Episode 188: “Future of HR + Modern People Leader” with JP Elliott, Stephen Huerta, & Daniel Huerta

What happens when you combine two of the best HR podcasts?

You are about to find out as the Modern People Leader podcast and the Future of HR podcast have come together for a special episode to share their insights from over 270 interviews.

If you don't have time to listen, read the highlights below. ??

1. A next gen People Leader understands three things ??

JP Elliott, host of "The Future of HR" podcast, breaks down what makes a next-gen HR leader, and it's all about the "what," the "who," and the "how."

1. The What: It’s about knowing what you stand for – your leadership philosophy, your values, and what you want to be known for at work. It's about your leadership brand and making sure what you stand for really matters.
2. The Who: Next-gen HR leaders see themselves as business people who happen to be in HR, not just HR leaders.This mindset shapes your behavior. If you say you're a runner, you run. If you identify as a business person, you act like one at work.
3. The How: How you show up is key. It’s about having business smarts, being strategic, thinking critically, influencing others, and being a bold communicator. It’s about turning business strategy into HR strategy. This is what sets next-gen HR leaders apart.

In short, mastering the "what," "who," and "how" is what drives a next-gen HR leader to succeed.

2. The limiting beliefs holding HR leaders back ??

JP noted that many folks in HR grapple with limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome, often doubting if they know enough about the business to speak up.

He said, “People get pretty good at identifying who they are, but the real challenge is how you show up.” Asking tough questions to business leaders is where the rubber meets the road, and having the courage to do that is tough.

Elliott's advice to HR leaders?

“Your job is to help leaders get there by focusing on them and asking the right questions to help them make better decisions. You’re not just pushing back; you’re shaping their decision-making process for the better."

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3. Why People Leaders should never have a hidden agenda ???

He shared a gem from one of the Future of HR episodes with Matt Breitfelder. This episode is one of their top 5 ever.

The standout lesson from Matt was about how HR leaders should operate. "HR leaders have no agenda," Matt emphasized.

Their sole mission?

To build capabilities and help leaders achieve their goals. No hidden motives, just pure support.

This builds trust, so people come to HR with their biggest challenges, knowing they're in good hands. "They say, 'I know I can bring this problem to Daniel because he genuinely wants me to succeed,'" JP explained.

What would you put in an HR time capsule? ???

JP hit us with a thought-provoking question: "If you could put something in an HR time capsule that we open in 50 years, what would it be?" Stephen jumped in first, saying he'd throw in a light bulb. His point? The light bulb represents that pivotal moment when we realized work could be fundamentally different. Fast forward 50 years, and Stephen thinks the work week, work hours, and other basic constructs will have drastically changed. He sees the current back-and-forth turbulence as just the growing pains of massive change.

Then Daniel chimed in with his pick: an employee badge. Sure, some form of in-person work will stick around, but he believes future generations, like Gen Z and Gen Alpha, will lean even more into digital work environments. Think Apple's vision goggles – we're talking about collaborating in virtual spaces while being “physically” present.

JP wrapped it up with a take on performance management. He sees the future shifting towards team performance metrics instead of spotlighting individuals. Given how team-centric work has become, this makes total sense. Recognizing team efforts could be a game-changer.

Go listen to the full episode: Apple | Spotify

See you next week!

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