Best Working Style for HR Professionals
An effective human resources department is critical to the success of any organization. If you’re an HR manager, you know that much is involved in overseeing all the functions of the HR department, making your role vital. But simply knowing the processes and procedures involved in HR is not enough. You must have a great working style to be an outstanding HR manager.
In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of a good working style and the best working style for an HR professional.
The Importance of a Good Working Style for HR Professionals
A productive and happy team is essential for a company to thrive, and the HR department is tasked with building and maintaining that team. This starts with recruiting and selecting the right employees. Poor hiring decisions can have a substantial negative impact on the company’s productivity. HR professionals must be able to attract good people and discern which candidates will be best for specific roles.
Then, when employees are hired, their first experience with the company is with the HR professionals, so it’s crucial to have a working style that gives them a good first impression. They must feel welcome, and their onboarding experience needs to give them confidence that they can handle the job – and enjoy the job!
If you’re an HR manager, you’re also a big part of creating a positive company culture that employees want to work within. More and more companies are recognizing the importance of company culture in attracting and retaining talent, so this is arguably the key function of HR professionals. They must be able to work with management across the organization to build a positive environment. Doing so is an art that must be perfected.
Characteristics of a Good Working Style for HR Professionals
So, what’s required to have a good working style?
Effective communication skills
One could argue that 90% of an HR professional’s job involves communication, so it’s critical to have effective oral and written communication skills. You have to liaise with new and existing employees as well as managers across the organization in a clear and positive way. Poor communication can cause significant issues in the hiring process and in employee relations.
Strong organizational skills
Working in HR involves handling many tasks and often juggling several tasks at once. HR professionals need to be able to organize all these tasks and stay focused. A lack of organizational skills can lead to missed deadlines or a breakdown of processes.
Attention to detail
HR involves handling many small details, from creating accurate and effective job descriptions to managing the payroll process. Small details that are missed can lead to big problems, so an eye for detail is crucial to keep all HR functions working smoothly.
Ability to manage priorities
With so much to do, tasks must be prioritized, and those with high priority should be done first. An HR professional has to be able to identify the highest priorities on a daily basis so that they can be handled effectively while not getting in the way of other essential daily tasks.
Empathy and emotional intelligence
Dealing with people requires empathy. An HR professional needs to be able to put themselves in the shoes of others, and understand their perspectives. This is key to finding the right solutions to issues, meaning solutions that create a win-win for everyone. HR professionals also must be able to act with emotional intelligence, making decisions with information and reason as well as empathy. Emotional intelligence also means being able to stay calm and level-headed when problems arise.
Flexibility and adaptability
With so much going on at the same time within the HR department, HR professionals need to be flexible enough to switch gears quickly when things come up unexpectedly. HR is also ever-evolving, with new technology and processes being developed continuously, so HR professionals need to be able to adapt as systems and procedures change. They also need to be able to adapt to the changing needs of the company.
Tips for Developing a Good Working Style as an HR Professional
An HR professional must first fully understand their responsibilities, so in your role, you need to fully examine what’s required of you and what goals you need to achieve. Focus on your priorities but work to exceed your goals every day. This will enable you to not only be more effective in your role but it will also make you stand out to upper management. Do your job to the best of your ability.
You also need to establish clear communication channels with colleagues, employees, and company management. Employees to know exactly where to go to find information, ask questions, and resolve issues. This will ensure that they feel supported and improve their overall employee experience. You also need to be able to have open dialogues with your HR colleagues to ensure that problems can be resolved quickly and that processes flow smoothly.
Additionally, you need to stay in constant communication with company management to stay informed about employee performance, departmental needs, and training that needs to be implemented.
These communication channels should also help you to develop relationships with employees, colleagues, and managers. Good relationships create better collaboration as well as a more positive working environment. This goes back to the importance of company culture discussed earlier. A good company culture is built on good relationships.
Additionally, you need to be a continuous learner, staying up to date on industry trends and best practices.
Finally, to have a good working style, you have to take care of yourself. Take steps to reduce your stress and create a work-life balance that allows you to have enough time for yourself. The more satisfied you are in your role and your life, the more effectively and productively you’ll be able to handle your role.
Conclusion
As an HR professional, you are a valuable part of your company. You need to examine your current working style, and honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses. Then take conscious steps to make improvements, so that you’re the best HR professional that you can be, as well as someone who helps to advance the goals of your company.
