Biggest Challenges Faced by a People Partner at Cisco Systems
Carolyn's biggest challenge as a People Partner at Cisco is the significant emotional component of the role, being "the face of HR" and often a confidante for employees facing both work and personal difficulties. This requires a skillset in managing emotional demands while ensuring employees feel heard and supported, a challenge that, while rewarding when successful, makes the job difficult at times.
Emotional Intelligence, Human Resources, Communication Skills, Problem-Solving, Workplace Dynamics
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Carolyn Wright
People Consultant - People Partner
Cisco Systems, Inc
American University
UCLA Anderson School of Management, MBA
International Relations & Affairs
Technology
Human Resources (HR)
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. The emotional aspect of the role was unexpected and requires skill-building.
2. Balancing emotional support with professional responsibilities is a key challenge.
3. The role often involves handling a wide range of HR-related issues and personal employee matters.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
I think the biggest challenge in my role, specifically in human resources business partner work, is that you're often the face of HR to many people. Even if you're not directly aligned with a particular project, program, or benefit, you'll still receive feedback on anything HR-related.
People also often want to talk about what's going on in their lives, so they reach out. There's a real emotional component to this role that I don't think I was fully prepared for.
It's a skill I've had to build while in the role: how do I manage all of that and be present for people when they're facing difficult times, either at work or in their personal lives? How do I make space for that in a way that's okay for me, while allowing them to be heard, seen, valued, and know that I'm listening and on their side?
I think that can still be rewarding when I see it fully through and get good feedback. But it definitely is a challenge, and it's something that makes this job difficult on some days.