Disruptive HR: Solving Your People Problem through Work Design | Lucy Adams

11/12/24 • 66 min

Lucy Adams, a seasoned HR leader, has held senior roles in major organizations, including her recent position as HR Director at the BBC. Despite her success, she grew increasingly frustrated by HR’s one-size-fits-all approach, which treated all employees under the same rigid policies. Determined to find a fresh perspective, Lucy founded Disruptive HR, an innovative HR agency that inspires leaders and HR professionals to approach their roles with renewed vision and energy.
Lucy Adams is a keynote speaker, author, and founder and CEO of Disruptive HR. She guides HR teams and leaders from some of the world’s top brands, speaking at events for Pepsico, HSBC, Google, and Emirates, among others.
In this episode, Dart and Lucy discuss:
- Challenging forces acting on the heads of talent/CPOs
- Lucy’s experience appearing before a congressional hearing
- Emerging disruptions in HR
- The EACH model (Employees as Adults, Consumers, and Human Beings)
- 3 major benefits of the consumerization of the workplace
- Differences between equity and equality at work
- Humanizing performance management
- And other topics...
Lucy Adams is the founder and CEO of Disruptive HR, an agency on a mission to inspire leaders and HR professionals to approach their roles with renewed vision and energy. After working in high-level HR roles across sectors, including the Director of HR at BBC, Lucy wanted to help companies seek new ways to tackle old problems. She now guides HR teams and leaders from some of the world’s top brands, speaking at events for Pepsico, HSBC, Google, Emirates, and many others.
Lucy’s latest best-selling book, HR Disrupted, discusses innovative approaches to transform traditional HR practices, challenge outdated norms, and adopt people-centered strategies to engage and empower employees in a rapidly changing workplace.
Resources mentioned:
HR Disrupted, by Lucy Adams: https://www.amazon.com/HR-Disrupted-time-something-different/dp/1910056502
The Problem with Change, by Ashley Goodall: https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Change-Essential-Nature-Performance/dp/0316560278
Connect with Lucy:
www.DisruptiveHR.com

Work with Dart:
Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.

Previous Episode

Ken Coleman: What I've Learned Helping Thousands of People Find Work They Love

Ken Coleman has interviewed thousands of people on work, uncovering a common struggle: people start their careers wanting to make a difference but often lose that drive due to restrictive job expectations and rigid company rules. This disconnect leaves employees disengaged, impacting both personal fulfillment and company success. Ken believes companies thrive by flipping the question — focusing not on how to get the most out of employees, but on how employees can get the most out of their roles. Known as “America’s Career Coach,” Ken continues to help employees and organizations rediscover purpose and achieve aligned success.
Ken Coleman is a broadcaster, interviewer, and 3x best-selling author known for his expertise in career and personal development. As the co-host of The Ramsey Show and the executive coach host of The Ken Coleman Show, he has empowered thousands of people to advance their professional lives and grow their influence in the workplace.
In this episode, Dart and Ken discuss:
- 3 essential employee needs for company success
- Key qualities of an impactful mentor
- What we know about how humans are wired for work
- Uniqueness as the foundation for greatness
- 3 introspective questions to uncover work motivations
- Career trends from Ken’s decade-long research sample
- Practical steps to create the career opportunities you want
- And other topics...
Ken Coleman is a broadcaster, interviewer, and best-selling author known for his expertise in career and personal development. As the co-host of The Ramsey Show and the executive coach host of The Ken Coleman Show, Ken empowers others to advance their professional lives and grow their influence in the workplace. His insights draw from personal experiences and thousands of interviews, serving as the foundation for his three best-selling books, From Paycheck to Purpose, The Proximity Principle, and Find the Work You’re Wired to Do.
Dubbed “America’s Career Coach,” Ken has appeared on shows like Fox & Friends, Yahoo! Finance, and the Rachael Ray Show. He’s a contributing writer for TheLadders.com and a popular speaker on personal development, career strategy, and leadership.
Resources mentioned:
Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You’re Wired to Do, by Ken Coleman: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Clear-Career-Assessment-Youre/dp/B0CSCY1CH5
The Proximity Principle, by Ken Coleman: https://www.amazon.com/Proximity-Principle-Proven-Strategy-Career/dp/0978562038
From Paycheck to Purpose, by Ken Coleman: https://www.amazon.com/Paycheck-Purpose-Clear-Path-Doing/dp/1942121539
StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Gallup: https://www.amazon.com/StrengthsFinder-2-0-Tom-Rath/dp/159562015X
Essentialism, by Greg MckEown: https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137404
Connect with Ken:
www.kencoleman.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kencoleman-/
Instagram: @kencoleman

Next Episode

Social Networks: The #1 Predictor of Economic Advancement | David Obstfeld

David Obstfeld, a tenured professor with over 15 years of research experience, saw a troubling trend at universities: first-generation college students were struggling to secure job opportunities upon graduation, leaving them at a disadvantage compared to their peers. His research revealed a clear link between economic background and access to social networks, with wealthier students gaining social capital that propelled their career success above those around them. It wasn’t what they knew - it was who.
This insight led David to establish the Social Capital Academy, an initiative designed to help underrepresented students build the social and cultural capital they need to succeed. Through mentoring, networking, and skill-building workshops, Obstfeld is transforming the trajectory of students’ careers and helping bridge the gap in economic opportunity.
David Obstfeld is an influential researcher, author, professor at CSU Fullerton, and the founder of the Social Capital Academy.
In this episode, Dart and David discuss:
- The evolution of network analysis
- Social networks and the role of social capital
- Why getting new things done drives company success
- A knowledge-based view of the firm
- The role of brokers and triads in social networks
- Pros and cons of open vs. closed networks
- Whether social skills are innate or developed
- Perspective articulation
- Social Capital Academy and scalable models to build social capital for underserved groups.
- And other topics...
David Obstfeld is a Professor of Management at California State University, Fullerton, and an influential researcher focused on social networks, innovation, and social capital. As the founder of the Social Capital Academy, Obstfeld works to empower students from underrepresented backgrounds by teaching them to leverage social and cultural capital to advance in their careers. His book, Getting New Things Done: Networks, Brokerage, and the Assembly of Innovative Action, examines how networks and brokerage drive creativity and organizational innovation.
David received his A.B. from the University of Chicago and his PhD from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He has served on the faculty of NYU’s Stern School of Business and UC Irvine’s Merage School of Business. His widely cited research has received major grants, including from the National Science Foundation, to further investigate organizational and social dynamics.
Resources mentioned:
Getting New Things Done, by David Obstfeld: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-New-Things-Done-Innovative/dp/0804760500
Connect with David:
www.SocialCapitalAcademy.org
www.DavidObstfeldPhd.com
Email: [email protected]