business - St. Swift Consulting Ltd

Would you work for that CEO again?

A head-hunter asked me this recently, referencing a CEO I’d worked with years ago. It made me reflect on the responsibility leaders have in how they show up.People do have a choice about who they work with. We’ve all heard the saying that people don’t leave organisations, they leave their manager. The data is still a shocker though… at least half of employees have left a job to escape a manager at some point in their career. So often it comes down to behaviour, the day‑to‑day experience of being managed by that individual. That impact is amplified in a leadership role, where the leader sets the standard for others to follow. When I think about the leaders I’ve genuinely enjoyed working with then and now, there’s no cookie‑cutter formula… but there are some consistent truths: They have a clear vision and genuine passion for their business.• They understand their people are critical to success. They listen with openness, even when the conversation is difficult. They invest time and energy in what truly matters to their people.• They value my contribution and trust me to operate with autonomy, just as they do with the rest of their team.• They keep a sense of humour, even when things get tough. When you find a leader like that, you grow.You contribute more.You do your best work not because they’re perfect, but because they’re genuine, consistent and committed. If you’re reflecting on your own leadership right now, I’m always open to a conversation.

Would you work for that CEO again? Read More »

Recognising the Women Who Make Organisations Better

Uncategorized / jsaint@hrassets.co.uk

International Women’s Day always makes me reflect on the years I’ve spent working at executive level and the many times I’ve been the only woman in the room. I’ve seen things change over the decades, slowly at first and then more visibly, as more women stepped into senior roles and made their impact felt. HR leadership has been one of the executive spaces where women are more represented. When I think back to the early days of my own career though, HR was still very much ‘Personnel’: admin heavy, process driven and its potential value not appreciated. The women HRDs I’ve admired most didn’t stay within those early boundaries. They saw the opportunity that came with being close to people, culture and organisational dynamics .They shaped strategy, challenged assumptions and influenced decisions far beyond their so‑called remit. They didn’t just support the organisation; they helped steer it. This International Women’s Day, I’m celebrating the women who continue to do that: the ones who use their voice, their insight and their influence to make organisations better places for everyone. And perhaps because of the women who shaped my own journey, I’m especially committed to supporting the next generation , often young women stepping into leadership for the first time. HR Mentoring Plus grew from that commitment: a way to offer the guidance, confidence and strategic perspective I wish I’d had earlier in my career. Here’s to the women who lead, the women who lift others up, and women finding their voice in rooms where it hasn’t always been heard.

Recognising the Women Who Make Organisations Better Read More »

Facing Your “Big Firsts”: Why HR Leaders in SMEs and Scale-Ups Need Real‑Time Strategic HR Support

Uncategorized / jsaint@hrassets.co.uk

In many SMEs and scale-ups, HR leaders grow alongside the business. They are deeply committed and carrying real responsibility, while still building the strategic HR experience the organisation is beginning to rely on. As the business grows, something inevitable happens: they begin to face their “Big Firsts”. These moments are high impact, high stakes and often high pressure. For me, those “Big Firsts” included: • Developing my first people strategy and presenting it with confidence to the board• Leading a high-profile organisation design programme• Taking ownership of senior talent management and succession• Defining for the board what “culture” really meant and finding ways to measure whether it was truly being lived• Designing an HR operating model that enabled genuine strategic contribution I remember those moments clearly: the expectation to get it right first time, the worry of making the wrong call, the sense of carrying responsibility that challenged my level of experience. What I needed wasn’t traditional mentoring rooted in someone else’s past experience.I needed an experienced HR Director who could sit with me in the moment, help me think it through, and co‑create the people strategies and solutions that were right for the business. I wanted to learn and build my capability in real time. This is a gap that still exists for many, and one St. Swift Consulting now addresses through HR Mentoring Plus. If your business or your HR leader is facing their “Big Firsts”, I’d welcome a conversation about how we can help. HR Mentoring Plus – St. Swift Consulting Ltd

Facing Your “Big Firsts”: Why HR Leaders in SMEs and Scale-Ups Need Real‑Time Strategic HR Support Read More »