HR constantly evolving

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend a HR Breakfast organized by Spencer Stuart Geneva around the theme "The Future of the Workplace". The very interesting presentations by Tobias Sattler (Associate Partner EY) and Emmanuelle Grosclaude (HRD L’Oréal Switzerland) have reinforced my vision of how the HR function must constantly pursue a transformation to bring added value to our companies.

As I pointed out during a presentation in Berlin this summer, the digitization of the HR function is already nearly an obsolete objective. Indeed, in order to attract and retain talents in our companies, digital is only a facet, a means but certainly not a result. Like the business offers its external customers, we must offer our internal customers (i.e. employees) a customer experience adapted to our reality, using its codes, its means, its tools, its references (I really like the summary given by GE on this subject (cfr. photo).

This requires that we are, as a professional HR, passionate in this area, curious and above all very agile in order to offer the organization quick adjustments to face the numerous and disruptive evolutions.

The goal of providing the most up-to-date, digital, intuitive and scalable customer experience allows HR to stop discussing a transformation based on different generation in the company, because everyone in today's world, with more or less effort, must adapt to technological developments.

In this area, L'Oréal has joined other companies in order to set up a questionnaire to objectively judge the level of appetite for the digital world of its leaders and then to see which training program (sensu lato) has to be developed to increase this result.

Finally, in his presentation, Tobias reiterated how giving sense to employees and enabling them to feel involved increases the commitment of employees and creates a real competitive advantage for those who are able to convey these elements.

In conclusion, this fascinating subject of transformation and constant adaptation of HR practice will not stop growing in organizations because failing this, our customers (internal or external) will quickly make us understand their dissatisfaction (cfr film attached).

Attracting and retaining the best requires us to be part of this journey, which is different for each organization because it has to adapt to the culture, values and beliefs of its leaders.