Putting People First: Top Issues for HR Consultants
Although analysts are forecasting tepid economic growth in 2013—a recent Reuters poll of approximately 400 economists worldwide points to expected global economic expansion around only 3.2 percent this year—even these modest projections for recovery have led some executives to reevaluate their organizations’ priorities.
“As the economy recovers, more employers are investing in talent management,” says Susan Cucuzza, ACC, BCC, CLC, an Executive Coach and the founder of Live Forward LLC. “This creates an opportunity for coaches, as well as for consultants who specialize in human resources and talent development.”
Susan points to The Conference Board CEO Challenge survey as evidence of business leaders’ shifting priorities. Administered since 1999, the CEO Challenge survey asks CEOs, presidents and chairmen from around the world to identify their most critical challenges for the year ahead. Entering 2013, survey respondents cited human capital as their top concern, eclipsing corporate reputation, government regulation and even customer relationships. Mercer’s 2012 Talent Barometer Survey illustrates what organizations are doing to fulfill this challenge: Among the organizations surveyed worldwide, 60 percent reported an increased investment in talent in recent years, while 77 percent reported that they have a strategic workforce plan in place.
Beneath the human-capital umbrella, Susan cites three top talent-management concerns of executive leaders and HR pros. Savvy HR consultants—as well as coaches—are wise to keep all of these on their radar as they market and deliver their services, she says.
On that note, when it comes to marketing the consulting side of your practice, don’t sell your coaching experience short. The same attributes and techniques that make you an outstanding coach, such as powerful questioning and a knack for direct, thoughtful communication, will enhance your consulting toolbox.
1. Engaging Their People
More than 100 recent research studies illustrate the correlation between employee engagement and employee performance. In the U.S., it’s estimated that disengaged employees cost organizations approximately 35 percent of their payrolls, with U.S. organizations experiencing a cost of $370 billion annually. What’s more, increased employee disengagement has been an unfortunate side effect of the recession: As cutbacks forced employers to do more work with fewer hands on deck, employee satisfaction and engagement suffered.
“HR consultants can aid organizations in administering employee engagement and satisfaction surveys to identify the level of engagement among employee groups,” Susan explains. This process helps reveal top factors of engagement, as well as where the gaps are. From there, the consultant can help develop an appropriate action plan.
If employee engagement is a top managerial concern, Susan says that integrating coaching and consulting can yield desirable results. “Engagement comes down to the strength of the relationship between manager and employee,” she says. “Coaching complements consulting through one-on-one coaching engagements in which leaders are coached in competency and behavior changes that impact their relationships with those who work for them.”
2. Getting the Right People
Although widespread unemployment means that there’s a seemingly large candidate pool, Cucuzza says that many organizations still struggle to “find candidates who have the critical skills they need.”
HR consultants can help an organization define necessary knowledge, skills, experience and behaviors, Susan says. “When done well, the organization is structured and roles are defined to meet the business strategy in the future,” she explains. An HR consultant can help clients take a proactive and forward-thinking approach to hiring.
The use of assessments in the hiring process has increased over the last decade as a way of more thoroughly and deeply evaluating candidates. HR consultants with a background in assessment can help clients develop and implement evaluation instruments—a service that larger organizations, in particular, might find useful.
3. Retaining Top Talent
“Companies are very concerned with keeping the top people,” Susan says. As the economy recovers and the job market expands, retention is increasingly on the radar of HR pros, earning the No. 1 spot on Bloomberg BNA’s ranking of the top 10 HR concerns in 2013.
A consultant can help the client design and execute retention strategies. “The answer might not be to automatically give a retention bonus to a key employee, for example. They might be highly skilled and produce results, but what if they aren’t engaged in the organization? What if their dream is to be in another role someday? Retention strategies include how to assess the talent and determine the right retention approach to use,” Susan says. “HR consultants help the organization structure the plan and apply the right approach to individuals.”
Whether you’re providing HR, management or financial consulting services as part of your overall practice, remember that knowledge is power: Staying abreast of contemporary trends and issues in your field of expertise will help you better target potential clients, market your services, lock down contracts and deliver the information and strategies for action that your clients need.
Abby Heverin
Abby Heverin is the Communications and Awards Manager for ICF, where her responsibilities include managing public relations, overseeing content strategy and development, assisting in the development and production of ICF industry research, and managing the Association's portfolio of awards programs.
The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.
Additionally, for the purpose of full disclosure and as a disclaimer of liability, this content was possibly generated using the assistance of an AI program. Its contents, either in whole or in part, have been reviewed and revised by a human. Nevertheless, the reader/user is responsible for verifying the information presented and should not rely upon this article or post as providing any specific professional advice or counsel. Its contents are provided “as is,” and ICF makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law specifically disclaims any and all liability for any damages or injuries resulting from use of or reliance thereupon.
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Thanks for the article detailing about the pros of using human resource consultancy services! I didn’t know that HR consultants can aid organizations in administering employee engagement and satisfaction surveys to identify the level of engagement among employee groups. That would mean that having an hr consultancy service is a pivotal point in a business. It’s because they’ll be the reason for the employees to be motivated or not. Additionally, this process helps reveal top factors of engagement, as well as where the gaps are. If I were a business owner, I would make sure to hire a reliable HR consulting service.
Very Informative and useful blog. I had a Great tine reading this, thank you for sharing this with us!
I really like that you took the time to focus on the importance of retaining the top talent. As you mentioned very briefly, retention strategies include how to assess the talent and determine the right retention approach to use. For the longest time, I thought that HR mainly focused on everyone getting along well and working efficiently, but I had no idea that they also focused on keeping strong talent inside the business. Thanks again for all the information on HR, and I think that this will be really beneficial to my wife who wants to become an HR representative one day.
This is some really good information about HR. I liked that you pointed out that you should try to find an HR expert who meets your needs. I like that you pointed out that you should know if you need someone with people skill, experience, or knowledge.
It is nice to know that a consulting service will be able to retain the top talent in the company. With this in mind, it must be easier for the business to be more efficient. I think that my fiance would like knowing this as he looks for a similar consulting service.
I really like how you talk about and address the situations and issues that HR consultants of today are dealing with. This is something that I have been really curious about because it is interesting to me how essential they really are to a stable and healthy work environment. It would be great if there were more HR services around that could help.
Hi, Thanks for such a great article I love to read this. I am in this field for the last 10 to 15 years and I have seen many Issues between this year. There are a lot of issues in this field but the main which I have faced many times that is Retention Because many of the people think that the main task of human resources is to source and employ new talent, But the truth is most of the HR activities revolve around retaining existing talent.
You’ve done an excellent job with this article. It’s not only informative, but it keeps the reader’s interest and it’s just plain smart.It is entertaining in places that need to be, yet forward and to the point when it supposed to be that way.
Immense Thanks, for sharing such a nice article. It will help me a lot. keep it up!
I really like how you talk about and address the situations and issues that HR consultants of today are dealing with. This is something that I have been really curious about because it is interesting to me how essential they really are to a stable and healthy work environment. It would be great if there were more HR services around that could help
It’s interesting how you said that the performance of employees is in part based upon how much they are engaged with. Hiring a good HR consultant who knows how to help maximize the effectiveness of your HR department would be a great way to get this kind of benefit. That way they know who to engage with and when to engage with them.
I am very happy to know that a consulting service will be able to retain the top talent in the company. With this in mind, it must be easier for the business to be more efficient. I think that my fiance would like knowing this as he looks for a similar consulting service.
Nowadays HR Softwares are used widely everywhere, so it is not an issue if they put people first or later
nice work, keep up the good work.
nice blog and information share is very help full for hr and employers both
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It makes sense that widespread unemployment suggests a large candidate pool. I wonder how many people don’t take advantage of this. Hopefully, this will be solved soon enough.
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