In this episode Louise Hoe Nielsen & Majken Juel Heskjær join the Work in Progress Podcast to share how they created a Danish LinkedIn group with the name "HR Rethought" after recognizing patterns of burnout and structural challenges facing HR professionals and employees overall in many organizations of today. Their conversation with host Pernille Hippe Brun digs deep into why traditional HR practices need fundamental reconsideration rather than mere rebranding, so that “HR rethought” can benefit everyone employed in businesses of today.

Majken and Louise explain how HR has evolved from administrative functions to strategic partnership but in essence very often remained a support function. "HR moved into leadership teams, becoming more the tool for leadership," Maiken explains. "We have been supporting business for profit. We haven't developed the business for the people itself." This positioning creates inherent tensions that affect both HR professionals and the organizations they serve.

The discussion challenges several sacred cows of HR practice. Is performance management with numerical ratings truly beneficial, or does it reduce humans to metrics? Should we call it "HR" or "People & Culture," and does changing the name matter if the practices remain unchanged? And how can HR professionals drive meaningful change even when they're not in positions of authority?

Both guests offer practical wisdom for anyone looking to create more sustainable HR and business practices. Louise advocates working from the business inward rather than imposing HR processes outward, while Majken suggests a shift from "chief" leadership (pointing toward the future with your back to the organization) to "shepherd" leadership (guiding from behind toward a shared purpose and future).

Whether you're an HR professional feeling the strain of contradictory demands, a leader wondering how to better support your people function, or simply curious about the future of work, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on creating organizations where both people and results can thrive together.

Connect with the HR Rethought movement on LinkedIn to join this growing community of professionals committed to creating more sustainable people practices. You find the group here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10141644/

Share Your Thoughts on this Episode

Online Business Coaching
getsession.com