VALUING HR   STRATEGIC HR

Singapore - With a relatively large number of senior-level HR practitioners retrenched in the last 18 months, Paul Heng says it is now more important for HR professionals to shape up - or risk being shipped out.

According to Heng, founder of NeXT Corporate Coaching Services, HR practitioners now need a louder voice and a more proactive and strategic role in the business.

As his outplacement business saw a number of HR professionals who were let go at a senior level in the last 18 months, Heng says that those retrenched lacked the competencies to play the role of a strategic partner as opposed to an operational function.

In order to sharpen their strategic focus, Heng says HR practitioners need to spend more time understanding the various aspects of the business  such as finance, supply chain and engineering functions.

HR practitioners should also learn to manage upwards, Heng adds. "Be confident enough to walk into the CEO's room, and engage one-on-one.  HR professionals need to get over the complex that they are not 'good' enough to talk to CEOs. This extends to stakeholders in the corporate headquarters," he says.

HR practitioners also need to do more networking externally, and not just within the HR community. Heng says practitioners should venture outside to meet different groups of people, such as those from charitable organisations or academic institutions.

In addition, some ways HR practitioners can improve themselves is also through courses, e-MBAs, identifying mentors as well as through executive coaching, Heng adds.

 

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