HR is the backbone of any company. Coming from an HR background myself, I have experienced firsthand the good, the bad, and the ugly of this profession. I fervently believe that the HR Department and overall morale of employees are only as good as the one who sits at the top, making the daily decisions regarding all employee-related matters. Here are eight points to help you determine if you fit the profile. 1. Are you an HR People’s Person Are you able to interact with almost any type of personality? Are you seen as charismatic, one who is known for being fair and loyal to employees and the company? Can you effectively communicate with employees to convey your message? Congratulations, you are probably one of the few HR Managers who deserve to be in this role. 2. HR Requires Communication, Communication, Communication As an HR Manager, you will have to constantly share ideas, thoughts, and strategies with your team. Employees need to understand the importance of the company’s goals, and as a strong leader, you will have to utilise effective communication skills that will relay that message. Sharing the company’s beliefs more efficiently will allow you to act upon the Department Managers’ insight in preventing potential problems. 3. In HR, Honesty (…and Discretion) is Always The Best Policy Both honesty and discretion are crucial for employees. If your team know what is expected of them and you, at the same time, recognise their efforts and achievements, I guarantee you will have a motivated and committed team that would be willing to move mountains for you when needed. 4. Be an HR Motivator…Not an Irritator HR Managers need to motivate their teams and other company employees constantly. You would have to be able to inspire them to achieve their assigned goals with satisfaction. Motivation needs to come from the heart, not just because you want to get the job done. Also read: SA CV Writing is awarded as the most customer-focused CV Writing Agency 2024 – South Africa 5. I Beg Your Pardon, What Did You Say About Listening? You had a busy day, and the employee who normally comes to you with various issues (some of the time not even work-related) is sitting in front of you again. You have to return a phone call and there is a Department Manager waiting to see you. You feel yourself steering the conversation into a close. The greatest HR Manager understands that people come to HR to be heard. Most of the time, it’s better just to listen and let the other person speak. And when I say listen, I mean really listen. Keep yourself from looking at your watch every 5 minutes. Not only will the person in front of you feel that you are there to assist them with their particular problem, but you will also be reputed for being a Manager who cares for his/her employees. Be the type of manager whose door is always open for your team. 6. Lights, Camera, Spotlight! HR is a support department. Ok, in a perfect world, it is supposed to be a support department. I have seen too many times how someone else’s success resulted in meaningless bickering and gossip. If you are fortunate enough to be the head of an HR Department with employees who care for their team members, you are one of the lucky few. If you, as the leader, allow an employee their time in the spotlight, you are a perfect fit for this role. 7. Show Respect, Even When You Are Not Respected Sometimes, people who are not performing their jobs well are the ones who tend to blame management. This can make even the most controlled type of personality hot under the collar. Ensure that you maintain control of the situation by showing respect to this person, even if they are at fault. Maintain your dignity, but above all, keep your composure in front of other employees. 8. Dr. Jackel…No, it’s Mr (or Mrs) Hyde! Are you known for displaying more than one personality in an 8-hour work day? I know all too well the feeling of dreading going into the HR Manager’s office for fear of not knowing which personality you will have to interact with at that particular moment. A great HR Manager is always consistent, unwavering, and holds to impeccable personal and professional work ethics. So there you have it! If you possess these traits – charisma like confetti at a parade, communication skills sharper than a tack, honesty mixed with discretion, motivation that doesn’t grate on people’s nerves, listening skills worthy of an award, respect in abundance, and consistency that would impress even robots – congratulations! You may have what it takes to be a fantastic HR Manager. Let SA CV Writing create a standout CV that represents your skills and experiences. By customising your CV to align with your career goals, you’ll be able to measure your success in your own unique way. Let’s get started on achieving your career goals today! #cvwritersinsouthafrica #professionalcvwriters #cvwritingservice #SA_CVWriting #careergoals
This article was written en published by Liesel Cloete.
The Award-Winning CV Writer Behind SA CV Writing Studio
With an extensive HR/Payroll background, I transitioned from the corporate world and founded SA CV Writing in 2014 to empower professionals in their career journeys. My clients report back on securing interviews with local and international firms.