Human resource (HR) professionals almost always have to wear many hats on the job. They are responsible for a wide range of tasks relating to personnel, including hiring employees, taking care of administrative tasks, overseeing payroll and benefits, and acting as a neutral third party in case of conflict and policy violations.
Although there are several disciplines or specialties within the field of human resources, HR professionals all need to master several essential skills in order to excel. Every HR professional works with a wide range of personalities and tasks on a daily basis and must strive to continually hone their skills. For those who want to find a job or advance in the field of HR, these 6 skills are absolutely crucial to success.
Skill 1: Stellar Communication Skills
Human resource specialists have the task of overseeing a company’s most precious asset: its employees. In order to effectively perform their duties, it is essential that HR professionals develop stellar communication skills. Some of the conversations that take place in the HR office are uncomfortable and sensitive, and those who work in this field must be able to approach these conversations with respect, tact, and clarity. As a result, exceptional communication is essential for this career path. It may be considered a “soft” skill, but the ability to listen and communicate with people on every level of an organization is very powerful
Skill 2: Emotional Intelligence
For many years, IQ (Intelligence Quotient) was held up as the best way to measure intelligence and success. However, subsequent research has shown that the people who have the highest IQ aren’t always the top performers in an organization. Instead, emotional intelligence is becoming recognized as a key factor in performance and success. Human resource specialists who display emotionally intelligent skills, including empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, and the ability to identify the emotions of others will ultimately be more successful than their “smarter” colleagues. In this field, being able to understand emotions and relate to people is much more valuable than a high IQ.
Skill 3: Developed Leadership Skills
Even though many HR professionals don’t lead a team of their own, leadership skills are still a necessity when working in this field. Learning about leadership helps those in human resources take proactive action, become better communicators, manage personnel, and understand how to work with a wide range of people who are sometimes in conflict or managing personal challenges.
Some HR professionals choose to get higher degrees in order to advance their leadership skills and education. For anyone in the field who would like to become an HR manager, leadership training will be essential. Even for those who do not intend to manage a team directly, leadership skills are needed to lead personnel in meeting company objectives. HR professionals should start as early in their careers as possible to learn and master these skills.
Skill 4: Trustworthiness
Working with people always involves making connections and establishing trust. The human resource department handles sensitive information about employees and assists in resolving conflicts between employees or employees and their managers. People won’t be forthcoming about harassment or other serious workplace issues if they feel they can’t trust the person they’re talking to. A human resources specialist needs to demonstrate ethics and trustworthiness in order to ensure that all employees feel comfortable working with the department.
Skill 5: Ability to Listen Well
In many cases, a frustrated employee just needs someone to listen while they talk. Successful HR managers understand that it’s important to get all the information they can and to build rapport by listening carefully to the person they’re talking to. Instead of just saying “we’ll look into it” it’s important in this field to build the skill of actively and empathetically listening before proposing a course of action.
Skill 6: Patience and Attention to Detail
Paperwork is a never ending task for HR professionals, and it takes a lot of patience to work through endless forms. Attention to detail and the ability to ensure that paperwork is correct while working with multiple departments is an everyday requirement for HR department employees. Juggling different responsibilities is a challenging but essential aspect of working in the field.
Patience is also required when working out conflicts between employees. Mediation is a skill that combines several essential abilities, including listening, communication, patience, and emotional intelligence. Coming up with the best solution to each problem means using creativity and people skills to customize an approach according to the situation.
Human Resources Today
The job landscape is changing rapidly, thanks to technology. Enterprises need adaptable, skilled, and focused HR professionals to help them stay competitive. This challenging field is very rewarding for those who love working with people and are willing to master these skills.
