Essential Skills and Traits for HR Professionals

Building on my previous article, it's important to highlight the fundamental skills and traits required for an HR professional. While anyone can enter the HR field, not everyone is efficient or passionate about it. Naturally, there are exceptions, but let's discuss some general truths.

In my opinion, a good HR professional should (in a random order and briefly):

?? Show cultural awareness: be aware of your language, body language, actions, and manners.

?? Demonstrate empathy: it makes people feel comfortable and heard and creates a positive work environment.

?? Possess excellent communication skills: it is essential to have these skills because you interact with people on a daily basis in person/ online/ by the telephone.

?? Show patience: as an HR professional, you deal with different kinds of requests or interactions, and in every context, you need to control your reactions and be humble.

?? Be an active listener: it allows you a deeper understanding of a viewpoint and is a crucial step in finding solutions to problems.

?? Have analytical skills: this requires an ability to comprehend complex issues and break them down into manageable pieces and to identify trends and forecast future needs.

?? Know how to give feedback: giving negative feedback can be a tricky process, but it can be helpful if done in the right way. When providing positive feedback, make sure to highlight the most significant and relevant aspects that you appreciate.

?? Know how to receive feedback: it's crucial to understand that it pertains to a particular behavior rather than our personal identity. By making this mental shift, we can better comprehend and internalize what others are trying to convey.

?? Act as an advisor: you enhance employee relations, contribute to staff retention, and promote overall growth. You work together with management to implement necessary changes to policies and procedures.

?? Prioritize workload effectively: it involves selecting one or a blend of methodologies that aligns with your role in the company, work demands, and personal skills. There is no single ideal approach.

?? Pay attention to details: it involves performing tasks with precision and accuracy. It also can establish trust between you and your stakeholders, and guarantee the quality of your work.

?? Posses conflict resolution abilities: it is important to not ignore the conflicts, seek to understand and ensure accountability (HR ? Managers ? Employees).

?? Be creative: it is a mix of conducting research, understanding company culture and values, generating unique, outside-the-box ideas, and staying within your assigned budget.

Each of these attributes is essential, and they complement one another, but maybe in different proportions depending on the specific HR area you work in, be it Recruitment, HR Admin, Payroll, People Partner, etc.

Why is this topic important? In my discussions with friends and former/current colleagues, I've noticed that many have more and more negative experiences with HR professionals. This issue isn't unique to the HR industry, but it's vital to strive for excellence in our profession by avoiding mistakes and prioritizing stakeholders' needs.

I'm interested in hearing about your personal experiences and viewpoints on other key characteristics that are important for an HR professional.

P. S. Remember to be kind to others as nobody is perfect and we all try to grow and overcome challenges in our own ways. ??