What Qualities Truly Define a Good HR Professional? Let's Discuss!

Hi, can anyone tell me what qualities make a good HR professional?

Good HR managers see themselves as allies, not policemen.

Qualities of a Good HR Manager

1. Show empathy.
2. Are approachable to employees.
3. Communicate effectively.
4. Are flexible in administering policies and in their own work schedules. Policies are guidelines.
5. HR managers have two distinct, and often conflicting, roles according to a consumer products company. They support the company to ensure they are optimizing the value of the assignment, and they support the employee by ensuring they are able to maximize their value to the organization.
6. They actively listen to the employees.
7. Leadership involves taking people to a place that they would not normally go on their own, achieved through good strategic planning.
8. Able to cope with change and operating difficulties.
9. At the heart of organizational leadership.
10. By providing the right C (challenge, confidence, or coaching) to the employees.
11. Define a vision, articulate values, and infuse both into every aspect of employee management.

In your question, you have intended to be a good HR Manager and professional. I would advise you to first develop yourself as a professional. A professional is committed to a mission and remains a missionary throughout life.

The World's Oldest and Noblest Profession

The world's oldest and noblest profession is medical. A doctor remains a doctor; there is no executive doctor, manager doctor, vice president (doctor), etc. He continues to deliver his professional commitment lifelong, but of course with increasing competence and effectiveness.

Authority and Competence

A professional commands authority by virtue of his competence (knowledge, skills, and abilities). A professional lives by values, both professional and personal.

Career Perspective

For a professional, a career is not about hierarchically taller titles and tags but increasingly meaningful and life-enriching professional experiences and accomplishments. The attached reading may help you further mold yourself as an HR professional.

Regards,
Shailesh Parikh
Vadodara, Gujarat
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

In addition to what Mr. Rakesh has already mentioned, an HR professional needs the quality or ability to be flexible and patient. Many of HR's responsibilities are intertwined with other departments, which should be managed efficiently. This is particularly common in small and medium-sized businesses, where individuals often juggle multiple roles.

In my firm, I have to coordinate with the marketing team for incentives tracking, the admin team for requisition and procurement, and the accounts team for salary formatting, among other tasks. Essentially, HR should act as a catalyst, accelerating processes without any negative side effects.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Qualities of a Good HR Professional

Good HR professionals are those who are committed to the work assigned to them and are open to all employees. A professional HR individual is also defined as someone who is approachable to employees and possesses the ability to solve employee queries, address issues, provide guidance, and never lets down the employees of the company.

Role of HR in a Company

HR serves as the backbone of a company. While the sales and marketing teams promote the company in the market, HR professionals work behind the scenes, ensuring employee satisfaction and motivation.

Diverse Functions of HR

HR functions vary across different organizations. Some HR professionals handle multiple activities. For instance, I manage HR, Admin, and various other tasks to keep employees satisfied and foster their growth within the company to contribute to the overall growth.

Attitude and Challenges in HR

Being a professional in HR also means being ready to take on any challenge with a never-say-no attitude, as employees' well-being is a top priority.

Essential Qualities of a Good HR Professional

A good HR professional should have a high IQ and EQ, coupled with common sense!

Regards,
Rajusiachen

Please also remember that you are supposed to stay neutral—never to take sides with management or employees. You do not belong to either side. It is sometimes very difficult to stay neutral in certain situations and in certain organizations, but that is where the real challenge for an HR professional lies!

Best wishes

Qualities of a Good HR Professional

First, be honest and upright.

Secondly, be communicative and approachable.

Thirdly, remember that HR is a service industry. You are not bringing in money for the business but spending it on the right people. So, do not act like a GOD to all; be humane.

Fourthly, rather than waiting for employees to ask you questions on various aspects, go to the employees and ask them questions about their aspirations, frustrations, etc. (that is empathy). Leave your office and meet people in their offices/workstations.

Lastly, do not flaunt the power of confidential information and avoid getting into office politics.

Best of luck.

Regards,
Col S S Raikar (retd)

Acknowledging the learning and every contribution made by everyone here, I wish to add my cent to the collection. Being in HR, we humans too have our personality, however we wish. When we handle responsibilities in HR, it is to be all that we can be, contributing to our own happiness as well as the happiness of others.

Integrity and Respect

The main trait at the top of my list would be to have integrity and treat people with respect. Being honest and true to your word will bring you the admiration, respect, and gratitude of others. Nothing improves a person's credibility more than integrity and respect - respect for others, as well as respect for yourself.

I recall my father who, as I was beginning my career, gave advice that keeps ringing in my ears always: "If you have integrity, nothing else matters, and if you do not have integrity, nothing else matters." This applies to every aspect of being human, whatever the profession. HR is no exception, yet to me, it's always the first, as everything else you do is shaped alongside this one characteristic.

Other Important Traits

- Be a better listener, always.
- Be supportive of others.
- Read more and expand your interests constantly. The more you read and cultivate new interests, the more interesting you are to others. When you meet new people, it gives you the opportunity to share what you know and to exchange your views with them.
- Be a good conversationalist. This relates to how much you read and know. Once you have much to contribute, learn how to talk about it with others.
- Have an opinion. There is nothing more tiresome than trying to talk to someone who has no opinion on anything. A conversation has nowhere to go if you have nothing to expound on. If, however, you have an uncommon point of view or differing opinion, you are more interesting and stimulating to be with, professionally or socially (unless you're a know-it-all, of course). A unique outlook expands everyone's perspective.
- Never be shy of meeting new people. Make the effort to meet new people, especially those unlike you. It not only exposes you to different cultures and alternative ways of doing things but also broadens your horizons.
- Be yourself. The next most tiresome thing after having no opinions is trying to be something you're not. Molding yourself to fit in or be accepted usually backfires. Since each of us is unique, expressing that uniqueness is what makes us interesting. Attempting to be a carbon copy of someone else not only falls flat but also reveals a lack of authenticity.
- Have a positive outlook and attitude. Who wants to be around people who are negative, complain a lot, or have nothing good to say? In fact, most of us run when we see them coming. Instead, be the kind of upbeat person who lights up a room with your energy when you enter it. Do it by looking for the best in people and things. Smile warmly, spread good cheer, and enliven others with your presence.
- Be fun and see the humorous side of life at times.

Warm regards,

TSK. Raman

Mob.: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Exactly. The issues, especially employee grievances and union issues, are to be tactfully handled. It is not about getting scared by the outcomes but learning from the scenarios.

When there is heat between the union/employees and management, HR is to intervene (as HR is the bridge between the two).

However, if as an HR, I would try to solve by going to either party and try to explain to them, it is not of much use. Always one needs to be unbiased in such a case. Surely, we need to meet the teams individually in the absence of the other to understand their viewpoint, but that meeting should be limited to the collection of data, and one should not start judging or coming to conclusions.

After hearing both sides individually, try to bring both parties together and repeat what was shared by correlating the issues and accordingly explaining the party that ought to be explained.

It would be of no use if we take the staff/union's side when they are wrong. Similarly, if we try to take Management's side even when we know that they are trying to exploit, it would be similarly problematic.

Patience, ability to listen, control over one's reactions, words, and actions, ability to handle pressure, better communication skills, and unbiased thoughts and nature are very much essential to the HR's skill set.

Qualities of a Good HR Professional

Your question itself gives the answer. First of all, based on my experience, the HR portfolio is a thankless job, whether you are good or bad.

However, for a good HR professional, you need to consider two perspectives: one from the angle of employees and one from the angle of the employer.

From the Employee's Perspective

- Be very supportive, empathetic, and communicative.
- Get along with employees across all levels.
- Understand their problems and come up with resolutions.

From the Employer's Perspective

- Negotiate with new candidates regarding salary packages to recruit qualified and efficient employees cost-effectively.
- Ensure compliance to maintain a good work environment that contributes to professionalism and high-quality performance.
- Support the employer's growth through various HR policies and programs.
- Provide appropriate assessment, recognition, and rewards to employees.
- Offer career advancement opportunities based on merit and job performance.
- Help improve an efficient and growth-oriented work culture among employees.

These are mainly the profile of an HR professional. If you have these capabilities, you can become a very competitive HR professional.

Hope everyone will agree.

Thanks,

Vijayan K

HR Attitude Should Be:

• Be a business partner.
• Be a strategic partner.
• Ask the business head for any kind of assistance.
• Be an active and empathetic listener.
• Know the business well.
• Be non-judgmental.
• Be cost-effective.
• Think for the company and employees.
• Speak with authority.
• Be credible.
• Develop acceptance.
• Be helpful.

Regards,
Md. Emdadul Karim
OD Manager, HR
BATA Shoe Company (Bangladesh) Ltd.
Cell: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Dear Mr. Md. Emdadul Karim, while I am in agreement with all of what you've said, I need to differ on your point no. 6. Judgmental, I think it should have been Non-Judgmental; perhaps it's been due to oversight that you may have scripted this as Judgmental.

Regards,
TSK. Raman

Qualities of a Good HR Professional

HR professionals are those who are committed to the work assigned to them and are open to all employees. They support from the backend, ensuring they perform tasks that satisfy and motivate employees. They possess the following qualities:

• Knowledge
• Behavior
• Attitude
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Willingness to accept all challenges
• Hard work
• Dedication to both employees and management

Regards

Raman sir, your views are awesome. I was looking for an answer to the same question raised by HRSW1. I was really impressed by your comments. I will surely try to adapt these qualities.

Thanks,
Divya

I absolutely agree with your points, Mr. Raman. There are certain people who choose this profession solely for the value and respect they gain from others, and they do not handle things properly. On the other hand, there are individuals who dedicate everything to HR and receive blame instead of credit. The statistics of HR professionals at SMEs are particularly dismal.

Thanks,
Vignesh M