Strategic HR Lawyer

There have been some recent posts around the blogosphere about a recent HBR Working Knowledge article which tells us that HR has a new mandate - to be strategic.  I'm going to try to keep myself awake (or alternatively stop my little German temper from flaring up) while writing this post.....  New?  What on earth does that mean?  Have some of us just woken up?  You've go to be kidding me!  David Ulrich, whose books I have followed and read for several years now, has published this new book to tell us what we're supposed to be doing.  These are the same concepts that progressive HR practitioners have known for years.  If, as an HR practitioner you aren't connecting employee performance, stakeholder interests and corporate performance, stay back in the administrative office.

Here's what REAL HR professionals have been doing for years:

Meeting with customers:  The article suggests that "...twenty years ago, it would have been unthinkable for almost anyone in HR to even consider spending time with external customers."  Are you kidding me?  I hope companies aren't still hiring those types.  Many of us figured this out decades ago.

Value:  The article suggests that "The HR value proposition means that HR practices, departments, and professionals produce positive outcomes for key stakeholders, employees, line managers, customers, and investors." I say let's make sure we can measure these practices and outcomes, not just talk about them.

Premise of Value:  The article suggests that "Often, HR professionals have beliefs, goals, and actions that translate into things that they want to have happen in their organization‚Äîso they go straight for their desired results, without paying enough attention to the perspectives of others."  Sorry, Dave, but most of those HR professionals would have been fired 20 years ago.

I'll stop now.  You can read the article here.  So nice to know there's another book out that's going to tell all of us what we should have known 20 years ago.  We'll use fancy words and call it "new."  Seems like the themes emanating from that conference last week that Regina talked about (here) are still the same old, same old....

Hey Diane - I'm not sure what kind of HR people they are all hanging around with. For those of us who actually have been practicing what we learned from them along time ago, it doesn't seem like their book and newer mandate is adding much value!!