How to be a lovable HR professional

Nowadays companies are looking for competence in HR professionals. In the past, HR professionals were often viewed as systematizing or a policy making hands. Their role was more aligned with the administrative role and was limited to day-to-day personnel operations.

Now the things have changed. The HR professional is required to play a significant role of a strategic collaborator, of a mentor and a counselor, of an employee advocate and most importantly of a change agent. He contributes to the organizational goals, business plans and objectives. He plays an integral role through his knowledge in coaching, counseling and mentoring of employees and executives. 

In my point of view, FOUR Cs are required to be a “lovable or a competent HR professional”.

1. Communication
2. Care for employees
3. Coaching
4. Counseling

Communication
 
Communication is one of the major competencies for an individual to be a lovable HR professional, either from an employee or from a management’s point of view.

The HR professional is required to organize and express the ideas clearly to the right person in an appropriate manner; and using the best and efficient methods to convey the relevant information to the employees or to the management.

The information is at its most useful when it is “accurate, timely, complete and relevant”.  (Rouse and Rouse 2002)

Nowadays expectations of the employees are diverse and sophisticated. They want to understand organization’s goals, business objectives and missions. They want to be fully aware of the company rules and regulations. They want to be a part of the business decisions, policy making and to be involved in moving the business forward and getting ahead of the competitors. Communication is a powerful tool through which an HR person can fulfill their expectations. Poor communication of an HR person can cause a business to fail.

Care for employees

Employees’ positive attitude is critical for the success of the business. Taking care of employees’ personal issues, grievances and problems makes an HR person a lovable HR professional. He must be ready to support his employees, to resolve their workplace conflicts, to foster their motivation level, to provide them with healthy work environment, to evaluate their performances and to endow them with benefit protection.

“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creature of logic but the creature of emotions.” (Dale Carnegie)

Coaching

Coaching is a job focused and performance oriented process. It helps the employees to establish their personal short term goals and objectives that are congruent with the goals and objectives of the organization.

In this process HR professional plays the role of a catalyst and a facilitator. He educates, guides, trains and supports the employees to connect them with their passions, principles, plans and values to hook them up to their work commitments and to long term organizational goals.

“Coaching is about making everyone feel part of the team, encourage players to cooperate, keeping them informed and taking an interest in their individual performances.” (Birkinshaw and Crainer 2002)
 
Counseling

Counseling is known by many names like “therapy” or “psychoanalysis”. It is a process to help and to counsel the employees to learn how to solve their emotional, interpersonal and behavioral issues.

Every individual cannot be capable enough to manage the stress of his/her life, at home or at the office. Whether he/she is married or unmarried, he/she cannot escape from his/her responsibilities. This situation causes the stress and then the need of HR counseling arises to cope with this stress and to manage other additional issues of his/her life. The HR professional can be helpful for the management and the employees. He can manage the change easily if he counsels his employees effectively. He does it in a friendly manner to help them take charge of their lives. He helps them to overcome their problems at work, to manage the workload and to resolve the workplace issues.

We may conclude that HR professionals who are good communicators, caring about employees, having the ability to coach and counsel their employees are the most lovable HR professionals and are seen as an asset for the companies. A lovable HR professional adds the value to his/her organization being proactive and persuasive.

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Result-oriented human resource professional with four years of generalist experience in strategic recruitment, employee relations and employee development, Ghazala is a Human Resource Manager. She is a hobbyist writer and poetess since her college days and her work has been published in magazines.