Skills that every HR manager must possess

For any organisation, its workforce serves as its lifeblood. It is imperative to select the right person to handle each role as then only the whole organisation would be able to function optimally. So, Human Resource Management (HRM) becomes imperative. It allows an organisation to work productively which, in turn, facilitates it to gain a competitive advantage over others. However, the task of the HR manager is not simple. He has to manage multi-faceted aspects from hiring of employees to managing the employee lifecycle. Below are some skills that every HR manager must possess:

Planning

Planning is the elementary phase of any process that leads to the achievement of intended end goals. Without a proper plan, the blueprint of the processes cannot be prepared and so there isn’t a direction towards execution of end goals.

It is the responsibility of the HR manager to fill the right position with the right talent so as to satisfy the future needs of the enterprise. However, for that, he has to do the right planning. HR manager should always be available with a better option for every position whether it’s vacant or not. Furthermore, he should carry out proper planning to select the best candidate for vacant positions and fill them swiftly.

Handling the “grey area”

The HR manager is a team person who is responsible to ensure that there are no conflicts between team members. So, he should be able to identify and solve the conflicts effectively. At times, he has to take decision based on incomplete information available. Furthermore, he should know when he has to handle the things singlehandedly and when it is best to seek experts’ assistance. Most of the times in conflict management, there is no right or wrong, so the HR manager needs to find the best possible solution to the conflict. HR managers must manage conflicts with creative solutions.

Power to Influence team

In every organisation, subordinates work by following the direction given by their managers. But, managers must motivate the employees through influence. The HR managers must leave a positive impression on the employees and lead with examples. They should set a footprint which will work as motivation as well as direction for others to follow.

It is the task of the HR manager to exemplify to the team that they are working in a good company. If a manager wants his employees to go extra miles then, he should himself work hard and set examples for others to follow. A good HR manager makes his team work hard by influencing them and he can get the desired results.

Effective Communication

Communication is a basic yet significant tool for every manager. An HR manager has to give direction to the employees and manage the employee lifecycle. So, HR managers must be effective communicators to efficiently express their ideas, thoughts, and plan in front of the employees as well as other people of the organisation. Communication is a two-way process so apart from being an effective speaker, the HR manager must be a good listener too.

Closing note

In addition to academic knowledge, HR manager must possess requisite skills to handle a team. It is better to master these skills while pursuing the management course rather than learning them after joining an organisation. These skills also give an edge to the candidates in the job interviews. So, if you are looking for a course that offers in-depth knowledge of the field along with personality and skill development, then you should pursue distance MBA equivalent course in HR management from MIT School of Distance Education (MIT-SDE).  In fact, our courses are better than correspondence MBA as we update our curriculum regularly to match with the industry trends.