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For decades, industry pundits have called for HR to be recognized as an integral, strategic, and indispensable voice of the organization. HR work is hard and often unseen, and rarely does HR seek the spotlight to gain public praise for our contributions.
Of course, 2020 has changed everything. Pick any topic of importance – #metoo, COVID-19, remote work, mental health, Black Lives Matter – and HR is front and center. The world is watching, and I would argue that we as HR professionals should embrace the moment and NOT cede this well-fought ground.
Logistically and structurally, HR has handled some incredibly complex situations. We’ve navigated the waters of sudden work-from-home mandates. We’ve absorbed changing leave legislation and run endless return-to-work scenarios. We’ve led webinars, written treatises, worked 24×7, and tried not to let the emotional toll of what’s happening rock us to our core.
The opposing view is that we — HR — have been complicit in a decades-long struggle for equality, turned a blind eye toward predatory workplace behaviors, and cared more about protectionism and policy than humanity.
That’s why this moment matters.
Some HR pros and influencers are fed up and have rightfully taken to social platforms to express distress and bewilderment that our industry’s largest professional organization, SHRM, cannot actively support #BlackLivesMatter, healthcare protection for transgender people, and immigration rights. Thus far, nearly 2,000 professionals have signed a petition demanding that SHRM support #BlackLivesMatter and LGBTQ+ protections. I signed it and I hope you will too.
Although HR is a ubiquitous term, not all HR professionals are the same. That’s a beautiful thing because it means we can constantly reflect, reinvent, and rejuvenate a profession that is so singularly critical to the ethos and outcomes our organizations espouse. We can lead with both love and empathy while we tear down institutions that fail to acknowledge the unique contributions of each individual. We can admit our failings and commit to do better.
I’m not ashamed to say that I love HR. While the spotlight shines brightly, we can own this moment and open a path to the generations to come.
With warm regards,
—Mark
Founder/managing principal, IA
The War for Skills – An Update
It’s been interesting to see the reaction to the webinar that Mark Stelzner and Mary Faulkner presented in April. In general, there is a growing recognition around the changing nature of how work is being done and the shortcomings of the way technology and organizations are structured to meet those challenges. We were surprised, however, to hear from those who think the whole concept is played out and that we’re focusing on the wrong things.
We agree – the concept IS tired, which is why we’re calling it out. But we don’t agree that we’re focusing on the wrong things. Our research continues to suggest that how organizations help workers learn, do, rest and reskill to meet the needs of a rapidly changing workplace will be the key to success for all involved.
We invite everyone to see the culmination of this analysis at our HR Tech 2020 session – Winning the War for Skills.
Voice of HR
The Best Transformation is the One You Don’t Need
We know proper preparation is necessary to avoid massive, disruptive transformations later – so why don’t we do a better job of it in our organizations? In this post, Kimberly Carroll, who excels at pointing out what we need to do (instead of what we want to do), offers how to “consultant-proof” your business and avoid HR transformation.
Where You Can Find Us
IA is excited to be featured as speakers/presenters in some of the industry’s most thought-provoking events, including:
- July 25, 2020: Kimberly and Mary are pleased to present a webinar based on Kimberly’s recent post on how to avoid the need for HR transformation, hosted by HR Executive. Be on the lookout on Twitter for details!
- October 13-16, 2020: At this year’s HR Tech Conference, Mark and Mary are back with the follow up to their April webinar, sharing recommendations on Winning the War for Skills.
On Our Radar
This past month has generated a lot of content meant to shake up the status quo and challenge all of us to do better. Here are a few that resonated with us:
- It’s one thing to read about a general account of what it’s like to be a Black HR leader in today’s environment. It’s another thing entirely to hear directly from those leaders. In this article from Fast Company, a number of Black HR leaders share their observations and experiences, and challenge each of us to think about how businesses can do better.
- For an ice cream company, Ben & Jerry’s sure knows how to take a stand on social issues. Their statement in support of #BlackLivesMatter garnered a lot of attention – not just because it was immediate and bold, but also because it was just another stone in their foundation for positive change. CNN even did a story highlighting why it was such a remarkable moment.
- And finally – are you looking for ways to act locally to support Black-owned businesses? Here’s a list of 10 apps and directories to help you.
About IA
IA is a boutique consulting firm focused on HR transformation.
Our seasoned team of professionals brings deep domain experience and Fortune 1000-ready tools to help you capture the functional, operational, financial, technical, legal, regulatory, and strategic impacts of your transformational HR initiative.
Because we’ve worked with all kinds of organizations (large and small, public and private, domestic and international), we have a cross-functional, strategic perspective. And we’re not scared away by big, messy problems.
Learn more at ia-hr.com.
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