How People Analytics Shapes Decision-Making in Modern HR (an Interview with Nick Dalton)
Oct 17, 2023
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Join host David Green and guest Nick Dalton, previous EVP of HR at Unilever, as they explore the historical landscape of HR and its evolution over the decades. They discuss the impact of people data on decision-making, navigating the paradox wave in HR, characteristics of a paradox HR leader, and HR's role in addressing global climate concerns. Anticipated changes in HR titles and roles are also discussed in light of data-driven decision-making and paradoxical leadership.
Developing leaders who can navigate different waves of change is crucial for HR professionals.
HR professionals need to collaborate with wider networks of organizations and adopt a paradox leadership approach to effectively plan for the future of work.
Deep dives
The Evolution of HR
The podcast episode explores the evolution of HR through seven waves of change. It begins with the paternalistic era, where companies focused on ensuring workers showed up on time and were taken care of. It then moves to the power era, characterized by managing conflict in the workplace, followed by the process era, which emphasized stability and job evaluation. The profit era saw a focus on visionary leadership, and the people era shifted towards employee empowerment and participation. Currently, we are in the paradox era, where leaders must navigate complexity and balance conflicting priorities. The episode emphasizes the importance of developing leaders who can handle different waves and asks HR professionals to lead rather than react.
The Role of HR in the Future of Work
HR plays a crucial role in helping companies plan effectively for the future of work. This requires facing the rapid changes in work and preparing the workforce to navigate them. HR professionals need to move away from managing change within company silos and instead collaborate with wider networks of organizations to share resources and insights. The employment contract must shift from transactional to developmental, empowering employees while also considering the collective impact. The episode highlights that HR needs to adopt a paradox leadership approach, managing change in a way that aligns with different eras and future needs. It also emphasizes the need for HR to integrate different disciplines and ask the right questions to guide leaders effectively.
Developing Paradox Leaders
The podcast episode discusses the concept of paradox leaders who can navigate different waves of change. Paradox leaders are those who can lead without hierarchy and through networks, adapting to the specific problems and needs of different eras. While paradox leaders are described as invisible hand leaders, there is a recognition that not every situation requires a paradox approach. HR professionals need to develop leaders who can handle increasing complexity over time and transition between different leadership modes. The episode also highlights the importance of continuous leadership development and aligning leadership styles with organizational needs.
Unilever's HR Journey
The episode acknowledges Unilever's reputation in HR and discusses the factors that contributed to the company's successful transformation. Unilever prioritized the people agenda strategically and ensured HR had a seat at the top table. They also had robust processes, such as annual HR planning, which strengthened HR's influence and enabled effective change management. Unilever's journey represents the evolution of HR in different eras and demonstrates the role of HR professionals in leading rather than reacting. The episode encourages HR professionals to learn from Unilever's example and develop their own frameworks and approaches to drive organizational change effectively.
In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, join host David Green and guest Nick Dalton, previous EVP of HR at Unilever and co-author of the groundbreaking book 'The HR (R)Evolution: Change the Workplace, Change the World', as they navigate the historical landscape of Human Resources.
Dissecting its evolution over the decades and envisioning its trajectory into the future, David and Nick bring forth insights and reflections, offering listeners a unique perspective on the past, present and future of this dynamic and ever-evolving field.
As they peel back the layers of HR’s transformation, expect to learn more about:
The seven waves of HR and how they have shaped the HR landscape over time
The role of people data in HR's evolution and its impact on decision-making
Navigating the paradox wave in HR, especially in the context of rapid technological advancements and global uncertainties
The characteristics of a paradox HR leader and the scarcity of such leaders in the current landscape
How HR can play a pivotal role in steering organisations towards the 'Planet' wave, especially in light of pressing global climate concerns
Anticipated changes in HR titles and roles as it continues to adapt to data-driven decision-making and paradoxical leadership, helping to shape the workplace and the world
Tune in for a captivating and informative exploration of HR's evolution, its potential for transformative leadership, and its critical role in shaping the future of work and the world.
This episode is brought to you with the support of strategic workforce management tool, eQ8. To discover more about eQ8’s innovative solutions, visit: eQ8.ai/Insight222