New Dynamics
THE NEW DYNAMICS BLOG

Practical ideas for better performance conversations.

Practical articles on goals, feedback, reviews and people processes, with examples you can adapt. Read the latest from New Dynamics.

Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Marketing director job description: the three versions of the job, seven duties, how the role differs from a marketing manager, a brand director and a CMO, and a position description template

A director of marketing position description, from O*NET and the National Careers Service: the three versions of the job, seven duties from strategy and the plan to the team, the brand, the pipeline and the executive table, the difference from a marketing manager, a brand director and a chief marketing officer, skills and qualifications, a template and objectives beyond leads.

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Hiring and onboarding12 min read

Welcome email to a new employee: the three moments to send one, five templates, and the documents a welcome does not replace

Five original welcome email and letter templates for new employees, the three moments to send them (offer accepted, the week before, day one) plus the team announcement, the eight things every welcome message should contain, the remote starter version, and the line between a welcome and the offer letter and written statement of employment particulars.

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HR strategy9 min read

Revenue per employee: the formula and its four choices, a worked example, what moves the number, why it cannot be compared across industries, and how to use it without cutting the wrong people

What revenue per employee means and how to calculate it: the formula and the four choices behind it, a worked example, how it relates to the ONS's productivity measures, what moves the number and what does not, why it cannot be compared across industries or business models, five good uses, three bad ones, and how to put it on a KPI tracker with a paired safeguard.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Employment qualifications: the four kinds, the eight levels, which jobs need which, and how to state qualifications required in an advert

What employment qualifications are, from the Cambridge definition, the GOV.UK qualification levels and Acas: the four kinds, academic, vocational, professional and licences; the ladder from entry level to level 8; which jobs and qualifications go together; the difference between required, preferred and equivalent; how to write qualifications required in an advert and how candidates should read them.

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HR technology8 min read

HR tools: the nine jobs software does, what a team of ten, fifty and two hundred needs, and four questions before you buy

A map of HR tools by the job they do: the record, hiring, onboarding, pay, time and absence, performance, learning, listening, and documents and compliance. What a team of ten, fifty and two hundred actually needs, what belongs in a spreadsheet, the four questions to ask before buying, and the data protection duties that come with every tool.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

What does a business consultant do? The six stages of an engagement, the specialisms, the certifications including the Certified Management Consultant credential, how to hire one and a job description

What a business consultant does, from O*NET, Prospects and the National Careers Service: the six stages of an engagement from brief to measured results, business versus management consultant and the specialisms, the certifications for management consultants including the Certified and Chartered Management Consultant credentials, how to hire a consultant and what to ask, a job description template and how to measure the work.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

System administrator job description: seven duties, the three sizes of the job, how the role differs from IT support, a network engineer and DevOps, and a template

A system administrator job description, from O*NET, the Skills England information communications technician standard and the National Careers Service: seven duties from servers and accounts to backups, patching, monitoring and licences, the three sizes of the job, the difference from IT support, a network engineer and DevOps, skills and certifications, the on-call question, a template and objectives.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

HR coordinator job description: responsibilities, the seven cycles the coordinator runs, how the role differs from an HR assistant and an HR officer, and a template

The responsibilities of a human resources coordinator, from O*NET and the Skills England HR Support standard: seven cycles from recruitment and onboarding to the review cycle, records and reporting, how the role differs from an HR assistant and an HR officer, the skills and qualifications, a job description template, and objectives for the coordinator's own appraisal.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Construction company job descriptions: the roles on a site, the superintendent and the operative in full, and what every construction advert must carry

The roles in a construction company grouped four ways, with full job descriptions for the construction superintendent, the American name for the site manager, and the construction operative, from O*NET and the National Careers Service; plus the six things every construction job description needs that an office advert does not: the site, CDM duties, cards and tickets, PPE, hours and travel, and employment status.

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Culture and communication10 min read

Group dynamics: what the term means, the five forces at work, how groups change over time, and what a manager can do

What group dynamics means: the forces between people that decide whether a capable group performs. Roles, norms, status, cohesion and conflict explained; Tuckman's stages of group development from forming to performing; what Google's research found actually predicts team effectiveness; four failure modes; and six things a manager can do.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Aerospace engineer job description: responsibilities across a product's life, the specialisms, how the role differs from a mechanical and an avionics engineer, qualifications and a template

The responsibilities of an aerospace engineer, from O*NET, the National Careers Service and Prospects: seven duties from conceptual design and analysis to testing, certification, in-service support and documentation, the specialisms from aerodynamics to space systems, the difference from a mechanical, an avionics and a maintenance engineer, qualifications, registration and clearances, a template and objectives.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Managing editor: what the role is, the three settings, seven duties, how it differs from an editor-in-chief, a deputy editor and a production editor, and a job description template

What a managing editor does, from O*NET, the National Careers Service and Prospects: the editor who runs the editorial operation, the three settings from newsrooms to content teams, seven duties from the schedule and budget to staff, production and standards, the difference from an editor-in-chief, a deputy editor and a production editor, skills, routes in, a template and objectives.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Business manager job description: the four jobs the title names, seven duties, the requirements, and two templates

What a business manager does, from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary, O*NET and the National Careers Service: the four jobs the title names, seven duties for the business unit manager, the school or practice business manager's back-office version, the difference from a general manager, an operations manager and an office manager, the requirements and two templates.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Orthodontist job description: seven duties across a course of treatment, the UK route to the specialist list, the settings, and a template

What an orthodontist does, from O*NET, Prospects and the National Careers Service: seven duties from assessment and records to treatment planning, fitting and adjusting appliances, retention and coordination with other services; the difference from a dentist and an orthodontic therapist; the UK route through a GDC-accredited degree, foundation, core and specialty training; the settings; a job description template and objectives.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

CTO job description: what a chief technology officer does, the four versions of the job, seven duties, how the role differs from a CIO and a VP of engineering, and a template

A chief technology officer job description: the definition, the four versions of the CTO job from start-up builder to enterprise architect, seven duties from technology strategy to security and budget, the difference from a CIO, a VP of engineering and a head of IT, the skills and route in, a template and objectives beyond shipping.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

Recruiter job description: the job profile, seven duties across a vacancy's life, in-house vs agency, how the role differs from the hiring manager, and a position description template

A recruiter job profile and position description, from O*NET, Prospects and the National Careers Service: seven duties from the brief to the offer, the in-house recruiter and the agency consultant compared, the difference from the hiring manager and the sourcer, the skills and qualifications, a template, and objectives that measure the hire rather than the volume.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Quality assurance job description: responsibilities, QA versus QC, the three levels, sector variants and a template

What a quality assurance role does, from Prospects and O*NET: how QA differs from quality control, seven responsibilities from procedures to improvement, the technician, specialist and manager levels, how the job changes in manufacturing, food, pharma, software and services, the skills and CQI route, and a job description template.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

HR director job description: the three versions of the job, seven duties, how the role differs from an HR manager, a business partner and a chief people officer, and a template

A human resources director job description, from O*NET and the Skills England senior people professional standard: the three versions of the job, seven duties from the people plan to the board, the difference from an HR manager, an HR business partner and a chief people officer, the skills and qualifications, a template and objectives measured on how the people do.

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Culture and recognition12 min read

Funny employee awards: 60 original mock award ideas, four rules that keep them kind, the awards never to give, and how to run the session

Sixty original funny workplace awards written by the New Dynamics team, grouped by theme with a citation formula for each, four rules that keep mock awards kind, drawn from the Acas description of bullying, the awards never to give, how to run the session in the room or remotely, and what the GOV.UK trivial benefits rule means for prizes.

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Hiring and job descriptions8 min read

Clerical duties and responsibilities: the seven groups, how the role differs from an administrative assistant and a data entry clerk, and a job description template

The clerical duties and responsibilities of an office clerk, from O*NET and the BLS: seven groups from phones and mail to records and the office itself, how the role differs from an administrative assistant and a data entry clerk, how it varies by sector, the skills and training, and a clerical job description template.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Cardiologist job description: seven duties, the subspecialties, the grades, the route to the role, and what a consultant advert should say

What a cardiologist does, from O*NET, the National Careers Service and Prospects: seven duties from clinic and investigations to procedures, emergency care, treatment plans, records and teaching; the subspecialties from interventional cardiology to electrophysiology; the grades a job advert might be for; the UK route and registration; the job plan and on-call detail every advert should carry; and the appraisal that supports revalidation.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

Daycare teacher job description: what daycare and childcare workers do, seven duties, how the role differs from an early years teacher, and a template

The duties and responsibilities of a daycare teacher or childcare worker, from O*NET and the National Careers Service: seven duties from safety and care to play, learning, records and parents, what the titles mean, the difference from an early years teacher and a nanny, the skills, qualifications and checks, a job description template and a first-month plan.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Account executive job description: the two jobs the title covers, the sales AE's seven duties, the agency AE's role, how it differs from an SDR and an account manager, and templates

The account executive job scope and responsibilities, from O*NET and Prospects: the two jobs the title covers, the sales account executive who owns the deal from qualified opportunity to signature and the agency account executive who supports the account manager; seven duties, the difference from an SDR, an account manager and a customer success manager, skills, two templates and objectives beyond quota.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Accounting clerk job description: duties and responsibilities, how the role differs from a bookkeeper, an AP clerk and an accountant, qualifications, and a template

The duties and responsibilities of an accounting clerk, from O*NET, the Skills England accounts or finance assistant standard and the National Careers Service: seven duties from ledgers and cash to reconciliations and month end, what the titles mean, the difference from a bookkeeper, an accounts payable clerk and an accountant, the skills and qualifications, a template and objectives.

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HR strategy10 min read

Labour costs: what the cost of labour means, the wage and non-wage halves, how to work out the cost per hour worked, and the ratios people use

What labour costs are, using the ONS definition: the total cost of employing someone, wage costs including salaries, bonuses and benefits in kind, plus non-wage costs including National Insurance, pension contributions and statutory pay. A worked example turning a salary into a cost per hour worked, direct and indirect labour, the ratios people use and what each one hides, and the costs adverts forget.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

Project engineer job description: what a project engineer does in construction, seven duties, how the role differs from a site engineer and a project manager, and a template

What a project engineer does in construction, from O*NET, Prospects and the National Careers Service: seven duties from the design to the handover, why adverts call the same job construction engineer or site engineer, the difference from a project manager, the skills, qualifications and progression, a template, and objectives for the appraisal.

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HR policies10 min read

Piece rates: the meaning, how the UK minimum wage 'fair rate' is worked out, where piece work is used, the pros and cons, and how to set a rate

The meaning of piece rates, from the Cambridge definition and the GOV.UK minimum wage rules for output work: what piece work is, when it can be used, the fair rate method with GOV.UK's example, where piece rates are used, the pros and cons for employer and worker, piece rates beside time rates, commission and bonuses, and how to set, review and document a rate.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Expeditor in a restaurant: what the job is, seven duties at the pass, when a kitchen needs one, and a template

What a food expeditor does in a restaurant: the seven duties at the pass from calling tickets to checking every plate and allergen, who does the job when there is no expeditor, the difference from a food runner and a chef de partie, when a kitchen needs one, the skills and a job description template, plus the manufacturing sense of the same title.

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Hiring and onboarding13 min read

Team player interview questions: 30 questions that can be failed, what a strong answer contains, and how to score them consistently

Thirty team player interview questions in six groups, each with what a strong answer contains and the weak answer to watch for; why "are you a team player?" tests nothing; how to define teamwork for the job before you interview; how to score answers consistently using structured-interview principles; and the fairness rules from Acas.

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Hiring and job descriptions9 min read

Retail job descriptions: the four layers of a store team, the duties at each, and what a retail advert must say

Retail job descriptions for a whole store team, from O*NET and the National Careers Service: the four layers from shop floor to store manager, the duties at each level, the specialists behind the floor, two templates, and the six things a retail advert must state that an office advert does not, including the rota, peak trading and age-restricted sales.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

What does a production assistant do? The three jobs the title covers, seven duties across a production, how the PA differs from a runner and a coordinator, and a template

What a production assistant does, from the National Careers Service and Prospects: the three jobs the title covers in TV, film and beyond, seven duties from the production office to the gallery and post-production, the difference from a runner, a production coordinator and an assistant director, skills, routes in, hours and freelance terms, a job description template and a first-week plan.

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Goals and performance11 min read

Reviewing an employee on long-term sick leave

Whether to run the performance review at all when someone is off sick for months, how to agree contact without pressure, how to rate the period actually worked, and what to do about a performance concern that pre-dates the absence.

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Hiring and job descriptions11 min read

Paramedic job description: what a paramedic does, seven duties, how the role differs from an EMT and an emergency care practitioner, registration and checks, and a template

The job description of a paramedic, from O*NET, the National Careers Service and the HCPC standards of proficiency: seven duties from the emergency call to the handover, the difference from an emergency medical technician and an emergency care practitioner, the registration, licence and checks that belong in the person specification, a template, and objectives for the appraisal.

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Culture and communication9 min read

What is an engaged workforce? The employee engagement definition, what engaged is not, what it looks like in a team, the four enablers and how to improve it

The employee engagement definition from the CIPD and the MacLeod Review: why there are more than fifty definitions, the one worth using (vigour, dedication and absorption), how engaged differs from satisfied, happy and busy, what an engaged workforce looks like in a team, the four enablers, and a way to improve work engagement without a programme.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Bus driver job description: seven duties, how to become a bus driver in the UK, the shift reality, and a template

The duties and responsibilities of a bus driver, from O*NET and the National Careers Service, and how to become one in the UK using the GOV.UK route: the full car licence, provisional PCV licence and the five Driver CPC tests, 35 hours of training every five years, the apprenticeship and direct-entry routes, the shift reality, a job description template and what an advert should say to keep drivers.

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Hiring and job descriptions12 min read

Treasurer job description: the corporate treasurer and the honorary treasurer, their duties, the controls a small organisation needs, and two templates

A treasurer job description for both senses of the title, from O*NET, Prospects and the Charity Commission's trustee guidance: the corporate treasurer who manages cash, funding, investment and financial risk, and the honorary treasurer of a charity or club; the duties of each, why all trustees share responsibility for finances, the controls a small organisation needs, the skills and qualifications, and two templates.

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HR strategy10 min read

Job classification: what it is, the four methods, how it differs from job evaluation, and six steps to build a grade structure

What job classification is and what it is for: the two senses of the term, the four methods from ranking to point-factor, how classification differs from job evaluation, job analysis and a job description, why equal pay law makes it matter, six steps to build or refresh a grade structure, what a grade definition should contain and the pitfalls.

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Learning and development7 min read

Massive open online courses: the MOOC definition, what the four words mean, what a MOOC is not, and how to use one in a development plan

The definition of a massive open online course, or MOOC, from two dictionaries; what massive, open, online and course each rule in and out; how a MOOC differs from a degree, an in-house course and a certificate programme; the strengths and limits for workplace learning; and five steps to use one in a development plan.

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Hiring and job descriptions10 min read

Bar manager job description: seven duties, the licensing layer, the cellar and stock side, and a template

What a bar manager does, from O*NET and the National Careers Service: seven duties from the rota and the cellar to stock, money and standards; the alcohol licensing layer including personal licences and the designated premises supervisor; the difference from a bartender and a general manager; routes in and progression; and a job description template.

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Leadership and management9 min read

Your first performance review as a new manager

A six-week countdown for a new manager's first review round: what to ask for before you start, where evidence comes from when you only saw half the year, what to expect from calibration, and the five mistakes first-time managers make.

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