The Top 18 Skills HR Leaders Are Focused On Developing
By Expert Panel
As the world rapidly evolves, HR leaders find themselves at the forefront of driving organizational success through talent management and development. To stay ahead, HR leaders are increasingly recognizing the need to acquire new skills beyond traditional HR competencies. From leadership and language proficiency to "hard" skills relevant to the digital age, the quest to enhance both work and personal lives has led HR professionals to embrace continuous learning and upskilling.
Below, 18 Forbes Human Resources Council members share the common new skills they aspire to acquire, recognizing the pivotal role these skills play in improving work performance, fostering collaboration and achieving work-life balance.
1. Understanding Data Analytics
A grounding in data analytics will be a foundational skill for everyone in the future. It will be critical to understand the data and the questions that need to be asked to make data-driven decisions. Even if you aren't going to be a data scientist, you still need to understand the data inputs and outputs to think about data in different ways and apply it effectively in decisions. - Maria Leggett, AvidXchange
2. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence
One valuable skill that can significantly improve both work and life is emotional intelligence (EI). Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand and manage our own emotions and the emotions of others. Developing EI can lead to better communication, improved relationships, more effective leadership, better conflict resolution and more adaptability to change. - Gordon Pelosse, CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association
3. Applying AI-Generated Content More Efficiently
With ChatGPT recently becoming public, it is important for everyone to develop skills with AI tools, especially HR leaders. AI-generated content needs a set of human eyes but can increase efficiency and lead to new ideas. More importantly, AI is likely to play a major role in shaping the future of HR and the world, so developing those skills now is critical to surviving in the future. - Niki Jorgensen, Insperity
4. Listening Skills
I consider myself a fairly good listener, but I want to improve my listening skills and focus on learning to actively listen and engage with who I'm talking to instead of what I do too often— listening to respond. Relationship building is so critical in our profession. Building active listening skills is something I believe will improve my work and personal relationships. - Hazel Kassu, Sudduth Search
5. Managing Intellectual Capital
Successful HR professionals must learn and comprehend the management of intellectual capital, not in the traditional sense of intellectual property, but rather in terms of the value of knowledge, skills, culture and values that can enhance organizational performance. This skill could be a sustainable success factor in coordinating overall business and HR activities. - Dr. Nara Ringrose, Cyclife Aquila Nuclear
6. Demonstrating Humility
Acknowledging one’s limitations and fostering a humble mindset offers benefits to personal growth and relationships with others, both at work and in life. As a life skill that values positivity and serving others, humility can be learned through self-reflection, practicing gratitude and empathy, developing a learning mindset, seeking feedback and active listening. - Jennifer Rozon, McLean & Company
7. Improving Candidate Sourcing
Candidate sourcing is an essential part of the recruiting process, which in turn is integral to HR. Though my background is in recruiting and sourcing, I’m always looking to improve. I find that the more I understand about these areas, the current job market and what candidates want, the better job descriptions I’m able to write in order to attract and hire the right people the first time. - John Feldmann, Insperity
8. Making Strategic Decisions
I, like most HR leaders, am highly adept at handling the day-to-day operational aspects of the role as this is a continuous change and need across the organization. Further developing and honing my strategic decision-making skills will enable me to HR strategies with business objectives and influence the organization's direction. - Julie Hankins, NNIT
9. Asking Better Questions
I want to learn how to ask better questions relating to my company’s product, to support my team and to connect with my family. An easy example on that front is not just asking "How was your day?" when my kid gets in the car, but trying instead to draw out more insight into their experience and emotion by asking things like, "What's something you know now that you didn't know yesterday?” - Ursula Mead, InHerSight
10. Managing Emotions In A Healthy Way
One new skill I'm excited to learn is emotional intelligence. I believe honing this will greatly improve both my leadership capabilities at work and interpersonal relationships in my personal life. Emotional intelligence encompasses understanding and managing emotions, and it fosters better communication and empathy, which are critical in any human interaction. - Joseph Soares, IBPROM Corp.
11. Acting With Intention
I think it's important to do things with intention and ensure all professional and personal opportunities are aligned with your goals. Being intentional can be hard when life takes over, work gets busy and it's hard to keep your head above water, so you focus just on "doing." Learning how to stop, focus on data and question relevance, impact and alignment is key to improving all aspects of life. - Halai Shukran, Pluribus Digital
12. Elevating Project Management Skills
Elevating my project management skills is the area I am focusing on for the most significant impact on my work and my personal life. This means strengthening my communication, adaptability, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Combining efficiency with timeliness saves time and enhances leadership. - Leigh Yanocha, Knopman Marks Financial Training
13. Embracing Inclusivity
One skill close to my heart is inclusivity. It has a profound impact on work and life, particularly for HR professionals. Embracing inclusivity fuels acceptance of the organizational programs, amplifies their impact, reduces change management efforts and minimizes failure risks. Personally, it ignites growth, fosters meaningful connections and brings boundless joy to every aspect of life. - Sudhir Singh, Sound Agriculture
14. Communicating Effectively In Public
One skill I would like to enhance and develop is articulate and succinct public communication. Effectively conveying ideas and organizational objectives with clarity and brevity is a critical leadership component. Improving my skills in this area would enhance transparency regarding my company's mission and values as well as help me better communicate internal priorities to team members. - Laura Spawn, Virtual Vocations, Inc.
15. Optimizing Efficiency With AI
Leveraging new AI platforms to optimize efficiency is a prioritized area for future development. While AI will never be a substitute for critical thinking, it can expedite a few workflows in both my personal and professional life. - Nicole Devine, PBO Advisory Group
16. Becoming A Thought Leader
Thought leadership is a crucial skill for HR professionals. By honing this ability, HR practitioners can become trusted advisors and influential voices in the field. It enables staying updated with industry trends, offering innovative solutions to challenges and enhancing employee engagement. Thought leadership fosters continuous improvement, benefiting organizations as a whole. - Kimika Banfield, Arootah
17. Fostering Healthier Relationships
One skill that I'd like to continue to improve on in both work and life is emotional intelligence, or self-reflection, active listening, empathy-building and continuous learning. By cultivating this skill, I will be able to create a positive impact in the lives of others by fostering healthier relationships, effective communication and overall well-being. - Domonique Revere, Ph.D., Adjaye Associates
18. Creating A Work-Life Balance
I discovered there's no clear-cut work-life balance but rather a work-life tradeoff. Sometimes, work must take a backseat to life events, and vice versa. I'm learning to navigate this intricate dance, prioritizing and making decisions based on the demands of each moment. This constant adjustment is gradually leading me toward an equilibrium that feels balanced and fulfilling. - Siddharth Sharma, JP Morgan Chase & Co.