RPO and Talent Management Blog by Ochre House | Ochre Talk

One of the most significant leadership issues in the 21^st century is going to be the issue of diversity. Because it’s not just about ensuring the requisite numbers of women and ethnic minorities at various levels within your organisation. It’s about engaging with difference, and using that engagement to enhance your business success.
Read full post

Interims and contractors can have a hugely positive impact in achieving results or indeed setting strategy.  Perhaps the most stark example was when Steve Jobs re-joined Apple as interim CEO, but in my own small World, watching Roberto Di Matteo re-design and re-motivate the Chelsea team to the brink of their greatest season in history… is significantly more exciting! Ok, perhaps I am biased.
Read full post

The economic growth in China has been well documented. A seemingly insatiable global appetite for manufacturing exports combined with a growing domestic demand appear to have put the country on course for world domination. However, despite the apparent economic miracle, demographic shifts could lead to a nasty shock.
Read full post

Once upon a time I sat on the Social Media Steering Committee of a well-known global business. We toiled and wrestled through months of angst riddled discussions around how to protect the brand from the horror of the digital age and its legions of duplicitous social medias.
Read full post

Let’s start by clearing up a common misconception. If you asked someone to give an example of a competency-based question, chances are they will open their mouth and out will come the words “give me an example of when…”. STOP. Please don’t say anything else. Spare my poor cynical ears. Let me ask you a question instead – is “give me an example of the nicest day you walked your dog” a competency-based question?
Read full post

I attended a Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) workshop this week hosted by ArcelorMittal, for the Ochre House HR Network. As per a previous blog, ArcelorMittal have made great progress in SWP and although this topic is widely discussed, in my experience, no one has ever shown “how” to do it. Before we go into the details, here are some key facts:
Read full post

I’ve borrowed this title from Dr Richard Ward, the Chief Executive of Lloyd’s (think insurance, not bank), where it appears in the foreword of the recent Lloyd’s Risk Index.  This report, compiled by the  Economist Intelligence Unit, represents the findings of a detailed survey of C-level business executives to assess corporate risk priorities and attitudes around the world.  The broader findings are well worth the read but the most fascinating conclusion must be that talent and skills shortages is now seen as the 2^nd highest risk faced by businesses, out of a total of 50 potential risks.  Read full post

More interrogations on diversity in the workplace.

This song was the rallying cry for the youth and ‘rainbow’ movement in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was born out of anger and frustration at the way men and women with different sexual preferences were marginalised and attacked. In the 70s and 80s god forbid that you should have different tastes, ideas or preferences to the mainstream. (And we attacked the communist regimes…)
Read full post

Understanding your talent value proposition, finding great talent, hiring it and then keeping it isn’t getting any easier. Or is it?
Read full post

For Ochre House, 14^th February marked not only Valentines Day but also our latest think tank in Hong Kong; Retaining talent beyond the bonus. The discussion centred on the topical debate of how organisations are seeking to retain the best and brightest talent in Asia Pacific.
Read full post