Why are HR professionals sometimes like English tourists in France?

Not so long ago I read an article entitled “Why we Hate HR” on FastCompany.com.  I was ashamed to say that, despite being an HR professional for the past 20 plus years, I found it hard to disagree with anything that was being said.  The writer was a business person and the article outlined his many frustrations with the HR function.

This is sad really, as there are many highly competent, dedicated HR professionals out there who deserve more recognition for their efforts.  So why is it that we have such a bad name?  My theory is that we often fail to speak the same language as the business.

Like English tourists in France, we seem to think that if we speak louder and more slowly, our CEOs will immediately understand and accept what we’re saying.  Like the French, however, instead the business becomes alienated and irritated, deciding we’re ignorant idiots. 

 So how to overcome this problem?  Obviously, we need to learn to speak that other language.

We must engage our CEOs on their own terms, with structured business cases supported by evidential data that are free of jargon.  We must take on the tough job of developing a thorough understanding of all aspects of the business so we can talk credibly about how we, as a function, can help our CEOs deliver their objectives through people.  And we must develop presence – so many of us seem apologetic for our existence.  Stand up straight, have confidence and for goodness sakes learn to deliver a competent presentation.  If you want to be an equal to those at your top table, you must step up to the mark.

There were many HR professionals to whom I spoke who were incensed by the FastCompany.com article. There were also many, who, like me, found it hard to disagree with anything that was said.  Interestingly, it was those who most needed to step up to the plate who were most incensed.  What does that tell us I wonder?

Emma Marshall has 20 years’ experience working across the full range of human resources activities in Europe, Asia and Australia and is now Director of Callidus. She will be speaking at Acelero's breakfast seminar entitled 'CEOs are from Mercury, HR are from Jupiter: bridging the gap' in Melbourne and Sydney in March. Click here to register for this free interactive seminar: http://www.acelero.com.au/connect/event-registration/

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