6 Key Qualities of an HR Manager
| 4 Min Read
Human resources (HR) is a great field for driven, organized individuals who are interested in helping businesses reach their goals and helping employees reach their potential. Almost all companies have some form of a human resources department, and as the business world becomes more and more focused on developing human capital, HR professionals are in demand. If you are considering a career in HR, part of your job responsibilities will be to identify candidates for employment that have the characteristics that will make them successful in the role for which you are hiring. However, at CSP Global we know that it is important to understand HR qualities as well. Read on to find out what it takes to be successful as an HR manager and to see if your own traits match up.
Essential HR Management Skills
Organization
One of the most important characteristics of HR professionals is the ability to get organized. This includes strong time management skills and the ability to complete tasks efficiently. On a typical day, you’ll be balancing a variety of different tasks, ranging from hiring and firing, dealing with employees’ personal issues and creating recruitment strategies for open positions. Multitasking is key, as well as self-discipline. You’ll need to set ethical and behavioral standards for others to follow, and make sure you are following them as well. HR professionals also manage deadlines and accomplish tasks quickly so that both employee and employer needs are met.
Ethics
In a lot of ways, the HR department of a company serves as its conscience. This means that you’ll need to have a keen sense of ethics when it comes to confidential information and following company policies. HR professionals have to earn the trust of company employees and executives so that they can effectively do their job; honesty and discretion are key components of any successful HR department.
Communication
A primary function of all HR professionals is facilitating communication between employers and employees. This means that both your oral and written communication skills need to be sharp so that you can relay information clearly and effectively to employees at all levels. Part of the communication requirements also involves negotiation. During the hiring process, or when conflicts arise between employees, successful HR pros are able to help opposing groups compromise and find middle ground.
Problem Solving
In order for businesses to function at their best, the HR department must ensure that individuals with different personalities can work together civilly and accomplish company goals. Also, in order to accomplish the other tasks required of you as an HR professional, you have to be skilled at conflict management and diffusing tense or combative situations.
Expertise
Successful HR professionals are experts on their company’s industry. This will enable you to make informed recruitment and hiring decisions, as well as have a context for company guidelines and policies. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the fact that HR managers are business professionals as well. Just because you won’t be working in the accounting department doesn’t mean you don’t need a clear idea of how your company works and the business processes that structure it.
Leadership
In many situations, employees look to HR managers for answers and leadership. The nature of many HR positions is that you’ll be seen as an expert on a wide variety of company-related topics, so you’ll need to have the confidence to lead. This can mean anything from finding the answers to employee concerns to putting together a team to run a local 5K race for charity. The best HR professionals can balance being a friendly presence in the office with taking control and helping things run smoothly.
HR Management Online Programs from CSP Global
Do these traits sound like you and what you’d like to learn? If so, earning your degree in human resources is a great place to start. To help you make the most of your HR career, we offer an online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and an online Master of Arts in Human Resource Management. Both programs are offered 100% online.
This means that busy adults like you can complete or advance your degree on your own schedule. You’ll gain comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience while developing or enhancing the skills required for HR professionals and other organizational leaders. If achieving results through people is your career goal, a CSP Global Online degree can get you there. You’ll have access to key topics in human resource management and its application to a wide variety of organizations. At CSP Global, we know that HR managers are strategic partners within organizations, and a vital part of business success. That’s why we’ve developed a degree that provides you with the skills you need to be competitive in the job market and an effective member of any HR department.