Most Important Skills for a People Consultant or People Partner at Cisco
Carolyn, a People Consultant at Cisco, emphasizes three crucial skills for an HR Business Partner role: "advising...coaching and thought partnership," facilitation of meetings and conflict resolution, and "storytelling through data," a skill becoming increasingly vital in the HR field. This demonstrates the evolving demands of the profession, requiring a blend of interpersonal and analytical expertise.
Problem-Solving, Communication, Data Analysis, Advising/Coaching, Facilitation
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. Advising and coaching skills to help leaders solve problems
2. Facilitation skills to lead meetings, brainstorming sessions, and navigate workplace conflict
3. Data storytelling skills to analyze data and communicate insights to drive outcomes
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours in an HR business partner role?
I think one of the most important skills is advising. Often, leaders call on us to help them through a thorny problem. Being able to act as a coach, an advisor, or a thought partner they can brainstorm with is a crucial skill.
Another important skill is facilitation. Sometimes we are asked to lead meetings, offsites, or brainstorming sessions. We may also need to navigate conflict in the workplace. Helping people through conversations and discussions to reach actions, outcomes, or decisions is a great skill.
Finally, storytelling through data is really important. This means not just taking data from platforms, but understanding what it means for us and what we should do with it. We need to determine the outcomes we can achieve based on the data.
This skill is becoming more pronounced in the HR space. While other functions have done this for a long time, HR professionals are being asked to uplevel their abilities in this area. If you are considering a career in HR, it's a great skill to start developing early, as it can really set you apart as you begin your career.