Most business leaders appreciate the value of their staff – however, getting the most from your team can often be challenging, particularly in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). If you’re finding the morale of your staff is waning, or your team is becoming less responsive, engaging with Human Resources (HR) could work wonders for your firm.
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The Role Of The Modern HR Executive
Where traditionally HR specialists were primarily concerned with the well-being of staff, the role has diversified significantly in recent years to encompass other sides of business management. While staff contentment and happiness remain central to the role, HR specialists these days are tasked with much, much more and can bring significant improvements to the efficiency of your firm.
Ways HR Could Help Grow Your Business And Foster Better Team Spirit
As mentioned above, the role of the modern HR executive is considerably more diverse than it once was. These days, HR specialists play an intrinsic part in top-level, managerial decisions helping guide companies in terms of direction, output and even marketing. Below are just a few ways bringing in HR could help your firm develop:
Planning for growth: HR typically sits as the link directly between employees and managers, so HR specialists often have a much better handle on how a firm is performing than those above them. By engaging with your staff, HR workers frequently have a far clearer idea of actual working processes (rather than those you imagine are being followed), plus will be able to anticipate potential problems further down the line. As your company grows, your staffing requirements will almost undoubtedly increase, making the role of HR all the more important. Better yet, your HR specialist will also know how to advertise to find the right talent and will even be able to help with the interviewing process.
HR doesn’t need to cost the earth: Having an HR specialist or team used to be viewed purely as the preserve of larger firms. With the rise in online communications and cloud networking, these days any firm can employ HR services. As with so many other areas of life, the internet has transformed the HR industry and it’s now possible to hire freelance or ad hoc services, from any location. For example, you could employ the services of a virtual HR Dept in Bristol, even if you’re located at the other end of the country – or even the other side of the world.
Find the right people: HR specialists can take a far more impartial overhead view of your firm, its areas of weakness plus points of strength. This wider view also helps them identify areas where you might be lacking and where you could improve by hiring extra talent. Also, a skilled HR manager will know instinctively where to find the best talent and what will be required to get them on board with your firm.
Reduce staff turnover: Finding the right people is only half the story – you then need to ensure you give them adequate reason to stay with you. Stuff turnover is one of the biggest financial and time drains on companies of all sizes and getting employees up to speed with how you work can be a fruitless task if they only then go on to leave. HR managers perform a vital role in connecting lower-level workers with those above them, listening and acting upon grievances and helping improve overall staff retention.
Develop your existing in-house talent: HR managers are highly skilled at recognizing the potential in your staff and will be able to quickly identify key performers. This skill can go one step further in the form of helping you single out those workers most deserving of additional education or training.
Helping build your brand: Branding is often confused with marketing but, in very simple terms, you should view your brand as your company’s personality. Successful branding filters down to every part of your company, from the boardroom to the shop floor and beyond. As HR managers have a finger on the pulse of your firm, they’re able to instill and develop a sense of corporate pride and belonging that permeates every sector in your firm – no matter how large. Additionally, many HR practitioners have a sound understanding of marketing and advertising – again, highly useful skills to have on board.
Foster an internal culture and better well-being at work: Very often there is a huge divide between lower-level employees in a firm and their managers. This frequently becomes all the more noticeable in larger firms where junior staff can end up feeling entirely separated from the powers that be. By hiring an HR executive, you’ll go a long way to narrowing this divide, helping staff feel more important, listened to and valued.