{"id":8127,"date":"2020-10-28T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sage-people-scraping-gb.local\/?p=1107"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:05:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:05:53","slug":"skills-hr-leaders-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/skills-hr-leaders-future\/","title":{"rendered":"4 skills the HR leader of the future needs to thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/people-leadership\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">People &amp; Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t4 skills the HR leader of the future needs to thrive\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2020-10-28T13:00:37+00:00\">28 October, 2020<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"4 skills the HR leader of the future needs to thrive\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/skills-hr-leaders-future\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/jessicafuhl\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/10\/Jess-fuhl.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Jessica Leyshon<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How would you rate your skills as a HR leader? Surprisingly, when we asked 500 HR leaders this question, fewer than one in three said they\u2019d rate themselves as expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It seems worrying in the first instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, with increasing demand for skills such as People analytics, behaviour sciences and employer branding \u2013 it really reveals the increasingly expansive role of HR in organisations today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If HR directors need to be a jack of all trades, then it\u2019s inevitable they may feel like a master of none sometimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hr-skillsets-need-to-change\">HR skillsets need to change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that new skillsets are required was one of the biggest findings from our recent research report, The changing face of HR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, 86% of HR leaders we spoke to think the role of HR director will unrecognisable in 10 years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, the top skills HR directors identified as important in the coming years were also the areas where they feel they have the biggest gaps: tech-savviness, creativity and People analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-is-expected-from-hr-and-people-leaders\">More is expected from HR and People leaders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Really, it\u2019s no surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We know organisations are having to work harder to not only attract, but keep, top talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fast-growth progressive companies who want to get ahead know the value of putting people at the top of the business agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More is expected from leaders of HR teams as a result, as they move from being traditionally seen as backroom function, towards offering more strategic value and contributing to business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combine this with new increasingly complex compliance regulation in HR; new work styles such as the growth of the contingent workforce and gig economy; the varying expectations of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/five-ways-manage-multi-generational-workforce\/\">multi-generational workforce<\/a>; stubbornly low productivity and engagement; and the emergence of new digital technology in both the workforce and HR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So it\u2019s hardly surprising that there\u2019s huge pressure on HR leaders to call on a wider range of skills as they respond in these new emerging roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We look at each of the top four skills HR leaders identified as most important in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-communications\"><strong>1. Communications<br>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was cited as the top necessary skill for the future by HR leaders we polled. Over three-quarters (76%) said they thought communications would be important in three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This includes \u2018soft skills\u2019 such as listening, sharing, collaboration, empathy and other interpersonal skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-people-analytics\"><strong>2. People analytics <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over three-quarters (76%) of HR and People leaders thought People analytics would be important in three years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, just 28% felt their current people analytics skills were expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-creativity\"><strong>3. Creativity <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">73% of HR and People leaders said creativity would be important in three years\u2019 time, and yet only 28% rated their creativity skills as expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-tech-savviness\"><strong>4. Tech savviness <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Digital technology is one of the biggest drivers of change, and almost three-quarters (73%) of HR and People leaders thought tech savviness would be important in three years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, just a quarter (25%) of leaders currently think of themselves as tech experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-expectations-of-hr-and-people-teams-are-changing\"><strong>Expectations of HR and People teams are changing <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Expectations of HR leaders are evolving, but not just across the business world. 69% of HR leaders we polled said they believe employee expectations of HR are changing too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In today\u2019s changing world of work, people want to be part of an organisation they believe in and creates great workforce experiences for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do that, a company needs to know this right at the top \u2013 and that\u2019s where HR come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not only can HR and People leaders demonstrate the value of becoming people-focused on the bottom line, but they can drive these people-focused changes across the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-skills-will-the-hr-leader-of-the-future-need\"><strong>What skills will the HR leader of the future need? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, these new ways of working require different approaches and skills: analytics, marketing and communications expertise, tech savviness, creativity, and behavioural science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The HR and People team of the future will include an army of experts in each of these fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, the HR Director or CHRO of the future must be a leader of all these trades, and an expert in one: choreographing these new roles and responsibilities, driving people decisions with commercial shrewdness across the business and demonstrating value as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">The People team of tomorrow<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discover the four crucial skill sets HR and People teams need to adapt and flex to new challenges and shifting organisational needs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-fb5db6b3-c953-425b-bf6c-c37800ecf570\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free 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\/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:00:00+01:00\">14 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAR Automation: How to reduce DSO\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-32004 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-technology-innovation tag-ai tag-business-performance tag-circular-economy tag-construction tag-enterprise-management tag-international-trading tag-manufacturing tag-midsized-business tag-performance-management tag-reporting tag-supply-chain tag-workplace-technology business_type-medium-sized-business industry-chemical industry-construction industry-distribution industry-food-beverage industry-healthcare industry-manufacturing industry-non-profit industry-professional-services\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/why-uk-finance-teams-cant-close-faster\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-944515884-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Preparing the team for new business requirements\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-944515884-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-944515884-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-944515884-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:00:00+01:00\">14 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhy UK finance teams can&#8217;t close faster\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-31997 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-technology-innovation tag-ai tag-business-performance tag-circular-economy tag-construction tag-enterprise-management tag-international-trading tag-manufacturing tag-midsized-business tag-performance-management tag-reporting tag-supply-chain tag-workplace-technology business_type-medium-sized-business industry-chemical industry-construction industry-distribution industry-food-beverage industry-healthcare industry-manufacturing industry-non-profit industry-professional-services\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/real-cost-of-manual-accounts-payable\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1143476224-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1143476224-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1143476224-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1143476224-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:00:00+01:00\">14 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThe real cost of manual accounts payable\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-32002 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations category-technology-innovation tag-ai tag-business-performance tag-circular-economy tag-construction tag-enterprise-management tag-international-trading tag-manufacturing tag-midsized-business tag-performance-management tag-reporting tag-supply-chain tag-workplace-technology business_type-medium-sized-business industry-chemical industry-construction industry-distribution industry-food-beverage industry-healthcare industry-manufacturing industry-non-profit industry-professional-services\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/financial-close-checklist\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Looking at business data\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1473163791.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:00:00+01:00\">14 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">1 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is a financial close checklist?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The top skills HR leaders identified as important in the coming years were also the areas where they feel they have the biggest gaps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1118,"featured_media":7220,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"10","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[240,159],"business_type":[3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[69,71],"imagine_tag":[92,217,96],"coauthors":[397],"class_list":["post-8127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people-leadership","tag-hr-processes-medium-businesses","tag-midsized-business","business_type-medium-sized-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Jessica 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