![\"edited](\"http:\/\/www.discovery-performance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/edited-entrance.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTop 5 Themes<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leadership issues are a key deterrent to retention<\/strong><\/p>\n In the CIPD’s presentation of their recent Employee Outlook Survey (Autumn 2015), a worrying trend was revealed: scores have dropped across the board for attitudes to senior and line managers. The biggest issues were clarity of vision, lack of consultation, and micromanagement. In other words, managers are in desperate need of leadership training to avoid losing valuable employees.<\/p>\n \u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Diversity of thought<\/strong><\/p>\n As the Discovery blogs recently<\/a> discussed<\/a>, diversity of thought is a key element of any successful 21st<\/sup> century business; something which was strongly echoed in the Women on Boards talk. We need to move past surface-level diversity and change the systems and processes which prevent a diverse workplace. (Also met CIPD’s Dianah Worman, bit of a nerdy fangirl moment!)<\/p>\n \u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Neuroscience confusion<\/strong><\/p>\n The use of neuroscience continues to be a hot topic in HR (and rightly so!), but there seems to be a lot of confusion about exactly how it is used. More explanation<\/a> for us non-scientists is definitely needed as these techniques become ever-more important.<\/p>\n \u00a04.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Humanising the workplace should be a top priority<\/strong><\/p>\n No more best practice – recruitment, performance management, and everything in between should be founded on people. After all, without people, there would be no business. This is an issue Discovery has believed in for a long time, so it was fantastic to see it as the topic of CIPD CEO Peter Cheese’s opening address.<\/p>\n \u00a05.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wellbeing is a key ingredient for success<\/strong><\/p>\n Working too long hours leads to lower productivity long term, and people who have good psychological wellbeing are significantly more productive. It’s something all businesses know in theory, but how is it implemented in reality? According to Professor Cary Cooper, badly! We may be living in the 21st<\/sup> century, but there’s clearly still a long way to go when it comes to workplace wellbeing.<\/p>\n Top 5 Stats<\/strong><\/p>\n A few favourites<\/strong><\/p>\n Best talk:<\/strong> A tie between the insightful Women on Boards talk (but of course) and Tree of Knowledge’s memorable and active session on positive performance.<\/p>\n Best stand:<\/strong> For sheer eye-catching sparkliness and an eye-boggling stress ball gift, it has to be Omnio, but there was a definite soft spot for the CIPD stand, with its great design and huge amounts of complimentary research papers. What can we say – glitter and free research is clearly the way to our heart\u2026<\/p>\n Best gift:<\/strong> Acacia Learning’s mini plant pots with acacia seeds and soil pellets inside – spot-on marketing (and currently decorating several desks in the Discovery office).<\/p>\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n