Welcome to 2026
I hope the start of the year has given you the space to reset or at least catch your breath.
January is often full of pressure to plan, predict and push ahead. Personally, I think there’s value in taking a steadier approach.
For those of us in the HR sector, the new year isn’t a clean slate, it’s a continuation. And while the challenges won’t disappear, neither will the opportunity to shape better, more human workplaces.
That’s the focus for me this year.
My word for the year is RESILIENCE
One thing I’ve been thinking about a lot heading into 2026 is resilience.
Over the past few years, I’ve seen just how much pressure HR professionals carry. The weight of organisational change, people issues that don’t stop at 5pm and the constant balancing act between what’s best for the business and what’s right for people.
That takes something more than stamina. It takes the kind of resilience that’s built slowly - through experience, boundaries, support and honest reflection.
But resilience isn’t just about withstanding pressure or “toughing up.” It’s about recovering thoughtfully, adapting with purpose and learning as we go - whether that’s with teams, leaders, individual contributors or ourselves.
PwC UK recently introduced resilience training as part of its graduate onboarding. This is a practical move to prepare early-career and Gen Z hires for real workplace challenges like feedback, pressure and interpersonal dynamics.
As Chief People Officer Phillippa O’Connor explained
“Graduates… don’t always have the resilience or the human skills that we want to deploy onto the client work we pass them towards.” (Fortune)
I believe this is a smart move and one that more organisations should take seriously. Resilience doesn’t just appear; it’s built.
If we want people to thrive under pressure, we have to create the conditions for it. Especially in HR, where the stakes are high, resilience isn’t optional but it’s essential.
📍CIPD Wales Conference - 5 February
I’m proud to be a sponsor of this year’s CIPD Wales Conference on 5 February. I’ll also be there supporting one of the speakers and joining the wider conversation about the future of work in our region.
If you're attending, do get in touch - I’d love to connect with fellow professionals who are navigating the same challenges and asking the same big questions. These events are always a great reminder of the depth, grit and heart within our community.
Hope to see you there!
Warm regards,
Liz
