HRBP Kindness
Moving towards Partnership and away from Commodity
Rekia, the CIO and your business partner (BP), wants you to change to the CIO Retreat. In the morning, she wants you to facilitate communication training. Attendees will be direct reports and their direct reports — 37 VPs and senior directors. What do you do?
As HRBPs, we are tempted to please. When we deliver what is asked, we think we will have earned our place with the BP. Doing so feels good unless we disagree or question the request. When we proceed with the questionable request, we slowly slip away from having a partnership to being more of a commodity.
The HRBP role isn’t to appease BPs like Rekia and do what is asked without question. That is the path towards being a commodity and offering a reduced value. What results is a minimal contribution towards achieving business goals. The BP doesn’t need you if you fail to bring perspective and insight.
A genuine partnership begins with raising a BP’s awareness by asking powerful questions to keep the BP focused on achieving business needs.
