HR FUNCTION
Poll uncovers top HR competencies
An online poll has found that “effective management of change” is ranked the top “HR skill for survival”.
The poll posted on the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s online forum, Communities, asked respondents to choose three competencies they believed were most important to establish the function’s effectiveness and credibility in the organisation. Among the 400-plus respondents taking part:
Almost half (46%) highlighted “effective management of change”.
This was closely followed by “strategic thinking” (44%) and “business knowledge” (36%).
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Variations by seniority level
But there were marked differences depending on levels of seniority:
Seventy-eight of those taking part in the poll were heads of HR/heads of function. For this group, “strategic thinking” was most commonly identified as crucial (55%), followed by “effective management of change” (47%) and – reflecting their more senior role in the organisation – “influencing and political skills” (40%).
The 67 HR officers and assistants in the sample also recognised the value of “strategic thinking” (43%) and “effective management of change” (42%) and rated “understanding of HR practices” (37%) among their top three areas of competence.
--> The UK Reward Census 2007 by e-reward found “business awareness” and “analytical skills” were rated by respondents as the two most important competencies critical to success for reward professionals, ahead of “influencing/political skills” and “specialist technical reward expertise”.
More details of the e-reward research are available at www.e-reward.co.uk/reports.asp?report=62.
Want to know more?
The findings are based on the 404 respondents’ answers to a mini poll on the CIPD web site in March and April 2009.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has over 130,000 members and is the "leading professional institute for those involved in the management and development of people". To find out more visit www.cipd.co.uk.