By Jenny Reid, Founder of iFacts
Some industry commentators call the Human Resources function in any business the last bastion of bureaucracy and it is seen in its traditional role – the department that merely hires and fires the staff needed to do the jobs. However, today the HR role should be seen differently.
According to Dr. Dave Ulrich, a professor at the University of Michigan, we should be seeing HR professionals leading their companies in areas such as organization development, strategic utilization of employees to serve business goals, and talent management and development. Today the HR professional is considered necessary by managers and executives and plays the role of a strategic partner, an employee advocate, as well a change mentor.
The recruitment requirements for your HR executives have therefore changed considerably and an increased need for the following skills has been noticed:
- Technology skills has increased and in many countries this HR skill is very much in demand
- Change management as more and more people are needing flexible working environment
- The ability to foster culture and change the behaviour and work pattern of employees
- Consulting and coaching skills are often a requirement to help drive the team’s performance or to diagnose and resolve issues for a leader or a team
Global talent management expert, Josh Bershin, has said that in 2017 he believes the best HR professionals will move out of a conventional HR role into that of a consultant in human performance. They will no longer focus on managing employees, but will own all employee issues and focus on ensuring individuals and teams’ performance. He goes on to say that now is the time when businesses look ahead to the New Year and start to plan and set priorities.
If you want great results from your business, start with your people. After all, they are your greatest asset.
One of the greatest priorities I believe should be considered is Employee Relations and this should include the hiring, on boarding and exit of employees, as well as the critical engagement of all people in the workplace and employee benefits.
Jenny Reid is a Human Risk Expert and Professional Speaker, and the owner of iFacts based in South Africa, a specialist employee screening and vetting service. She is constantly assessing new and innovative ways to remove the people risk in any organisation. Since 2009 when she took over iFacts completely, she has seen the company double in size and hopes to continue this growth. iFacts specializes in employee Screening, risk assessments, employee wellness, investigations, and truth verification. Jenny is a past President of the Security Association of South Africa. Contact Jenni via email jenny@ifacts.co.za