HR can often be cast as the villain at work, the big bad hirer or witches in black suits in my day. But I needn’t be that way.
I’m not a fan of fretting about confidentiality and locking HR away in a confidential cupboard – this only adds to the whiff of Snape about HR (Dark Arts anyone?). Come into the light and sit with finance, sales, marketing, business development or facilities – anyone you fancy make it clear you are not plotting their departures with every waking moment.
Mix it up by attending team meetings and developing links with all departments across your organisation. Be available. Be knowledge and be discrete.
I think it is important that people understand that HR is a part of the business like any other rather than a weapon to be used by “management” but in turn you mustn’t act as if you have hidden powers or threats. Play it straight and people will respect you for it.
If your organisation has a bad view of HR (often as a result of previous negative experiences) perhaps offer to do a talk about your role at a team meeting and create some new links.
Map out your organisation and make sure you have at least one coffee colleague in each team – and then buy them coffee each month meet up and chat, get to know them and their area – super helpful to know how a new initiative has landed, or what issues are really grinding people. Be careful of these relationships and don’t be tempted to use them against anyone – trust can be lost far more quickly that it is grained.
If you are in a senior role or moving into one it can be very helpful to have a peer group to share issues and provide support – three or four people at similar levels can really support each other. In several roles I have been fortunate to start at the same time as Finance and IT people at the same level as me, will built relationships and often came upon similar issues at the same time – really helpful to share these challenges. Don’t be afraid to admit that HR doesn’t have all the answers.
So, in summary don’t sit alone in your HR office, get out there and make some work friends. As Howard said “like to get to know you well so we can be one together” – it could be the start of something special….