{"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":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPeople & Leadership<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\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

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tJessica 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

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

It seems worrying in the first instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

HR skillsets need to change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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

More is expected from HR and People leaders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Really, it\u2019s no surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know organisations are having to work harder to not only attract, but keep, top talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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 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

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

We look at each of the top four skills HR leaders identified as most important in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Communications
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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

This includes \u2018soft skills\u2019 such as listening, sharing, collaboration, empathy and other interpersonal skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. People analytics <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

However, just 28% felt their current people analytics skills were expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Creativity <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

4. Tech savviness <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

However, just a quarter (25%) of leaders currently think of themselves as tech experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expectations of HR and People teams are changing <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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

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

What skills will the HR leader of the future need? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

The HR and People team of the future will include an army of experts in each of these fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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The People team of tomorrow<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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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\tDownload your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/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\tSubscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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