| HR: Business Partner or Business Foe? |
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In 2000, my employer was one of San Diego’s premier healthcare companies that included 5 acute hospitals and nearly 7,000 employees. I recall a management leadership meeting and the discussion was about a new buzz word that was being indoctrinated to the Human Resources community, “Business Partner.” The question was asked how we as HR professionals and executives could integrate this term into the robust healthcare industry. As we went around the room brainstorming, I asked, “why just a ‘business partner’, why not a Business Leader?” In 2005 the San Diego Business Journal asked me to provide an expert’s opinion on this “new” concept called HR Business Partner. (Click to view article) Memories of this discussion 5 years ago were ignited and as I reiterated its importance not only as a business partner, but a business leader, there were a few things that were getting under my skin. First, I was impressed that my previous employer was so cutting edge that they asked the right question. As I pondered more, I realized that unfortunately, only the elite professionals and executives in the HR community had grasped this concept. However, I was still remaining optimistic that an influential and well respected journal was bringing it to the surface again, knowing the impact HR has in organizations. Now, as we near the end the final quarter of 2009, most businesses and HR professionals have lost sight of the significant value HR has within the organizations. HR is often inundated with many hats — the counselor, the business advisor, the consultant, the employee advocate, the motivator, the bearer of good news and bad, and so forth. Too often, the people in HR lose sight of its own value, forget to be the business advisor, and therefore are not perceived by executives and leaders as key stakeholders in the business. The result — lack of clarity, mundane tasks, lost focus, and the inability to influence organizations to take them to the next level. No matter what the position, the moment you cannot place a value on your own worth, you lose credibility and your value diminishes. Ask yourself these questions –“If I had to place a value on my time per hour, what would it be?” I’m not asking you to analyze what the market rate would be, rather what your time is worth. Is it $25? $300? What if it was $1,000 per hour? It makes no difference what the value is, however, it does make a difference what you perceive yourself to be worth; others will see that same value. Then, ask yourself this question – “What am I doing to raise the awareness of my value in my company, business, and personal life?” Brandon Moreno is the co-author of a forthcoming book called, Wake Up … Live the Life You Love: Bouncing Back and will be receiving his certification as a Core Energy Coach from iPEC and accreditation from the International Coaching Federation later this year. In addition, Brandon currently sits on the Board of Directors and acts as Vice President of Professional Membership for the San Diego Recruiters Roundtable (SDRR), which includes San Diego’s largest and best known HR networking communities that serve Human Resources professionals, executives, and consultants. He also serves as a mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center.
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