While recently looking at some of the available human resource positions, across the country, we came across an ad that was seeking a hands-on HR professional.

This is fine but it was the punch line that really caught my eye. In the job requirements, this organization specifically stated that it did not want an HR strategist.

So my question is if we are not supposed to look at the HR function as being part of the overall organization, then what are we here for? Are we only transactional specialists?

Human resources can no longer effectively contribute to the organization if we are expected to be a silo within the organization. The human resource management arena is not the same as it was five years ago, or even ten minutes ago. Laws have changed. Focus has changed.

There are new challenges being faced every day. Here is my take on the content of the job posting.

I see the role of the HR manager in today's organization is one of not only coordinating the daily needs of the employee base but looking at how the HR management arena is part of how the organization utilizes its brand. This is ever more important in this era of CoVid-19.

If we are being told by management that our role is to sit in our little cubical or the office and just pass the time away handling the mundane aspects of our job, then it is no wonder that many of our peers are finding themselves being one of the first out the door when economic times get uncomfortable.

If on the other hand, we expect a seat at the management table, then we cannot sit idly by and not demonstrate the truly strategic role that we play within the modern organization.

Being an HR strategist takes a particular mindset. It requires you to see your organization and feel where the problems are.

It means that rather than saying this is not my job or that is not the way we do things here, learn the language of business and be able to provide the creditable, verifiable, evidence-based data that answers the organizational problems and provide the CEO with the metrics he/she is seeking to discover solutions to the organizational problems, especially with all the work-from-home human capital assets.

Do your self and your organization a favor and in this relative downtime make that transition from transactional agent to a strategic agent for the benefit of all in your workplace. #TLSContinuum