In no way is our list authoritative, but it is the opinion
of people, including BLR® Founder Bob Brady, who’ve spent decades meeting with
HR professionals, supporting their goals, and reporting their achievements.
You may agree or not with our assessments, but either way,
we’d like to hear about it via the “Share Your Comments” link at the end of the
article.
That said, here goes:
HR Management Key Skill #1: Organization
HR management requires an orderly approach. Organized files,
strong time management skills, and personal efficiency are key to HR effectiveness.
You’re dealing with people’s lives and careers here, and when a manager
requests help with a termination or a compensation recommendation or
recognition program, it won’t do to say, “I’ll try to get to that if I have
time.”
HR Management Key Skill #2—Multitasking
On a typical HR day, an HR professional will deal with an
employee’s personal issue one minute, an intermittent leave question the next,
and a recruiting strategy for a hard-to-fill job the minute after. And that’s to
say nothing of social media, wage/hour, engagement, retention, and a whole host
of other things, every one critical to someone.
In HR, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Priorities and
business needs move fast and change fast, and manager A who needs someone hired
doesn’t much care if you’re already helping manager B who needs someone fired.
You need to be able to handle it all, all at once.
HR Management Key Skill #3—Dealing with Grey
A surprisingly large percentage of the issues HR managers
face are in “the grey area.” Is it discrimination? Is it harassment? What’s a
“reasonable” accommodation? How far over backward do you have to lean to
approve intermittent leave? HR managers have to be able to act with incomplete
and “best available” information, and they have to know when to seek the
professional help of colleagues, attorneys, and other experts.
HR Management Key Skill #4—Negotiation
Along with grey comes the need to negotiate—there are often
two or more opposing views, and the successful HR pro can find an acceptable
middle ground. Remember, the goal of negotiation is to end up with two parties
that are satisfied with the outcome, and that’s not often easy to achieve.
HR Management Key Skill #5—Communication
HR professionals have to communicate up to management, over
to managers, out to potential employees, and down to all levels of current
employees. And they have to do it in writing, while speaking to large and small
groups and, increasingly, through social media. They have to be convincing,
caring, and believable.
HR Management Key Skill #6—Discrete and Ethical
HR professionals are the conscience of the company, as well
as the keepers of confidential information. As you serve the needs of top
management, you also monitor their actions toward employees to be sure that
policies and regulations are followed. You need to be able to push back when
they aren’t in order to keep the firm on the straight and narrow. Not an easy
responsibility!
Of course, you always handle confidential information
appropriately, and never divulge it to any unauthorized person.
HR Management Key Skill #7—Dual Focus
Employees expect human resources professionals to advocate
for their concerns, yet you must also enforce top management’s policies. The HR
professional who can pull off this delicate balancing act wins trust from all
concerned.
There are times you must make decisions to protect the
individual and other times when you protect the organization, its culture, and
values. These decisions may be misunderstood by some, and you may catch flak
because of it, but you know that explaining your choices might compromise
confidential information. That’s something you would never do.
HR Management Key Skill #8—Conflict Management and Problem
Solving
News flash! Everyone doesn’t always get along with everyone
else. High productivity demands that people work together at least civilly. HR
has to find ways to allow that to happen. And that’s to say nothing of the
myriad other problems that hit HR’s in-box—you can’t be effective without
problem-solving ability.
HR Management Key Skill #9—Change Management
Most companies today are in a constant state of flux. Task
forces, matrices, and teams spring into being, do their jobs, and disband as
others form. Hierarchies have been squashed, and companies have four or five
generations working side by side. A lot of people are freaked out by what’s
going on. HR has to help everyone cope with the constant changes.
Sources: HR Daily Advisor