State OF HR: The HR Pro as Coach and Consultant
Today’s best HR professionals are strategic partners who drive organizational success through effective coaching and consulting. Their ability to understand business operations allows them to create meaningful impact across all levels of the organization.
When I moved into my first HR Manager role in 2009, Lubrizol put me into my first coaching class. They knew the skill I would acquire through the class would enhance my effectiveness as I interacted with employees. Fast forward 16 years and tons of coaching clients later, I can say that my abilities as a coach have been the most important part of my skill set. I’ve been able to help employees unlock their potential through targeted interventions and development strategies. I’ve been able to help underperforming employees get their careers back on track (helping some folks to get all the way off the track). I’ve helped hesitant team members become confident leaders. Through coaching sessions, I’ve helped people refine communication styles, enhance emotional intelligence, and build trust among their team members.
The best HR Pros leverage coaching to drive improvements by addressing root causes rather than symptoms. So often a person comes to me with their stated problem definition, which we discover is not the core issue after I ask a few questions. The best HR Pros work with employees to cultivate essential skills like decision-making and resilience. They create safe spaces for honest dialogue while maintaining appropriate boundaries between confidentiality and organizational transparency. I’m happy to see that so many modern HR practitioners have worked to intentionally build their coaching skills to provide so much value to their organizations.
Today’s HR Pros are also strong as consultants. When it’s time to consult, the HR Pro is examining processes, market conditions, and team dynamics. The HR Pro is designing solutions to address organizational challenges. They are developing and implementing HR models and policies. They’re streamlining workflows and eliminating bottlenecks. They’re providing expert guidance on navigating organizational change. They're helping the businesses operate smoothly by ensuring compliance with regulations and policies. They establish control systems and develop strategic plans to address emerging HR matters while protecting the organization from potential risks.
Sometimes our HR Pros need to toggle back and forth between coaching and consulting to help guide their organizations through some of their biggest challenges. Change management is a significant responsibility for today’s HR Pro, as is cultural transformation. HR Pros are essential in fostering environments of continuous learning and development. They provide solutions to complex organizational challenges. They guide leadership development and succession planning. They create sustainable growth strategies.
Strong organizations need strong HR Pros that can function as coaches and consultants. Luckily for organizations, today’s HR Pro is more ready than ever to help accelerate the success of the business. The state of human resources looks promising.
This article is part of a 10 article series I’m doing in anticipation of the Cleveland SHRM State of Human Resources event. Please join us on January 22nd, as I discuss the state of Human Resources with Cleveland SHRM’s President, Jared Daly. Registration: https://www.clevelandshrm.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1890209
