To be an effective business leader it is important to understand the broad operations and processes that drive commerce and create growth. However, to be a successful Human Resource leader just like Shannon Pigram, it is not only critical to understand the basic principles of business best practices, it is also important to be proactive and strategically develop your influence over your organisation.
Shannon Pigram works with Norman, Disney and Young as Global Professional Development Manager leading the global learning and leadership function. He specialises in organisational development and learning, with an enthusiasm for talent management and employee engagement.
Here are 3 traits that all human resource professionals should have in order to succeed.
- Never Stop Learning
The field of human resource is evolving and requires extensive knowledge to help you better manage, support and lead your HR team. Putting this knowledge into practice can serve to encourage growth and development of not only your HR staff but also of the larger workforce.
Life-long learning through an advanced degree and professional certification are necessary to build and refine your HR knowledge. Successful HR leaders have a quest for understanding the benefits of new HR researches and stay updated on the current trends in the HR field. By incorporating knowledge of best HR practices into your daily life, you can more effectively support your organisation’s strategic goals and direction.
- Communicate Effectively
Communication plays a vital role in any organization and HR takes a major role in this. Clear, effective messages can boost morale, increase loyalty and even save the organisation’s money. Companies that are highly effective in their communication practices are likely to outperform others that are not. Many opportunities exist for you as a human resources leader to develop and demonstrate your communication skills. For instance, strong writing skills lead to clearly understand policies and procedures that drive organisational results. Similarly, with verbal communication skills you can help your workforce to understand their roles better and motivate them toward peak performance.
- Strategic Thinking
It is enticing for HR professionals to focus their efforts on building the most productive HR function within their organisations. At first glance this concentration seems to make sense. However, CEOs expect HR professionals to demonstrate more than just HR expertise. They look forward to their HR professionals to be key associates who help drive their organisation’s overall business strategies. To do so, HR professionals need to think strategically, connecting a strong HR function with an in-depth knowledge of their organisation’s core business issues and aspirations.
Shannon Pigram 