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CIPD

CIPD

Hosted by CIPD

Episodes

286

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

We’re the CIPD — the professional body for HR and people development. We are the voice of a worldwide community of more than 160,000 members committed to championing better work and working lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent
August 19, 202632 min

Podcast 233: Courageous conversations

How often do we shy away from tough conversations, or avoid workplaces issues in the hope they’ll simply resolve themselves? It’s human instinct to avoid the uncomfortable, after all. But what impact is this avoidance having in our workplaces? Performance issues go unaddressed, poor behaviour gets worked around, and tension between colleagues is smoothed over rather than named. Left unresolved, these situations can breed misunderstanding, strain relationships, and quietly erode culture and performance. So what do courageous conversations actually look like in practice? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month's guests – Joan O'Connor, Head of Leadership Practice at 10Eighty; Jo Carlin, Chief People Officer at Effective Energy Group; and Corinne Micallef, director, facilitator and coach with the National Theatre's Theatreworks programme – as they explore how people professionals, line managers and business leaders can move from avoidance to having courageous conversations. In this episode, our panel explores: Why courageous conversations are a core leadership skill rather than a nice-to-have – and what happens when organisations avoid them. How does silence become an organisational risk? What’s the difference between a ‘difficult’ conversation and a ‘courageous’ one. How can we build embed courage as a daily practice. What holds people professionals, business leaders and line managers back from speaking up – and what helps them push through it? --- Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 214: Success starts small – Building sustainable workplace habits CIPD Podcast 212: Creating a culture of psychological safety at work HR People Pod – Episode 52: Courageous leadership, clarity and organisational falafel – with Diana Osagie More from this episode: CIPD Profession Map – Professional courage and influence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 12, 202626 min

HR People Pod – Ep 55: L&D – From order-taker to strategic partner - with David James

How can L&D build the infrastructure, capabilities and credibility needed to become a true growth engine within organisations? What role should L&D play as businesses adopt a more skills-based approach? And when it comes to habitual learning, is the responsibility with the organisation, the individual, or both? Jo Squires, CIPD Learning Designer is joined by David James, Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning and host of The Learning and Development Podcast, where in part one of a two-part special, they explore how L&D can position itself as an engine for growth and the importance for individuals to make learning a habit. Recorded: 7 August 2026 --- Additional resources: L&D tools: A performance-led approach to skills and capability planning Analysis | How L&D can create value: Focussing on skills development L&D tools: Building your business case – a practical pathway Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 232: The journey to a skills-based organisation: The role of L&D HR People Pod 54: Future planning as a discipline – with Tom Cheesewright The Learning and Development Podcast with David James Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 29, 202627 min

HR People Pod – Ep 54: Future planning as a discipline - with Tom Cheesewright

Curate, create, communicate – why are these three Cs so pivotal to future-proofing your career? What's the risk of dehumanising work through automation? And how can we help leaders think about the future without oversimplifying it or overwhelming them? CIPD Director of Profession David D'Souza is joined by Applied Futurist, Tom Cheesewright as they explore why planning for the future isn't a one-off decision, but a discipline organisations have to build in. Recorded: 09 June 2026 at CIPD Festival of Work --- Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 213: Skilling up your organisation now and for the future CIPD Podcast 232: The journey towards a skills-based organisation: The role of L&D HR People Pod – Ep 49: Business impact | Employee empowerment | Change readiness in an AI world HR People Pod – Ep 43: Inside Davos – AI, work and the future of identity - with Allyn Bailey More from this episode: Topic: AI in the workplace Thought leadership: The future of work – Insights for senior leaders on drivers of change Analysis: Evolution of the people profession Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 22, 202635 min

Podcast 232: The journey towards a skills-based organisation - The role of L&D

As business priorities shift, skills shortages intensify and technology changes the nature of work, organisations need a clearer view of the skills and capabilities they have — and how to deploy them where they can create the greatest impact. But how can learning professionals support the building of new capability at pace and scale, when many organisations still struggle to see what skills exist in the workforce, to what level of expertise, or to move that capability to where it's needed most? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month's guests – Shona Marshall, Founder of The ASM Difference; Laurell Hector, Managing Director at McManus HRD; and Andrew Jacobs, Learning Strategist and Founder of Llarn Learning – as they explore L&D's role in supporting the shift to becoming a skills-based organisation. In this episode, our panel explores: Why L&D is critical to enabling skills-based transformation, by responding to business priorities and driving the performance they require How skills intelligence, taxonomies and internal marketplaces can inform smarter, workforce planning, internal mobility and learning investment. What must change in how learning is designed and delivered – moving away from linear, one-off training programmes towards continuous, skills-led development that keeps pace with changing skills landscape. --- Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 231: The journey to a skills-based organisation CIPD Podcast 207: HR’s next top operating model HR People Pod – Episode 48: Leadership reflections | Skills visibility | Workload creep More from this episode: Guide – Skills matching: Using and deploying people’s skills effectively in the workplace Analysis – How L&D can create value: Focussing on skills development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 15, 202634 min

HR People Pod – Ep 53: Progression conversations | ERA 2025: Probation | Relationship building

HR People Pod – Ep 53: Progression conversations | ERA 2025: Probation | Relationship building What's the real cost when organisations avoid honest career progression conversations? As the qualifying period for unfair dismissal drops from two years to six months under the Employment Rights Act 2025, how ready are managers to really make probation periods count? And with managers stretched thinner than ever, has building real relationships with their people become an afterthought? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by Cheryl Samuels, co-founder of #InclusiveHR; Vilma Nikolaidou, Director of People and Culture at the British Film Institute; and Marc Weedon, Executive Coach, HR Consultant and Owner of excelHR. Recorded: 10 July 2026 --- Additional resources: Tracking law changes: Employment Rights Act 2025 Guidance: Effectively managing probation Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 226: Closing skill gaps from within: the case for internal mobility HR People Pod – Ep 39: Rewriting the rules on workplace conflict – with David Liddle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 1, 202629 min

HR People Pod – Ep 52: Courageous leadership, clarity and organisational falafel - with Diana Osagie

What does courageous leadership really look like when the pressure is on? How can leaders move beyond assumptions and opaque messaging to create genuine clarity? And why is humility one of the most important pillars of good leadership? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza is joined by author, leadership coach and founder of Courageous Leadership Consultancy, Diana Osagie, to explore how leaders can transform thinking, build better organisational habits and create the clarity and confidence to have the conversations that matter. Recorded: 10 June 2026 --- Additional resources: Article: Diana Osagie on the foundations of courageous leadership ( People Management ) Explore more from Diana Osagie on courageous and empowered leadership Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 214: Success starts small – Building sustainable workplace habits HR People Pod – Ep 44: Crisis leadership | Impact of employee benefits | Friction-maxxing at work HR People Pod – Ep 37: Leading under pressure – with Professor Kevin Fong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 24, 202631 min

Podcast 231: The journey towards a skills-based organisation

For decades, jobs have helped organisations structure work, allocate responsibilities and make decisions about people. But as business priorities shift, skills shortages intensify and technology changes the nature of work, organisations need a clearer view of the skills and capabilities they have — and how to deploy them where they can create the greatest impact. Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Simone Carroll, CHRO and Director; Stephen Findlay, Head of Organisational Development at Skills Development Scotland; and Alex Boulting, Global OD & HR Transformation Leader at Ebbnflow – as they explore what it means to become a skills-based organisation. In this episode, our panel explores: •What it means to become a skills-based organisation, and how skills can complement rather than replace traditional job and role structures •How people professionals can identify current and future skills needs, connect skills to business impact, and rethink recruitment, workforce planning, performance and development •Why skills-based transformation is not just an HR project, but a people strategy requiring co-creation, trust, cultural change and the right use of skills data and technology --- Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 207: HR’s next top operating model HR People Pod – Episode 48: Leadership reflections | Skills visibility | Workload creep More from this episode: Guide – Skills matching: Using and deploying people’s skills effectively in the workplace Analysis – How L&D can create value: Focussing on skills development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 17, 202629 min

HR People Pod – Ep 51: Agentic AI | Entry-level careers | Defining moments in HR

As agentic AI moves beyond being a tool and starts to act with greater autonomy, how should organisations think about trust, oversight and accountability? If entry-level roles are changing — or even shrinking — what does that mean for young people trying to take their first step into work, and for employers hoping to build future capability? And which pivotal career moments can change how HR professionals think about their work, their leadership and their impact? CIPD Director of Profession David D’Souza, is joined by Jo Carlin, Chief People Officer at Effective Energy Group, and Andy Stephenson, Director at Dove Nest Group. Recorded: 11 June 2026 --- Additional resources: Case studies: AI in the workplace https://www.cipd.org/en/topics/artificial-intelligence-workplace/ Guide: How people professionals can develop, deploy, and use AU in an ethical, legal and sustainable way https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/guides/people-professionals-ai-use/ Skills for the future: Why investment in early talent is crucial for workforce success https://www.cipd.org/en/views-and-insights/thought-leadership/insight/investment-early-talent/ Your next listen: CIPD Podcast 228: The missing first rung: Are we sleepwalking into a talent crisis? https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/podcasts/missing-first-rung-are-we-sleeping-into-a-talent-crisis/ CIPD Podcast 229: From AI experimentation to AI maturity https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/podcasts/from-ai-experimentation-to-ai-maturity/ HR People Pod - Ep 43: Inside Davos - AI, work and the future of identity - with Allyn Bailey https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/podcasts/hr-people-pod/#:~:text=on%20benefits%202026-,HR%20People%20Pod%20%E2%80%93%20Ep%2043%3A%20Inside%20Davos%20%E2%80%93%20AI%2C%20work%20and%20the%20future%20of%20identity%20%2D%20with%20Allyn%20Bailey,-Duration%3A%2000%3A34 HR Coffee Time with Fay Wallis - Episode 155 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zi4ib2ER6g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 3, 202627 min

HR People Pod – Ep 50: National Volunteers’ Week | The line manager conundrum | Controlling costs while planning for growth

It’s National Volunteers’ Week from the 1st to the 7th of June. The impact of volunteering on creating pathways and enhancing career opportunities both into and within the workplace is well known. But what about the benefits and rewards for those who offer their time as voluntary mentors? Plus, a recent People Management Magazine article suggests that only 15% of non-managers find the prospect of becoming a line manager appealing, so how do we prepare the next generation of professionals to embrace line manager roles and the challenges that come with that? Finally, with the CIPD’s Labour Market Outlook Report Spring 2026 demonstrating that 58% of employers are prioritising cost challenges above growth, how can organisations strike the right balance between controlling costs now and protecting their ability to expand and remain competitive in the future? In this special fiftieth episode of the HR People Pod, we welcome back guest host, Leah De Silva, Senior Programme Manager for the CIPD Trust. Joining her in the studio are Emma Jayne, Chief People Officer at KYN and Elaine Grell, Chief People Officer (EMEA) at Ogilvy. Recorded: 30th May 2026 --- Explore more from this episode: National Volunteer’s Week Volunteer opportunities - CIPD Trust Impact and guidance - CIPD Trust Most employees say becoming a manager is not appealing, survey reveals Labour Market Outlook | CIPD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 27, 202631 min

Podcast 230: Why financial wellbeing is a business performance issue

Financial wellbeing is often treated as a personal challenge, but money worries can have a direct impact on performance, absence, engagement and retention. More concerningly, just 15 per cent of UK organisations have a formal financial wellbeing policy or strategy, according to the CIPD’s latest Reward Survey 2026, supported by Everywhen. So, what role should people professionals play in supporting employees’ financial wellbeing? Join Nigel Cassidy and this month’s guests – Mona Parikh, Associate Director, Reward at Coventry University; Charlie Goodman, Client Director at Everywhen; and Charles Cotton, Senior Policy and Practice Adviser, Pay, Reward and Performance – as they explore why financial wellbeing is not an ‘add-on’, but a strategic workforce challenge. --- More from this episode: Report: Reward Survey: Focus on Benefits 2026 Guide: Employee financial wellbeing Website: Money Helper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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