HR chiefs are increasingly using more quantitative approaches and assessing the impact of human initiatives on business, thereby enhancing the credibility and effectiveness as a senior player. As HR heads bring more numbers than narrative to the management of HR, the business community can see for itself the value delivered by better HR chiefs - and this, in turn, encourages boards to look at them as potential CEOs, both internally through succession and from outside. Technology is enabling HR to get out of its payroll-administration- and-benefits mindset.
The administrative part of HR is either getting outsourced, or is vanishing totally, leaving its proponents with time to play a more strategic and facilitating role. And that's giving them a voice on the strategy table and the board. Also, as HR chiefs become more confident about their knowledge of business and ability to take it forward, they will not feel inhibited about their capabilities to become CEOs. "HR people are extremely comfortable in their cocoon. Their own imagination limits them," .
The aspiration to be CEO has played a big role in the past, since most HR chiefs didn't even think it likely, and did not venture out of their own world. Says Aadesh Goyal, vice president, Hughes Software Systems, and head of its BPO division: "HR people have a much better idea about business today than they did ten years ago." History indicates that HR's time has come. When manufacturing was driving value through automation, and reductions in cycle time and cost, manufacturing executives became CEOs. Next, when value was being driven by shrewd financial management - such as IPOs and M&As - it was the CFO who rose to the top role. Today, we are constantly being reminded about the value of our human capital. As people become increasingly prominent drivers of shareholder value, HR heads might have their turn at the top. For now, the HR-CEOs have a big responsibility, because they are the front-runners whose innings at the top will decide whether others like them will get a chance to be part of the elite club.
Thus way to go. Opportunities are there for People Management but use your specialisation to climb depending on how you use them.
Hope this piece of information is helpful to you realise your direction.