As talent management and business strategies align, HR professionals are increasingly being asked to advise the top executive teams.
Workforce efficiencies are tightly intertwined with business success, and HR managers are finding themselves with greater roles in the strategic development of the company—including acting as advisors to the COO and CEO.
Talent management has become inseparable from business strategy, and HR teams are increasingly drivers of organizational growth and performance, notes the Randstad Sourceright 2018 Talent Trends Report. This shift in the corporate role of HR places greater emphasis on talent acquisition, skills and workforce strategies for both on-staff employees and outside contractors.
“This vote of confidence comes at a price, however, including expanded responsibilities, greater accountability, and the challenge of continuously staying one step ahead of the C-suite,” notes Sue Marcus, executive vice president, RPO, for Randstad Sourceright North America, in a blog published by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). “One of the best ways HR leaders can meet the needs of C-suite executives is to understand the changing workforce landscape. This will help them foresee business challenges and organizational hurdles, and recommend talent strategies that avoid problems before they fully materialize.”
In enhanced roles as problem-solvers and business developers, HR teams are increasingly relying on technological solutions to make talent acquisition and management more efficient. Leveraging automated and online tools—from Applicant Tracking Systems to video interviews—streamlines HR operations and allows HR managers to focus on smart hires and better employee engagement for retention.
An HR leader “must become a talent navigator, responsible for charting a course through today’s market complexities,” the trends report notes. “When you lead your organization down the right path—whether by creating a highly engaged culture, developing an attractive employer brand or empowering the workforce through innovation—you can launch your business ahead of its competitors.”
