Effective leaders need to paint vivid pictures and tap into things we all share—but what do we all share? Understanding this, and knowing our needs, says Neville Aitchison, is a key to understanding leadership.

Irritants can sometimes serve a useful purpose in nature, but addressing conflict early is the best option—better to deal with a pimple than a volcano. Terry Williams gives his 50 cents worth.

A focus on diversity and inclusion has proved to be a winner for Downer New Zealand. Its GM of human resources, Chris Meade, talks to Sally Wenley about the infrastructure giant’s diversity strategy and getting the best from its workers.

When HR and the line work well together, it has a profound effect on a company’s performance. However, the relationship is not always plain sailing. Simon Woolley looks at how to repair the damage and go from villain to hero.

For many people, religion is a living dynamic background against which they operate. While organisations have taken steps towards greater gender diversity, there is still a very strong sacred and secular divide, which means religion often gets left out of diversity policies, says Professor Edwina Pio.

The Diversity Awards continue to celebrate the people who make our businesses tick, says Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie. This year’s Supreme Award winner, engineering consultancy Jacobs, has focused on representing people from a diverse range of backgrounds at senior level and promoting equality for all.

Is flexibility the key to attracting a diverse workforce? Anthony Drake and Tessie von Dadelszen take a look at flexible working arrangements and how employers can use them to attract talent from all walks of life.

Nobody’s ever been fired just for being grumpy, but when an employee exhibits toxic and undermining behaviour, it can affect the whole team. Melony Lowe has a seven-step approach to dealing with passive-aggressive tactics.

New Zealand has traditionally had a poor record when it comes to workplace safety, but Coca-Cola Amatil has set out to change that. Thor Bostelmann talks to its general manager of human resources Martin King about the organisation’s journey to becoming a zero harm workplace.

When a board of trustees decided to consider a complaint against an assistant principal along with a separate complaint against a principal, the case dragged on. Paul Robertson says the decision by the Employment Relations Authority highlights the need for complaints to be dealt with as they arise.