that someone at work cares for them as a person. And findings from the human capital management firm Workhuman show 30% feel “invisible.” Feeling unnoticed is antithetical to engagement and satisfaction at… Continue reading Connection – making our people know they matter
Stories are powerful tools in communication, and adding an analogy can be a game-changer. “Life is like a box of chocolates.” “Like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” “Like putting lipstick on a pig.” Analogy turns abstract into obvious. It gives shape to fuzzy concepts, making them feel familiar. It connects emotion to reason.… Continue reading Tapping Into the Incomparable Power of a Good Analogy
NZders are the worst in the OECD in having difficult conversations! Perhaps because we are closer to our people than in other countries. Avoiding those conversations can quietly erode trust, stall progress, and strain relationships more than we realise. Joel’s article has some great tips – especially to go in expecting to build the relationship… Continue reading Difficult Conversations. How to have them effectively!
We know that kind workplaces are more successful, but how do we create a kind culture? Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki has explored a fascinating concept he calls “positive conformity.” Through his research, he discovered that “participants who believed others were more generous became more generous themselves.” Simply put, kindness is contagious — it can ripple… Continue reading Kindness is good for workplaces – how can we make it happen?
As Organisational Psychologists working across New Zealand, it’s not uncommon for us to see strategic people initiatives and organisational development take a back seat. And it’s understandable—when you get focused on day-to-day making time to take that helicopter view to review your people strategy, policies and processes can easily slip down the list of priorities.… Continue reading Why Conducting an HR Audit is a Smart Move
