A good HR business partner should have several key characteristics. These include relationship-building skills, understanding external stakeholders’ needs, and short-term memory. They should also be flexible and able to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, including senior management. If you’re interested in pursuing this role, here are a few tips to help you succeed in this role:
Relationship-building skills
Good HR business partners are critical to the success of an organization. They play an essential role in developing strategy and driving implementation, ensuring that the organization’s people are used to the best possible effect. This role has become increasingly important as more business managers recognize that better use of their people can improve overall profitability.
The best HR business partners are adept at communication and relationship-building. They must understand business leaders’ and stakeholders’ points of view and be able to work with a variety of personalities to ensure that the business’s needs are met. Good HR business partners also must have good organizational skills, namely, self-discipline and time management.
Good HR business partners must be adept at communicating effectively in different situations. They should be comfortable presenting to executives, negotiating, and responding to crises. They must also be proficient in intercultural and digital communication. Finally, they should have the confidence to say “No” to executives when necessary and be able to present alternative proposals.
An understanding of external stakeholders’ needs
Good HR business partners must have a broad perspective and be able to deal with the needs of their external stakeholders. This means putting on the business hat for a time and interacting with line executives to address the business aspect of their roles. For example, they should be able to speak with the CEO and CFO and understand their company’s current financial needs and priorities.
Another essential quality of a good HR business partner is the ability to understand the organization’s political landscape. Understanding various stakeholders’ interests and focus areas makes it easier to develop effective HR interventions.
Understanding the business model is also essential for a good HR business partner. This enables them to build productive relationships and improve collaboration. They also help to break down internal silos, facilitating a more collaborative learning organization. In addition, HR business partners can be catalysts for transformational change by influencing the leadership structure and developing appropriate people solutions.
An ability to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders
An ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders is an essential skill for an HR business partner. Communication is critical in building a constructive dialogue and identifying new leadership opportunities. Communication can be done in various ways, including setting up forums and inviting feedback. Communication can also be done on social media, which allows companies to respond to critical comments and spread their message. Regardless of the medium used, the goal of a communication program is to establish rapport with key decision-makers and develop strong working relationships.
A Senior HR Business Partner should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. His ability to communicate effectively with his peers and senior management is crucial. A good HR Business Partner can effectively communicate with stakeholders and draw recommendations that lead to higher performance in the business.
The role of an HR business partner is strategic, with the primary responsibility being to ensure that human resources policies and procedures are aligned with a company’s strategic goals. While an HR manager typically focuses on the day-to-day administration of the HR department, an HR business partner focuses on strategic issues such as talent acquisition and retention and develops HR strategies that align with the company’s business strategy. These responsibilities involve analysis of recruitment and onboarding processes and cultural sensitivity.
A short-term memory
A good HR business partner is capable of identifying the problems and challenges that arise within an organization. They analyze data and employee performance to formulate a plan to solve them. They know how to influence leaders and employees to improve performance. They have short-term memory.
The first step in developing a good business relationship with your HR business partner is understanding your role and what they do. In 1997, Netscape was the browser of choice, the Motorola StarTAC dominated the cell phone market, the Apple PowerBook led the innovative laptop market, and the Sony PlayStation with a 128k memory card was state-of-the-art. Windows 95 was released, and the company introduced cordless home phones.
The next step is understanding your business partner’s role within the organization. An HR Business Partner should understand the company’s current financial situation and priorities well. They should also be able to interact with employees and line executives on various business issues.
