Here’s what you should do to be a good HR manager!

This one is for all those who are or are aspiring to be a HR professional! A few days ago, we told you why we cannot do away with the human resource department in an organisation. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t bad apples!

As much as we acknowledge the importance of HR, it is equally true that there are several HR managers who are bad at their jobs. And if you are wondering how to crack the code, worry not! We tell you some basic characteristics that will make you life simpler and help you be a good HR manager.

Be a good listener

Industry experts have emphasized greatly on how important it is for an HR to be a good listener. After all, the HR’s basic job is to handle the organisation’s biggest asset—its employees. So next time, if an employee comes to you with his grievances, patiently hear him out. “Ask him to narrate instances wherein he felt there was a problem,” says V Suresh, executive vice president and chief sales officer, Naukri.com.

Empathise

Empathy is a great virtue. And a HR professional must possess it. Try to empathize with the employee’s issue and understand his position. Figure out what is the issue and try resolving it. Who knows, he may have pointed out a problem which may become a major crisis, if timely attention is not paid.

Be unbiased

This is what should follow when an employee shares his issues at work with you. Once you hear him out, do not jump onto conclusions. It may happen that the person, he has complained about, is your friend. Do not be practice favouritism towards your friend and judge the complainant. Understand his position and try resolving it.

“An HR professional should never be biased. For instance, if an HR manager doesn’t like an employee and someone else comes and complains about him, do not see this as a validation for your dislike. Instead probe and find out more about the situation,” notes Suresh.

Be trustworthy

Always remember, trust is a treasured quality and should be practiced religiously. As an HR professional, it becomes even more important to win the trust of the employees. When an employee comes and confides his problems in you, ensure that you keep it a secret. It would be unethical for a HR manager to ‘gossip’ about it with ten other people or passing it on to the person against whom the complained has been made.

Understand the business

An HR manager is of no value if he doesn’t understand the business he is supporting. Try and understand what the challenges are of the business you are working for. Lack of understanding of business will alienate you from the employees as you are not in a position to understand their problems. “No employee would want to engage with an HR manager who lacks basic understanding of the business,” asserts Suresh.

Image Credit: blog.ufaber.com