People. First. Always.
Over the years I’ve been guilty of turning to procedure first for answers when it comes to HR issues. What does the disciplinary, capability or grievance procedure say we should do next? HR roles too often focus on policing organisational rules.
I’ve learnt that the best results come when we put the person first and the procedure second. Having focussed, human conversations can avoid the need for formal procedures at all. It’s so important to humanise our approach, particularly with difficult and sensitive issues like disciplinaries and redundancies. Too often HR can become gripped by ‘process paralysis’ and we end up not working with the unique human being in front of us. We are complex, and emotional beings, meaning we don’t fit into neat procedural boxes. Procedures exist to enable organisations to do the right thing. Apex HR believe we should be championing the need for a pragmatic, people-centred approach. If we do this, we’ll end up changing the way our work is viewed and enhance the impact we have on developing people and organisational culture.
