Generally speaking, we all want to be the best in our chosen field of work. Whether as artists, mechanics, teachers or corporate executives, most people seek to maximize their abilities and earn a reputation for excellence in their chosen vocation.
If you’re considering a career in human resources (HR), it’s important to know which qualities will help you shine as an HR executive. The following will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
What Does it Take to Be an HR Leader?
Communication Skills
Your ability to communicate effectively will flow into almost all aspects of your job. For example, you must be able to communicate during new hire onboarding as well as employee training sessions. It may also fall to you to relay employees’ ideas or concerns to corporate executives. HR personnel often act as a bridge between management and staff, so it’s vital to know how to listen well and speak clearly and concisely. You’ll also use your communication skills to navigate problems between co-workers or between supervisors and staff.
Plus, the ability to communicate fluidly through multiple digital channels is a necessity as the workplace shifts between in-person, remote and hybrid environments. External factors like the COVID-19 pandemic may wax and wane, but constant, multi-modal communication and hybrid work models are likely here to stay.
Interpersonal Skills
Employees will come to you with work disputes or when they face issues outside work that could affect their ability to work. It’s important that they consider you an active, sensitive listener. Employees will respect feedback and come to you more easily if they feel you are honest and trustworthy. You must be adept at balancing a sense of compassion for employees’ needs with your commitment to the company.
Being empathetic, building trust and prioritizing the employee experience are especially important when navigating disruptions, as evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. HR leaders must also rely on advanced interpersonal skills when leading change and adopting the employee-centric approaches today’s business environment demands.
Hard and Soft Skills of a Labor Specialist
To excel in your field, it’s necessary to understand every aspect of a workforce. Solid interpersonal skills can be a real asset for someone in HR. On some level, you must have an understanding of people and what makes them tick. What makes a group of people want to work hard for a company? What are the less tangible aspects of productivity? How can you boost morale, intrinsic motivation, collaboration and other drivers of employee engagement, job satisfaction and retention during a time when workers are quitting their jobs in droves?
On the other hand, you must likewise know the hard facts regarding employment laws and policies. Doing the job will require a comprehensive knowledge of the laws that govern workers’ rights, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity regulations. A familiarity with other subjects like compensation, benefits, health and safety is also essential.
The above are just a few of the capabilities that HR executives should cultivate to become leaders in their profession.
Where Can You Get the Right Tools to Be an Effective HR Exec?
To master your chosen profession, be sure to get an education that builds on your strengths and abilities.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is widely viewed as a steppingstone to a successful career in a variety of areas. Many universities offer MBA degrees with an emphasis on Human Resources.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU), for example, offers an academically rigorous online MBA with a Concentration in Human Resources. To earn the degree, you’ll complete fundamental core courses on subjects like management, accounting, finance and research as well as four courses focused on human resources topics.
SOSU’s HR concentration courses include Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Training and Development and Compensation. These courses delve into a spectrum of contemporary HR issues, equipping degree candidates with the knowledge and skills needed for leadership roles in HR. Without doubt, the right degree can influence how successful you are in your career. Make sure you prepare for excellence as an HR leader by getting the right education.
Learn more about the Southeastern Oklahoma State University MBA with a Concentration in Human Resources online program.