Experts groom HR practitioners to align with C-suite

FResource (HR) practitioners to fully understand what executive management of organisations expects from them, the need to get aligned with the C-suite has been emphasised.

Getting aligned with the CSuite, experts say, involves being strategic, understanding the business, developing business acumen and creating value for the growth and development of the organisation.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Omari Consulting Limited, Victor Banjo, who spoke on the theme: “Business Partnering: Addressing C-suite Expectations,” said HR practitioners must be serious commercial partners that should not restrict themselves to only expected HR issues.

At the 36th induction ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), in Lagos, Omari said: “Once you become aligned, then it is easier for the CEO to understand that when he or she needs someone to help deliver value, you will be the first person on his quick diary. They want you to lead the business through turbulence while they deal and engage with investors. As HR, we help them to run the business.

“A good HR practitioner would spend time seating with people such as the CEOS, CFOS, and you ask yourself: ‘what do you see in me? What are the critical things you want me to focus on?’ If you don’t do that as an HR person, you end up focusing on things that you like, and those things may not be important to your CEO, it is about alignment.

“It is when you understand all of that that you can become an effective partner and not appear lost when people are discussing serious matter, especially when they are in the boardroom.”

He admonished the newly-inducted members to “Share corporate culture, be accountable, develop bottom-line impact in your organisation, ensure you are seen as a source for competitive advantage to be credible too yourself.”

Earlier in his welcome address, President and Chairman of Council, CIPM, Wale Adediran, said the Institute has unleashed HR professionals that will help Nigeria develop both the private and public sector ends.

He expressed that the inductees are fully equipped to contribute their quota to the development of their companies, MDAS that they support, and collectively build the nation.