The job of business is to satisfy a need. Or a want (which always feels like a need.) To sell. To produce. To build. To distribute. To grow. And to produce a profit that allows the cycle to continue. Business is Sales and Operations. If you ever started a business, you know that your first question was "what am I selling?"
The rest of the team - if done right - enables those teams to make and to sell. The Human Resources group not only serves as the enabling team for Sales and Operations, it serves as the enabling team for every function in the business.
Without the business strategy defined so employees "are clear", without organizations designed that make it easier to get the job done, without the "right" work defined and the "right" people in place, without processes that make the rules of business easier to navigate -- there will be no sustainable growth.
The long stale discussion of HR having a seat at the table would be funny if it wasn't so sad. The truth is - it's a Human Capital Investment Table. And smart and saavy Human Capital/Human Resources folks know that they need to "host" the table.
In places where we don't find smart and saavy HR - we don't generally see differentiated, sustainable human capital investment. Not to mention...that we don't see much hospitality either.
It's a game of influence. To have influence means you understand the game, you understand the stakes and the stakeholders, you understand power. And you chose to be a player....influencing outcomes in a postive way becasue you know HR, you know your business, you know your employees and your potential employees, you know your customers. And you are willing to keep learning. The role of HR - this role of influencing human capital investment and the consequential outcomes of the business is critical - vital - to success. And for all the whining, it's exciting to see many HR leaders stepping up and stepping into a role of critical influence.
That's what I think! I'd love to hear what you think!
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About Me
- An HR Weaver
- Atlanta, GA, United States
- Nancy Vepraskas is an enthusiastic, high-energy leader known as an expert in assisting businesses with creating sustainable success through their employees. She began her business career in operations, showing a talent to improve operational efficiencies. She moved to Human Resources when it became apparent that the clear competitive advantage in business is the people. “Many businesses develop strong strategies and exacting project plans, but neglect the need to modify structures and change behaviors.” Vepraskas’ work and writing focuses on creating strategic alignment in every aspect of work, moving business plans from paper to executable reality.
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