
People and Culture
A Practical Guide for HR Professionals and Leaders
David Liddle(Author)
Kogan Page Ltd (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 3. January 2026
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-3986-1682-0 (ISBN)
Description
For business success, organizations need engaged employees working in high-performing teams as well as an inclusive culture that attracts and supports these employees.
Written for senior HR professionals and business leaders, this book shows how to adopt a people and culture approach in the organization rather than a people or culture focus. It provides these practitioners with the tools they need to create a purpose-driven, values-based, people-centric approach to their company culture and their HR strategy.
Full of practical advice,
People and Culture
provides practitioners with everything they need to use their organizational culture to bring out the best in their workforce. This includes guidance on aligning values, language and behaviours as well as dedicated support on systems thinking, emotional intelligence and communication skills. This book also explores how to align the EVP (Employee Value Proposition) with company culture and how to manage the social, stakeholder and shareholder value of this people and culture approach. The final part of the book features a people and culture playbook which includes a framework for undertaking a cultural audit and tools to manage and resolve toxic behaviours.
Building on the author's work on transformational culture as well as his background in conflict management, this is essential reading for all people professionals who want to optimize both their people and their culture but aren't sure where to start.
Reviews / Votes
"No question that the field of HR is rapidly moving beyond human capital (talent) to human capability (talent + organization + leadership + HR function) to deliver stakeholder value. People matter, and culture matters even more. David Liddle's thoughtful blueprint offers insights and tools to make this movement happen." * Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan and Partner, The RBL Group * "If People and Culture is to become oracular, a strategic seer in the modern workplace, David Liddle masterfully provides the scripture needed. People and Culture is an incredibly compelling and well-thought-out book and framework. It is timely, necessary and a manifesto for HR leaders to embed culture at the centre of a bold organizational framework." * Dan Pontefract, leadership strategist, Thinkers50 Radar, and author of The Future of Work Is Grey. * "In People and Culture, David Liddle articulates a philosophy I deeply share, that cultures rooted in fairness, dialogue and shared accountability are not just good for people, but essential for business. This book is a powerful contribution to the growing movement of leaders building companies that are not only successful, but more human, more resilient and more just." * Enrique Rubio, Founder, Hacking HR * "People and Culture is a powerful and timely guide that places the human heartbeat at the centre of organizational life. Firmly grounded in reality, it offers clear frameworks linking culture, leadership and business outcomes. David delivers a catalyst for meaningful change, and he challenges and equips leaders to embed values, act with purpose and shape thriving workplaces. A must-read for anyone shaping the future of work." * Sara Andrews, Chief People Officer at Ecovyst Catalyst Technologies UK Ltd * "David has distilled decades of experience and wisdom to reimagine the future of HR professionals in a fresh and purpose fit framework, complete with a road map and a toolkit, packed with stories from Chief People Officers. The book challenges the profession to 'Be Better, Do Better'. A Liddle book really does go a long way." * Shakil Butt FCIPD, FCCA, DChA, Independent HR, OD & EDI Consultant and Author * "People and Culture manages to pull off the rare trick of being practical and provocative. A tightly written and accessible reflection on what we know about the present and future of work and what a joined up intelligent response to the challenges and opportunities facing us might be. Full of real-world examples and practical frameworks, it's an invaluable guide to rich thinking in this space and a challenge to build better and more productive work for all." * David D'Souza Chartered FCIPD, FCPHR, Fellow CEBMa, Director of Profession, The CIPD * "This book had a physical effect on me when I was reading it - it is genuinely inspiring, thought-provoking and full of real-life examples. It reinforces the purpose of putting people at the centre of organizations and demonstrates the value HR leaders bring. David's ideas, intelligence and thirst for discovery shine through, offering encouragement and evidence to shift your mindset and lead differently." * Margaret Ayers, Chief People Officer, Canterbury Christ Church University and Chair of Universities Human Resources (UHR) * "This book is a true epic. It busts myths, expunges out-of-date practices and elevates alternatives. Beyond an Operating Model, this is the People Profession's Business Model - a clarion call for a people-centric, culture-pro operation. Mixing practical and philosophical is a work of true genius, revealing soaring possibilities in cultures of performance, fairness and togetherness. One People & Culture book to rule them all." * Perry Timms MCIPD, FRSA and MODA, Founder & Chief Energy Officer, People and Transformational HR Ltd *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
672 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3986-1682-0 (9781398616820)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Kogan Page Ltd
€39.49
Available for download

Book
01/2026
1st Edition
Kogan Page Ltd
€40.00
Available immediately
Person
Author
David Liddle is the CEO of the TCM Group and president of the People and Culture Association. David is a recognized leader in the areas of conflict resolution, cultural change, and transformational leadership. For over twenty years, David Liddle and his team have been delivering award winning conflict resolution, leadership development, and cultural change programmes for organizations across the globe. Based in London, UK, in 2021 he was named as one of the Most Influential HR Thinkers by HR Magazine and has been featured on the Thinkers50 Radar for 2022.
Content
- Section - SECTION ONE: PEOPLE AND CULTURE
-
- Chapter - 01: What is a People and Culture (P&C) approach?;
- Chapter - 02: What are the benefits of a connected focus on People and Culture?;
- Chapter - 03: The evidence for a People and Culture approach to the organization;
- Chapter - 04: Developing a person-centric culture;
- Chapter - 05: Using your culture to attract the very best people;
- Chapter - 06: Aligning values, language, behaviour and the Employee Value Proposition (EVP);
- Chapter - 07: Systems thinking, emotional intelligence and communication skills;
- Chapter - 08: Managing the social, stakeholder and shareholder value of a people and culture approach
- Chapter - 09: Harnessing the power of AI and digital transformation to support people and culture activity
- Chapter - 10: Embedding People and Culture in HR strategy
- Section - SECTION TWO: PEOPLE AND CULTURE PLAYBOOK