5 Essential Human Resources Skills

Last Updated May 15, 2019

The human resources (HR) field has blossomed into one of the core features of modern organizations. With responsibilities that range from hiring and onboarding to tending to the daily concerns of employees of organizations, a HR manager can be a visible and important component of an employee’s working life. For those interested in the field, it can be helpful to note the importance of some practical skills to help improve job performance. While the following list is not all-inclusive, here are five skills that form a solid core for effective HR managers in their daily tasks.

1. Organization

While being organized is an important trait of many types of managers, the personal nature of HR typically forces managers to approach each case with planning and efficiency. HR managers must ensure that employee information is organized and accessible, and that meetings are scheduled with special thought given to the work responsibilities and commitments of employees or other managers. In issues handled by HR, such as salary negotiation, benefits or termination, employees may respond better to a HR department that is efficient and accessible.

2. Communication

HR professionals can also serve as liaisons between employees and other managers. Among other things, strong written and oral communication skills are important aspects of a HR professional, as it is his or her responsibility to clearly relay information to employees of the busines. Whether it’s sending emails to prospective employees, preparing a speech on employee safety, conducting an exit interview or running a training session for a new team, HR managers need to be comfortable speaking clearly, effectively and confidently.

3. Discretion

HR managers are responsible for the personal information of every employee that is employed, or has been employed, at an organization. Some of this information can be particularly sensitive and it is important for HR professionals to keep information private and protected by anyone without the proper credentials. HR managers need to have the discretion to keep personal information private and out of public knowledge.

4. Multi-tasking

HR is a field with varied responsibilities, and in many cases, responsibilities can change day-to-day. When simultaneously managing job advertisements, compensation, interviews, grievances and training programs, the ability to manage time wisely and multi-task are often important to performance. HR professionals should be able to remain calm under pressure, whether the pressure comes from a group of employees with a concern or from a manager who has an issue with recruitment progress.

5. Conflict Management

Addressing grievances between employees and managers, or perhaps between different employees, is another one of the core responsibilities of HR professionals. A HR manager should have the skills of negotiation, mediation and patience and be able to use them to help others. HR managers tend to be called upon to solve problems in the workplace, and they should be able to approach these situations with maturity and respect for everyone involved.