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Writer and Communications Consultant
Erika Lucas is a writer and communications consultant with a special interest in HR, leadership, management and personal development. Her career has spanned journalism and PR, with previous roles in regional press, BBC Radio, PR consultancy, charities and business schools.
We’ve all come across ‘coasters’. People who are only doing just enough to get by: who lack enthusiasm, who are unwilling to change their routine, who push their lunch ‘hour’ as far as it will go and spend their day ‘riding […]
Mixed messages this week in a flurry of research reports that have come out looking at pay trends for the year ahead. The CIPD predict that employers will put a brake on pay rises thanks to increasing employment costs and […]
Older employees play an important part in the country’s economy, with the over-50 age group predicted to represent one third of the UK workforce by 2020. Maximising the potential of this ‘Baby Boomer’ generation – many of whom may still […]
January is generally seen as a time for new beginnings – and never more so when it comes to a career shake-up. A survey out this week from Glassdoor shows that the first few weeks of the New Year is […]
The few weeks leading up to Christmas can be a challenging time for managers. Employees are going stir-crazy with all the seasonal celebrations and it can be hard to ensure people keep their foot on the gas. If you’re under […]
What gets in the way of you being really productive at work? A constantly ringing phone, endless interruptions from colleagues, complex systems and procedures, equipment that doesn’t work properly? According to the CIPD’s latest Employee Outlook Survey, ‘unnecessary rules and […]
A new software system is often seen as the panacea for the HR department’s ills. It will cut down on energy-sucking admin, help line managers lead their teams more effectively and provide the people-related data to inform business-critical decisions. All […]
In an ideal world, feedback should make us feel empowered, motivated, energised and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, it can sometimes have the opposite effect, leaving us demoralised and dejected. Much of this is of course to do with the way feedback is […]
A business I visit regularly has a fantastic receptionist. Always ready with a smile, remembers everyone’s name and is willing to go the extra mile to sort out any issue. I was delighted recently to hear that she had been […]
Good news for HR this week in the shape of research from Investors in People, which found that positive people practices had a significant impact on the bottom line. The ‘Impact of Investing in People’ study found that changes to […]
Dealing with difficult conversations – what’s your type? In summary: Handling difficult conversations at work requires preparation, self-awareness, and the ability to adapt your communication style. By understanding your natural response to conflict and recognising how others prefer to communicate, […]
There’s change afoot in the world of performance management, with a recent report from PwC suggesting at least two-thirds of companies are rethinking their appraisal processes. The firm’s research found that organisations were shifting their focus towards continuous feedback, rather […]
