**Scene** Day breaks slowly over the hangar in Hartbeespoort, where we see our pilots checking their gear and doing final prep as the sky gets lighter and time for take-off approaches. **Narrator** It's a serene dawn at 05h36 on Thursday 11 April 2024: Day 1 of our ambitious cross-country paramotoring adventure. **Cut to** Hero shots of the motors, paramotoring paraphernalia, the runway by dawn, strategically placed wings, and our pilots all strapped up and ready for take-off. **Narrator** So with the sky – not as the limit, but rather, as our starting point – we prepared to launch into the heavens on our epic adventure... Or at least aim to hover a few meters above ground without alarming the locals. This proved surprisingly more challenging than we’d anticipated. . Welcome to “A Twist in the Tailwind”, where our first act is a comedy of errors and a testament to the art of staying grounded.

Being a good listener is something we all struggle with. How often have you inadvertently tuned out of a conversation with your partner while they talk about work or family frustrations? You glance down at your phone, allowing your thoughts to stray... and although you may not think so, your partner is aware of it. When we lose eye contact in a conversation, we’re giving the impression that we don't care and that there is something more important on our minds. And so, the conversation ends. The same is true of your employees’ experience in the workplace. When they don’t feel heard, respected, or valued they become disengaged and stop expecting anything meaningful from their employer. As with every healthy relationship, the employee experience (EX) should be rooted in continuous, open, and authentic dialogue between both parties.

When last did you assess your onboarding process? As our workspaces evolve, so too should our approach to onboarding new talent. Whether it's remote-only or the best of both worlds in a hybrid environment, you owe it to your new hires (and the teams supporting them) to set them up for success. Miss this opportunity to create a stand-out experience, and you could miss out on productivity in the process through low employee engagement and high staff churn. Here are some of our thoughts on removing the overwhelm of onboarding, for both the employee and the employer.

The term "new normal" was popularised in 2020 as we adopted fresh approaches to juggling work and life during the chaos. Three years on, we’re still defining what this looks like in the workplace and reimagining the lived experience as our needs change. While some companies are returning to their pre-COVID states, others have remained remote-first as employers are increasingly recognising the value of offering flexible work options to their employees. Having grown accustomed to the new normal of working from home, many employees prefer to balance their personal and professional lives as part of a flexible working arrangement.

As we celebrate the voices and bravery of our youth on June 16 in South Africa, let’s take a closer look at how the youth and future generation of leaders is forcing yet another necessary re-think. This time it’s of the corporate workplace of today. Yes, we’re referring to that enigmatic band of millennials and GenZers – the generations that have disrupted industries and challenged norms across the globe.

Most corporates use events as a form of brand communication - either to create awareness about their product or service, or to thank existing clients for their business. But despite their best intentions, even small-scale events can impact the environment negatively through the reckless use of resources. The only way to avoid this is to partner with suppliers who have a genuine "green conscience" and the experience to steer you through your event planning to reduce the carbon footprint of the event.

Blue Moon Corporate Communications’ Green at Heart programme recently announced the results of their third carbon audit, which has led to the offset and subsequent neutralisation of their 2012 carbon footprint. According to Earth Patrol, an independent green business solutions provider, Blue Moon is the only Employee Engagement and Events business in South Africa to achieve this status over three consecutive years. This is paving the way for similar businesses to follow suit and grow a greener conscience too.

Just because your time is consumed with juggling nappies, kids’ parties, or teen social schedules, it does not mean you have to look as exhausted as you feel. While you’ve been trying to find a moisturiser that hides the fact that you’ve been tired since 2012, you’ve been sacrificing more and more of that precious thing called “me time” – a rare commodity that most moms forego in favour of their family’s needs. But here’s the thing: you need to be kind to yourself so that you have the capacity to be kind to others too. And this needn’t involve expensive cosmetics or invasive surgery or a week alone on an island (although it is tempting); it could be as simple as a hair makeover. When you feel like tearing your hair out with frustration is when you should actually be booking your next hair appointment!

So, you’ve gone Facebook official and announced your engagement to the world! Suddenly everyone in your network is congratulating you, and you’re already starting to wonder who of them must be invited to your big day. And this is only the start of everything you have to consider as you begin the big countdown. If you aren’t a natural-born event planner, all the organisation and project management can be overwhelming. Everything you feel seems heightened; if you’re happy it feels more like delight… and equally so, if something upsets you it feels like the end of the world. This is why you, as the bride-to-be, need to consider your “wedding squad” very carefully. Everyone that you choose as wedding suppliers (and yes, that includes your retinue) must be committed to one thing above all else: your peace-of-mind, not only on the day but during the lead-up too. This day really is about you (and your Prince Charming, of course), so it’s very important that you feel comfortable with your team of trusted advisors.

In our competitive business world, we need the best people skills in place to respond appropriately to our changing situations and environments. We are a specialist HR recruitment company, defined by an extensive network of products and services to offer you these expert skills. The HR Hub has been built on a solid foundation of networking & strong relationships that have been forged over a number of years.