Andrea Butcher thinks we’ve over-complicated HR. “We’re making tools and processes for the business and not for people,” Butcher tells her Indianapolis audience of HR professionals. “So no wonder people don’t like us, because we complicated it. We’re confusing it.”
Exhibit one in her presentation is the job title: HR Business Partner. “What the f*** does that mean,” Butcher asks, pointing to a screen displaying this definition: “The HR Business Partner (HRBP) position is responsible for aligning business objectives with employees and management in designated business units. The HRBP serves as a consultant to management on human resources-related issues.”
The point she makes is that as HR people have moved closer to being business people, they’ve lost some of the focus on the people. “There is this core of caring for people. That’s what it’s all about.” says Butcher. “And we can’t expect anyone else to bring that. That’s our job.”
By focusing on the employees in an organization, HR is contributing to the bottom line, Butcher argues. “As the rest of the business is focusing on the bottom line, we get to focus on people. And look, that is what actually drives business results.”
What she has to say may seem contrary to the direction the HR winds are blowing, well, it is and it isn’t. Hear how she explains it to her DisruptHR audience.
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In partnership with DisruptHR, TLNT presents some of the best Disrupt presentations from events across North America and now the world. Disrupt talks are modeled on the TEDx concept: Short, to the point talks on all things HR — talent, culture and technology.
