The First Word: Why empathy and listening are critical leadership skills
Empathy and listening are often labelled as “soft skills” and considered optional. In fact, they are now essential leadership capabilities. Traditionally, leadership focused on decisiveness and authority, while listening was viewed as passive. Today, with distributed teams and higher expectations, employees seek understanding and direction. This shift highlights a gap: leaders often manage performance without […]
Five alternatives to traditional performance ratings
Traditional performance ratings have long been embedded in organisational systems, yet many HR leaders across Southeast Asia are questioning their effectiveness. Annual or biannual rating cycles often create anxiety, encourage short-term behaviour, and fail to capture the complexity of modern roles. In fast-moving sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and financial services, static ratings struggle to […]
The First Word: Why leadership must respect “purposeful presence” in the workforce?
Singapore’s corporate sector is currently navigating a shift in workplace dynamics that carries implications for long-term gender parity goals. While women held 25.5% of board seats in top SGX-listed firms as of mid-2025, the trajectory toward the national target of 30% by 2030 is meeting a formidable structural resistance. An emerging “ambition gap”, where 80% […]
Five data points HR should track for gender progress
Data plays a critical role in advancing gender equality. Without measurement, progress remains anecdotal and difficult to sustain. Across Southeast Asia, regulatory expectations and investor scrutiny are increasing, placing greater emphasis on transparent reporting. HR professionals must move beyond high-level diversity percentages to track meaningful indicators that reveal structural gaps. In regional organisations operating across […]
Five ways HR can move from gender intent to measurable impact
Across Southeast Asia, many organisations publicly commit to gender equality, particularly around International Women’s Day and broader diversity initiatives. Yet intention alone does not guarantee progress. While statements and pledges signal awareness, measurable impact requires consistent structures, accountability, and transparency. In markets such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, gender participation in the workforce is […]
Five ways CNY traditions influence workplace engagement in Asia
Lunar New Year is one of the most significant cultural periods across Southeast Asia, shaping not only social life but also workplace dynamics. In markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and parts of Indonesia, the season carries deep meaning around renewal, respect, and shared prosperity. These values continue to influence how employees relate to their […]
Five “people risks” organisations often overlook
The start of the year often brings renewed energy, fresh plans, and ambitious targets for organisations across Southeast Asia. Budgets are approved, strategies are launched, and HR teams shift quickly into execution mode. Yet this period also carries hidden risks that are frequently underestimated or missed entirely. In many organisations, early-year optimism can mask underlying […]
Five ways HR teams can turn strategy into execution
Many organisations across Southeast Asia invest significant time developing HR strategies, yet struggle to translate those plans into consistent action. The gap between intent and execution often emerges not from poor ideas but from unclear ownership, competing priorities, and limited operational alignment. As business conditions continue to shift in the region, this gap becomes increasingly […]
Five workforce priorities HR leaders must reset in 2026
Southeast Asian organisations enter 2026 facing a workforce landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, rapid digital adoption, and shifting employee expectations. While many HR teams have already navigated disruption over the past few years, familiar strategies no longer deliver the same results. What worked during recovery or stabilisation phases now requires recalibration. Across markets such as […]
Building better work, one conversation at a time
If you spend even a few minutes speaking with Reno Rafly, you immediately understand why Paxel feels different. She talks about people with the same energy others reserve for strategy meetings or product launches. For her, the heart of Paxel’s growth is not just its logistics network but the experience of the people who make […]
