Amalia Demian, Samsic’s HR Manager, puts us straight on some common misconceptions about the role of HR in an organisation – and why the news is so much better than we might think…
If you only remember one thing, it’s this
First things first: HR is there to support you.
“We want to help unlock the power that each individual can bring to the organisation. Put people first, and good business follows.”
It doesn’t have to be ‘official’
There’s a misplaced belief that we should only contact HR when matters escalate and that a daunting procedure will follow if we do. And so we can be hesitant. But it doesn’t have to be that way: just get in touch.
“Of course, well-managed HR processes are a given. But it all comes back to the importance of the person. If a colleague is just after some guidance – on training, employee relationships, mental health, whatever it is – we really are just a phone call away.”
Your HR team can offer a fresh angle on a problem, partly because they’re not as ‘close’ to it as you. A degree of objectivity applies. And yet, it’s more than likely they’ve tackled something similar in their past experience, and this makes their insight even more valuable to you.
Give HR a place at the table
When you’re setting business goals, invite an HR colleague to the meeting.
“Good HR professionals have a commercial mindset. Whatever the goal is – a KPI, a service to sell – that goal is delivered first and foremost by your people. And we’re experts in your people, so we can help you work out your strategy. Whether you’re acting as an individual manager, let’s say, or a department, or at the corporate level, we’d love to contribute to that discussion.”
Let’s just be ourselves, not miserable phonies
Conflict is inevitable, but do your best to diffuse it promptly and openly, so you’re standing on honest ground.
“I don’t like tension at work. Who does? But don’t just tell us what you think we want to hear, or what the ‘correct’ thing might be – just be open. It means we can quickly get back to being ourselves, and engaging fully with the job in hand, and with our colleagues around us. And the kicker is that we’ll enjoy it so much more.”
Put simply: true HR excellence is…
One eye for detail, the other on the bigger picture. A great HR professional balances robust knowledge and expertise in their field with a broader commercial outlook.
“But even that’s not quite enough. To really tap into the power that each person in the organisation has, the secret is a high degree of emotional intelligence. To do your best business, you have to do your best by your people.
