In the last post, we looked at Principle 1: Take Ownership of Your HR Vision. Let’s now add Principle 2 to our discussions.
Principle 2: Clarify Your HR Objectives
Just as a map guides us on a journey, well-defined objectives serve as navigational tools for HR leaders. By gaining clarity on our objectives, we focus on a purposeful course, ensuring that every HR initiative contributes to the organization’s overall success.
This Principle centers around the strategic practice of setting Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that align the HR function with broader organizational goals. OKRs provide a powerful framework that lets us define ambitious yet achievable objectives and measurable key results.
Principle 2 highlights the need for you to think strategically and align your efforts with the HR Vision and the organization’s vision and mission. Most people will tell you to set SMART goals. However, these goals can actually end up restricting innovation. You can develop specific and aspirational objectives that outline what you want to achieve with OKRs still using SMART criteria. These objectives act as guiding stars, directing HR initiatives toward tangible outcomes that contribute significantly to the organization’s success.
Similar to crafting an HR Vision, implementing OKRs for HR involves collaborative efforts with key stakeholders to gain valuable insights into the organization’s strategic priorities. You then translate these insights into measurable key results or milestones that indicate progress toward achieving the objectives. The OKR framework ensures that HR objectives are both ambitious and realistic, driving high performance and fostering innovation within the HR function.
Principle 2 also reminds us to regularly review and update these OKRs to adapt to changing business conditions. One good thing about OKRs is the objective may stay consistent while the key results keep changing as you make progress.
Goals or Objectives?
By adopting Objectives and Key Results, you position the HR function as a driving force in achieving organizational greatness, propelling the organization towards sustained excellence and impactful results. This principle instills a results-driven approach within HR, where purposeful objectives serve as beacons guiding initiatives toward the realization of the organization’s broader vision and mission. Through this strategic alignment, HR becomes a proactive enabler of success, contributing significantly to the organization’s growth and accomplishments.
These first two Principles set a solid foundation for successful HR leadership. The next important step? Building a Winning HR Team!
