Leigh Lafever-Ayer

We are excited to announce that SEE Change Happen have now opened the waiting list for our New Keynote on 'Inclusive Menopause Support for Every Gender' with Joanne Lockwood ғʀsᴀ ғᴘsᴀ ғɪᴇᴅᴘ💗 💙 💛 💜 💚 🧡 🎤 🎉 🌟 Let's break the stigma and foster inclusive cultures where everyone feels supported through their menopause journey, regardless of gender. 🌟This is an essential conversation for HR professionals, D&I leaders, and anyone committed to nurturing belonging and equity within organisations. 🌟Join us as we Smile, Engage, and Educate together! 🌈 🌟Together we can make Positive People Experiences. 🌈 Takeaways: 👉 Normalising menopause & gender conversations in the workplace 🌟 👉Tailored support systems for diverse needs 🏥 👉Education and awareness for all employees 📚 👉Inclusive policies and practices 🏢 👉Fostering a culture of belonging 🌈 Why not book a 'Discovery Call' and check out available dates: https://lnkd.in/e5W4Tw2p #InclusiveCulture #MenopauseAwareness #DiversityandInclusion #HRLeaders #Equity #PositivePeopleExperiences #DiversityandInclusionLeaders #NationalInclusionWeek #InclusiveMenopauseSupportforEveryGender #ImpactMatters #InclusionandBelonging

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Today is International HR Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the incredible HR professionals around the world. It's a time to spotlight the invaluable and irreplaceable role HR plays in helping organizations thrive. We recognize and celebrate the positive impact HR brings to both organizations and their people. As a proud HR professional, I know how essential our work is. Often, HR gets blamed for organizational issues, with a focus on disciplinaries, ER cases, dismissals, performance management, and sickness absence. However, today, let's reflect on how HR functions add value to our organizations. This year's theme is "HR Shaping the New Future," focusing on four key areas: 🔦 Ethical use of technology and AI 🔦 Future workplaces 🔦 People leadership 🔦 Continued innovation in skills and education These themes are crucial as we work together with HR to create a workforce equipped with the skills and digital solutions needed for future success. As a Black woman in HR, I've often felt isolated, not seeing many people who look like me in senior roles. The lack of ethnic diversity in HR is a challenge we must address. We need to create a more diverse pipeline of HR professionals. HR functions should review diversity data and strive to be more representative of the communities that it serves. I recently spoke with Adese O., CEO and founder of Black Women In HR - BWHR, to learn more about why she established the organization and its impact since inception - Have a listen here - https://lnkd.in/eiTEEREi To all my HR heroes, don't let your organization lead you to imposter syndrome. You are amazing and add immense value. Without HR, organizations would be dysfunctional. Yes, we have work to do, but let's celebrate the value we bring. No HERO without HR! Happy International HR Day! Massive shoutout to my HR Fam - Peter Cheese Rupert McNeil Ruth Bailey CB Samantha Ming Frank Douglas Fiona Daniel Sandy Lucas Jaspal Roopra CFCIPD Pritpal Bhullar (MCIPD) ANDREA WILLIAMS-MCKENZIE CBE Michael Magbagbeola Michael Pichamuthu Mark Preston Sean Davin FCIPD, MInstLM Sanchia B. Tola Ayoola MCIPD Joyce Irvine Siobhan Sheridan CBE David R. Blackburn Chartered CCIPD CCMI Louis Henry Cheryl Samuels FCIPD HPMA Healthcare People Management Association PPMA - Public Services People Managers Association Pam Parkes, FCIPD Funke Sadare Chartered FCIPD, MA in HRM Funmi O. Catherine Osaigbovo Tatenda H. Dawar Hashmi #InternationalHRDay #HRHeroes #DiversityInHR #FutureOfWork #EthicalAI #PeopleLeadership #InnovationInHR

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It's #InternationalCoachingWeek and a perfect time to reflect on the impact coaching may have had on our lives. For me, it's been 10 years since I started my coaching journey and moved to #Bristol. To step into someone's mind, heart and life is a true privilege, so a sincere thank you to all my clients over the years. My purpose is to help people find theirs. (Thank you Co-Active Training Institute!) There's nothing more rewarding than helping someone feel confident, clear and excited about who they are, how they lead and what they're here to do. Coaching builds self-awareness, a critical step to being a brilliant human and leader. I believe we need to put our own oxygen mask first before helping others and to truly support, listen, empathise and believe in others, we need to 'do the work' on ourselves. The power of coaching is best understood through experiencing it. For those who have, what has coaching given you? In celebration of coaching week with McCann Synergy, I'm offering a free 45-minute session for people based in mid-large size businesses interested in coaching for their team or leaders. Book here to experience the transformational power of coaching:

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This points to what being people centred is all about.... How do you create resilience in your workforce? How do you create belonging and connection? Ed Holinski knows this territory well. #facilitativeleadership #futureofwork https://lnkd.in/esdNtPaK

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From the blog... How could the upcoming election influence workplace culture? The UK's upcoming election is not just a pivotal event for the nation but also a source of anxiety and speculation for employees across various sectors. The potential shifts in policies and government priorities can significantly influence the macroeconomic environment and individual workplace dynamics. It’s important as leaders to be mindful of the broad anxieties and specific issues employees might face before and after July 4th, so let’s explore both the macro issues, like policies and regulations, as well as individual anxieties, like personal wealth security and navigating colleagues with opposing beliefs. https://lnkd.in/ea7JawfQ #Leadershipdevelopmentcoach #Consciousleadership #Selfeffacingleadership #Purposefulcompanyculture #Trustbasedleadership #Performancedrivenleadership #Humbleleadership #Effectivecommunication #LinkedInleadershipinsights #Professionaldevelopment #Buildingtrust #Enhancingcompanyculture #Leadershipcoaching #thoughtleadership #Impactfulleadership

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As we head towards the uk general election, check out this great piece in Employer News - HR and Business News for UK Employers from my Traction Coaching colleague, Philippa Spratt about how we all may benefit from thinking of a promotion like being up for election. https://lnkd.in/ebBe6mbf #election #coach #managerdevelopment #leadership

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What are your thoughts on conferences? I am off to the CIPD festival of work today. Some of the sessions I’m excited to attend are: 📣How internal comms can support corporate values ❌Thriving through transformation, it’s time to stop talking about change management 📕From theory to action and AI playbook for L&D strategies 💪🏿Fearless Leadership: Fostering an honest and open culture, and creative courage in the modern workplace The part I woke up feeling a little less excited about this morning is the networking. It’s how we grow (along with word of mouth and referrals from our lovely existing clients) but let’s be honest, it’s not many people’s favourite thing to do! I’ve had a motivation boost though, from my lovely co-founder Becki Nazareth. 💙 Is anyone attending the Festival of Work today who can help me check off some of my bingo card? Comment if you are! (Or if you want to chat about what we do at Wonderful Brilliant ) (Also, I’d love a 🙌 in the comments from anyone who sees this and feels nostalgic….Yes you Explore Learning crew!)

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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗥 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗛𝗥 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 Today, we celebrate our HR professionals who play a vital role in shaping workplaces that are inclusive, efficient, and resilient. As we navigate through 2024, several key HR issues have come to the forefront in the UK, demanding our attention and action. Here are the top three. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 The importance of mental health in the workplace has never been more prominent. With the lingering effects of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and rising stress levels, HR departments are prioritising comprehensive well-being initiatives. Ensuring employees have access to mental health resources, flexible working arrangements, and supportive management is crucial for maintaining a healthy, productive workforce. 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗘𝗜) Despite progress, there is still a significant journey ahead to achieve true equity in the workplace. HR professionals should be are focusing on creating more inclusive environments where everyone feels valued. This includes addressing unconscious biases, implementing diverse hiring practices, and fostering a culture where differences are celebrated and everyone has equal opportunities for growth and development. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 The shift to remote and hybrid work has transformed the traditional workplace. HR teams are tasked with developing policies that support these flexible working models while ensuring productivity and engagement. This involves rethinking performance metrics, fostering virtual team cohesion, and ensuring that remote employees have access to the same opportunities as their in-office counterparts. As we recognise International HR Day, let’s appreciate the dedication and adaptability of HR professionals who are at the heart of building better workplaces. Here’s to driving positive change and supporting our most valuable asset—our people! #InternationalHRDay #HR #EmployeeWellbeing #DEI #HybridWork #HumanResources #UKHR

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A truly insightful short read Helen Beurier. If a staggering 90% of people are disengaged with their job (therefore also probably quite miserable) the economy is 18% down on productivity (the gap between a disengaged and highly engaged employee being 20%). Think about it for a moment, how much is that misery gap worth to the economy and individual businesses? Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose (Daniel Pink, also a great read). What does that mean? Janitor at NASA; clocks in, gets micromanaged, does tasks, clock watches, avoids colleagues, clocks out. Or...is highly trained on every aspect of their job and its part within the whole operation (context), achieves a reputation as a master of all things job-related, is given autonomy to do their job in the most effective way they see fit (because they are the expert), and feels an important part of a team getting astronauts to the moon. Same job, totally different perspective. Which version is the happiest and most productive employee? Yep, it's really that simple.

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“Investing in your people, however, doesn’t necessarily need huge budgets. It does require leaders to invest in a different mindset though. Those that fail to recognise and respond to these challenges will ultimately be left behind.” Claire Williams, Chief People and Operations Officer at Ciphr According to a recent survey of 300 UK HR decision-makers, several key challenges facing employers in 2024 were identified. Retaining employees was the top concern, followed closely by meeting pay expectations and supporting mental health and well-being at work. Other challenges included recruiting qualified talent, maintaining an engaged workforce, and promoting a positive workplace culture. This emphasises the importance of recognising employees as the greatest asset and investing in their development and well-being. HR leaders must focus on strategic initiatives to improve the employee experience and address key priorities such as retention, recruitment, and employee well-being. If you have identified any of these challenges in your business and require support, please get in contact with us at Corvus People. #EmployeeEngagement #EmployeeRetention #WorkplaceSuccess https://lnkd.in/giVqFYcS

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That weird moment when your massive baldy head appears on your screen... 🤣 Fair to say the overwhelming response we had from colleagues when we launched Belonging at Bellrock, our new DE&I Strategy has really caught me by surprise. And being honest, I am actually feeling the pressure to do a bloody good job of leading the implementation of the Strategy. You see, anyone can write a strategy document, make it sound good, make it look pretty. But there comes a point where you have to stop talking about it and actually get on and do it 🏃‍♂️ Doing what we say we will, when we say will, within budget, has become something we are a particularly good at in the Bellrock HR team. Our People Strategy over the last few years has moved two pensions schemes, created a new employer brand, launched a new careers site and ATS, reformed our reward and benefits package, onboarded a colleagues from a number of acquired businesses, supported a 50% growth in headcount, launched new leadership programmes, grad schemes and apprenticeships, mobilised a new HR and payroll system, and job levelled 1600 roles, to name but a few 🔥 But DE&I feels different, its not something you do 'to' an organisation, its something you need to inherently work 'with' them on - so that it is credible and authentic and real. I guess I shouldn't really feel the pressure, I'm fortunate to work with a great HR team and we've engaged a fantastic community of colleagues to guide us on the journey. Our focus groups start next week, ahead of a DE&I workshop for stakeholders to develop detailed action plans, communication plans and success measures. And once the action starts, belonging at Bellrock becomes a real thing 🚀 #bellrock #dei #diversity #equity #inclusion #belongingatbellrock

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Such a simple yet powerful concept. Well managed endings don't just enable those leaving to move positively on to their next new beginning - they also enable those who remain in the organisation to flourish. A trajectory for strong cultural and commercial flow - rather than creating deceleration and obstacles in the organisational system from poorly managed endings.

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The Power of Appreciation = being grateful for who your employees are and not just what they do 🦋 Our latest eBook "Minding the Appreciation Gap" showcases the positive impact a culture of appreciation has on organisational success. Recent research showed that 78% of people who frequently feel appreciated at work are motivated, compared to just 37% of those who are not. So fostering a culture of appreciation is surely a no brainer ... you can download our eBook here to learn more .... https://lnkd.in/gEVW72_t I'd love to know what you think and if you are focusing on appreciation as part of your People Strategy. #AppreciationMatters #HRGameChanger #EmployeeAppreciation #HRInsights #WorkplaceCulture #PowerOfAppreciation

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I have been speaking to d&i Leaders (Diversity and Inclusion Leaders) about how we can recognise and reward #employeenetworks. In this piece, I discuss the importance of employee networks with Jo Faragher (she/her), but we also examine why they are often undervalued. I think that’s mainly because employers can see employee networks as passion projects. This hugely undervalues the work of the network and the people within it, don’t you think⁉   I want to encourage employers to provide network leaders with protected time to fulfil the additional work and ensure that the work takes place during working hours.    I also think that many network leads are looking for visibility. Employers can fulfil this by inviting network leads to present their work, achievements and successes to the senior team and feature their work in internal and external communications.   What do you think? What else can we do to reward employee networks? #commentbelow   #employeeculture #productivity #employeeengagement

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46% of working parents are concerned about their children’s mental health, costing UK employers £8bn annually due to impact on performance, taking time off work or leaving their roles. The latest report from Deloitte considers the interplay between the mental health of children and young people and its influence on their working parents. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eD6Xdjdf #workplacewellbeing #workplacementalhealth #workingparents

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Last call to join People Puzzles post-election webinar tomorrow morning at 0900. This hands-on, drop-in clinic will provide pragmatic, commercial guidance for business leaders following the recent General Election and the proposed employment law changes. Register to attend here! https://lnkd.in/eWKF82Nd #webinar #generalelection #employment #employmentlaw

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Time to reflect after day 1 at the CIPD Festival of Work. A range of topics were covered including performance consulting, culture, line management, leadership success profiles, neurodivergence, employee experiences and perhaps the most hard hitting delivery of the motherhood penalty. This festival isn’t just for HR professionals, if you play any role in people leadership or management then get yourself along for free days of learning and thought provoking sessions. #CIPDfestivalofwork #pregnantthenscrewed #peoplemanagement #leadership

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I am delighted to be speaking as a guest at Breathe's "Understanding Mental Health in HR and Employment Law" webinar on 27th June at 11am. Join me and Tessa Robinson alongside Team Breathe for an insightful discussion around all things mental health at work, what part employment has to play and where HR is in all of this! Book your space using the comments below and we look forward to seeing you there! #hr #business #webinar #hrconsultant

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