The Art of Becoming a Trusted HR Business Partner

This first blog in the series by Victor Patterson is intended to inspire, encourage and change how Human Resources practitioners add value to their organizations.

 

As a Human Resources Leader contributing for over 15 years to Corporate and de-centralized functions, I have fine-tuned my focus for adding value to employees, functional leaders, the organization and stakeholders. 

 

We must, first, reconcile the disposition of being referred to as a "support function" while having "business partner" emphasized over and over.

 

The two terms seem to suggest, in practice, that Human Resources is a step behind (support) while needing to be aligned (business partner) with our functional leaders. After scratching my head, to the point of becoming bald, I prefer “Business Partner” as the more appropriate role.

 

I am challenging you to View the Business as Your Own. Immediately, this garners a mindset shift and places you on the forefront of your HR responsibilities. What does this mean?

 

This means that YOU (peers and colleagues) are sitting in the "driver's seat." Your view is direct and peripheral. Your scanning of the environment includes internal and external. As HR professionals, one of our strongest competencies is collaboration. As a Business Partner, collaboration becomes an undebatable strength. 

 

Your inquiries, analyses and influence include revenue, profit, productivity along with people, engagement and retention. It should start with people first, followed by engagement and retention and then pairs to the other three outcomes. 

 

For example, I initiated “State of the Business Meetings.” These meetings were frequent and allowed my business partners and I to assess our business "real time needs" and adjust accordingly.

 

When you View the Business as Your Own, your display of business acumen is equally adept to your HR proficiency. Your influence on a profitable business is equal to that of an inclusive environment. 

 

Next: Understand the Strengths and Weaknesses of your Business Partner.