The HCBU Manifesto
HCBU exists because too many people feel unseen, drained and replaceable at work, while organisations quietly waste talent and society slowly loses trust and care.This page sets out the beliefs that underpin everything we do.
Too many people experience work as:- Mechanical, rigid and dehumanising- Obsessed with targets, dashboards and “initiatives”- Unclear expectations and broken promises- Full of good people who are tired, numb or quietly giving up
The consequence is for:Individuals – burnout, quiet quitting, that heavy sense of “I’ve given up on work”Organisations – wasted talent, failed change, flatlining engagement and growing cynicismSociety – less trust in institutions, less care for each other, more withdrawal and numbnessWe don’t believe this is inevitable. We believe we can do better.
- They are humans with histories, hopes, limits and dreams.- Most people come to work wanting to contribute and to feel useful, not to coast.- When people feel human, creative, bold and unique, everything improves: their work, relationships, results and the wider culture.- People need psychological safety and honest expectations to do their best work. When the psychological contract is honoured, people thrive. - When it is broken, something important tears.- People deserve to be seen and heard before they are measured and managed.
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Change that ignores the human experience will always fail in the end – even if it looks successful on a slide.Most “big transformations” over-promise and under-deliver. They create hope and then quietly disappear, leaving more cynicism behind.Real change is often small, honest and steady – one person, one team, one conversation at a time.Reflection is not a luxury. It is a core requirement for meaningful change.
Data and insight matter, but only if they lead to reflection, learning, sharing and supported action.This is why HCBU follows a “Human Path”:
Insight → Reflection → Learning → Sharing → Transformation
Because of these beliefs, there are some things HCBU will not do:
We will not treat people as expendable “resources” or talk about humans only in terms of cost and efficiency.
We will not sell you engagement or culture as a quick fix or a box-ticking exercise.
We will not drop in a generic toolkit and disappear, leaving people confused and disillusioned.
We will not pretend that AI, technology or processes alone can fix what is essentially human and relational.
We will not encourage you to squeeze more out of people who are already stretched and struggling.
If you want more theatre and less truth, HCBU is probably not for you.
Our beliefs come to life through a simple human path:
Insight – Honest assessments of how work and life actually feel for individuals, teams, businesses and organisations.
Reflection – Calm, supported conversations where people can tell the truth and make sense of what they’re experiencing.
Learning – Short, focused courses and resources to help people understand Human, Creative, Bold and Unique ways of working.
Sharing – Spaces where people can share stories, ideas and experiments, and see that they are not alone.
Transformation – 90-day journeys and longer-term support to help individuals, leaders and teams make real, sustainable changes.
You can read more about this on the HCBU Hub and the HCBU Method page.
If something in these beliefs feels true, hopeful or uncomfortably accurate, that’s usually a sign there is work to do.
You don’t have to plan a full transformation. You can simply:
Return to the HCBU Hub to explore our story, offers and resources
Book a free Reflection Call to talk about your situation
Start with an HCBU Profile for yourself, your team, business or organisation
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