Here is an abridged version of issue 277—The Best of December of Talent Edge Weekly. The abridged version:

• only includes links and brief descriptions of the 17 resources

• does not include my in-depth review

• does not include bonus resources

• is for those who just want easy access to the 17 resources.

You can access the full version of issue 277 HERE at any time!

Happy New Year, everyone, and see you in 2025!

Brian

I. TALENT PRACTICES

Covers performance management, including year-end calibrations and goal setting, ways of working, succession planning, workforce planning, and strategies like re-recruiting former employees.

• Performance Calibration Discussions: 10 Questions to Help Managers Reflect on Employees’ Year-End Performance | Brian Heger | My infographic with sample questions to help managers evaluate performance.

• Identifying and Mitigating Ineffective Work Behaviors and Practices | Brian Heger | My template that can be used to proactively identify and address ineffective work practices that detract from goal achievement in the new year.  

• Improve Workflows by Managing Bottlenecks | MIT Sloan Management Review | Explores ‘bottlenecks’ as a major obstacle to achieving organizational goals and provides actionable strategies to address them.

• 6 Workforce Planning Challenges You Can Start Solving Today | Brian Heger | My template outlining six common SWP challenges, a potential solution, and immediate next step to implement.

• Scenario Planning Worksheet for Enabling Workforce Planning | Brian Heger | My one-page worksheet for thinking through workforce planning responses to different scenarios.

• Reevaluating Targeted Positions in the Succession Planning Pool | Brian Heger | My new template to help leaders evaluate aspects of their succession plans.

• CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500 | Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance | A new report offering data on current trends in CEO succession among US public companies, along with best practices for leadership transitions.

• Is the Re-recruitment of Former Employees Part of Your Recruiting Strategy? | Brian Heger | Why recruiting former employees could be a viable talent strategy in some situations. Includes my template to support this effort.

II. HR PRIORITIES & EFFECTIVENESS, HR TECH, AND GEN AI.

Covers 2025 workforce priorities, simplification of HR practices, and the integration of technology and AI for organizational effectiveness.

• i4cp's 2025 Priorities & Predictions | i4cp | i4cp provides this ungated 50-page report for Talent Edge Weekly readers on 2025 workforce and talent priorities.

• Less is More | People + Strategy | Shares perspectives from three veteran Chief HR Officers on the power of eliminating HR concepts that are no longer purpose-built for this era.

• Talent Philosophy Meets Technology for High Performance at Workday | The Talent Strategy Group | A case study on the importance of a shared talent philosophy in aligning talent practices and HR tech.

• 3 Steps to Create a Strategic Roadmap for HR Technology | Gartner | Offers a 3-step roadmap to ensure an HR tech portfolio is fit for purpose and helps to achieve the intended business outcomes. I share a bonus template.

• Leveraging Generative AI for Job Augmentation and Workforce Productivity: Scenarios, Case Studies, and a Framework for Action | World Economic Forum | A new 35-page report provides insights from more than 20 early adopters of GenAI, four scenarios for its deployment, and an actionable framework to help implement.

III. WORKFORCE TRENDS: RTO, HYBRID WORK, AND WORKING PARENTS. 

Examines the evolving dynamics of workplace trends, from return to office mandates and hybrid work to challenges faced by working parents.

• Return-to-Office Mandates and Brain Drain | University of Pittsburgh | A new research study on how RTO mandates impact turnover and hiring.

• 9 Organizations that Have Updated Their Return-to-Office Guidance Over the Past 90 Days | Brian Heger | My one-page cheat sheet highlighting recent return-to-office announcements.

• Five Hybrid Work Trends to Watch in 2025 | MIT Sloan Management Review | Brian Elliott’s new article on anticipated hybrid work trends for 2025 and their implications.

• What Parents Say About How Childcare Problems Affect Employment and Hours Worked | Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | Shares data on how childcare challenges impact working parents and highlights organizational opportunities to better support them.

RESOURCE LINEUP

​​brianheger.com provides free access to +1,300 curated articles, research reports, podcasts, etc. that help practitioners drive better business results through strategic human resources and talent management.

CHROS on the Go is a subscription that provides the easiest and most convenient way to stay informed about Chief Human Resources Officer hires, promotions, and resignations in organizations of all sizes and industries.

​Talent Edge Weekly is a free weekly newsletter that brings together the best talent and strategic human resources insights from various sources. It is published every Sunday at 6 PM EST.

Talent Edge Circle. A new, exclusive, vetted, invitation-only digital community for internal HR practitioners to be launched in early 2025. If you are an internal HR practitioner interested in this paid community, indicate your interest here.

Talent Edge Weekly is written by Brian Heger, a human resources practitioner. You can connect with Brian on Linkedin, X, and brianheger.com.