Revolutionise your HR approach: Expert insights from Heléne Smuts

In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast, Heléne Smuts, the founder of Credo Growth, a speaker at the 2023 Future of HR Summit, shares her journey from an expert in people development to entrepreneurship and leadership. Chatting to Janine Brown, she highlights the significance of developing high-performance teams and the evolving role of Credo Growth in supporting businesses looking to scale through people development, strategy execution, and sales growth. 

The conversation also delves into the challenges and opportunities within HR and people development, touching on the global shortage of skills, leadership issues, and the changing expectations of HR departments. Furthermore, Heléne discusses the impact of personal interests like freediving and Formula 1 on her professional mindset, the root causes of burnout, and her approach to enhancing workplace culture. The podcast wraps up by exploring how she measures success in teams and her observations on leadership and team dynamics across different regions.

HEAR MORE FROM HELÉNE AT THE FUTURE OF HR SUMMIT

8 key takeaways to listen out for in this podcast: 

1. Universal HR and people development challenges include shortages of skilled workers, leadership gaps, and the need for dynamic, flexible organisations.
2. Skilled workers, especially in industries like tech, are being lured away by international companies, allowing them to work from South Africa while earning foreign currency.
3. The transition from a specialist or technical role to management often lacks proper investment in leadership and management skills.
4. HR has evolved from an administrative function to a strategic business partner, aligning HR processes with overall business strategy.
5. Burnout often stems from a lack of trust within teams, leading to assumptions and overthinking, which can impact health and well-being.
6. Heléne employs Patrick Lencioni's "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" framework to identify and address trust and other underlying issues in teams and organisations.
7. Success is gauged through methods like BambooHR, employee engagement surveys, and the Employment Net Promoter Score (ENPS), but it's crucial to utilise these metrics effectively.
8. Leadership and team dynamics vary by region, influenced by factors like cultural diversity, communication styles, and hierarchical structures.

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