Dive Brief:

• As "stewards" of any organization, HR must work hard to become "strategic", starting at changing their mindset, according to TLNT.
• For many, HR is followed by a dark cloud of bad memories. Those hostile to HR have had a less-than-positive HR experience, like a bad performance review or losing a job promotion, TLNT notes.
• The challenge is that as HR tries to be more relevant and more strategic, it's in many ways fighting an uphill battle on both internal and external fronts. As such, any success with relevancy requires that business peers view HR in a different light.

Dive Insight:

This shift in mindset will require a "methodical approach," including what the article calls "offline conversations" with business decision makers about how an HR leader and their entire department can add value to the business. Any of HR's ideas and programs will require sponsorship and support from other senior managers.

Taking this first step will be difficult but it's necessary, the article says. Non-HR leaders must have a clearly drawn picture of HR's value to the business, which can be easily created if HR has spoken to the right people.