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Being an HR manager is not as simple as it may seem at first glance, and there are certain practices you can start implementing to become a better HR manager. Here are five essential habits for a good HR manager:
#1 Listen More, Talk Less
This might sound a bit cynical at first because a huge part of an HR manager’s job is explaining to new employees what their responsibilities are, but in reality, listening more and talking less is the right tactic to adopt.
When you listen to what your employees have to say, you will be able to better understand what they want and what they didn’t understand. Consequently, you will be able to give them what they want and explain to them whatever they didn’t understand. It is as simple as maintaining proper communication to avoid inconvenient situations.
That said, don’t forget to phrase what you want to say in the right way so employees know what is expected of them. Good communication is like a relationship: It depends on two people that give and receive. Always remember this when communicating with employees via text, phone call, video call, or face to face.
#2 Know When to Compromise
Compromising is not easy, whether at work, at home, or in a casual situation. Everyone wants to have things done their own way and it is understandable that you as the HR manager would want to keep everything under control, but it is important that you learn how to compromise and know when to do it.
One of the easiest ways to compromise is discussing with employees what kind of concerns they have about a certain issue and what their demands are. Once you listen to them carefully, propose something in return. If they are not satisfied with your proposition, try to discuss the matter further and work out something else.
Remember that compromising is essential for maintaining good relationships between you and employees, as well as keeping up the spirit of teamwork and helping everyone work together.
#3 Do What Really Works
Every good HR manager knows that some things work more effectively than others. And even if your mind tells you that something is illogical despite working well, you should still use that particular tactic as long as it is remains efficient.
For example, if you know that outsourcing the process of writing certain documents as a part of your job has been a beneficial practice, then you should continue using writers from Online Writers Rating or other online resources to do such basic yet time-consuming tasks for you. This way, you will be able to focus your attention on more important matters.
If you are not sure about a certain decision, you can always consult experts or simply ask your boss if what you are doing is what he or she would like you to do. (This is just the same as good communication, but it is really very important).
#4 Take Risks and Experiment
Taking risks and experimenting is a natural part of development. If you want your HR department to evolve, you will need to start experimenting at least once in a while to see if there is anything else more effective than what you are already doing.
For example, A/B testing has proven to be a relatively effective way to find out if your theory about a certain tactic is true. If you believe the job application process should be extended and divided into several stages to be able to sort applicants better, than try this method the next time there is a new open job position at your company.
In any case, always strive to improve your work and your approach to your job. Good HR managers know there is always space for improvement and will not miss a chance to take some risks to find out if there is a better strategy they haven’t used before.
#5 Celebrate Success
Last but not least, always celebrate success. It doesn’t matter if it is a simple small achievement by a new employee or a huge win for an entire Marketing department—it is crucial that you celebrate this success and show appreciation for the work done by your employees.
The HR department is responsible for maintaining good satisfaction levels among employees and showing they are valued by the company. This can be expressed in many ways, but one of the most effective ones is by rewarding employees with extra vacation days, gifts, monthly bonuses, celebratory trips, and so on.
Good working conditions, by the way, are not a part of celebrating success but rather a part of standard responsibilities from the company’s side. You should not treat good working conditions as something extraordinary—make sure employees are always taken care of.
Ultimately, if you make an effort to develop these five habits, you will be able to become a more productive and effective HR manager.
Ana Mayer is a freelance writer who is a qualified specialist in the field of digital marketing. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs that helps her stay at the heart of the programming and technology news.