As one year ends, and another begins, the temptation to predict what will happen during the next 12 months is hard to resist. And plenty of people are already hypothesising over the future for 2008.
New Year predictions for a tough year ahead and economic uncertainties abound in the world of work – with the increased prospect of job cuts and outsourcing and offshoring HR among them.
A poll by the Chartered Management Institute found that managers believe 2008 will be tougher than 2007 – with only 40% confident about the year ahead. It goes without saying that, as HR professionals, you will have your work cut out identifying and minimising the risks your organisation faces as you try to manage and predict an uncertain future. The question is how confident and well placed are you to embrace change and deal with those challenges?
But rather than getting bogged down with pessimistic predictions about what lies in store, perhaps now is as good a time as any to take some time to reflect on where you want to get to this year – time to put your concern for others on hold for a moment and take control of your own career objectives.
To kick-start your personal drive for success this year don’t miss ‘Five ways to get what you want in 2008’. Or if the new year means a completely new start for you, look no further than our careers and jobs pages. The future is all to play for, so you can make of it what you want.
Plenty to celebrate in HR
Twenty years ago, few would have predicted that the HR profession would now have such a high profile, or that Personnel Today, then a small bi-weekly journal, would now be the leading source of news and information for the profession. But this year marks the 20th anniversary of Personnel Today and, as the new editor, I look forward to getting to know more of the HR community and helping the profession to go from strength to strength.
