Ireland’s HR and Leadership Priorities in 2026 with Alison Hodgson

Want a clear view of where HR in Ireland is heading and how to prepare your team for what’s next? Bill Banham sits down with Alison Hodgson, Market Director at CIPD Ireland, to map the practical priorities that will define people leadership in 2026: target operating models tuned to strategy, a smarter approach to productivity in hybrid work, cultures that enable creativity, and talent systems built on lifelong learning.Alison shares why operating models belong at the top of every HR agenda, walking through how structure, role design, skills, and workflows must link to the “book of work.” We dive into the messy middle of performance and productivity, where outcomes matter more than presenteeism and thoughtful in-person moments can supercharge collaboration. We also dig into Ireland’s unique context—an agile, open economy balancing flexible work with rising commute costs—and how that shapes retention, skills development, and the everyday realities of leading teams.A major focus is capability building beyond HR. With a vast population of non-HR people managers in SMEs, CIPD’s group affiliate access and AI-powered resource hub equip managers with templates, playbooks, and just-in-time guidance for performance reviews, tough conversations, and change. We spotlight the Feb 13th CIPD HR Awards in Ireland, where standout entries demonstrate data-driven baselines, measurable impact, and sustained outcomes—and note the streamlined pathway to the global People Management Awards. Plus, we preview the April conference on people, purpose, and performance, featuring case studies, international voices, and practical tools you can put to work.If you care about building resilient teams, narrowing skills gaps, and turning culture into a real performance advantage, you’ll find tactics and examples you can use today. Subscribe, share with your HR peers, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—what’s your top HR priority for 2026?Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here.Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletterCheck out our in-person events