"HR? I know all about that" – CEO

A question posted over at Dear Workforce has reminded me of one of the most frustrating things experienced by HR professionals – the fact that everyone (and I mean everyone) has an opinion on all matters HR. This is not entirely a surprise as HR issues are often about people, however, this it really can be an issue if the person claiming to know it all is your CEO.

So why is this the case? Ulrich provides a partial explanation in the form of a question he asks of HR professionals:

What is the biggest challenge you face in your job today?

What often follows are challenges related to doing HR practices better (recruitment, training, leadership development etc), having a seat at the top table or the personal challenges of working in HR.

….when we say there answers are wrong. Silence ensues.

The answer to the question is actually – how will HR rise to the challenge of helping their organisation succeed.

So now put yourself in the shoes of the CEO. She has probably spent years listening to HR tell her how diversity policies and pension strategies add value. No wonder she eventually thinks she knows all the HR answers. If on the other hand perhaps if HR starts to focus on business goals it will increasingly be seen as an effective business partner.

Reference: HR Transformation – Dave Ulrich et al

… carry on reading.

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