TGC and our UK partner, The Engagement Coach, co-presented a thought-provoking session March 8 at HR West in Oakland, California, on the relevancy of HR to global organizations. A full house of delegates attended the session from a wide cross section of industry: technology, finance, healthcare, solar power, education and non-profit. Thomas Giles and Amrit Sandhar shared their insights around the challenges HR faces in organizations to lead critical human capital initiatives that reflect contemporary business realities. Using data from Deloitte’s 2015 Global Human Capital Report, they guided the audience through the lacklustre report card from senior business leaders across the world regarding their organization’s HR capability. They also presented examples of organizations that have eliminated in-house HR due to a perception of its lack of ROI and, in response, redistributed key functions internally and externally.

Thomas and Amrit challenged the audience to reconsider their roles and to lead the charge on contemporary human capital initiatives by thinking outside the box, using data proactively to drive the agenda, rather than waiting for direction. Citing Peter Cappelli’s recent HBR article “Why We Hate HR…and What HR Can Do About It”, Amrit and Thomas suggested HR could up its game by setting the agenda; focusing on issues that matter in the here and now; acquiring business knowledge; highlighting financial benefits; and walking away from time wasters.

Examples of leading edge British and American client organisations demonstrated how HR can defy its popular image as “policy cop” and instead, through out-of-the-box thinking, deliver creative, strategic, and valued support to business leaders, teams, and their respective enterprises. There is hope for human resources, but the session stressed that responsibility fundamentally rests on HR professionals who want to forge a different reality.

Participant reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and Thomas and Amrit established some great new relationships with Northern California HR professionals. The session clearly underscored key messages of support for HR teams both in the United States and the United Kingdom. TGC and The Engagement Coach look forward to sharing this message with other organizations and associations later this year, as their partnership continues to support individual and organizational achievement globally.

Written by: Thomas Giles