Navigating HR Challenges: How Do You Balance Friendliness and Authority?

The Guru Mantra for a Successful HR Career

In just seven months, I have discovered that "an HR concern is never thanked for a job, but on the contrary, is pointed out for every wrong being." I have maintained very friendly terms with my juniors, which at times makes it quite difficult to get the work done.

Regards,
Learner

As the head of the department, you have to watch everything behind the curtain and be diplomatic. Keep a distance from juniors in terms of your status.

Regards,
Rajendra Singh

I remember that in 1997, I heard Dr. Udai Pareek (ex-professor at IIMA and founder of ISABS) addressing the first National Conference in HR at XLRI, and he made a point that disturbed me then. He said: "HR departments would truly succeed when they have successfully made themselves redundant."

I realized what he meant when I started working in HR in 1999. Essentially, Dr. Pareek was trying to convey that the real Human Resources managers are the line managers, and we, as HR professionals, are only responsible for drafting policies, people strategies, and providing education and guidance. The responsibility of making these successful lies squarely in the hands of the operations/line managers. Our focus should be on enabling them with the skills to manage people effectively, motivate and develop them, and act as facilitators. Eventually, there will come a day when all line managers will know and act as better people managers than HR professionals.

Skills Required for HR Professionals

1. An HR person needs a minimum amount of skills to be effective in HR!

2. HR is not "easy" unless you are merely printing offer letters or churning out reports. HR is not just "common sense."

3. The solution is not to put filters at the entry level into HR but to work on setting up professional bodies to help HR professionals develop their skills, similar to what ASTD and SHRM do in the US.

4. I believe the essential skills that HR professionals need are rarely taught in B-Schools.

Essential Skills for HR Professionals

These skills include:

- Facilitation skills
- Diagnosis skills
- Influencing skills
- Consulting skills

These are the foundations for expertise in various HR disciplines, and we need them to be taught as essential skills for professional growth in India. Perhaps teaching them to line managers would also be beneficial!

Hi everybody, I am a new member of this site, but I have around 18 years of experience in HR. In my opinion, a successful HR professional should always consider the viewpoint of management. The organizational environment significantly influences your success. Therefore, before taking any steps or planning your strategy, you should analyze the organization's structure, environment, culture, etc. There is no one-size-fits-all formula; it depends mainly on your personality and how you position yourself in front of others, along with the tactics that will be effective in that specific organization.

Thanks,
HCS

I am also a new member of this site, but I agree with Gautam & HCS' comments and also want to share one thing: HR means a mediator between management and employees. They play a role in the organization like blood plays a role in our body.

With best regards,
SKT

Respected and dear professionals,

In my view, HR management requires the skill sets to understand that it is the people who are going to run the corporate show, regardless of the industry. Therefore, understanding the needs of the people and their needs for the company, while collectively comprehending the ultimate goal of the company, would enable each concerned member to apply their knowledge and efforts in achieving the desired goal. An HR professional, with their humanitarian qualities, must be competent enough to align these needs of the people, the company, and the desired goals. Lastly, HR personnel are individuals who work for people, possessing the talent to bring out the best in others.

Thanks,

Bijay

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Dear Seniors, Thanks for sharing such good information. Can anyone please guide me? I have 1 year of experience in HR. I recently relocated to Gurgaon from Pune, but I am still not getting a job in HR in Gurgaon. Why am I only receiving calls for front office jobs? It has been two months of unemployment, and I have not secured a job yet. Please guide me. I really need your help. Your guidance could be a significant step in advancing my career in HR. Seniors, please show me the way. You can also review my CV attached here. I am not asking for a job; I simply want to understand where I am lacking in securing an HR position for myself. I regularly update my CV on every job portal. When I contact consultants after emailing them my CV, they do not respond or return my calls. Is the work I did in HR considered worthless? I am reaching out because I am unsure of what else to do. Perhaps you experienced individuals can advise me on how to improve my situation. Kindly provide your suggestions to [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons].

Regards, Neelanjana
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I agree with your experience, and these experiences will provide insights into the do's and don'ts.

• Never call your juniors "juniors"—refer to them as colleagues.
• Celebrate every small success with your colleagues.
• Learn from every mistake.
• Never hide your mistakes.
• Before making any decisions, seek opinions from your seniors and colleagues.

This will be a success mantra in the early years of your career.

All the best! Success will be with you all the time!

Opinion may differ from person to person!

Thanks & Regards,

Yogesh Kulkarni
Assistant Manager – HR
Krishidhan Seeds Pvt. Ltd.
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