HR Professionals Should Start Sharpening New Skills

Human Resources professionals may be facing a number of new challenges once the 2008 Presidential campaign concludes. Congress will soon be considering a large array of legislation that would significantly alter the way we do business in America.

All HR professionals would do well to take heed of this, and "sharpen the personal saw". You may find yourself needing tools you have not used often in the past. Or more likely, you will find yourself utilizing these tools in new ways.

In a recent post at http://www.workforce.com/, Kris Dunn discusses the idea of legal changes that could potentially become an instant "HR Career Killer".

Kris mentions some of the changes he sees occurring in the role of the HR professional. These include changes in:

• Changes to HR's role as an advocate,


• Loss of freedom to manage,


• Inability to maintain a workplace free of harassment and intimidation,


• Loss of ability t0 communicate and engage directly with employees,


• Development of Credibility and Communication issues,


• Most importantly, loss of job satisfaction due to boredom


• Loss of flexibility


• Loss of the the opportunity to be innovative


• Reduced ability to help employees

What should HR professionals be thinking about?

1. Employee relations will become even more key than it already is. HR cannot continue to act as an internal advocate for employees. Company cultures will need to be grown so that all members of management from first line supervisor to the CEO truly honor and value the employees in the company.
2. If passed, all the legislative changes will require HR professionals who are acutely aware of how to do the very things Kris fears will be lost. HR professionals all across the country will be challenged to work with management on a daily basis to create stronger cultures, better practices, and increasingly strategic human capital strategies which allow employees to thrive as part of an organization at all levels.
3. Other skills that you utilize now will be tested in new ways. Persuasiveness, negotiation, and knowledge of conflict resolution techniques will become key.
4. Change management, analysis of data, collecting information on trends affecting your industry and competition will elevate in importance.

We may be facing a new world. We may be challenged by some aspects of that new world. Some HR professionals may find that the field is no longer the same. Most will rise to meet the challenge. Hr professionals may soon have a great opportunity to help their company manage the change successfully and lead the way on developing the strategic path they will need to follow to be successful in the future.

HR will not become endangered, we will just do what all good professions and companies do, adapt to the new environment and move forward successfully.