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How to Set Your L&D Strategy

A Learning and Development (L&D) strategy is a plan that outlines how employee learning aligns with the broader goals of the business. It maps out the training and development that will give employees the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need to perform effectively. A strong L&D strategy helps businesses stay competitive by ensuring employees have the right skills, behaviours, and support to perform at their best. But to get this right, it has to start with understanding what’s happening in the organisation – where the business is heading, what the… Read More »How to Set Your L&D Strategy

The Future of Workplace Inclusion

The workplace landscape is changing, driven by new legal responsibilities in the UK, shifts in the political climate in the US, and evolving corporate strategies that are reallocating resources to priorities such as AI. In the UK, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 requires businesses to take proactive steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment. Meanwhile, some major US corporations are scaling back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in response to political pressures and changes in governmental policy, raising concerns about the future of workplace… Read More »The Future of Workplace Inclusion

The People Side of Change and Transformation

Change is everywhere. It shapes the way we work, live, and connect. For some, it’s an exciting opportunity, for others, it’s a source of stress and uncertainty. Change can be hard, whether it arrives as a sudden disruption or a subtle, continuous shift. As change becomes more frequent and less predictable, businesses must focus on the human side of transformation to navigate its complexities and embrace its potential. As we head into 2025, the question isn’t whether change will happen but how we can help people thrive through it. Big… Read More »The People Side of Change and Transformation

Navigating the Transition to the Senior Leadership Team

Navigating the transition to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is one of the most challenging steps in a leader’s career. It involves a shift in mindset, responsibilities, and influence. Leaders who excelled in their previous roles can find themselves struggling with this leadership transition. In fact, research shows that nearly 60% of new leaders fail within their first 18 months in senior roles (Corporate Executive Board/Gartner), largely due to the rapid learning and adaptation needed. So, what makes this transition so challenging? And what can organisations do to support leaders… Read More »Navigating the Transition to the Senior Leadership Team

Making Workplace Wellbeing a Reality

Employee wellbeing is essential for a resilient and productive workforce. When people are genuinely supported and valued, they’re more engaged, motivated, and loyal. Historically, most workplace wellbeing initiatives have focused on Support, offering help only once employees start experiencing challenges. While support is essential, we’re seeing that this reactive approach alone isn’t enough to create a resilient workplace culture. To make workplace wellbeing a reality we need to embed it into the core of our organisations – and we find our Prevent, Enable, Support model helps provide a continuous, structured… Read More »Making Workplace Wellbeing a Reality

How to Tackle the Biggest People Challenges in Your Organisation

As Willow & Puddifoot launches our new website, we’re excited to offer a range of services designed to help you navigate the complex people challenges that come with managing teams. People challenges can make or break the success of your organisation. Whether its leading teams, keeping employees engaged, or dealing with stress and uncertainty, these issues can slow down progress and cause frustration. But with the right approach, you can turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and high performance.  Here are some of the most common people challenges businesses… Read More »How to Tackle the Biggest People Challenges in Your Organisation

Managers Make or Break Wellbeing

In today’s work environment, where stress levels are high and uncertainty is the norm, the role of managers in supporting employee wellbeing is critical. It’s no longer enough to have a few token wellbeing initiatives in place – what really matters is the day-to-day impact that managers have on their teams. Whether it’s managing workloads, creating a positive work environment, or being a supportive presence, managers make or break employee wellbeing. Why Managers Matter We often hear that people leave managers, not companies. This is backed up by research showing… Read More »Managers Make or Break Wellbeing

Team Building: Eight Ways to Build Exceptional Teams

There’s a lot of buzz about teamwork and endless models on how to achieve it. However, this blog is all about eight simple, practical things you can do to build exceptional teams in your workplace. These ideas are easy to implement and make a significant difference. What is Team Building and Why Does it Matter? Team building refers to various activities, exercises, and practices that aim to enhance relationships between team members and improve performance. The benefits are numerous: improved communication, increased trust, better problem-solving, and a stronger sense of… Read More »Team Building: Eight Ways to Build Exceptional Teams

Let Us Be Your GUIDE: Going Beyond Training Needs Analysis

Effective development programmes are essential for your people and your organisation to grow and achieve success. Conducting a thorough Training Needs Analysis is just the beginning. At Willow & Puddifoot, we have designed a robust process called GUIDE to ensure that every step of our training and development is tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Whether you partner with us or use this process independently, the GUIDE framework can significantly enhance your organisational development efforts, providing a clear path to improved performance and growth. What is the… Read More »Let Us Be Your GUIDE: Going Beyond Training Needs Analysis

Management Development: Essential Skills for Manager Success

The role of a manager is vastly different from that of a regular team member. Managers need a distinct set of skills to lead effectively, which requires targeted management development. Surprisingly, many organisations fall short in adequately preparing new managers for their roles. This blog will delve into a six-step process we call STICKS, designed to ensure your managers are well-equipped to succeed. Step 1: Selecting the Right People to be Managers Choosing the right individuals for managerial roles is crucial. It can be tempting to pick those who have… Read More »Management Development: Essential Skills for Manager Success

How to select the right people to be managers in a fast-growing business