The echoes of insightful conversations and transformative experiences still reverberate as I reflect on the recently concluded 6th Annual Insight222 Global Executive Retreat 2023. This exclusive annual Retreat is a crucible of ideas, collaboration, and insights for senior HR and people analytics leaders. This year was the first face-to-face Retreat that brought together European and North American leaders from member companies of the Insight222 People Analytics Program since COVID-19.  The Retreat was set amongst the stunning scenery and rarefied air of the Rocky Mountains at The Devil's Thumb Ranch in Colorado. It was refreshing to see so many faces, both new and familiar.

The theme of the Retreat was 'Influencing the World of Work', and there were some wonderful insights from our keynote speakers: Nick Bloom, William D. Eberle, Professor of Economics, Stanford University, Michael J. Arena, Faculty member of Penn's Masters in Organizational Dynamics, and Co-Founder, Connected Commons, Greg Pryor, Co-Founder, Connected Commons, Isabel Naidoo, Chief People Officer, Wise, and Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and Co-founder and Principal, The RBL Group, as well as Jonathan Ferrar, CEO of Insight222 and co-author with me of Excellence in People Analytics, and yours truly! I'm excited to share some of the profound learnings that emerged during this engaging event.

Embracing the Hybrid Work Model

Our journey at the Retreat commenced with an illuminating keynote address by Nick Bloom, a world-renowned authority on remote and hybrid work. Drawing from his ongoing monthly research, Nick shed light on a fundamental shift in the world of remote work—the rise of hybrid arrangements.

Nick's data unveiled a striking trend: the average number of work-from-home (WFH) days is steadying at around 25% of working days, marking a significant five-fold increase since 2019. Moreover, Nick's insights hinted at a future where WFH days are set to rise steadily, creating a larger hybrid work environment within businesses. As we navigate this new era of flexible work and hybrid workers here, one resounding message emerged: Hybrid work is here to stay.

Intentionality in Collaboration and Innovation

In a world where employees working remotely is the norm, intentionality becomes our compass for navigating the path of collaboration and innovation. Nick Bloom, advocating for the mindful coordination of in-person time with remote workers, emphasised the importance of fostering social interactions within teams to enhance cohesion. This aligns perfectly with the findings of the recent Microsoft study on the criticality of in-person connections to strengthen team cohesion, onboard to a new role or team, and kick off a new project.

The implications of this shift extend beyond mere workplace dynamics and will inevitably influence workplace design. During the Retreat, we explored how intentionality can drive innovation and cultivate a company culture of collaboration, especially in hybrid environments. Michael Arena and Greg Pryor unveiled their model of Adaptive Teaming, a collaborative approach where teams intentionally adapt their work model to meet the unique demands of their work.

The Adaptive Teaming model distilled collaboration into four modes:

1.     Discovery: Fostering intentional collaboration across teams and functions to harness diverse perspectives during idea generation.

2.     Development: Close-knit team collaboration to design, build, and test innovative solutions.

3.     Diffusion: Widespread dissemination of solutions across the organisation through cross-functional connections.

4.     Delivery: Effective execution of solutions, combining individual focus and strong team collaboration.

Michael and Greg also demonstrated the power of network analytics in enabling each mode of collaboration. This reinforced the notion that in a hybrid world, intentionality supersedes physical proximity, a point underscored by Gartner's research, which revealed that teams intentional about collaboration are 2.2 times more productive.

The Ascent of Data-Literate Chief People Officers

A notable revelation during a poll of delegates conducted  in Isabel Naidoo's session on influencing the Chief People Officer (CPO) was the aspiration of nearly one-third of retreat attendees to ascend to the role of CPO. This shift signals a significant transformation within HR leadership and aligns with the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in human resources.

In the future, CPOs are poised to be data literate and analytically proficient, paralleling the comfort with data that Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) exhibit. This shift augurs well for our profession, as analytically inclined CPOs like Isabel, Kathleen Hogan, Katarina Berg, and Loren Shuster cease to be outliers and become the standard-bearers of HR leadership.

A Focus on Business Outcomes in People Analytics

Dave Ulrich spearheaded a workshop on how people analytics can deliver tangible value. His message resonated deeply: we must transcend traditional HR stakeholders and direct our efforts towards customers, investors, and communities.

By prioritising business outcomes, we amplify HR's significance, extend our influence, and elevate our impact. HR professionals must embrace a results-oriented mindset and strive to deliver commercial benefits to their organisations. This imperative aligns seamlessly with the evolving expectations of CEOs and the broader business community.

The Golden Era for HR and People Analytics

Our profession is at a watershed moment, poised for growth and recognition. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated expectations of HR, with CEOs looking to our field for strategic guidance. As we and organisations grapple with the challenges posed by hybrid work, evolving employee expectations, generative AI, creating an improved work life balance, and the imperative of inclusion, HR stands at the forefront of addressing these pivotal people-centric issues.

Dave Ulrich aptly encapsulated this moment: "Now is the time for HR." People analytics emerges as the fastest route to credibility for the Chief People Officer, a sentiment reiterated by Isabel Naidoo. The confluence of these factors underscores the escalating significance, influence, and impact of people analytics.

The Power of Collaboration and Community

One of the Retreat's most gratifying aspects was the genuine camaraderie among people analytics leaders. This thriving community, still relatively young within HR, came together to share insights on site itself, learn from one another, and collaborate on advancing our profession.

In a field where collaboration and knowledge sharing are paramount, these interactions help individual leaders grow, accelerates the adoption and progress of people analytics in their organisations, and fosters a thriving community of people analytics professionals.

Elevating Your People Analytics Journey

As I conclude this reflection, I want to thank all the attendees who travelled from near and far, asked thought-provoking questions, and created an atmosphere of learning, networking and growing. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to our keynotes, who delved into their valuable insights and allowed us to leave the Retreat with more knowledge and action points to take back to our respective businesses.

Additionally, I wish to invite you to delve deeper into these learnings and join us in the exciting journey ahead by learning more about the Insight222 People Analytics Program, which provides member companies access to upcoming Global Executive Retreats and is part of this dynamic community of over 100 global organisations. The Insight222 Global Executive Retreat 2023 reaffirms the central role of intentionality in the hybrid work era, highlights the growing importance of data literacy, and positions HR and people analytics as catalysts for organisational success.

If you're a people analytics leader eager to join the multitude of your peers that are already part of the Global Executive Retreat, explore more or join the Insight222 People Analytics Program, click here to learn more.

David Green

David Green is Executive Director and Member of the Board of Insight222, host of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, and an influential speaker and writer in the HR and People Analytics sphere.

Unlock the Power of People Analytics with Insight222

Are you ready to take your people analytics initiatives to the next level? The Insight222 People Analytics Program® is your gateway to a world of knowledge, networking, and growth. Developed exclusively for people analytics leaders and their teams, our program equips you with the tools, insights, and connections you need to thrive in this evolving discipline. As the landscape of people analytics becomes increasingly complex, with data, technology, and ethical considerations at the forefront, our program brings together over one hundred peer organizations to collectively address these challenges. Join us and be part of a community committed to driving meaningful change through data-driven insights. Explore more here.