Opinion

Effective Communication Is Key

By Sam Borsari

Emerging human-resources (HR) professionals are faced with a rapidly changing business environment, which has greatly emphasized the value of effective communication. Hybrid and remote workforces have become a reality for many, which means there are greater communication barriers than there were several years ago. Additionally, the shifting workforce brings generational differences that must be addressed.

Emerging HR professionals need to ask themselves, ‘how am I communicating with intention to maintain expectations, engagement, and culture for those working in various capacities?’ To make matters more challenging, these professionals are also learning how to navigate a seemingly complex political environment, which has triggered swift employment-law changes. Clearly communicating these updates while working to reduce internal conflict is essential to mitigate risk and ensure understanding.

Coinciding with effective communication, emerging HR professionals should focus their attention on developing their emotional intelligence (EQ) — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both their own emotions and their relationships with others. EQ is comprised of self-awareness, self-management, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

While this may seem apparent to some, emotional intelligence is essential for emerging HR professionals, as it helps foster trust among their employees and strengthens internal relationships. By having a high level of emotional intelligence, emerging professionals will be able to lead by example and encourage a culture of collaboration and open communication. It will also allow them to better manage difficult conversations with more confidence.

Emerging HR professionals are in a unique and exciting position. They bring fresh eyes and a new perspective to pre-established processes. However, implementing change within an organization as an emerging professional comes with challenges, especially when it comes to gaining the respect and influence of senior leaders. This hurdle can create a mental roadblock, limiting the individual’s ability to drive change and showcase their potential leadership capabilities.

This is why honing influence and relationship-building skills is essential for emerging HR professionals. While this doesn’t happen overnight, developing business acumen and learning to align HR initiatives with broader business goals is a way to start. These skills will allow emerging professionals to have a voice at the table and a chance at greater success within their HR role.

If emerging HR professionals aren’t initiating change themselves, they are at the forefront of managing it, whether due to evolving employment laws, shifting business landscapes, or changing workplace expectations and/or culture. This is now more apparent than ever. Emerging HR professionals must be able to guide their team through transitionary periods and help them navigate uncertainty. These moments present a valuable opportunity to demonstrate leadership ability and resiliency even in high-pressure situations.

This makes adaptability and change management incredibly important skills to develop. To build on this, emerging professionals should focus on staying up to date with compliance changes, embrace the idea of continuous learning, and develop strategic procedures to support their organization through periods of transition.

Sam Borsari is a member experience specialist with the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast. This article first appeared on the EANE blog; eane.org