HR in a Software Company: What Daily Tasks Impress Your Boss the Most?

Can anybody tell me what are the most significant and important daily tasks for HR professionals working with a software company to easily impress their boss?

Dear Ash Mathew,

As per your reply, you mean to say that every day you will wait for your boss's orders on what he wants you to do. If he arrives around 11:00 am, is on leave, or in an offsite meeting, will you sit idle until he gives you an order?

Seems like a very childish thought...

Hi Ash,

Your sense of humor is highly appreciated; however, following the clarification was a bit challenging. Anyways...

Dear HR,

A HR professional is considered a role model and ambassador of the company policies. It is essential to be punctual; our workday should begin at least 2 to 3 minutes before the designated login time. After that, you can list tasks as much as you need. Let me know if you require a tracker for this.

Regards,
Shiv

An incomplete question will deserve a childish answer. And how "so great of your thoughts" to think that the boss is a fool to give work only when he meets the employee? Hello - a Boss is a person with a larger vision. He would have definitely hired her out of necessity - she needs to do those things. Think with your head, yaar, before commenting.

@ Shiv, yes - I think I need to tell people - Guys, this was supposed to be a display of my sense of humor. If you don't feel like laughing - you lack it. No more comments!

Dear,

I dropped an email to your ID. Please acknowledge receipt for confirmation once you have received it.

Best Regards,
Shiv

I fully agree with Btaniya and Shiva. Btaniya has raised a question that needs to be solved rather than commenting personally. I think Asha is suffering from a superiority complex as her comments are always considered worthy. If you don't know something, then don't try to answer. I fully support Btaniya – keep it up. Remember a Chinese proverb: "A person who asks questions becomes a fool for 5 minutes, but a person who never asks becomes a fool for a lifetime." More in less words.

Hey Gaurav,

What did you do now? Followed her. Not a good practice, man...! Be sportive and have to accept everything. I could have appreciated it if you would have dropped a suggestion to Brittany and commented on Ash.

Regards,
Shiv

It's very easy to get upset when someone gives a humorous reply.

I know sometimes relying on Microsoft Word to correct our grammar does not work.

I have come across many questions that are vague, and the questioner does not give enough information to really help. This is a typical example.

What do you mean by a software company: what's its size, etc. What do you mean by "important daily work for HR": at what level is this person working?

Also, what do you mean by impressing his/her boss easily? How can one answer this without knowing what sort of a boss you have? For example, if the boss requires the subordinate to be a "yes" person, then one needs to keep asking the boss what to do next. However, if the boss expects the person to take initiatives and does not punish for making mistakes (not serious ones), then one should not keep going to the boss for every minor decision.

I have seen Ash Mathew's postings, which are very incisive, clear, and to the point.

I suggest that you revisit your question and see how you could have framed it better to make it much clearer.

Simhan

Sorry, Tanya, I have to agree with Ash. I did not understand the question either.

What are you asking?

- How to impress your boss?

Or

- What is the Job Role?

Anyways, the question is also very subjective. Subjective to what your position in the company is? What your job role is? When did you join the company?

I have seen Ash and Shiv both helping so many people here on this forum. Please show some respect, and you will learn more from them.

Here are my two cents. First, the question is a general question. Could it have been more specific? Yes, but it was not. Second, those who need more clarification lack vision and, as such, are probably unqualified to answer it.

First off, I want to clarify my response by letting you know that I work in Canada in a senior HR capacity. As such, maybe there are cultural differences. For anyone to impress their boss, it is quite simple in concept but more difficult to achieve. Here are my suggestions:

1) Think of HR as a service business. Always ask yourself, "How can I provide value to the organization?", "What can the HR department do to improve business results?"

2) Lead. That is right, never wait for your boss to tell you what to do. Understand the business and look for business challenges and opportunities where HR can make a difference. For example, if recruiting is an issue, create a plan to improve the situation and minimize the impact on the business.

3) Understand your role. Many times on this site, I see comments where people say HR's main responsibility is to enforce policies, and this demonstrates their lack of understanding of the role of HR. HR's role is to maximize the output of the human resources of the organization. What does this mean? It means that we need to create work environments where employees are highly productive and innovative.

4) Measure. Business runs on numbers. HR has to do a better job of setting metrics and measuring what they do. This allows HR people to talk in the same language as the business leaders.

Hi Taniya,

Impressing your boss is not your profession or agenda in life or career. Look at your job profile and explain to your boss that the HR function has its own limitations and domain. As an HRM professional, you cannot undertake something that is abnormal, unwarranted, or unwanted.

I believe your question indicates a lack of confidence in your own abilities, but let me tell you that your boss is also not perfect because no one is perfect in life; everyone is experimenting with the resources available to them.

Therefore, you are also a resource for managing the HR function, and your boss cannot expect more than being punctual and proficient in your job to be impressed.

Partho

Friends,

Please do not intimidate Taniya. It is turning out to be a case study on 'communication skills'. On that note, let me say something before I address Taniya's query. Communication is not only about sending your message across correctly, but it is also about trying to understand the sender's intentions correctly. For example, when my 9-month-old daughter rambles, "munn, munn, munn," I have to understand she's asking for water.

Now, to understand Taniya's query. [Taniya, please correct me if I am not echoing your intentions correctly]. She seems to be in a junior position with not much experience in HR. She wants to understand how, working in an IT company, she can add value to her job so that her work is noticed appreciably by her seniors.

So, Taniya, if I understand you correctly, then my suggestion is:

- Start by preparing various MIS reports. For every task you undertake, create a process flow diagram.
- Analyze the attrition status by compiling joining/leaving data.
- Review employees' personnel files, cross-check testimonials with a checklist, and prepare a detailed report. Ensure employees comply and follow up accordingly.
- While reviewing files, gather data on their career progression, including joining dates, initial designations, salaries, confirmation dates, salary increments, promotions, etc.

Prepare these types of MIS reports to "impress" your boss.

As HR professionals, we must not only perform our duties but also proactively create opportunities for ourselves.

Good luck.

Prashant

Dear Taniya,

The relationships that you create and manage, with both your immediate boss, are critical for your work success and career progress. And face it, whether you like it or not, you're in charge of your relationship with your boss. No one will ever share as much concern as you do that the quality of the relationship helps you achieve your goals. At the same time, your boss has information that you need to succeed. He can't do his job or accomplish his goals without your help. So, your manager shares a critical interdependence with you. If you don't accomplish your work, your manager will never shine for his or her overall responsibilities. You won't progress without the information, perspective, experience, and support of your manager.

So Taniya, following are a few tips that can help you in your work.

* The first step in managing up is to develop a positive relationship with your boss.
* Recognize that success at work is not all about you; put your boss's needs at the center of your universe.
* Look for and focus on the "best" parts of your boss.
* Focus instead on trying to understand your boss's work style.
* Learning how to read your boss's moods and reactions is also a helpful approach to communicate more effectively with him.
* Learn from your boss. Although some days it may not feel like it, your boss has much to teach you.
* Ask your boss for feedback. Let the boss play the role of coach and mentor.
* Value your boss's time.
* In your relationship with your boss, you will sometimes disagree and occasionally experience an emotional reaction. Don't hold grudges. Don't make threats about leaving. Disagreement is fine; discord is not.

Use these tips to build a powerfully effective relationship with your boss.

Hello Bipin and Ash,

Are we not missing some conversation here in this post? I had a very good discussion yesterday night at 11:00 pm (according to Indian timings) with Simhan. Missing with the posts. Please clarify for me...!

Regards,
Shiv

Lot many posts are not available in this discussion!!

Mediator ??????

Regards Pankaj Chandan

Yes, Shiva, maybe the moderator may have removed it because it might not be relevant to the topic discussed.

Hi,

I appreciate all the members who really help me by giving their suggestions instead of making bad comments on me. Thank you, Das, for understanding me well. I hope you will be a good boss in the future. I also appreciate SIVA, Bipin, and others.

One decent request: "Those members who didn't understand my post or if my post doesn't make any sense to you, please don't reply with unnecessary comments."

Siva, could you please send the daily tracker again to [Login to view]? Subject: Daily Responsibilities

My question is, "I am working with a software company (50 employees). The HR department is newly started by the employer. I am the only HR. I have to do all the HR works starting from security/housekeeping monitoring to total office operation. My boss doesn't want to hear any complaints about me. Can you please suggest how I can start from scratch and what my daily responsibilities should be? Your suggestions will not only help me but also other juniors.

Regards,
Taniya

Can anybody make a daily duty schedule for me that is common for every junior-level HR? My duties start from 9:00 am in the morning to 6:00 pm.

Here she is, Good Taniya. Be sportive, and now you will get more respect and responses from the flocks. Is my tracker sensible? If not, let me know to prepare the better one.

Regards,
Shiv

Hi,

Oh my god, replies are self-explanatory. Well, your words, HR, boss, impression, satisfaction, etc., are highly complex subjects by themselves. However, why should you impress your boss? If your company has a good culture, your job is well-defined, and you do it to your satisfaction, a job well done should be appreciated by your boss if he is not prejudicial. The moment you think of impressing your boss, unconscious stress grips your mind, and you tend to commit mistakes because you cannot give your 100%. Instead, do your work like a play. If you love your job and you are really competent, you need not impress anybody. Appreciation comes automatically. Still, if your boss is not impressed, then that is his funeral, and you don't belong to that company. Remember, there is no one best way of doing things. There is always scope for improvement. Remember Japan's 'ICAN' principle. Self-satisfaction and motivation are the key.

Good luck.

Dear Rashmi,

Yes, it was a very good conversation. I really felt bad for missing it.

Regards,
Shiv

Dear Moderator,

What is the possibility of retrieving the missing posts in this thread and any clarifications on this?

Regards,
shiv

Dear Moderator,

What is the possibility of retrieving the missing posts in this thread and any clarifications on this?

Regards,
Shiv

Thank you for your email. The tracker you have sent is nice i.e., punctual, cooperative, dedicated, etc. These qualities are common to everyone in any organization, starting from the top to bottom.

I am the only HR in my organization, and my responsibilities include HR/Operations. My work hours are from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. I am specifically looking for a daily work schedule tracker for HR/Operations, which is generally common for all HR/Operations staff.

Can anybody help me create one?

For example: 9:00 am to 9:30 am - attendance checking

Dear all,

I feel we are all here to help each other, rather than arguing about each other's comments or writing skills. We can be specific and ask for clarifications on the query. I believe that would be the best way to proceed.

No offenses, please.

Brittany, I shall try to list down the HR & Admin responsibilities and email you by this evening.

Regards,
Ritu

Dear Taniya,

I tried to document this, but it was pretty huge and I couldn't start with the imagination. I think we really can't calendar our daily activities. But we'll see, I will try it again.

Regards, Shiv

Hi, I am newly joined in a manufacturing company. Please tell me the role of HR. What is the daily work of HR, and can you provide me with details of the new policies?

Thank you.

Dear Taniya,

Considering you are new to HR, you have asked a very relevant and pertinent question in the right discussion board, "Talk To Seniors." I am sure seniors would interpret not just the "letters" but the "spirit" in which you posted your query.

Unfortunately, at times, our seniors feel exasperated if the scope of the query is too wide or too open. Moreover, the first responses always set the tone for further discussions - "groupthink" at work!

I am happy to see that you faced all the criticism and kept responding appropriately. Keep your faith intact - this is indeed a good and useful forum for HR professionals.

I list below a few bullet points in response to your original query:

- "....which an individual can impress his/her boss easily...."

Yes, as one of our members has rightly pointed out, it is extremely important to have a healthy relationship with your boss. Many HR, OD, and Quality initiatives are top-driven, where the CEO is the process owner and his involvement is essential for the success of the initiative.

I would divide your daily important tasks into three categories: "status quo," "fire-fighting," and "the road ahead."

"Status quo" tasks are routine, mechanical, daily grind tasks.

"Fire-fighting" tasks are important and urgent, requiring immediate attention.

"The road ahead" tasks are about which you should be passionate, such as long-term roadmaps and new initiatives.

"Status quo" tasks:

- Monitor daily attendance, check duty rosters, take remedial steps
- Update manpower MIS with new joinings and separations
- Schedule training programs, update status, and monitor progress
- Administer employee services like leaves and clearance of pending requests
- Review legal compliances progress
- Review recruitment progress and perform daily activities
- Organize employee engagement activities

"Fire-fighting" tasks:

Tasks requiring immediate attention, such as industrial relations, employee discipline, urgent recruitments, legal complications, etc.

"The road ahead" tasks:

Tasks that will earn appreciation from your boss and the organization, like studying systems, improving HR manuals, drafting policies, implementing quality systems, and employee engagement activities.

I hope these tasks will keep you occupied, and appreciations will follow.

Regards,