These days, staying up to date on HR trends and techniques is a must. Doing this helps you stay ahead but also stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry. In fact, being informed about the latest developments and trends enables HR professionals to better implement innovative strategies for talent acquisition, retention, and overall development. It also helps in identifying and overcoming any emerging challenges or obstacles, contributing to a successful organisational growth.

A great way to stay in the loop of all the HR trends is by readying books that discuss in-depth knowledge and understanding of theories, strategies, techniques, experiments, and results. Similarly, podcasts are becoming popular by offering a more accessible and engaging platform which allows professionals to share their knowledge, industry insights, different points of view and development.

Whether you’re already working in HR, want to kick-start your career in the Middle East or you’re simply interested in learning new things, there are many helpful books and podcasts available to expand your knowledge. Here, we discuss 7 of the best HR books and podcasts you should invest your time in this year.

The 4 Best HR Books to Read

1. ‘‘How to Hack Your Mind’’ by Erahim Al Khajeh, author and director of Human Capital at Abu Dhabi Customs

This book is a wellness guide providing insights to break free from unhappiness and dissatisfaction by overcoming obstacles and achieving success. Dr. Al Khajeh simplifies the sciences behind brain training through various exercises that empower you to cultivate positive habits, believe in yourself, live in the present moment for you to reach your goals, self-heal and make lasting change.

Featured in previous Human Resources Leaders Conferences, Dr.Al Khajeh focuses on how to be self-aware as an individual and within a community or organisation. As HR professionals are responsible in fostering a positive work environments, understanding techniques such as meditation, visualization and self-suggestions equips them with the necessary tools to:

• Promote employee well-being
• Manage stress effectively during high-pressure situations
• Enhance employee engagement and productivity
• Facilitate conflict resolutions

Moreover, as HR professionals, developing a deeper understanding of how the mind works and practicing self-care techniques can improve their resilience, efficiency, and job satisfaction by creating a healthier, more supportive work environment for them and their colleagues.

2. ‘‘The Culture Map’’ by Erin Meyer, author, and professor of Intercultural Management at the European Institute of Business Administration

Meyer presents a tested model for understanding how cultural variations affect international businesses. This book provides you with practical advice, for both remote and office workplace, and an analytical framework which aims to help you avoid cultural traps that could threaten your organisation’s success and employee wellbeing. It also encourages HR professionals to embrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in a globalized world. Moreover, reading this book rewards you with several other positive benefits, including:

• Better decision-making
• Increased talent attraction
• Improved employee morale, and
• Enhanced workplace performance

3. ‘‘The Handbook of Human Resource Management in the Middle East’’ edited by Pawan S. Budhwar and Kamel Mellahi.

This book, edited by Pawan, a professor of International Human Resource Management at Aston Business School and Kamel Mellahi, professor of Strategic Management at Warwick Business School contains 23 chapters contributed by experts in the HR field.

The manual offers an evidence-based analysis of the human resource management (HRM) systems focusing on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and North African countries. The book also engages in various essential topics, such as:

• Expatriate management,
• Corporate social responsibility, and
• Talent management.

Moreover, it discusses potential challenges regional HRM models could face in the future by offering key insights to help organisations navigate seamlessly the rapidly changing industry trends. By addressing current and future HR practices, Budwar and Mellahi’s book serves as a useful tool for professionals, academics and policymakers looking to optimize HRM strategies in the Middle East.

4. ‘‘Your Strategy Needs a Strategy’’ by authors Martin Reeves, Knut Haanaes and Janmejaya Sinha

This book supports HR professionals in choosing the best strategies for their organisations in a fast-changing business landscape. The authors mention essential resources for HR professionals to navigate smoothly in a rapidly evolving industry. This book is a tool that will help you make informed strategic decisions and stay ahead of the HR curve. It suggests five strategy approaches, depending on the predictability and competitiveness of the environment, guiding you in choosing the best strategies for your specific situation using practical examples. These different strategies are categorised as follows:

• Be Big, by predicting and planning, this classical strategy suggests that long-term planning is key.
• Be Fast, this adaptive strategy suggests that employees need to be flexible as they cannot predict everything.
• Be First, the visionary approach which suggests changing the future by taking risks to reach the potential perceived.
• Be the Orchestrator, a shaping strategy which encourages thinking outside the box and exploring new opportunities despite the uncertainties.
• Be Viable, this renewal approach, encourages surviving during tough times.

In a fast-changing HR industry, professionals must traverse times of uncertainty and remain resilient with a growth mindset to seize opportunities that come along bus also lead their organisations confidently into the future.

The 3 Best HR Podcasts to Listen To

1. ''HR Talks’’ by The HR Observer

The HR Observer is the Middle East region’s leading online platform providing HR articles, reports, trends analysis, news, training, insights, and expertise in the industry. This initiative was started by Informa Connect Middle East, world largest events producer. On top of a variety of articles and resources, there’s also The HR Observer podcast, ‘‘HR Talks’’, which explores several important topics with industry experts and leaders. Their interviews provide valuable insights on trending subjects such as:

• Talent acquisition strategies
• The importance of organisational strategy
• Innovative approaches to enhancing human capabilities
• Fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Creating sustainable workforce models, and
• Emiratisation initiatives in well-known businesses

2. ‘‘Business Extra’’ by The National News

The National is a UAE state-owned daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi. The newspaper launched the podcast ‘‘Business Extra’’ to bring focus to the Middle East, one of the world’s most influential business hubs. The podcast showcases diverse industry experts discussing different trending topics, such as:

• LinkedIn on AI and future of jobs

The conversation hosted by Kelsey Warner and featuring Ali Matar, LinkedIn's Head of Emerging Markets, discusses LinkedIn's trajectory and future outlook. Ali, responsible for LinkedIn's SAS business highlighted the platform's evolution, the impact of AI, and the changing job market dynamics. Emphasizing the importance of both hard and soft skills, underscoring LinkedIn's commitment to creating economic opportunities globally and providing trustworthy communication channels. Additionally, he predicts LinkedIn will continue prioritizing its vision, leveraging data and insights to guide decision-making in the evolving global economy, especially in the context of hybrid work environments.

• Would a 4-day work week be a success?

Kelsey Warner and guest Charlotte Lockhart discuss the positive outcomes of a UK pilot study on the four-day workweek. Lockhart highlighted the feasibility and benefits of shorter workweeks across diverse industries, pointing out improved well-being and productivity.
 

• Careers in AI and the real threat of ChatGPT

Discussing AI’s impact on various industries, particularly in the context of the Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi. Professor Eric Shang, the university's president, highlights the importance of focusing on sustainability and healthcare as key areas where AI can make a significant impact. Additionally, he discusses the university's admissions process, emphasizing the importance of ambition, hard work, and curiosity in prospective students.

3. ‘‘Dubai Works’’ business podcast by Smashi

Smashi is a business news live streaming channel which hosts ‘‘Dubai Works’’ featuring numerous successful business leaders in Dubai. This show consists of an interview with influential executives, discussing topics such as:

• Managing employee rotation and customer satisfaction

At By Erim, all staff work remotely, accommodating different time zones with regular catch-ups and agile practices. With 89,000 units sold, their high retention rate of 72% exceeds industry averages, attributed to their subscription service, app features, and community engagement. They view their relationship with customers as a reciprocal circle, emphasizing mutual support and satisfaction.

• Business start-ups

The conversation with CEO Armin Moradi from Qashio, a fintech company founded in Dubai in 2021, discusses how the enterprise focuses on expense management but has expanded into a comprehensive suite of business solutions. He highlights the journey from issuing corporate cards to offering a range of services like financial software, health insurance, lending, and bank accounts for businesses. Moradi also mentions their recent partnerships, which reflect a vision for a cashless economy. Indeed, Qashio's mission aligns with the UAE government's vision for a digital-first economy, aiming to empower SMEs by simplifying digitization and enhancing operational efficiency. The interview permits viewers to discover Armin Moradi's personal experience as a finance director, facing challenges with expense management and fragmented processes.

• The workplace infrastructure

Vadim Fedotov discusses Bioniq's global expansion, inviting employees to relocate to Dubai. With offices in major cities, the company focuses on R&D, personalized health solutions, and supplement manufacturing in collaboration with a Swiss partner

Advancing HR

 As an HR professional, keeping up with HR trends is crucial for career and organizational success. Many HR books and podcasts offer valuable resources for learning and staying informed of the best working strategies, techniques, and development tools.

Stay up to date on critical HR trends with a professional CIPD course today.