EMBRACE YOUR TRUE POWER HR

"Welcome aboard. This is your induction schedule, your Key Responsibility Areas (KRAs) as laid down & you are good to start from today.”
“You will be closely monitored during your probation period & if everything goes well, you’ll be permanent in the organization.”
“This is your appraisal rating. As per our expectation, you are at X level and hence this increment in your current CTC.”
“Since the project is winding, we regret to inform you that your service is no longer required with effect from XYZ.”
I can go on with this list. These are some of the generic conversations by an HR professional with his/her employees. Please note that these are handpicked to suit the content of my article. Exceptions are always there & hence the hope for possibilities and making progression.
Let me begin by asking this question to the leaders of the organizations that decide to have an HR. Why do you hire an HR? What according to you is the role of the HR professional? Here I am referring to a bigger consciousness and not just an answer on the superficial level like to support, to take care of routine activities, manage employees, their life cycle, build culture etc. etc. But what is the essence of HR according to you? What is the true essence of this profession with a name so profound & impact? Whatever the deemed KRA of an HR professional is, is it in line with what the role truly embodies? I leave you with this question to brainstorm & reflect upon with integrity & honesty. And if you truly understand it’s essence, then reading my thoughts below will serve the purpose. Otherwise, it won’t. So, before scrolling down, do ask yourself if you really want to. 
Human Resource Management to me is very deep and comes with lot of responsibilities. It’s not just mandating/dictating policies/rules for people to follow or accept; but it is something that elicits the true potential in an employee. HR professional’s responsibility is to nurture, inspire & draw out the genius in the employee. It’s not about taking the short-cuts & compromising due to our own shortfall & lack of courage. To me every HR professional is a coach who acts as the bridge in supporting his/her employees to the next level of growth & development.
But what do we do when confronted with challenges and day to day routine work? We compromise on quality and just take solace in being a support function. Honestly, support function is the veil with which we cover up our own gaps & blind spots as HR. We expect our employees to follow things that we don’t completely own. We expect employees to be what we aren’t. We expect them to endorse to cultures that may not be conducive to their growth & development. The defensive counter answer that we have to this is: “Management expects this from us. Our role is such that nobody believes in our value addition, our contribution can’t be measured etc. etc.” But let me ask you, do you really believe in what you do? Do you take pride in your profession? Are you creating or living the default role of an HR? What’s your value proposition?
The value that is perceived by others is just a reflection of their thoughts around what value you bring. And you have the power to control their thoughts by your action. If you really serve them from a place of genuine service, it will connect & reflect. A leader’s value is mirrored in an organization. An HR professional has the power to influence decision making & change the way HR is looked upon.
Expectations is the root of all problems. What if expectations are replaced by agreements of thoughts not only with employees, leaders of the organization but also with self. The value that we show as an HR professional is what is perceived by others. So, do you want to be just a support function or powerful leaders making a difference to your Organization? You have everything in you that can shape the course of the organization. You have the power to hire appropriate talent, elicit the goodness in your employees, be role models for your employees to look up to, be empaths who genuinely care for the employees, give them the psychological safety that they long for, the trust that they want, let their dreams fulfill, let them find fulfillment in their work, let them not long for engagement programs but be engaged in their work because they love it, let them be who they are because that’s why they are working for you, to live their life beautifully, happily & stress-free; living in the expression of their highest self.
An employee having deeply fulfilling career, loving relationships, nourishing me time, a sense of purpose & contribution to their bigger aspirations & causes will always be productive, contended & fulfilled. And an HR has the power to do that. Powerful HR leaders can lay that path for others to see & get inspired. How you do this, is simply by asking yourself a powerful question: Am I ready to detach the limiting belief that I hold about my own profession? If the answer is yes, you will shift from a place of scarcity to abundance & possibilities.​
I know challenges will be there and are there but tell me of anything beautiful without challenges & obstacles. The quote goes, “Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” What is required is just desire, then intent & commitment. Embrace your true power HR, embody the essence of your role before its too late. Before you take care of your employees, do take care of yourself. 
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-Best wishes,
Priyanka

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