- Want to steal Google L&D team’s principles of individual learning? You’re in luck. The company’s global programme manager for innovation and creativity programmes Steph Fastre shared Google’s six tips. They are: know your user and how they learn; embrace freedom and flexibility; drive individual accountability through relevancy, by sharing data; foster the network and develop an ecosystem of peer learners; see L&D as curators, not teachers; and focus on learning agility, not ability. Fastre revealed that peer learning has become so ingrained at Google that 85% of internal courses are delivered by current employees.
- HR has a great opportunity to earn a seat at the table by helping businesses understand how the world is changing and the impact that will have on their people, according to CIPD chief economist Mark Beatson. Speaking on a session about how ‘megatrends’ are affecting the economy, Beatson gave an overview of shifts around the European labour market, demographics and global economics. He said that although the economy is improving, this will not be reflected in wages anytime soon. “Even if pay and productivity recover, workers are not going to feel better off,” he said. “We can’t make employees feel happier and more fulfilled by giving them pay rises, which means we have to think differently about our reward strategies.”
- Even today business leaders "still don't know how best to use good HR people", according to Moody's head of HR EMEA Milan Makwana. But it's not all bad news for HR professionals. He added that HR leaders can use a better understanding of the business partner model to help them drive success. "You all have an opportunity to shape it, which I think is very powerful," he said. So HR leaders, don't listen to your CEO, build the function in your own image. (Disclaimer: definitely listen to your CEO).
- Young apprentices can "struggle" when they are assigned a manager who they are automatically supposed to follow, according to BAE Systems HRD Alex Lewis. The newest cohorts want their managers to "earn the right to lead". Criticise the youngest employees all you like, but there's nothing like holding your leaders to account.
Click here for a roundup of the panels from day one
