Redefining HR leadership in a hybrid world of work

Besides helping to build the HR skills and capabilities that will drive business success and set their organisation’s strategic direction, the role of the CHRO has evolved to encompass key responsibilities such as succession planning, talent and change management, and problem solving in general.

This is particularly true as organisations first adopted remote working because of the pandemic, before transitioning into hybrid work, a process which is still being refined by many organisations today.

As a result, HR leaders are having to focus more on issues such as feedback, recognition, wellbeing, managing outcomes in different ways, and to dissect what it means to work remotely and in a physical workplace, including which tasks are done where, said Gary Cookson, Director, EPIC HR.

He told HRM Asia, “The COVID-19 pandemic changed what it means to be a leader, and the way teams operate, but not in the way you think. Now as we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we have an opportunity to consciously and deliberately reset things and change what work is, and needs to be.”

“Some 40% of employers said they expect more than half of their workforce to work regularly from home given increased productivity; while 50% of respondents in a global survey expressed fears that telecommuting would restrict their opportunities for promotion. We have a golden opportunity to make the future of workplace, but there is no one-size-fits-all approach we can all adopt. Join me at HR Tech Festival Asia 2022 as I explore how to think of leadership differently in the new era of hybrid working and offer a framework to help teams reset and redefine themselves.”

Speaking at the HR Leaders’ APAC Summit on Wednesday, May 11, from 2.30-3pm (SGT), Cookson’s session, titled Whenever, Wherever – The Future of Work Beyond Hybrid, will also examine how decisions are made in the workplace, how problems are solved, and the way people communicate with one another as they find a new way to think about hybrid working, and what the future holds.

To offer further insights into The Future of HR Leadership, and identify the skills, experience, and mindsets next-generation HR leaders require to be flexible, agile, and resilient as they lead their organisation in a rapidly evolving work environment, the HR Leaders’ APAC Summit is also featuring a panel discussion on Wednesday, May 11, from 3-4pm.

Moderated by Charlton Ong, Vice-President, People and Culture, Singapore Telecommunications, the panel discussion will identify the skills and personalities of the future HR leader in a new era of work; present leadership strategies for a hybrid workplace and tips on how to foster a commercial culture within HR; and discuss how HR leaders can adapt to future technologies for work, learning, and communication.

Ong will be joined by Renee Kida, Global Head of People, Culture and Talent Acquisition, GoTo Financial; Tam Trang Nguyen, Global Head of Human Resources, Unilever International cum Head of Human Resources, Unilever Asia; and Ihsanuddin Usman, Human Capital and General Affairs Director, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero).

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Taking place from 10-13 May 2022, HR Tech Festival Asia 2022 will celebrate a week-long festival of HR with some of the most recognised global and regional thought leaders, and the most innovative HR tech brands in the market today, including ADP, Achievers, AMS, Ceridian, CoachHub, Coursera, Cornerstone OnDemand, Globalization Partners, Oracle, ServiceNow, Skillsoft, Top Employers Institute, Workforce Singapore, Culture Amp, Enboarder, Microsoft, SHL, SumTotal, and Wolter Kluwer.

With the theme of Return. Refresh. Reimagine, the 21st edition of HR Tech Festival Asia will be presented in a hybrid format that is designed to provide an immersive and customisable event experience for your needs and preferences.

2022 will be a complex year for APAC’s HR leaders as organisations return to the workplace, refresh talent strategies, and reimagine the future workforce to optimise business impact.

Be sure to be part of HR Tech Festival Asia 2022 and learn how you can power up your HR teams for a successful year ahead!