McKinsey Talks Talent

Empathy: we all aspire to it, but does it really make a performance difference in the workplace? Definitely, according to Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World (Crown, June 2019). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Jamil joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to make the case for investing in empathic behavior—for reasons including higher productivity, a stronger workplace culture, and better organizational health—as well as to discuss how to go about cultivating kindness at work.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The podcast discusses the important talent themes of 2023 and how they could influence organizations in 2024, including the role of managers in a changing work environment, the significance of middle managers in hybrid work, creating new working norms to improve performance, and the future of HR and talent leaders in 2023 and 2024.

'Human-centered AI' is discussed in this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent. The speakers address concerns about job loss and macroeconomic impacts, explore the role of user interface in AI integration, analyze biases and resistance to AI adoption, discuss ways to unleash employees and improve organizational design with AI, and explore the challenges of data segmentation in AI.

McKinsey partner Bryan Hancock discusses skills-based hiring with a focus on evaluating job candidates based on their skills. The podcast explores the rise of skill-based hiring, shifting career paths, skills-based learning, talent diversity challenges, and upskilling initiatives.

Authors Emily Field, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger discuss the pivotal role of middle managers in organizational success. They explore redefining middle management roles, offering alternative career tracks, addressing gender dynamics, valuing employees, and balancing process efficiency with mission-driven approaches.

Look around. If you’re like many of us, your workplace comprises members of four, possibly even five, generations—and attention to age-based differences is mounting. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on generational preferences at work: what’s myth, what matters, and how to manage the new multigenerational team.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Generative AI: it’s powerful. It’s accessible. And it’s poised to change the way we work. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk with McKinsey Technology Council chair Lareina Yee and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the promise and pitfalls of using gen AI in HR—from recruiting to performance management to chatbot-enabled professional growth. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Learn about the importance of workplace rituals in creating a sense of community and belonging among employees. Explore how the pandemic has impacted in-person rituals and the rise of remote rituals to combat loneliness. Discover various workplace rituals like Mindful Mondays and team-building exercises that foster connection and purpose within organizations.

Talent experts Bonnie Dowling, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger discuss the importance of flexibility in the volatile talent landscape. They explore shifts in job preferences, workforce motivations, and the concept of 'quiet quitting'. The impact of wages on retention and the job market disparity is also analyzed, highlighting the challenges faced by companies in attracting and retaining talent.

Churn is up. Engagement is down. And year-end reviews are here. Are you worried giving feedback will make workers feel worse?See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information