HR plays a vital role in any organizational setup. The Human resource manager is a role that some organizations have overlooked in the past, but not anymore.
Now organizations are quickly discovering the importance and relevance of the HR manager in a strategic capacity.
They understand that the HR manager is the sole role in charge of the most vital resource of an organization, humans. And therefore, it is now being given its due respect and attention.
A dysfunctional HR department can lead to an efficient and wasteful workforce. So, it comes as no surprise that a lot of work rests on the HR department.
The duty of the HR department is so vital; it is one of the driving factors of a successful organization. A good way of knowing this is by checking the HR of top organizations in the world.
You would notice the efforts put into HR-related activities like recruitment, onboarding, building, and maintaining a striving organizational culture.
The way to go now is to pay attention to one of the most vital resources in an organization, the human resource. So today, we would look at some simple but effective tricks every HR manager should know.
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Be Human
You may feel being distant is the best way to go. So the staff perceives you as being impartial and fair in your judgment. But the thing is, no one wants to talk to a robot.
Someone they feel they cannot connect with on an emotional level. The key here is understanding personalities and people and dealing with them accordingly.
The HR manager is the bridge between the staff and the management, and most times, as an HR manager, they need to feel you understand them and want the best for them.
Instead of handing out warnings and fines for coming late (and please do this if required), why don’t you talk to them about their day or family. No one is asking you to be a therapist, but people need to see they can trust you.
Try taking a walk to other departments to say “hi,” try to know the names of members of other teams. Ask for feedback on the current work experience and work with them to improve the organizational culture and work environment.
Work With Other Departments
“Nobody is an island,” the saying goes, and this quote cannot be further from the truth with organizations.
The HR manager should have a pretty good understanding of the objectives and goals of different departments and paint a picture of what the organization is trying to achieve.
Understanding their objectives helps you with ideas, strategy and plans to help them.
It will also inform you what is going on in those departments, potential issues that can come up, and current issues they are handling, making you proactive in your decision-making.
It will also make your inputs more valuable when speaking to other staff in these departments as they see you as someone who wants to help them and not shot them down. Working with other departments improves the overall culture of the organization.
It also allows you to be open to suggestions and ideas from other departments.
An example is noticing a department that is stressed out and tired because of recent projects and doing something for them or noticing that some departments are understaffed because of your interactions with them and start the recruitment process before management approves it. You can take action faster because of your collaborating skill.
Think Big Picture
The HR manager is in charge of employee engagement. You recruit employees through social media, onboard new staff, and maintain the cultural balance of the organization
Therefore, organizational plans should always be at the back of your mind when making strategic decisions.
Recruiting the brightest minds is the dream of every HR manager. But remember to factor in the existing culture, values, and mission of the organization when selecting.
Remember, you are looking for a person who is skillful and resonates with the company values.
Stay Updated With New Technology
Staying up to date with the latest in HR software is a great way to boost productivity. The HR team should encourage and use software applications that can automate simple, repetitive tasks.
Software applications can offer self-service to employees, where employees have access to a central database.
Here they can update personal information and get approvals from the HR departments on leaves. Software applications can also help speed up processes by automating sending out messages.
Getting software applications that can help with the fast movement of information is something you should look to carry out.
Lead by Example
One of the oldest sayings in the book, leading by example, is one trick that has always worked on humans on the conscious and the subconscious level.
Actions speak louder than words. Right from your childhood, you learned by observing, and this trait is one we keep even in adulthood.
So, when the rules in the office say, resume by 9 a.m., don’t come strolling in by 10 a.m., and even if you do so, have a good reason.
If you are saying to everyone to learn to smile more, don’t go around carrying a face no one can approach. If you say no eating at the working table, don’t walk in with a doughnut and cup of coffee on your table.
People are watching, and a lot of time will take action based on what they notice. If you break the rules, apologize for them. No one expects you to be perfect either, but be genuine about your actions.
Connect With Other HR Managers
Connecting with other HR managers via social networks is an excellent way to stay updated, get tips and even learn from older/more experienced heads.
Networking with other managers like yourself will help you stay fresh on ideas and stay informed on varied HR-related challenges and how they overcame them.
And who knows, you may find long-term friendship in these networks as all of you go through the same type of problems, something non-Human resource staff may not understand.
Don’t Get Lost
When appointed as an HR manager, you had plans and objectives you wanted to achieve, which is natural for any manager.
The ideas will include what you what to do to improve the company and yourself as a person. In carrying all your HR activities, don’t forget your objectives and continue to work towards them.
Do you need specific certifications or training? – get them. Do you need to put in some time or hours for the first few months? – do it. It’s called sacrifice, and when done well, it can yield remarkable results.
One way to not get lost is by organizing yourself. Have a document that spreads out your activities for the day, week, month, and year. Of course, you should also realize that these are guides, and you will have to be flexible most time.
Nothing truly goes as planned. You will often have to improvize at one point or the other. This point is so simple, so elementary, but often ignored. So don’t be part of the many who ignore these.
Learn To Take Breaks
It can be tempting to always be on top of your game in an organization, but you must remember, you are human and can quickly burn yourself out if you aren’t careful.
Taking breaks doesn’t have to be taking long leaves, but activities that can recharge you for the day or weekends for the long week ahead.
We are all different, so you have to know what works for you. Some people take breaks with their phones, others take a walk, while some take 10-20 minutes naps.
The aim is to get you feeling refreshed and get your brain working at its optimal again.
As for weekends, family time can help with some, while others will go out to the movies, dates, or just hang out with friends. Things that make you feel at ease. You do this to avoid burnout and fatigue, so you are at your optimal best at all times.
These are some tricks we believe will help you on your HR manager journey.
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