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Qualities of HR:
1) Passion = The most and the fore most quality of HR is the passion for that profession. One cannot be a good and successful HR if he/she took up this profession just because they had no other option to choose. Cause in the end only Passion will save you, when the work will get more hectic and irritating... If you think you can run away from mathematical calculations and stay in a cool cabin and relax while you work, ask the HRs who work on framing policies and designing strategies... You will feel that any other job would have been better :-P
2) Listening Skills = A HR should always be a good listener.. Its human psychology that people feel better when someone volunteer to listen to them and that is where HRs jump in.. HR should always Listen and act, rather than Act and later listen :-P .. Listening skills also help us HRs in various other ways in our daily work life...
3) Communication skills = HR is the face of the company and also should act as a role model for others in the organization, as we will also act as a mentor for them...
4) Interpersonal skills = What's the use of being a HR if you are a shy guy/girl ? A HR should always be social and interactive and always open to any situation...
5) Patience = HRs are known for their insane level of patience... No matter know pushes you down, tries to criticize you or even try to hurt you mentally or physically, a HR should be patient and deal with the situation with full conscious... Of course, whatever profession you take, you will need this.. but being a HR means u need few bags of extra patience...
6) Ability to learn business quickly = Well, to have full control over your employees, you will need to project that you have better knowledge than them, only then they will respect you... Being a HR means you will have to control more than one department or function.. Which means you have to learn the functions of other departments quickly so that you will be able to resolve conflicts easily.. and not look like a fool trying to understand what they are trying to say.. If not able to do this, at least try to act as if you know some stuffs :-P
Other common qualities that a HR should have:
7) Presentation skills
8) Conflict management skills (This skill is required in a higher level as the issues usually reach the HRs if they are not solved in the bottom level with their team leads or functional managers)
9) Leadership skills
10) Smile!! Just keep flashing it all the time :)