The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest professional organisation of HR managers, asked its members and supporters about their most serious initial mistakes. The following ten items turned out to be the most common.
1. Inability to balance the role of representing both employee and company
HR rookies tend most of all to please their employers even if they can see mistakes being made by company management. Some of them, however, fight so hard for employees that they ignore the company's interests.
2. Being too friendly
Beginners often want to please everyone. Gradually, however, they find that HR is not about being liked by people but about understanding the functioning of the company and developing a culture that will make it possible for both the company and its employees to succeed.
3. Sharing confidential information about employees
This mistake is very serious and can lead to an abrupt end to your HR career. Using confidential information about employees for your own benefit or sharing employee data with non-interested parties is unacceptable.
4. Ignoring the human face of work in HR
Although we have more and more modern technology tools and data available, employees still remain human. HR professionals also should remain human in their approach to people, maintaining empathy and critical thinking.
5. The same solutions for all problems
Proper solutions to problems always depend on the situation, organisation, industry, company goals. The real world often does not allow the use of textbook examples.
6. Hiding a lack of knowledge
Admitting that you don't know something is difficult and therefore beginners often pretend they know all the answers. They don't realise it's better to spend some time exploring the situation and collecting information than making a decision that will ultimately hurt the company.
7. Oversimplification
Insufficient knowledge and experience often causes simplification of complex issues and problems. HR professionals should first familiarise themselves with the company's business in order to offer real support.
8. Overestimating HR education
Companies never operate the way you were taught at school. Decisions need to be based on accurate information and a sufficiently broad context.
9. Poor knowledge of HR legislation
In a large company, new HR professionals have more time to learn; in a small one, however, they can't afford any mistaken assumptions about legally established matters. They must not only meet specific deadlines, but also know the relevant forms, etc.
10. Getting stuck in HR
Today's HR people need a much wider perspective. In order to approach their work strategically, they must be able to understand financial indicators and the motivation of the company's management.
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