Throughout the years, HR departments have evolved from a present-oriented role (think recruiting, hiring, and employee orientation) to one that is more future-oriented, which focuses on working with management to lay the right path forward for the business. Companies that have made the shift have experienced many benefits from having a future-oriented HR department:
- HR leaders become business partners, as equally invested as other top executives in building long-term success for the company.
- New ideas and expertise are brought to the table from HR personnel who have different perspectives and are experts at finding and nurturing human capital.
- Company decisions are made using more complete data because HR professionals offer insight from all the way down to the fine details of how the business runs daily and all the way up to the broader implications from law and compliance.
Here are 4 areas to focus on for a future-oriented #HR department that will benefit your #company.
Your company can benefit from having a future-oriented HR department too, so if you are interested in reaping these rewards, start in these four areas.
4 Ways to Create a Future-Oriented HR Department
Present-oriented tasks will always play a role in HR, but to become forward-thinking, your HR team should be doing these four things.
1. Become Proactive Leaders
The HR professional is skilled in the specific area of human resources, but it’s time to move above and beyond that and become a true business leader within the organization. Management must bring HR into everyday conversations so they are kept up-to-date on current happenings and can contribute to problem-solving. In a future-oriented HR department, HR can voice opinions right when issues arise and can create initiatives to address business needs before things even become an issue.
2. Focus on Top Talent
The HR department has long been cautioned that employees cannot be treated differently; if we do X for John, we must also do it for Sarah. While it is always important to avoid discrimination, a future-oriented HR department recognizes that every situation is different and there must be flexibility which allows you to find and reward top talent. A future-oriented HR department evaluates the situation and considers compliance in order to provide the best options to management.
Finding Top Talent isn’t as simple as looking for your top performers though. Listen below as I explain other key factors to consider when identifying your best candidates for advancement
3. Understand Total Compensation
Total compensation is the entire package that is offered to an employee. Not just salary, it also includes benefits, bonuses, on-site amenities and other perks that reward an employee and encourage him or her to stay on board with the company. Future-oriented HR departments understand the power of total compensation. Once the top talent is identified, they are able to use total compensation to retain the best workers, thus setting the business up for future success.
4. Combine Best Practices and Innovative New Approaches
A smart HR leader knows how important it is to stay up on the latest best practices in the industry. This is why attending industry conferences is so valuable, and networking with other HR professionals is a must. However, a future-oriented HR department does more than just understand standard practices and recommended methods—team members in future-oriented HR departments know how to apply this knowledge to launch creative new approaches that will benefit the business.
My HR Mastermind Group was designed just for this very reason. The group includes 10-15 HR professionals who meet virtually every month to not only learn about the latest industry updates and best practices but also to get support and ideas from like-minded HR professionals. The combination of factual knowledge and experience with group brainstorming and idea-sharing make it the ultimate tool to create a future-oriented HR department that is rooted in expertise and ripe for innovation.
The key to success in any business is a strong and future-oriented HR department. Make the shift in mindset and behavior by expanding to one or more of these areas right away.
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