The Symposium – Strategies for Working Successfully with HR Departments

June 21, 2013

Many of the attendees had extensive experience working in human resources (HR).  Because of this, they were able to provide a wealth of advice on what coaches can do to establish and maintain good relationships with HR personnel.  Here are some of the suggestions:

·       Co-Partner with the gatekeeper

·       Respect “inside” consultants

·       Build relationships with internal HR people

·       Don’t bypass internal HR people

·       Ask questions and listen

·       Explore and empathize with the suffering and anxieties of HR people

·       Remember that many HR people have been bullied themselves

·       Respect HR’s need for reporting to higher-ups and provide them with helpful documentation

·       Offer to meet with other decision-makers

·       Recognize that HR people live between a rock and hard place – they have the responsibility to protect the organization legally, but have no decision-making authority to do so

·       Follow-up with an informational article via e-mail – this keeps your name in front of them and it gives them something to show others

·       Don’t negotiate the boss whispering process

·       Help HR identify the cost of continually dealing with complaints

·       Help HR people identify and understand their individual TAD issues