Any successful business relies on effective human resources. HR managers help organisations create a safe and efficient work environment by balancing business needs with employee relations and demands. That is why HR professionals must be equipped with a diverse set of human resource skills to handle their responsibilities effectively.
In this article, we will review five essential human resources skills a professional must have to be a successful HR manager.
- Communication
Communication is one of the most important human resource skills that managers must have. An HR manager needs strong written and verbal communication skills to handle daily tasks and meet the organisation’s standards. These soft skills include active listening, honesty and integrity, using emotional intelligence while conversing, and others.
Below are some of the duties that need excellent communication skills:
- Salary negotiation
- Explanation of employee benefit package
- Conflict resolution
- Business presentation
- Employee handbook updates
HR managers also need nonverbal communication skills. Some examples are tone of voice, facial expression, posture, and personal space. It dictates the flow of a conversation and your employees’ responses. These skills are essential for an HR manager when dealing with employees, especially in situations when an employee files a discrimination claim, or a new candidate goes through a job interview.
- Organisation
Another critical human resource skill an HR manager must have to work successfully in human resources is organisational skills. You will be able to manage the needs of employees and business owners if you have this skill. Everyone who works in HR must be well-organised, have good time management skills, and be personally efficient to succeed. An HR manager must also file paperwork correctly and keep a record, especially an employee’s personnel file.
- Negotiation
Every HR professional must be able to negotiate to succeed. When situations requiring negotiation arise, an HR manager is responsible to resolve the conflict by negotiating with employees. Some examples are:
- A new employee with extensive experience or a college degree requests a higher starting salary than is customary.
- A current employee threatens to leave if not given a raise.
- An employee wishes to stay at the company but is unable to do so due to the current workload.
- A worker refuses to work with a particular manager.
In these situations, an HR manager must work with both sides and encourage negotiation to reach an agreement that makes everyone involved happy.
- Problem-Solving and Conflict Management
Organisations employ a large number of people. And it is a given that not every employee in a company will get along with their coworkers or managers. Thus, conflicts within an organisation are inevitable. In some cases, minor conflicts can escalate into major conflicts, requiring HR managers to solve problems and resolve conflicts. An effective HR manager will be able to ensure that employees get along with one another so that work can be completed on time and to a high standard.
- Multitasking
An HR manager is surrounded by a wide range of responsibilities, issues, questions, and requests daily. They multitask by dealing with an employee issue while also implementing a new policy from higher-ups. HR managers, therefore, must know how to adapt to the change in the office if they want to succeed in their jobs.
Training Programme to Advance Your Career in HR
As you can see, working in human resources is challenging. If you have any of the skills listed above, you should not have trouble succeeding in an HR role. However, if you want to learn and develop these skills, enrolling in HR courses online is the best option. These online training programmes will help you gain real-world experience with the assistance of industry experts and advance your career in the field.
