This issue of People First was sent on 30 October 2026. Product details reflect what was true at the time.
I hope October has been good to you.
For many HR and People teams, this is the season for planning year-end reviews and 2027 budgets. It is also when leaders start asking harder questions about the strength of their teams and where next year's investment should go.
This month, I'm sharing a new article on measuring talent density, an offer for teams planning 2027, our next webinar on getting HR budgets approved, and the latest improvements to the Talstack platform.
Let's get into it.
Is Your Talent Density Real?
A few weeks ago, I came across a post on Revolut's approach to building high-performing teams. It reminded me how useful a single score can be for understanding performance across an entire organisation.
Talent density measures the share of your people who perform well above expectations. But your talent density score is only as credible as the performance ratings behind it.
In this new article, I share how to make the number one you can trust: use one rating scale, train managers and employees on your performance expectations and what each level means, build the overall rating around goals, competencies and values, and calibrate ratings before you calculate the score.
Planning for 2027? Get Your First Month of Talstack Free
As you plan for 2027, we want to make it easier to bring your people processes into one place.
New customers who sign up for a Talstack subscription get one month free, with access to every module on the platform, including modules for HRIS, Leave management, Goals, Performance reviews, Feedback, Learning and Surveys.
If your team is still on spreadsheets, or on a tool that isn't working for you, our team will help you bring your existing data across, so you can start the new year with your employee records, goals, reviews and learning in one place.
How to Get Your 2027 HR Budget Approved
Budget season is when HR leaders put their plans forward and finance teams decide what gets approved. On Thursday, 12 November, at 4:00 PM WAT, we're bringing both sides into one conversation in our next webinar, Why HR Budgets Get Cut (And How to Get Yours Approved).
David Anazia, Finance Director at Hello Products Limited (a Jagal company), and Chidinma Obiejesi, Group Head of Human Resources at MegaLectrics, will discuss what finance leaders need to see before approving HR spend, and how HR teams can make a stronger case for their budgets. I'll be moderating the conversation.
Platform updates
Here are some of the latest improvements to the Talstack platform.
- Flexible review reminders: Admins can now choose how often performance review reminders go out, such as weekly or every two weeks, and customise the reminder email.
- Self-review alerts for managers: Managers now get notified when a direct report submits their self-review, so they can start their own review sooner.
- Relief person for leave requests: Employees can now choose a colleague to cover for them when they request time off, so everyone knows who is handling their work while they are away.
If you're a Talstack customer, these updates are already live in your account, so log in to try them. If you're new to the platform, request a demo to see how Talstack can support your team.
Thank you for being a vital part of the Talstack journey.
As always, if you have feedback, questions or need support, the Talstack team is just a message away.
Warmly,
Seni Sulyman
Co-Founder & CEO, Talstack
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