hr influencer
YOU MUST BE ASSERTIVE TO STAND UP FOR
WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN; YOU
MUST HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN WITH
OTHER LEADERS IN THE ORGANIZATION.
What skills are important for success in HR?
AF: I think you need to be very flexible and agile. You must be as-sertive
to stand up for what you think needs to happen; you must
have a willingness to learn with other leaders in the organization.
Listen to employees and know how to speak the language of stake-holders.
Ask for and accept feedback and listen to it; then make
changes. Finally, I really strongly believe that HR professionals
need to completely understand the business.
What tips do you have for new grads or those in entry-level HR
jobs who want to move up the ladder?
AF: I think that being a strong business leader and truly under-standing
the operation is key. Having a good attitude and a great
work ethic are critical; be ready every single day. Take responsibili-ty
for your own actions and when you’re in a leadership role, build
your team with the very best people and give them the credit for
successes. Also, take responsibility when something doesn’t work
out. One acronym I keep in mind is “FAB,” for fast, accountable
and better – that’s the way to be.
The HR field has been evolving. What changes excite you the most?
AF: We’re no longer just the rule-makers. We’re part of the exec-utive
suite and have a role in creating the strategic future of the
organization.
What’s the future of HR?
AF: I can see that the lines between IT, marketing, communi-cations,
HR and finance will become even fuzzier. HR needs to
be at the head of making sure those areas are working together
really well. n
lOvE lOvE/Shutterstock.com
HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ MAY 2017 ❚ 37