Great Business Disguised as HR - The 3 Top Characteristics

Self reflection can be difficult.  However, it is important for learning and to move forward – so I make an effort to do it occasionally.  2012 has been a great year for me so far and I've been fortunate to have several great opportunities come my way and fortunate to have the courage to take those opportunities.  Upon a little deeper thinking, I got to look back on an event that I still have mixed feelings about.

I changed jobs this year.  But that’s not what I’m talking about.  Prior to leaving my previous employer, I was being considered for an opportunity outside of HR – and seriously considered the opportunity.  This is a cause of reflection, because the executive who interviewed me for the role stated at one point how surprised she was to find strong strategic talent in HR, and never would have previously considered an HR person for roles that were more operationally based.

This statement has stuck with me because my “insider” view of HR is very different than that of external views.  Now, you might say that I shouldn't be shocked by this view of HR – it’s pretty standard.  However, the views of HR have been steadily changing for years, and I've been fortunate to have been surrounded by strong business people (notice I didn't say HR).

Ultimately, I moved on from that organization and stayed in an HR role.  When I was leaving, my previous manager seemed surprised I was staying in HR because she thought I was “too talented” for an HR role.  This pattern in thought process toward HR may have contributed to my decision to leave that company.  However, I can say I feel more confident in my ability to elevate the HR function knowing that I was seen as too valuable to an organization to be wasted on such work.  I've thought about characteristics that may have shaped that perception and have listed them below.  These are characteristics I aim for because they’re important in any role in any business and should be that much more important in HR.

1. Know. Your. Business. – Not the HR business, but the business you support.  Know it inside and out and better than anyone else.  Understand why things function the way they do, and why some decisions made have been good, and others not so much.  Understand the struggles of every employee group.  Understand the future plans of your organization, and how all of the puzzle pieces may (or may not) fit into that.  Understand the financials - and the perception of financial health.  In other words, KNOW YOUR STUFF.
2. Be process driven – even in the entrepreneurial world, where process is often overlooked (intentionally or not intentionally), there are more times than not where it will be appreciated, and lead you to solutions that move your organization (and you) forward.
3. Get shit done.  Pardon my language, but a colleague once said this to me on a job analysis questionnaire, and I've never heard it put better.  In any part of the organization, leaders and executives like people who get it done.  Now, I’m not saying that values should be compromised to do so, but you understand what I’m saying.  Be the person who makes moves and makes things happen.  Everyone in every department wants that kind of person on their team.

So what is my advice to business owners and leaders looking to beef up their business?  Get great business people in your organization.  Get great business people particularly in HR.  Utilize HR beyond its administrative, cost center function.  How do you do this?  Look for some of the things I mentioned above.  Look for the same things in your HR staff that you would look for in profit and strategy driven functions.   I promise you won’t ever be disappointed with such a decision.

What are your thoughts on this?