In conversation with Prof. Dr. Jochen Menges: what is the future of the CPO role?

Insights on the Future@Work — 03 May 2022

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In a world roiled by a pandemic, political unrest and digital transformation, the role of HR and the Chief People Officer is becoming more important — and more complex — than ever. Reshma Ramachandran, Group Senior Vice President of Transformation at The Adecco Group, held a wide-ranging discussion with Prof. Dr. Jochen Menges, about the future of this crucial role.

Excerpt:

“If you look at these crises,” Menges says, “there’s one common denominator: they evoke emotions in people. So one key aspect that will change the role of the CPO is that attention must be paid to emotions, and how to deal with those emotions in a business setting.”

Ramachandran agrees and notes that in the past, “we didn’t really talk about emotions.” They were viewed in a negative light; the idea was that there is a personal life and there is a professional life, and never the twain shall meet. “You rightly mention that since COVID,” she adds, “we’ve seen more companies being open to emotion. Are we there yet? Can we bring our whole selves to work?”

“We have to abandon this old belief that emotions have no place in business,” Menges says. “Indeed, emotions are central to business. They determine whether someone is attracted to a business, and whether they remain in it – staying loyal rather than resigning.”

Referring to recent Adecco Group research, he adds that “68.9% of responses about why emotions matter concerned productivity and performance. Over 50% concerned creativity and innovation. These are core aspects of business, they’re not just nice-to-haves. So the CPOs who replied to our survey already recognize that emotion is central to business.”

What those CPOs don’t know yet, Menges says, is how to turn knowledge about emotions into action.