#24 Plug-in Your CPO
Maryanne Spatola, SPHR, PCC
Author The Office is Dead, Now What? | Executive Coach | Talent Strategist | Optimizing business performance at the intersection of strategy and talent.
CEOs and Founders would never start a business or build a plan for growth without a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Yet all too often, a Chief People Officer (CPO) is plugged-in after the company is launched and often too late.
We know having the right talent in your organization makes the magic happen: more innovative solutions, increased productivity, and better business outcomes.
Talented people want to build their capabilities by doing meaningful work where they can contribute in a way that truly matters.
And organizations are looking for employees who contribute at the highest level, committed to helping their organizations achieve their goals, and whose innovative solutions do just that.
When organizations are winning, everyone wins – customers, employees, and shareholders.
So it would seem to be the easiest thing in the world to connect great employees looking for meaningful work with great organizations looking for talent.
Yet, somewhere along the path, there exists a disconnect between the two. The CPO is unplugged or not even there.
Once people are working for, and in your organization, the formation of culture, values, and processes get established. They may or may not be the ones you want or need for your organization to thrive.
This Forbes article describes why we need a CPO early on and the importance of having this critical role from the onset. Elena Bajic, Founder and CEO of Ivey Exec, describes the role of a CPO this way:
“It’s both operations and growth strategy. It requires a blend of business acumen and emotional intelligence (EQ). The reason for such an amalgam is because the role is so critical to the foundation for future growth and scalability across all aspects of the company.”
Why wouldn’t you have this role plugged-in from the beginning?
In the past, the answer may have been no or no, not now. However, HR is emerging as the critical strategic function our businesses need right from the start. And it’s never too late to plug-in a CPO to a more mature organization.
CPO’s are leading our organizations and our people through turbulent times of two global pandemics -- #covid19 and #antiracism. Let’s get our CFO’s AND our CPO’s plugged-in when it comes to the overall success of our organizations.
Leadership Development Coach, Facilitator, Author, Tennis lover
4 年Excellent point Maryanne!
Leadership and Team Coach | Advisor | Operating Partner | Board Member
4 年Sorry for being late to the comment party Maryanne Spatola, SPHR, PCC There is a long list of founders with just the right amount of hubris and inability to let go of some leadership accountability to make this a reality. Even then what you need for a 30, 100 or 300 person company changes and getting someone with the ability to transcend those stages is not always simple so the cycle to wait goes on. Great people/HR leaders who see companies through multiple funding stages are few as are great financial leaders. Boards/investors who get it are important from here which is why they all became woke to having talent partners to help. I also think the people a founder surround themselves with to get the company started play heavily in to the readiness to do things the right way to scale capability and culture.
Culture Strategist & Executive Search Partner: >125 stellar HR leaders placed (by night: Your favorite HR Comedian's favorite HR Comedian!) What's your net mirth?
4 年Amen, Maryanne Spatola, SPHR, PCC. So true - and now more than ever!
Principal, DeFilippo Leadership Inc
4 年Maryanne Spatola, SPHR, PCC Great question and distinction...I wrote this article a few years back which addresses many of these issues. Thanks for opportunity to weigh in! https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2016/02/08/let-hr-set-the-table/
Founder | Assemble ? Top Leadership Voice | LinkedIn? HR & People Strategy Advisor ? Master Facilitator ? Speaker ? Workplace Humanity ? CHRO ? Transformation Expert
4 年Maryanne Spatola, SPHR, PCC , thank you for raising such an important topic. This is one that has boggled my mind for years, and has created great opportunity for my business. I can’t think of a single company that wouldn’t name its #people as its “greatest asset”, and yet many companies hold off on filling a key role that identifies, develops, retains, rewards, listens, learns, compensates, aligns, empathizes, and cares this asset. A wonder!