It is hard to believe that 2016 is drawing to a close and a new year will soon be upon us.
As time goes by, many of us get caught up in the transactions that make up the human resources function – recruiting, onboarding, training, payroll, and benefits administration – the list goes on and on.
The New Year is a good time to step back and consider the big picture. What should you as a human resources professional, or as the head of operations, or as the owner of your company, address in 2017?
- Identify Human Resources contributions to Strategic Initiatives: What are the strategic goals that your company has for the next 1 – 3 years and how must the human resources function support them? Are you in a growth mode? Will you grow in a particular line of business or in a particular geography? What are the recruitment, retention, training, and development targets that you will need to meet to support these initiatives? What do your employee benefits and compensation plans need to look like to support these initiatives? How do you need to better define your employment brand and align your practices to your desired culture?
- Identify Technology and Outsourcing Opportunities: The demands in the human resources function that stem from the need to “do more with less” and to achieve legal and regulatory compliance increase each year. How can you evaluate your options in terms of utilizing technology to streamline or improve your processes? What about outsourcing? Are there functions that are best done by subject matter experts and/or are there transactional services that other vendors can do more cost effectively than you can by continuing to do them in house?
- Professional Growth and Development: Between now and year end 2017, what milestones are you planning to achieve with regard to your OWN personal growth and development? Will you be pursuing education, training, or other experiences to continue to round out your own development? How will you sustain and broaden your professional network? Are there professional or industry organizations that you should join or, if you are already a member, become more active in?
Considering these topics and choosing one or two specific tactics in each area would make for an excellent professional New Year’s resolution plan that could have a significant and positive impact on your career.
If we can assist you in any of these areas, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Hausmann-Johnson Insurance.
Happy New Year!
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