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The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

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employee development

Woman reflecting at her desk, symbolising career clarity and thoughtful career planning in the workplace.

Why Career Clarity for Employees Matters More Than Ever

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I know I want something to change in my career… I just don’t know what”? If you have, you’re not alone. In workshops all over the world, I hear the same thing from employees at every level. They want to grow. They want to feel more fulfilled. They want

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The 8 Stages of a Great Career Conversation

A Practical Guide for Having a Great Career Conversation for Employees, L&D Teams, and Leaders Have you ever walked into a career conversation and felt a little…unsure? Unsure what to say. Unsure what to ask. Unsure how to help someone move forward. You’re not alone. Whether you’re an employee preparing for your next career step,

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Five people sit around a table in a bright office, discussing and smiling, with open laptops and papers in front of them as they work together to develop staff. Bookshelves filled with books and plants are in the background.

Four Ways to Develop Employees When Budgets Are Tight

Employee development is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s essential. Whether you’re a manager, part of an L&D team, or in senior leadership, you know that helping employees grow is key to maintaining engagement, performance, and retention. But what happens when budgets are tight? I often hear this question from clients. With limited resources, training can

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Four people sit and one stands around a table covered in notebooks, folders, and sticky notes, collaborating and discussing work. Laptops and pens are visible, showing their dedication to group study or team projects focused on operational excellence.

Realise the Potential of Your Workforce: Balancing Career Development with Operational Excellence

Running lean has become the norm for many large organisations, particularly in the current challenging economic climate. While this operational efficiency brings cost benefits, it can also pose a significant challenge. As one of our readers recently asked: how do you balance the need for career development with the relentless demands of day-to-day operations? The

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Strategies to Encourage Employee Ownership to Engage in and Take Responsibility of Their Career Development

Continuing our series of blog posts responding to questions from our participants, this blog is designed to answer the question “What strategies have proven effective to encourage employee ownership to actively engage in and take responsibility of their career?” The other blog posts in the series are: Trends in career development and how organisations can

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