The heartbeat of any organisation is its people.

The 2015 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development research report A Head for Hiring puts it well:

“But regardless of the level of resources and techniques one has to work with, the recruitment process relies on human decisions, of candidates as well as recruiters. And, as behavioural science has continually highlighted, our decision-making is much more prone to sloppy thinking and bias than we would like to believe.

Behavioural science gives us a unique and valuable perspective for people management. As we have noted before, understanding human behaviour lies at the heart of HR and we need to make sure that policies are designed and executed in sync with how people’s minds work."

Staff on the front lines are the first to see opportunities for improvement in processes and customer service.

Their feedback and suggestions can lead to improvements that streamline operations and enhance the quality of work.

Their problem-solving skills, creativity, and innovation can drive the development of new products, services, and solutions.

They carry out the day-to-day operations, interact with customers, clients & each other, and shape & sustain workplace culture, influencing productivity, job satisfaction and turnover rates.

It’s the people who bring a company’s vision to life and help achieve its goals, so understanding what’s important to your people is crucial to your success.

In order to create an environment where both employees and companies thrive, we need to tap into a more in depth understanding of human behaviour.

Behavioural insights bring a deep understanding of how employees think, feel, and act, allowing HR professionals to craft strategies that sync on a personal level and transform how companies interact with their employees, design their policies, and shape their workplace culture.

Why Do Behavioural Insights Matter?

Employee Engagement: When employees see their values and needs reflected in their work environment, the result is a dynamic and loyal workforce.

Talent Attraction and Retention: In a competitive market, companies that leverage behavioural insights can speak to and attract great talent. 

Creating a culture that sticks: A strong, positive company culture is essential. Behavioural insights can help create a culture that aligns with both employee values and business goals, motivating and engaging staff.

Embedding Behavioural Strategies in HR

Turning insights into action is where the real magic happens. HR can:

• Personalise the Employee Experience: From onboarding processes to learning and development programs, HR can use behavioural data to create a highly personalised employee journey that not only aligns with individual career paths and complements organisational growth strategy.

• Enhance Communication: By understanding the communication preferences and emotional drivers of employees, HR can craft and send messages that inform, engage and inspire, speaking directly to employees' concerns and motivations.

• Support Wellbeing: With mental health taking centre stage in the modern workplace, HR strategies that integrate behavioural insights can help organisations to think beyond 'free pizza Fridays' and identify initiatives that resonate with employees and promote holistic wellbeing.

The path of integrating behavioural insights into HR requires a delicate balance between respecting individuality and leveraging broader behavioural trends. HR practitioners will need to navigate ethical considerations, data privacy concerns, and the need for continuous adaptation to changing employee expectations.

The incorporation of behavioural insights into HR practices represents a pivotal shift from traditional management to a more people-first approach. It’s an investment in understanding the workforce at a fundamental level to create a working environment that doesn't just function—it flourishes.

As HR continues to embrace this evolution, the workplace becomes not just a place of employment, but a space of shared growth, achievement, and human connection, and we’re 100% here for it!

Need more?

Want to learn more about intrinsic motivation and how to design learning experiences where the learner’s self-desire is the main motivator? Get in touch.

About the author

Tricia Martin is an FYA Young Social Pioneer and an Australian Women Leading Tech Finalist. She also coached an Under 9’s netball team in her local community, which she thinks is just as impressive. She continually looks for ways to use technology, behavioural science and digital experiences to meet people’s needs and find people-centred solutions to messy problems. She spends her free time reading sci-fi books, scouring thrift stores and watching Buffy for the fifteenth time.