How To Navigate Your New Role as a CHRO

Congratulations! You got the job — you’re officially a CHRO. Now what?

Being a CHRO is a lot like being the captain of a ship. The vast ocean represents the intricate world of being in HR, one that’s filled with unpredictable challenges, hidden treasures in the form of opportunities, and prospects for innovation. 

Your mission? To navigate the seas of organizational strategy, harness the winds of change, and steer your corporate ship towards the horizon of success. But, like every seasoned captain, you need a map; a set of guiding principles and strategies to ensure a smooth journey in your new role. So if you’ve been looking for one, look no further. Your search ends here.

Let’s delve into the essential tips that will help guide your tenure, making waves of positive impact as you navigate your role as a CHRO.

Come Prepared with a Game Plan

When you’re stepping into the powerful shoes of a CHRO, it’s essential to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve right from the beginning. Here’s a golden nugget of advice: if you want to establish a commanding presence in the top-tier executives’ realm, arm yourself with a results-focused strategy.

To set you on the right path, here are some key areas to consider pronto:

• Spot opportunities for immediate improvements.
• Identify areas where the company is under pressure.
• Determine where you can bring the most value with your experience and ideas.
• Understand the company’s long-term aspirations to draft a solid action plan.

Moreover, familiarize yourself with the organizational framework. This, combined with assessing the skills of your new team, is pivotal. And let’s not forget, the essence of your role should be defined from the start. While it might seem a tad predictable, setting clear goals for your initial months and the legacy you want to establish is crucial to your success.

What to include in your CHRO strategy

A top-notch strategy requires deep knowledge of the company’s core needs. A forward-thinking approach arises when HR connects authentically with your business trajectory.

Ultimately, the essence of HR is being the backbone and catalyst for the company, steering the leadership towards the firm’s primary objectives.

Even if you’re eager to revolutionize things, all paths should lead back to the business’s core requirements. To be a leader ready for tomorrow’s challenges, start by diving deep into the company’s issues, understanding them fully, and then harnessing relevant data to find solutions.

Craft a Strong Support System

Starting as a CHRO can be overwhelming, which is why it’s crucial to have a support system in place. 

Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and colleagues who can provide insights, share experiences, and give constructive feedback. Having regular check-ins with these individuals can help you stay grounded, make informed decisions, and provide a fresh perspective when faced with challenges.

Gather Employee Feedback

Direct insights are invaluable to you as a CHRO. 

By actively seeking feedback from candidates — whether they joined, were turned down, or declined offers — organizations can continually refine their recruitment processes. Similarly, understanding the motivations and concerns of current employees can provide valuable insights into what’s working and what’s not.

This ongoing feedback loop ensures that HR strategies are always aligned with the evolving needs and sentiments of the workforce.

Foster An Open Communication Policy

Clear communication is the cornerstone of any successful HR strategy. As a CHRO, encourage an open-door policy where employees at all levels feel comfortable sharing their concerns, feedback, or ideas. 

As Pitbull likes to say, time is money. Therefore, regular town hall meetings or feedback sessions can provide valuable insights and help in the early identification of potential issues.

Fix Existing Skill Gaps

The traditional approach of valuing experience over skills is being challenged in the modern workplace. Given the fierce competition and evolving job roles, it’s essential for CHROs to delve deeper into the existing skill gaps within the organization. 

By investing in training and development initiatives, companies can nurture talent from within, promoting a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Think Outside the Box for Talent

Traditional hiring methods, while reliable, might not always yield the desired results in today’s competitive talent market. A fresh approach can involve engaging current employees in referral programs or hosting unique events like hackathons. These initiatives not only bring in fresh talent but also strengthen the company’s employer brand in the market.

Promote Internal Mobility

Organizations that thrive are often those that recognize and nurture talent from within. 

Creating or using a dedicated HR platform for employees to explore and apply for varied roles within the organization can have manifold benefits. It not only enhances employee satisfaction but also aids in retention, as employees value growth opportunities and diverse experiences.

Build a Diverse and Inclusive Environment

In 2023, it’s a no-brainer — diversity and inclusion should be at the forefront of any CHRO’s strategy. 

A diverse workforce brings in varied perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity. It’s essential to ensure that company policies are inclusive and that there are programs in place to promote diversity at all levels of the organization.

Leverage All Resources Available 

The world of HR is ever-evolving. To stay ahead of the curve as a CHRO, it’s essential to commit to continuous learning by leveraging all resources that are available to you, like technology, data, and more. Here’s how: 

Participate in Workshops and Seminars

Attend industry-specific workshops and seminars that focus on the latest HR developments. These events provide opportunities to network with peers, learn from experts, and gain valuable insights.

Engage in Webinars and Online Courses

In the digital age, webinars and online courses offer convenient ways to acquire new knowledge. CHROs can choose from a wide range of topics, from HR technology trends to leadership skills development, all from the comfort of their offices or homes.

The menu of topics available is as diverse as the HR landscape itself. Want to stay ahead of the curve in HR technology trends? There’s a webinar for that. Craving insights into leadership skills development to navigate the intricate human dynamics within your organization? You’ll find a course tailored just for you. The beauty lies in the vast selection, helping you to customize your learning experience.

Pursue Professional Certifications

Earning those fancy HR certifications – think SHRM-CP, HRCI’s PHR, or AIHR’s HR Analytics certification – isn’t just about getting a gold star on your HR resume. It also demonstrates an ongoing commitment to staying on top of your field. 

These certifications often require ongoing education to maintain, reinforcing the need for continuous learning.

Encourage a Learning Culture

In the ever-evolving world of HR, CHROs are at the forefront of driving organizational success through effective people management. 

Hence, a CHRO can also play a pivotal role in fostering a learning culture within their organizations. By promoting continuous learning among their HR teams and throughout the entire workforce, they create an environment where knowledge sharing and growth are valued.

Anticipate Your Company’s Needs

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, being proactive is more crucial than ever — especially for those in HR. 

Rather than addressing hiring needs on an ad-hoc basis, CHROs should anticipate and project their recruitment needs for at least the upcoming quarter. This entails analyzing the business’s growth trajectory, the talent pipeline, and market dynamics.

Regularly revisiting these projections on a monthly basis ensures that the organization is always prepared to meet talent requirements, considering both internal resources and external market availability.

Upgrade Your HR Tech Stack

In today’s digital era, HR processes are evolving rapidly. It’s time to leave behind outdated tools and embrace the future!

In a world where top-tier candidates come and go quickly, it’s essential to utilize cutting-edge tools to supercharge your hiring process. Incorporating AI-powered solutions can work wonders in simplifying candidate sourcing, saving you countless hours of manual work. Furthermore, by introducing video interviews and digital assessments, you’re not only making life easier for candidates but also streamlining the experience for your interviewers.

This technological transformation doesn’t just speed up the hiring process; it can also lead to significant cost savings and create a more positive candidate experience, strengthening your brand along the way. So, don’t be left in the digital dust. Make sure you update your company’s HR tech stack with tools like Vacation Tracker to help everyone work smarter, not harder.

Ensure Employee Well-being

As a CHRO, you already know that a happy and healthy employee is often a more productive one.

Consider introducing a multifaceted approach to well-being within your organization. This could involve hosting regular workshops that educate employees on stress reduction techniques, promoting open dialogues about mental health, or even offering counseling sessions for those in need. In addition to these structured efforts, incorporating recreational activities into the workplace can inject a dose of fun and relaxation into the daily grind.

Keep Track of Metrics

As organizations across sectors increasingly lean into data-driven strategies, HR shouldn’t be left behind. Establishing a thorough understanding of your company’s current HR metrics is foundational for shaping effective strategies. 

It’s not just about collecting data but interpreting it in meaningful ways. Equip hiring managers with dashboards and analytic tools to help them assess their efforts and recalibrate as needed.

Step Outside the Box 

Traditional hiring methods, while reliable, might not always yield the desired results in today’s competitive talent market. 

A fresh approach can involve engaging current employees in referral programs or hosting unique events like hackathons. These initiatives not only bring in fresh talent but also strengthen the company’s employer brand in the market.

Lastly, Prioritize Your People

As a CHRO, your role is not just about managing HR functions; it’s about shaping the very essence of your organization: your people. From championing a robust organizational culture to building trust and enhancing employee retention, your initial months in this pivotal position set the stage for long-term success.

Focus on Employee Experience

A positive employee experience is pivotal for retention. 

Streamlining processes, embracing technology, and ensuring transparency can drastically improve this. As a CHRO, regular communication about company performance, recognizing individual contributions, and creating a transparent two-way communication channel can foster trust and loyalty.

Champion a Strong Company Culture

A strong organizational culture goes beyond just values on paper. It’s about fostering an environment where employees feel valued and included. Prioritizing social responsibility and inclusivity can differentiate an organization in the market. Engaging employees in crafting and upholding these values ensures authenticity and resonance.

Build Trust and Reputation

According to a regional HR maven, it’s essential to concentrate on recognizing and executing top-priority tasks. By doing so, you can begin to cultivate trust both within and outside the company, strengthening your personal and professional brand.

Your initial months also present an excellent opportunity to set clear expectations. This involves understanding the CHRO’s core responsibilities, your HR team’s role, and how to sync harmoniously with the CEO.

Remain Accessible to All

While strategy and vision are vital, it’s equally important to stay connected with the day-to-day realities of the workforce. 

Periodic visits to different departments, informal coffee chats, or joining team meetings occasionally can provide a firsthand view of the actual challenges faced by employees. It can also make you more approachable and better informed when making decisions.

Focus on Retention

Talent retention is just as crucial as talent acquisition. 

By identifying standout performers and understanding their professional aspirations, CHROs can tailor retention strategies. This involves offering competitive compensation packages, recognizing loyalty, and celebrating those who consistently strive for personal and professional growth.

Wrapping it up

Embarking on your journey as a CHRO is thrilling, but remember, the key lies in balancing strategic thinking with empathy and understanding. Remember, after laying down a solid foundation, the journey doesn’t end. It’s about consistently meeting and surpassing expectations, and then laying plans as they come.

So, as you embark on this exciting CHRO journey, remember to enter with a plan, remain attuned to the business’s heartbeat, and build a legacy of trust. Here’s to a rewarding tenure filled with growth, challenges, and countless successes!

Snigdha Gupta

An avid writer and aspiring marketer, Snigdha is a student at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business.