My starting point for HR people I coach is to see how well they know themselves.
Are they an INTJ, are they red and blue, are they a D/I or an S/C? – if you know any of these then you will no doubt have some idea of what your preferences are but if not then give it a try – https://www.16personalities.com/, https://personalityhacker.com/ and the book https://www.surroundedbyidiots.com/en/books/surrounded-by-idiots/ are all good places to start.
This is relevant for any stage of your career, and is really useful to revisit as your progress and here’s a few reasons why:
1. If you know your own strengths - the special spark which makes your superpower work - then you can know how to excel. A successful payroll/shared service HR person will have different sparks to a great HRBP – the sooner you work out which you are the greater ease and success you will discover.
2. This applies equally to the right culture and organisation as it does to the right type of HR. I think the secret to career success is also choosing the right environment – one where you can flourish where your special spark is needed and celebrated and where you can shine.
3. If you are struggling in an HR role, finding it personally stressful, needing to fake it to fit in, or finding it hard to get traction on your ideas then consider if you are doing the right HR and if you are in the right place?
4. Most people start life more extroverted than they finish so your “natural” style may shift through your career and as your life changes. I certainly desired more alone time once I was a parent and felt far more comfortable extroverting when I could come home to a silent and tidy house. Take a regular life audit to make sure what you once wanted is still what you need.
So why not spend some alone time and work out who you really are – let me know if you have an A-ha moment (hopefully more Abba than Alan Partridge!)