What We Have Found to Be Most Difficult Part of Being an HR Leader

In this episode of How People Work, Jordan and Jason dive into more of the research they conducted last year with HR professionals. This week, they discuss what HR leaders have expressed as being the most difficult part of their job — gaining executive support.

Jason and Jordan give an executives’ perspective on how HR can communicate the ROI of people programs effectively and obtain executive sponsorship, driving success for both the HR function and the organization as a whole.

Key ideas and highlights:

• The most difficult part of the HR function is gaining executive support.
• Executive support is key to the success of the HR function at any organization.
• HR leaders must understand how people programs fit into key business objectives and how to communicate the ROI effectively.

Word of the day: Yips

Timestamps

(0:00) Intro

(1:56) How the perception of HR’s greatest challenges differs from reality

(4:43) The disconnect between HR leaders and executives when communicating the value of people programs

(5:34) There’s just not enough authority being given to HR. 

(6:24) How HR leaders can effectively command authority

(7:40) Sometimes the executive team doesn’t know what good looks like in terms of people programs

(10:51) HR must align with business objectives in order to gain executive support

(13:16) How to speak to executives about the ROI of people programs

(17:51) The value of people programs is more recognized by Millennials than any other generation

(22:08) Supportive executive teams are essential to HR’s success

(24:05) Why some of the best HR leaders come from the operating side of the business

(25:52) The benefits and culture at your company point directly to your values

Connect:

• Are you an HR/People Leader wanting to learn more? https://www.fringe.us/talk-to-our-team
• People Data & Insights Report: https://fringe.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#1U000000tSl7/a/4X000000ouMw/9lixakNDHeXoFyinZ5hmod6GeWRUmxBtAhVd3oCgDmg
• Jason’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonatfringe/
• Jordan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-peace-fringe/
• How Fringe works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NiAGyFut6E&t=2s