 The Art of Balance
By: Jacqueline Witte
The evolution of the human resources field is in many ways parallel to societal changes that have taken place throughout the past few decades. The essence of this evolution is in what human resources professionals are called. First, we were referred to as personnel. In this role, our primary functions were perceived to be that of processing the paperwork associated with employee relations, staffing, benefits, compensation, and training. As the role of personnel staff grew to be more significant, we were then defined as Human Resources, or “the people side of a business enterprise”- a company’s most important assets. The new buzzword is human capital, which denotes the importance of what human resources accomplishes and how our decisions impact the bottom-line of any organization.
Balance is the Key
The key to the art of human resources is balance. We strive for a balance between the needs and goals of the organization which might include an executive management team, board of directors, and of course, the needs of individual employees. The success and strength of a human resources team is determined by the trust and rapport it develops, and the relationships and partnerships it builds within an organization. Add to the equation for balance the legal side of the business with the multiple federal and state laws and regulations, and then integrate all of these issues into the economics of the time. Our current challenges include the rising cost of medical benefits, competition for talent, privacy issues, corporate governance, diversity and the changing demographics in our workplace. We are strategically preparing businesses for the future by forming business strategies including succession planning.
Challenging the Status Quo
The changes in the workforce will be strongly impacted by the baby boomer population (born 1946-1964). These individuals will start reaching age 65 in 2011. What is interesting is that many of these individuals will not “retire” by the typical definition. Many will retire from one company to work for another company or work part-time. Companies are starting to realize the value of this mature, experienced, reliable and stable age group. Diversity will also play a significant role in this transition. The ethnic composition of the workforce is changing as the economy becomes more global. In order to be ahead of the curve, companies are being creative and allowing individuals to set their own parameters in order to attract and retain a dedicated workforce. Companies are allowing flexible work schedules, working from a home office, and working from remote locations that are electronically connected. They are doing business in a different but smarter way. They are challenging the status quo. The art of human resources recognizes that. Choice and participation are key balancing words in this new workforce.
The Business Side
Another part of the art of balancing is, as human resources professionals, we need to understand the core business of the organization we are part of and the competencies associated with that business. We need to understand the culture and the decision making process. We need to understand that as individuals and as a company, the success of the organization will be directly proportionate to the success we create for our customers and their businesses. Human resources customers are the associates within the organization. Service is paramount; as no individual is greater than the people they serve.
Organizations are demanding a return on their investment, want economies of scale, and want to build strong and lasting customer relationships. Associates are seeking security, opportunities, challenges and an organization that sees them as a partner. Ultimately, the art of human resources—whether in a small business or a large corporation—is to orchestrate the balance of all these objectives with integrity.
Jackie Witte is Executive Vice President and Director of Human Resources for UMB Financial Corporation.
Article Source: http://www.flourishmagazine.com
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