Beyond The Water Cooler

'HR data' - for many, those two words conjure up images of spreadsheets, reporting for the sake of it, or endless discussions about what to count and who even cares. But what if we stopped treating ‘people data’ as just another extra or admin task, and instead saw it as essential for understanding what really makes our teams tick? I sat down with Lorna Moles, director of Farrell HR, to unpick why so many HR professionals - and leadership teams more broadly - struggle to move beyond reporting the basics. We explored how HR data, when used purposefully, can be the backbone of good decision-making, strategic storytelling, and building credibility in the boardroom. What stood out for me was that data isn’t just numbers - it’s people’s stories, frustrations, ideas, and what gets in the way of them being at their best. If we really want to create a work culture where employees thrive and managers feel equipped to lead well, we need to spend as much time listening to what people are telling us (in conversations, feedback, and lived experience) as we do looking at the headline numbers. A big theme was curiosity - not taking data at face value, but asking what lies beneath. It means drilling beyond ‘how many’ to really notice the patterns, the outliers, the “why”. That’s when data moves from being a tick-box exercise to something alive and genuinely useful for managers, leaders, and the whole organisation. Of course, none of this matters if we don’t communicate well. Lorna and I both agree - it’s far too easy to stop at “here’s the report”. True impact begins when we work together to make sense of the data, ask the right questions, and use it to support people, not just measure them. If you’re a leader, HR professional, or manager wanting your workplace to perform at its best, start by asking how you use your people data. Is it an afterthought - or a springboard for conversations that drive real change? This conversation is a reminder to see beyond the spreadsheet and get under the surface of what’s really going on. More about Lorna:Lorna Moles runs FARRELL HR, harnessing over 20 years of in-house experience to help organisations transform workplace culture, future-proof their teams and navigate HR challenges with clarity and compassion. She offers flexible, tailored HR support - whether you need core HR services, strategic advice or project-based help during periods of growth or change. With FARRELL HR, businesses benefit from senior-level HR expertise without the overhead of hiring in-house: from policy and procedures to performance management, restructuring, talent planning and employee engagement. Get in touch here: www.farrellhr.co.uk Resources & ReferencesInsight to Action: Making Data Matter: How HR Can Build Influence Through Storytelling and Insightful Reporting Watch this episode on YouTube Explore barriers to some data-collection approaches and a number of different methods that provide the opportunity to capture everyone’s voice: Never Just a Survey – Kieran Innes, Stribe Find out where you and your team are at and what's needed to shift the dial on performance data: a...