5 Questions with HR Expert Shatanese Reese

Shatanese Reese, SPHR SHRM-SCP is an HR Business Partner and Talent Acquisition Expert with Inspire Human Resources. Throughout her career, she has proven to excel in leadership coaching, driving employee engagement and performance improvement, optimizing onboarding and performance management, and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).?

As a fractional HR Expert, Shatanese has a unique, insider perspective on HR leadership among companies of different sizes, across industries. We asked her to weigh in on some HR hot topics.

What are two or three traits that take a company from good to great in today’s talent environment??

The two traits that take a company from great to exceptional in terms of talent management/HR practices today are Flexibility and Transparency.??

Employees want flexibility to deal with the complexities of their lives AND manage the demands of their roles. Flexible work models, mental health and wellness support as well as meaningful work are important areas to employees. Leveraging AI will also help employees excel in the realm of talent management/HR practices.

Additionally, transparency is critical for many employees today. People want honest leaders and they want to believe in what is shared at the company level. We have a number of examples in society of what occurs when transparency is absent from workforce cultures.? We simply have to turn on the news and watch various clips on social media of employees responding to situations where an organization or leader has lacked transparency.

What can we expect for DEI in the near future?

I think for the foreseeable future we will continue to see more companies pulling back on their DEI initiatives. It will take some time for the landscape to stabilize after the political landscape begins to level out.

For those of us who are passionate and intimately involved in this work, we will need to remain steadfast. What that means is we can still review requests for flexibility in scheduling, ensure recruitment practices are proactive in attracting a diverse talent pool and that the voices of all employees are heard. Treating people with respect and civility should never go out of style.

Treating people with respect and civility should never go out of style.

What is the value of fractional HR talent in the modern workforce??

A fractional HR expert offers an outside perspective and in many instances, a new look at old processes and practices.?

I appreciate being seen as a strategic partner, an extension if you will, of the HR department. HR professionals have long been tasked with doing more with less and inviting a fractional HR Expert into the fold not only augments what the HR team is attempting to accomplish, but does so through a lens of what’s the most efficient method to accomplish this goal.

What is a recent “win” you experienced when working with a client??

A most recent win I have experienced with a client was during a coaching session.?

We had been working for a few sessions together due to recent feedback received, when it seemed as if a breakthrough occurred.? When a client is finally able to see themselves through others’ perspectives, there is a greater sense of potential and freedom that is unleashed as it pertains to the growth that client can experience.?

It is a win-win situation because the client has a clearer understanding of their opportunities for growth and the organization will greatly benefit from this new level of understanding.

What are some of your passions outside of work??

I enjoy being active and outdoors—whether that is on a beach watching the waves, climbing a mountain to enjoy the landscape, or sitting in the backyard, listening to the rustle of leaves in the trees. Being outside connects me to nature and allows me to recalibrate. And if I am able to do any of these activities with my husband and our “Reese’s Pieces” (our six kiddos), even better!