Learnings from the HR Strategy Summit

It's always interesting to hear what is happening in other organisations – the successes, lessons learnt and thoughts for the future. As sponsors and attendees of the HR Strategy summit NSW 2024, The Next Step team gained valuable insights from some of Australia's leading People and Culture professionals. Here Caroline Diek shares some of our key takeaways.

Steering our workforce towards the future

Some interesting learnings were shared at the HR Strategy Summit NSW 2024 where leaders explored strategies for building our future workforce. In the first panel discussion of the day, a group of accomplished panellists addressed the topic of 'Building the Future Workforce: Embracing Technology and Adapting for Success'. 

Deborah Yates, the Global CPO of Lendlease, emphasised the importance of upholding core organisational values such as trust, integrity, and collaboration while striving for economic performance. She advocated for a shift from 'nice' to 'kind' leadership and fostering a culture where respectful disagreement is encouraged and fuels innovation.

The wider panel, featuring representatives from Koala, Hilton and HUB24, also spoke extensively about the transformative role of technology in shaping the future of work. By leveraging AI to automate administrative or repetitive tasks, organisations can carve out space for critical thinking, innovation, and meaningful human connections. The importance to be 'human' in a tech-led world was heavily emphasised. Leaders also highlighted the need to reinforce leadership capabilities to help ensure that technology continues to enhance, rather than replace human capabilities.

An organised debate by Anna Cheney and Ali Davies from Bendelta centred on whether organisations should prioritise addressing immediate skill shortages or focus on future-proofing strategies. They captured our interest with humour and introduced us to a new skill which will no doubt become the next HR buzz word, “anti-fragility.” More than resilience, it’s the ability to not only withstand challenges but thrive and grow from them. A key takeaway from this interaction being the importance of balancing present needs with long-term sustainability.

At an interactive workshop facilitated by The Next Step, Malcolm Dore, AMP's Director of People Services, emphasised the need for bespoke operating models to future-proof organisations. Discussions touched upon the importance of stakeholder alignment and engagement, the use of workplace data and forecasting tools, detailed activity analysis and effective change management. We were honoured to have Malcolm lead this session on behalf of The Next Step. 

Leveraging technology to enhance culture and wellbeing

It's clear most organisations attending the HR Strategy Summit are exploring how to leverage technology to enhance employee growth and satisfaction in a personal, yet scalable way.

At a discussion on 'Cultivating Wellbeing & Resilience in the Face of Change', panellists talked about the importance of fostering a people-centric culture of gratitude and recognition for attracting, retaining, and motivating top talent to deliver their best work.

O.C Tanner delved into this topic, emphasising the significance of expressing appreciation in both small and significant ways. Nadia Beedeison, Lead Advisor Workplace Culture and Experience, cited research showing that 80% of the workforce needs to feel valued in order for an organisation to be successful. Key strategies discussed included encouraging efforts consistently, rewarding results, and celebrating significant career milestones.

It was interesting to hear how a leading beverage company utilised generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver a personalised learning solution for a large, highly dispersed workforce of 10,000+. By immersing employees in realistic AI-generated scenarios, they not only observed best-practices but also experienced decision making while feeling the physiological effects of being in a simulated stressful situation. While many would question the relevance of high tech on the shop floor, this example showcased how virtual and augmented reality could train employees on resolving customer conflicts,  leading to remarkable success rates in handling cases thereafter.

Embracing AI to promote engagement, leadership development & performance

The day’s final keynote speaker Mike Kim, Head of HR JAPAC & SAMEA at Spotify, delivered an impressive address on embracing AI within the HR profession. He emphasised that you can embrace technology, while still having a human-led culture and without diminishing intrinsic HR skill sets.

To prepare for the future of AI, organisations should first understand the technology and tailor it to their needs, recognising the irreplaceable value of human leadership. Embracing a growth mindset and prioritising trust and safety measures are also vital, ensuring ethical use and employee confidence. Real-life examples from Spotify illustrate how AI can personalise experiences and facilitate career progression, reinforcing Kim's message to lead with empathy, compassion, and effective communication.

In addressing fears of job displacement, Kim reminded us of AI's historical evolution and its current role in making work more purposeful and engaging. From the advent of machine learning to today's generative AI, technology has consistently augmented human capabilities rather than replacing them. By embracing AI as a tool for creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, organisations can empower employees to focus on meaningful tasks while emphasising the enduring importance of human leadership qualities such as empathy and effective communication.

How can we help?

By staging, sponsoring and reporting on industry events such as the HR Strategy Summit, we aim to create a platform for People & Culture professionals, providing spaces where they can come together to learn, listen, share ideas and collaborate.

If you are a Human Resources professional wanting to connect for a career discussion, market update or support for your team, please contact us for a further discussion.

Caroline Diek is a principal consultant, based in NSW. She has deep domain experience in assisting senior HR professionals with their career journey and is passionate about building strong teams for her clients.