HR Managers can earn their stripes in tough times
Mar 2009
Helen Ormond, Program Director, Mt Eliza and Program Leader for The HR Executive Program
The current economic climate presents significant challenges for organisations as well as an equally great stimulus for change. There are more opportunities for HR managers to earn their stripes than ever before.
For many HR managers, this is their first experience of managing in a financial crisis. The early 80s and early 90s were periods of significant turbulence that changed organisations, the employer/employee relationship and working habits.
The present downturn is set to do the same, dismantling structures and prevailing practices in ways that are difficult to foresee.
"HR managers can enhance their role by becoming a trusted advisor to their business on people issues as long as they have a deep understanding of market conditions and the range of impacts on their organisation," said Helen Ormond, Program Director, Mt Eliza.
"Also, if they can speak the language of business and support their line management in turbulent times they're on their way to earning their strips," adds Ormond.
HR executives can add more value to their business by applying practical strategies to address business issues, including building compelling cases for change and communicating these with impact. In the short term, HR managers need to develop their skills to deal specifically with the impact of the global financial crisis and the associated people issues of their organisation.
Mt Eliza's new 5 day residential program, HR Executive Program, Leading HR in Turbulent Times, is in response to this changed world and the work environment and role of HR.
This program is for HR leaders who want to enhance their role as a trusted advisor to their business, a thought leader and key enabler of their organisation's change strategies. It brings together an impressive line up of practitioners in HR, business and economics to present on the program including Prof. Paul Kirkbride, Deputy Dean, Mt Eliza, MBS, Assoc. Prof. Mark Crosby, Economics, MBS and Assoc. Prof. Ian O. Williamson, HR Management, MBS.
HR leaders attend pre-program coaching to identify their key challenges as well as selecting a work-based project that is strategically important for their organisation that can be covered in the program.
For more information or to enrol in this program, see the HR Executive Program.