HR Unclassified – Revealing the Secrets of HR is a new column from the HR Exchange Network.  Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources officer for Igloo Products Corp. Dr. Jeanette Winters believes HR shouldn’t be a black hole of information guarded like Fort Knox, but rather a well spring of knowledge available to all.

Every month, Dr. Winters will focus on a relevant and topical HR subject and explain its intricacies so as to declassify it for HR professionals.

HR Exchange Network Editor Mason Stevenson sat down with Dr. Winters to discuss the new column.  Their conversation follows.

Mason Stevenson

What’s the name of your column?  Can you explain its origin?

Jeanette Winters

The human capital domain is so broad and so deep that its complexity can be deceiving. Not "everyone" can "do" HR (without the requisite training!) and none of us ever know it all. The column is intended to give readers the opportunity to bandy things about for comment, contrast or contrary opinion.  We plan to create a forum where the dialogue flows creatively, constructively and with authenticity.  Our mission is to offer one perspective, inviting others into the conversation where we can tap our colleagues globally.

Mason Stevenson

What topics will you focus on?

Jeanette Winters

We won't be:

• responding to specific situations,
• serving as Ann Landers for HR professionals
• Offering legal, spiritual or cultural advice

We will:

• highlight trends
• address contemporary issues
• consider the changing nature of work and what that means for us as workforce managers & professionals
• offer examples of best practices
• enable my colleagues to have a place to vent

Mason Stevenson

If you were asked to give a speech on the State of HR, what would be its theme?

Jeanette Winters

Courage: now more than ever ...

Mason Stevenson

What are the top three challenges you see for the average HR professional?

Jeanette Winters

1. Attracting and retaining talent
2. Addressing issues evolving out of engagement (or lack thereof)
3. Crafting meaningful data analytics and the story they tell

Mason Stevenson

How do you mitigate or address those?

Jeanette Winters

1. Attracting and retaining talent -

• define your employee value proposition in a meaningful and realistic manner;
• use Linked In and other social platforms to recruit passive candidates
• recognize that if you aren't finding candidates you may have crafted a purple squirrel job description (meaning rare, once in a lifetime sort of search)
• treat employees with respect
• offer development opportunities
• know the company's strengths and weaknesses - we all have someone- deal with these head on

1. Addressing issues evolving out of engagement (or lack thereof)

• hire a committed team of HR pros;
• don't assume you know what's on the minds of your employees
• don't attempt to solve your top ten - go for 1-2, fix those and then tackle the next 1-2
• train managers & leaders alike how to be good people leaders
• get to know your employees ... and not just their names

1. Crafting meaningful data analytics and the story they tell

• analyze data, build the story and work with leadership to address the issues
• learn how to tell a story using data
• don't assemble a novel length metrics package and expect anyone to care!

Mason Stevenson

Fun question:  Favorite television show of all time?

Jeanette Winters

I have never been much of television watcher except for sports and the Sunday morning political shows.  However, I have recently been binge watching The Good Place (thank you Netflix)- and am totally hooked!

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