The world of human resources is constantly changing, in line with wider trends in the labour market. So, whilst more Brits are in employment than ever before in the UK, there are numerous challenges facing HR managers in the modern age.
For example, the nature of the workforce is changing against the backdrop of Brexit, with the number of EU workers in the UK plummeting to its lowest level since records were first taken in 1997. The biggest fall occurred between July and September 2018, when 107,000 EU citizens left the workforce to escape an uncertain economic future.
With this in mind, HR managers must be proactive in their approach to retaining employees and attracting new talent. They also need a number of core skills, including the following:
1. Communication Skills
The ability to communicate clearly is central to any successful HR manager, whether they’re communicating with colleagues orally or in writing.
Whilst this obviously applies when organising and interviewing candidates for work, HR officials also deal with the concerns and issues of employees on a daily basis and therefore must be equipped with excellent listening skills.
Through these small but regular interactions, they can gain the trust and confidence of their colleagues and improve employee relations company-wide.
In terms of written skills, HR managers also need to communicate company policy and values in a concise way that cannot be misinterpreted by staff members.
2. Empathetic Skills
Given that HR managers and their teams deal with people and employee issues on a daily basis, it’s important that they’re able to empathise and provide practical and impactful solutions.
From salary complaints to conflicts in the workplace, HR teams must understand the unique needs of their colleagues and take steps to meet these wherever possible.
This type of approach should also be reflected by the benefits packages that are offered to employees, with a growing number of firms creating incentives that help to enhance the financial wellness and security of their employees.
This is a direct response to the financial and economic challenges facing employees in the modern age, and it highlights a caring outlook that helps to optimise productivity in the workforce.
3. Organisational Skills
On a final note, it’s important to note that all successful HR managers are blessed with finely-tuned organisational skills.
The reason for this is simple; as HR encompasses a large number of functions including training, recruitment, employee evaluations and individual development plans. There’s a great deal of cross-over between these functions too, so it’s important to adopt an organised approach that helps employees to realise their full potential.
As an HR manager, you’ll also need to oversee these functions and develop systematic processes for managing them successfully.
At the same time, you’ll also need to ensure that all administration tasks are managed effectively and completed accurately to ensure transparency.
