In a recent blog, we talked about five soft skills every manager should have, from communication to leadership.  These skills are critical for any successful manager to lead and relate to the team, but they are especially critical for you, the new Human Resources manager.  See, the HR manager has the unique position of representing both the company and its employees, and striking a balance of what’s best for both.  That’s not always an easy task.

The HR manager is often required to be a jack-of-all-trades, dealing with all sorts of people and problems.  Employees will come to you during the best of times, such as a pending maternity leave, and the worst of times, such as a conflict with a supervisor.  You’ll be expected to handle these situations with knowledge, empathy, and fairness—and the utmost level of confidentiality.  It also doesn’t hurt to have a friendly, approachable demeanor.

So now that you know how to approach your job, what are some things you might be expected to do?  HR managers are often responsible for:

• Recruitment.  The HR manager may oversee or at least interview candidates during the recruitment process.  This requires solid knowledge of each position’s requirements.  Knowing where to look for and how to attract talent is also key.  The most successful HR managers will keep an eye on overall staffing to know which areas of the company might be overstaffed or understaffed.
• Training.  The HR manager should ensure all employees are trained to efficiently perform their jobs.  Employee training typically includes new-hire orientations; professional development, such as technology training; and required training, such as sexual harassment and employee safety.  It is the HR manager’s job to recognize where a training deficiency exists (are supervisors lacking basic HR skills?) and to address it.
• Performance Management.  Now that you’ve hired and trained your employees, how are they doing on the job?  Developing successful performance management tools, such as the traditional performance review, will help note strengths and weaknesses in the workforce.  Incentive and recognition programs can also fit into this plan, and it is the HR manager’s job to develop them.
• Conflict Management.  Like it or not, conflict management is a crucial part of the HR manager’s duties.  Employees will look to you as an impartial authority when conflict arises.  Conflicts could be as simple as an employee whose performance needs to improve, or as complex as one employee accusing another of sexual harassment.  You will see—and be expected to handle—a wide array of personal and professional conflict within the workplace.  It’s up to you to strike a careful balance of empathy and impartiality, of representing the employee and the company.  Above all, the HR manager should have an open-door policy and should keep close watch on employee welfare.

As if those responsibilities weren’t enough, the HR manager could be responsible for a wealth of other duties, from salary negotiations to budgeting.  So whether you’re in charge of many tasks or just a few, remember that your job has special importance in your company.  You are in charge of the company’s most important resource—its employees—and that’s a big responsibility in itself!  If you’re a new manager learning the ropes, you might be feeling overwhelmed, undersupported, or just plain in need of an extra opinion.

That’s where we come in.  The professional HR consultants at YES! Your Human Resources Solution are here to support you and your existing HR team.  We’re that extra set of eyes and hands (and 20 years of HR experience) ready to help with all your HR needs and questions.  A recruitment rookie?  No problem.  We’ll review your sourcing and selection practices to design a recruitment approach unique to your business, and we’ll support you during the talent acquisition process.  A tenderfoot to training?  We have that covered, too.  Our in-person and web-based training programs can help set your employees on the path to knowledge and compliance.  Not a pro at performance management?  We’ll work with you to find the best ways to manage performance and to identify effective incentive and recognition programs.  We can even help you and your team with HR leadership-building skills, offering guidance for resolving employee issues and developing HR capabilities, or providing assistance in any other HR area where you’d benefit from additional training or support.

Ready to launch you and your team into HR greatness?  Then say YES! today!  Our free consultation will help you better understand our services and the unique ways we can help you and your business grow.  We look forward to speaking with you!