Focus

Focus is about making sure you target your energies and resources on the activities that deliver business success.  It means constantly taking a helicopter view rather than getting stuck in routines that become less than optimal.  It’s about keeping an eye on the long-term and ensuring that HR is fully involved in discussions about business strategy.

• You demonstrate the value of HR using evidence that links your activities to business results
• HR activities are driven by the strategic needs of the business because you are savvy about commercial realities, the customer, and what drives profit or value long-term – and you can prove it
• You get maximum ROI on your HR budget because you target HR activities where they will leverage business performance
• Your HR interventions are welcomed and fully implemented because they are practical and fit for purpose
• Your organisation benefits from best practice in HR which is tailored to your specific context, eg. sector, commercial or demographic
• Your organisation makes the most of business opportunities because you respond with speed and agility

In order to get a seat at that strategic table, HR have to prove that they understand commercial priorities and financial levers.   From day to day, HR need to speak the same language as stakeholders and demonstrate their understanding of what drives high performance.  They know they also have to help others understand key drivers of performance, eg. engagement and retention, in order to collaborate and develop a sound, relevant and meaningful HR strategy that will add maximum value.