What Makes an 'Exceptional' HR Leader?

12 October 2013, Malaysia: I would like to share this 'extract' from an article written by Anna Penfold, Client Partner at Korn/Ferry. ... happy read!

... Companies that can engage their employees successfully and retain top talent are more likely to gain a competitive advantage and survive difficult times.

... The role of the HR leader (HRL) has become central to this complex and fast changing landscape.

... a clear set of qualities emerged from research across HRLs in EMEA as distinguishing the ‘exceptional’ from the merely competent.

Understanding the business

By far the most important characteristic, HRLs need to go beyond a base knowledge of how businesses operate and compete. This characteristic requires knowing the industry, market, regional context, and challenges your business is facing.

Inspiring others

Motivating different types of people, communicating a compelling vision to varying constituencies, and building highly effective teams are key attributes.

Acting with honour and character

Exceptional HRLs should act in line with a set of values and beliefs, practicing consistency between words and actions, and being direct and truthful.

Dealing with crisis

Courage – to deal with a crisis, provide difficult feedback, confront performance problems, and stand up for unpopular or innovative ideas –lies at the heart of this characteristic.

Making complex decisions

This competency is about solving tough problems using available and changing information. This skill encompasses balancing analysis with intuition and wisdom requires the application of multiple problem solving techniques.

Getting work done through others

Exceptional HRLs need to get the best out of people, delegating the right work to the right people, setting goals, providing clear direction, following up, and supplying the coaching necessary to ensure other people’s success.

Evaluating and deploying people accurately

Evaluating and deploying people accurately requires having a keen eye for talent and the ability to assess strengths, weaknesses, and potential in order to place the right people in the right roles.

... enterprising HR professionals should pursue the broadest experience in roles within the function. ... allow them to step out of their comfort zone and seek out big challenges in order to develop best HR practice. This will place an exceptional HR leader in a position to become a trusted counsel for the CEO and lead successful business change.

++The End++