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While rational data prevails in decision-making, the importance of emotions and relationships cannot be overstated. So, as we learn in this conversation, people-centered leadership takes center stage in addressing these challenges.
Four months into 2024, businesses continue to grapple with a steady stream of new changes and challenges. At the forefront of these changes are human resources professionals, who play a key role in ensuring employees adapt to these changes and remain motivated.
With this in mind, Arina Sofiah sets out to understand the trends driving the HR agenda this year, in a Anjali Menon, Human Resources Director, Asia Pacific, Sibelco Group.
The first key trend identified by Anjali revolves around Improve employee experience. While it’s always been critical, it’s becoming increasingly important now as companies work to ensure the right employee experience in hybrid work environments. They are striking a delicate balance as they transition from an all-offline approach to maintaining important connections.
“The defining moments that were once facilitated through personal interactions are now gone. As a result, employee engagement, motivation and sense of belonging decline.
“This is [thus] This leader told us that organizations must address and find the balance of employee experience in a hybrid way of working.
The second trend is Pay more attention to the purpose of the organization, often called the “North Star”. Employees, particularly Gen Z, but also to a large extent Gen Y, are increasingly aware of the organization’s purpose, values and ethics, and how the organization aligns with the wider community on a global scale. Anjali noted that this goes beyond mere sustainability to include social sustainability, considering the impact on the entire value chain, including suppliers, customers and consumers.
“There is a growing recognition of the importance of human rights, diversity, inclusion and climate action. Purpose, sustainability and the organization’s connection to the larger community are becoming key aspects.
“While primarily a leadership trend, HR will play a key role in facilitating this alignment.”
The third trend involves skills and abilities. Post-COVID-19, organizations are undergoing frequent and profound cycles of change in business models, product portfolios and operating models to improve efficiency and profitability. Anjali stresses that this requires a lean and agile approach to working, especially in a hybrid environment where the gig economy is gaining mainstream acceptance.
Therefore, she adds, it is crucial for companies to adopt a skills-based approach. Identifying the most critical skills and capabilities for optimal business operations and aligning recruiting, payroll and skill-building efforts with automation is critical. Anjali said developments in artificial intelligence have further emphasized the importance of skills-based organizations in ensuring knowledge, capabilities and business continuity.
Finally, people pay more and more attention to “People-centered” leadership. Amid evolving business models, AI integration, and hybrid work dynamics, human connection and emotional intelligence are clearly missing.
A compassionate approach to human interaction is “sorely missed” – and burnout is on the rise due to insufficient focus on resilience and emotion, especially in changing circumstances. While rational data prevails in decision-making, the importance of emotions and relationships cannot be overstated. Therefore, people-centered leadership takes center stage in addressing these challenges.
At Sibelco, the Group’s priority is alignment with its core purpose and values.
As Anjali elaborates: “Sustainability is ingrained throughout our entire value chain, with a strong emphasis on social sustainability.”
Adopting an entrepreneurial leadership approach is a key initiative that promotes a mindset similar to that of small business management in how Sibelco handles and conducts business matters.
The group has also undergone a profound digital transformation across the organization over the past four years. Sibelco is currently assessing the impact on its business to seamlessly integrate it more deeply into the group’s operations, fostering a lean, agile and change-oriented mindset.
Its focus in HR is also on taking a systems approach, leveraging digitalization to improve efficiency and developing strong data and analytical thinking.
“Our focus is on capability development through experiential learning paradigms, targeting technical, cognitive and leadership skills. Communication and change management are important enablers of this effort,” shares Anjali.
In addition, Sibelco prioritizes developing behaviors consistent with ethics, values and mental health, laying the foundation for a people-centered workplace. She affirmed that diversity, inclusion and belonging are intrinsic to its values and are championed by the organization’s leadership.
Clue pictures/provided
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