'HR Is An Active Business Partner'

The panel discussion on "Coming of Age for Today's Most Prominent People Managers" at the BW HR Excellence Awards 2016 looked into various industry concerns, which included disruption caused by the new age employees, and the role of HR in strategy and technology. It was moderated by Raja Lahiri of Grant Thornton.

"HR is active business partner, that's how we see it," said Smriti Krishna Singh, CHRO, Sony pictures Limited. The key pillars of HR are its ability to be able to feel, understand and talk business. Being the owner of change, the importance of good relationships for HR cannot be stressed enough, especially to retain trust in transitional situations.

The CHRO and the team has to be responsible for outcome and productivity. It is this personal credibility that will induce HR to perform integral to the system. However, it is equally important on the part of CEOs to recognize the value that an HR person builds and ensure expertise is not lost.

HR professionals can have a significant role in building the organisation's culture. The theme of the company has to be inculcated fast. A very protective, ozone layer of culture is necessary to neutralize people from diverse background. "If you do not imbibe culture in the newcomer in 90 days they will imbibe something else. You need to have a communication as strong and effective as an Youtube channel," said Deodutta Kurane, President, Human Capital, Yes Bank.

It is the HR people who have to get the pulse of what people are feeling and be involved in tactical activities. "The core competency of HR is to understand motivations, and convert that to business, that gives teeth," said Harjit Khanduja, Vice President, HR, Reliance Jio.

It is the role of HR to manoeuvre mindset, which leads to mindshare, i.e., acceptance of mindset, which eventually leads to market share.