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HR TEAMS URGED TO ‘LEAD IN A NEW WAY’ AS WORK CHANGES : European Body Warns Leadership Skills Must Be ‘Enhanced’ Due to Evolving IT and Culture

Richard Powell  3 min readupdated 21 May 2025

The European Association of People Management (EAPM) says HR professionals must ‘lead in a new way’ to shape an inclusive, empowered and continuously evolving workplace. The EAPM is issuing the message to mark International HR Day 2025, which is designed to bring together professionals from across the world to share their experiences and achievements.

The EAPM believes leadership is no longer about a top down approach or simply managing people – rather it’s about guiding individuals, teams, and organisations through change and fostering a culture of innovation, empathy, and inclusivity. This requires enhanced capabilities in areas like emotional intelligence, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Furthermore, with global teams, hybrid work models, and the demand for greater work-life integration, HR professionals have a critical role in helping organisations shape leaders who can thrive in this new world.

Berna Öztinaz, President of the European Association of People Management (EAPM), CHRO at Genel Energy, and WFPMA Board Member, says the crucial idea is that leadership is not static:

“As has happened throughout history, leadership must evolve with the needs of the workforce and the world around us. By embracing a people-centred approach that champions continuous learning, diverse perspectives, empowerment, and inclusivity, HR professionals can ensure that leaders are ready to face the challenges and opportunities of our future. HR and the people profession have the power to shape organisations that not only succeed but thrive in a new world of work—one where leadership is more than just a position, but a way of fostering growth, connection, and innovation”.

Mary Connaughton, Fellow CIPD, is the Director of CIPD Ireland and sits on the International HR Day working group for the EAPM. She says leading in a new way is not just a trend, it’s a necessity:

“Leaders who prioritise inclusivity build stronger teams, drive better business outcomes, and cultivate a workplace culture that attracts top talent. HR can guide leadership in understanding the importance of inclusivity and how to integrate it into daily practices. This includes promoting diverse leadership styles, acknowledging the unique contributions of every team member, and ensuring that inclusivity is woven into every aspect of the employee experience”.

‘Leading in a new way’ is one of four central themes for International HR Day 2025, the others are ‘Leading in a digital world’, ‘Skills and learning’ and ‘Wellbeing’. Alongside virtual and in-person events, the HR community will be using #InternationalHRDay across social media platforms to share their experiences. Full details of the event are at www.internationalhrday.org

Mary Connaughton:

Director of CIPD Ireland Mary Connaughton marking International HR Day 2025 onstage in Dublin. She says leaders who prioritise inclusivity build stronger teams, drive better business outcomes, and cultivate a workplace culture that attracts top talent. Photo: Fennells

Berna Oztinaz.jpg:

Berna Öztinaz, President of the European Association of People Management (EAPM), CHRO at Genel Energy, and WFPMA Board Member. Marking International HR Day 2025, Berna says HR and the people profession have the power to shape organisations that not only succeed but thrive in a new world of work—one where leadership is more than just a position, but a way of fostering growth, connection, and innovation.

Mary Connaughton:

Director of CIPD Ireland Mary Connaughton says leaders who prioritise inclusivity build stronger teams, drive better business outcomes, and cultivate a workplace culture that attracts top talent. Photo: Fennells

The European Association for People Management (EAPM) is a network association and the European body for human resource management. It forms a European umbrella body of national HR organisations and facilitates experience exchange without any profit-related objectives. It is purely professional and specialist in nature. (see https://www.eapm.org/ihrd/ for more info).

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