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Solution
To be a truly effective people professional, one must exemplify key behaviors and undertake activities that build trust and serve as a foundation for all professional dealings. Two professional behaviors from the CIPD Profession Map that epitomise being a people professional include acting with integrity and building trust.
Integrity- Acting with integrity means upholding high ethical standards, being honest and consistent in your dealings with others (CIPD, 2023). As someone who handles sensitive employee information and makes impactful people decisions, integrity is paramount.
Building trust- Building trust is also crucial as employees must feel comfortable openly sharing information with HR and following their guidance, knowing they have the organisation’s and individuals’ best interests in mind (CIPD, 2024). A people professional demonstrates these behaviors daily to establish themselves as a trusted advisor and source of support for all.
Two common professional activities of people professionals according to the CIPD Profession Map include consultancy and coaching.
Consultancy- As a consultant, people professionals leverage their expertise to advise managers and executives on the best people strategies and solutions to achieve business goals (CIPD, 2019). This involves understanding organisational objectives as well as workforce capabilities and needs to develop comprehensive HR plans.
Coaching- Coaching involves supporting employees through training, career development conversations, and performance management. It focuses on growing potential, addressing issues, and maximising productivity through guidance, feedback and setting goals. These activities demonstrate how people professionals positively impact individuals and drive business success.
Significance
Having people professionals serving in key roles is enormously valuable to organisations for tapping human potential and sustaining business success. Firstly, research shows a direct correlation between effective people practices – like learning opportunities, fair compensation, and inclusive culture – and increased employee engagement, retention, and job performance ( Osborne and Hammoud, 2017). When company values are aligned with individual values, outcomes are optimised. People professionals ensure strategic alignment of HR policies with the business to reap these engagement dividends.
Secondly, expertise in complex employment and labor laws allows mitigation of compliance risks that could lead to costly penalties, litigation, or reputational harm. Navigating regulations appropriately is paramount in today’s climate. Finally, talent acquisition, organisational development, and change management functions led by people professionals equip the workforce with skills and agility needed for changing market demands (CIPD, 2023). Their consultative, operational, and cross-functional perspectives aid strategic workforce planning and transformation over the long-term.
As a people practitioner, exhibiting integrity, building trust through relationships, providing consultancy, and facilitating coaching embody the role of a valuable people professional. By advising on talent strategies, complying with employment regulations, and developing staff competencies, HR strengthens an organisation’s competitive advantage and boosts financial performance.
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