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When outdated leadership ideas linger, they don’t just slow progress — they shape how people think, act, and connect at work. Alex Haslam, co-author of “Zombie Leadership: Dead Ideas That Still Walk Among Us,” joins host Nicole Belyna, SHRM-SCP, to uncover why these poor leadership practices keep coming back and what it takes to break the cycle. Together, they unpack the myths, behaviors, and cultural patterns that haunt organizations. As an extra trick-or-treat for this episode, Belyna joins some of her SHRM colleagues for “HR Horror Stories": real jaw-dropping moments submitted by our subscribers to make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even update your HR policies.
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13 HR Horror Stories: Spiders and Speakerphones and Smut, Oh My!
Beyond the stories in this week's podcast episode, want even more true workplace tales to make your hair stand on end? Here are 13 more that we didn't feature on air — but are just as ghoulish.
SHRM 2025 Insights: Workplace Mental Health
Supporting mental health at work is a complex challenge, and it takes action and commitment from everyone in the organization. SHRM Thought Leadership surveyed 1,193 U.S. workers and 2,076 HR professionals in February 2025, and 16,000 workers across 16 countries from February to June 2024.
Real change starts with real talk. And every Friday, our Honest HR podcast is the top story in SHRM's HR Daily newsletter. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode! Plus, get daily breaking news, feature articles, the latest research, and more.
News + Insights
Zombie leadership stifles innovation and morale. Learn how HR can spot outdated practices, foster collaboration, and build a thriving workplace culture.
This article provides an overview of management development in all aspects: the importance of management development, typical issues and challenges, taking a strategic approach, and key areas of knowledge and skills training for managers.
Discover how organizations can cultivate purposeful leaders who drive impact, foster culture, and inspire teams through intentional development.
To thrive in a changing workforce, companies must embed inclusive, continuous leadership development tied to business goals and evolving skill needs.
Podcast Episode Guest
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Alex Haslam
Alex Haslam is Professor of Psychology and Laureate Fellow at the University of Queensland. He has written 16 books and over 350 peer-reviewed articles exploring the contribution of group and identity processes to social and organizational functioning — with a particular emphasis on leadership and health. His recent books include The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power, The New Psychology of Health: Unlocking the Social Cure and The New Psychology of Sport and Exercise. Alex has received a range of major awards from scientific bodies around the world including recognition for distinguished contributions to psychological science from both the British and Australian Psychological Societies. In 2022 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the field of psychology.
Feature Story
Zombie leadership stifles innovation and morale. Learn how HR can spot outdated practices, foster collaboration, and build a thriving workplace culture.
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