Influencing is an indispensable skill for HR professionals today

Description

The inspiration for this first debate comes from a podcast recorded a few years ago with Lars Schmidt about HR skills, as well as suggestions provided by Fay for this episode.

Lars shared insights on the essential skills for people professionals, highlighting the importance of executive branding, presence, and the ability to influence up and down the organization. He emphasized that these skills are vital for modern chief people officers, yet they often receive little to no training in these areas. Such skills are crucial when influencing the board or countering a CEO’s misguided direction. Without the ability to influence, communicate effectively, and present compelling arguments, progress can be challenging.

HR practitioners frequently interact with various individuals within an organization, including managers, board members, peers, and coworkers. They often advocate for new tools, technology, and policies. To effectively convey their points, strong communication skills and the ability to exert influence are essential.

This leads to the first statement of today’s debate:

“Influencing is an indispensable skill for HR professionals today.”