In any business, human resources provides a core function that is crucial to nurturing and developing the talent that you have. Where the HR team is functioning badly, or unable to meet its goals as a result of a lack of key skills, this can have a negative knock on impact right through the business. So, the quality of your HR manager is crucial, as they will shape and direct the way that the HR team interacts with the rest of the business. The most successful HR managers tend to share a number of key skills.
Sound communication
Communication is perhaps the Number 1 key skill for an HR manager. Without the ability to effectively communicate with their own team, the HR manager will be isolated and unable to ensure that your human resources people are functioning as they should within the business. Communication skills should be both written and verbal and extend to everyone, from the HR team itself through to the business’ employees and everyone at management level.
Positive negotiation skills
From agreeing the details of contracts, to handling disputes, there are many situations that could arise in the HR manager job description that require a positive negotiation skill set. Experience in previous negotiation situations is likely to be of benefit here, as well as the ability to apply a fair and rational approach to a situation that might be tense and sensitive. An HR manager with great negotiation skills is always worth their weight in gold.
The ability to make accurate judgments
Sound, practical and reasonable judgment in an HR manager will create a positive atmosphere within the human resources team and also ensure that HR delivers on its goals and objectives for the rest of the business. Great judgment comes into play repeatedly for HR managers. It could be the difference between ensuring that employees are placed into the right roles - or jobs that make them feel unhappy and unfulfilled. It could be the key factor that stops a potential discrimination claim from escalating. HR managers with excellent judgment know how to assess a situation – and when to ask for support.
The ability to multi-task
Many jobs today require multi-tasking abilities but perhaps few more so than the HR manager role. This not only involves leading a team and ensuring that team meets its goals and objectives but also dealing with the myriad of HR-related situations that arise daily, from recruitment through to staff disputes or the need to let someone go.
The right ethics
HR managers have access to the kind of data that most other company departments don’t and may be privy to confidential information that employees don’t share widely. The right ethics mean that an HR manager is able to ensure that there is a balance between the rights and responsibilities of employees and the obligations and legal requirements that the company must observe.
HR managers have a crucial role to play in any business – and the right training and make all the difference. Register your place on PTP’s
Introduction to HR Skills course today.