12 must-have Qualities for an HR Professional

Rolling Plans Pvt. Ltd. May 18, 2021 8508 0

In any organization, human resources (HR/HRM) refers to the individuals who deal with the prime activities of management and handling of staff, development, recruitment, employee and labour relations and acting as a link between the executive team and the employees. 

 

These are the groups of people hired by the company to hire staff, conduct interviews, check the overall state of the company and employees, and keep records. 
 

Who is an HR professional?


A person who specializes in human resources or a human resource professional is hired by companies to manage and govern recruiting, taking interviews, onboarding, handling employee relations, payroll, benefits, and providing training as well as workforce engagement. 

 

To be considered an HR professional, one requires top-notch skills in dealing with people and maintaining employee and employer relationships with the company. One has to be highly skilled in organization, time management, and efficiency. 
 

Importance of HR in an organization

 

Human Resources are extremely important and play a key role in determining the success of any organization. 

 

Recruiting and selecting talents and potential employees, conducting numerous interviews is a challenge in itself. One must be knowledgeable in the needs, demands, and values of the company as well as the skill of identifying high-performing employees who will meet the expectations of the company is difficult. 

 

The human resources team also deals with the performance, providing the right training, governs general satisfaction in the workplace, reinforces the values of the business, keeping records of the performance of the employees, and interpersonal and work relations in the company. The HRM team also acts as a bridge between the employees and the strategic objectives of the organization. 

 

12 must-have qualities for an HR professional


   1. Leadership


Leadership is one of the most crucial qualities of an HR manager. You will have to lead and manage all the employees and the success of the organization, as well as the performance of the employees, is dependent on you. 


Here are a few tips to develop leadership skills:

  • Take initiative in social situations 

  • Learn skills of active listening and empathy

  • Conflict management skills

  • Negotiation skills

 

Books to read on leadership 

  • Start With Why by Simon Sinek

  • Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

  • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
     

 

   2. Ability to work with teams 

 

Teamwork plays an important role in the success of any company. The work of human resources management is to make the team as one and drive it towards the goals and objectives of the company. 

 

Here are some tips for effective teamwork:

  • Learn collaborative skills

  • Develop interpersonal relationships 

  • Empathic listening skills

 

Books on team working skills and team leadership:

  • Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators by Patrick Lencioni

  • The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team by John C. Maxwell

  • The Best Team Wins: The New Science of High Performance by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton
     

 

   3. Ability to command respect and trustworthiness 

 

Commanding respect means being someone who is admired, acknowledged, and looked up to by people. When you command respect, people take you more seriously and will be more open to following your suggestion. Your confidence, the way you carry yourself, your self-image, and core values as an HR professional determine how people perceive you.  


Here are some tips on how to be respected by people:

  • Give respect to receive respect 

  • Treat yourself the way you’d want to be treated

  • Being thoughtful and practising gratitude 

 

Books on commanding respect:

  • Executive Presence: The Art of Commanding Respect Like a CEO by Harrison Monarth

  • Honouringgetscounsellorthe Self by Nathaniel Branden

  • The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
     

 

   4. Self-discipline 

 

Self-discipline; the ability to control and monitor yourself and complete the task once you’ve set a goal. Self-discipline is crucial when you are dealing with tasks and goals that you may not be so excited about as an HR professional. 


Here are some tips on building self-discipline:

  • Start embracing discomfort 

  • Start small and take baby steps

  • Follow a routine 

 

Books on self-discipline:

  • No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline by Brian Tracy

  • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

  • Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by John Tierney and Roy Baumeister
     

 

   5. Empathy

 

Empathy is referred to as the ability to understand, relate and share the feelings of another person.  As an HR professional, the ability to relate and understand others is crucial. Understanding issues and queries from all different perspectives and being able to negotiate and navigate the situation is an everyday job for an HR professional. 

 

Few tips to be more empathetic: 

  • Show share and concern

  • Practice empathic listening 

  • Don’t be judgemental 

  • Show emotional support 

 

Books on empathy:

  • The Art of Empathy: A Complete Guide to Life's Most Essential Skill by Karla McLaren

  • I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde

  • Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It by Roman Krznaric
     

 

   6. Time management skills

 

As an HR professional, time management is a crucial skill to have. You will have to manage multiple tasks and deal with all the employees of the whole organization, this requires a lot of mental energy and management of one’s own time ensuring success and efficiency. 

 

Here are few tips to develop time management skills:

  • Set goals and be smart

  • Make a priority list

  • Set a schedule and use a planner

 

Books on time management:

  • Getting Things Done by David Allen

  • Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

  • The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
     


   7. Organizational skills


Organizational skills refer to your abilities as an HR to stay focused and use your time, energy, and skills to achieve the objectives of the organization you work for. Having organizational skills boost your productivity, not procrastinate and get things done. 
 


Tips to develop organizational skills: 

  • Build a to-do list

  • Organize your materials 

  • Maintain a healthy work-life balance

  • Input tasks into a schedule 

 

Books on organizational skills:

  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

  • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

  • The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
     


   8. Decision making and problem-solving


Making difficult decisions and sticking through those decisions is one of the most important skills as an HR professional. To be able to make difficult decisions, one has to think critically and measure the pros and cons of all the options while being farsighted. 


Problem-solving refers to the skill of taking a complex problem and finding the best workable solutions for each problem in a time of crisis. 

 

Books on decision making and problem-solving: 

  • The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschappeler

  • Effective Decision-Making: How to Make Better Decisions Under Uncertainty and Pressure by Edoardo Binda Zane

  • Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp
     

 

   9. Stress management and multitasking 

 

As an HRM, while dealing with your own stress, you will also have to do an overall check on stress management of the employees as well. Employees cannot be as productive and efficient when under stress. The same thing goes for the human resources management team as well. 


Especially, when one is overloaded with multiple tasks and has to multitask constantly, the skill of stress management is a necessity. 


Here are some tips on stress management and multitasking:

  • Conduct refreshment and wellness program 

  • Plan a schedule with priorities and a to-do list

  • Take a break

 

Books on stress management and multitasking: 

  • Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski

  • The Self-Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Well-Being by Robyn L. Gobin

  • Effective Multitasking: Learn How to Get More Done in Less Time Through Effective Multitasking and by Avoiding Common Pitfalls of Distracted Multitasking by Justine Gantt
     


   10. In-depth knowledge regarding human resources

As an HR professional the prime quality you require is to have in-depth knowledge of Human Resources. Without learning fundamentals regarding HR, you can't be considered an HR professional. 

 

Along with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in a related field, you will also be required to have acquired knowledge from outsources as well. 

 

Books on Human Resources : 

  • HR from the Outside In Six Competencies for the Future of Human Resources by Dave Ulrich and Jon Younger

  • The Essential HR Handbook, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Quick and Handy Resource for Any Manager Or HR Professional by Barbara Mitchell and Sharon Armstrong

  • The HR Answer Book: An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Human Resources Professionals by Rebecca Mazin and Shawn A. Smith

  • HR Disrupted: It's Time for Something Different by Lucy Adams

  • Investing in People: Financial Impact of Human Resource Initiatives by John Boudreau and Wayne F. Cascio

  • Predictive HR Analytics: Mastering the HR Metric by Kirsten Edwards and Martin R. Edwards
     


   11. Effective communication


Effective communication is the skill that enables you to exchange ideas, thoughts, and goals in a way that produces desirable results and the receiver gets the message the way the sender intended to send the message. 

 

As an HR professional, you will have to constantly communicate with the executive team as well as the employees of an organization. You may face problems if you lack effective communication skills and many misunderstandings may arise. 

 

Tips on effective communication. 

  • Be clear when you communicate 

  • Be concise

  • Listen first 

  • Be respectful and thoughtful 

  • Do not say more than necessary 

 

Books on effective communication:

  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, and Ron McMillan

  • Communication Skills: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Social Intelligence, Presentation, Persuasion and Public Speaking by Ian Tuhovsky

  • Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

  • Five Stars: The Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great by Carmine Gallo
     


   12. Mentorship


Mentorship is the ability to provide guidance and help others through a task or a journey. As a mentor, you need to be able to act as a consultant, a counsellor with whole people who feel safe to share their issues, and the biggest cheerleader. 

 

As an HR professional, you have the responsibility of the overall performance of the whole organization, while holding such a position, you will have to mentor many employees and provide them with the required training. 

 

Tips for effective mentoring: 

  • Listen to the issues first 

  • Identify the areas of help required 

  • Make a plan

  • Try to understand the person closely whom you will mentor

 

Books on mentorship:

  • The coaching habit (summary): say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever by Michael Bungay Stanier

  • The Mentoring Manual: Your Step by Step Guide to Being a Better Mentor by Julie Starr

  • 10 Steps to Successful Mentoring by Wendy Axelrod

 

Human resources are one of the most in-demand and crucial positions in any organization. However, to be known as an HR professional, you will need to have a certain skill set and necessary knowledge to do the work.

 

Along with socializing and people skills, you need to be a leader who possesses many qualities to help, motivate and encourage people to give their best and take the organization to the next level. 


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Head/Editor : Pravash Rai
Team Leader : Roshan Kalauni
Writers : Lachana Shakya, Birat Bijay Ojha & Shikshya Subedi
Designs : Beena Koju

 

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