Why HR Practitioner Needs to Have Good Business Communication Skills

Many organizations start to believe that HR plays critical role for the organization. Amid the business uncertainty and rapid changes, HR is expected to bring transformation and unlock the capabilities to compete. HR needs to help the business achieving its goals and targets. However, it’s inevitable that during the implementation, HR faces multi challenges including the incomprehensible communications (Garton, 2017).

HR may have real operational obstacles and strategical issues to be solved, but lack of business communication skills can lead to another problem. Not only stakeholders decline and disagree with HR suggestions, but even worse, it could bring unsolved problems. Therefore, learning Business Communication is critical as well to support the business.

Jack E. Appleman, the author of 10 Steps to Successful Business Writing and the Professor in New York University, explains that better communication will result in better business results. For instance, during the implementation of DE&I initiatives to improve numbers of female and minorities employees, it will help everyone to be on the same page. Everyone will know what’s going on, why it matters, and how to achieve the target.

Communication is not my strong suit. It’s hard to explain in concise manner because I want people to know every piece of information that I have, but that’s a mistake. A good communication should have these several aspects, according to Professor Jackie.

What’s In It For “Me”? (WIIFM)

It’s a distinguish term during our class. Whenever we start the business communication, always remember to focus more on the reader (“me”). For instance, when we want to overcome with Senior Leader’s objection, we need to make them happy by addressing what they want and avoiding what they don’t want.

Create engaging and compelling arguments!

If you want to grab reader’s attention, you need to spend more time on developing the content. Make sure it uses effective sentences, shows the needs, and explain the benefits. A little advice, you can also give compelling titles by mentioning the business results (benefits).

Never use offensive words.

Sometimes it’s more intriguing and effortless to offend others than to construct thoughtful comment or reply. However, if we want to foster a good communication and relationship with our stakeholders, we need to be respectful and supportive. For instance, if you have sent them the data weeks ago but they keep asking you about it, you just need to use “subtle” mention to contain your frustration: “Please see … (from Aug 22nd email)” without adding useless and offending words.

Be enthusiastic!

When you present or you want people to give their attention, you need to be passionate of the topic you’re speaking. Therefore, make sure before the presentation you can have “me-time” to be mentally and physically ready. For some people, public speaking can be frustrated. Many tips you can find through internet about mediation and breath methods, or you can just focus practice to speak the first 2 minutes extensively. The first 2 minutes of your presentation means a lot to audience!

Move with purpose.

Although you are enthusiastic, but always do any movement with goals. Otherwise, people will think it’s too much and feel annoyed. If you see important people, like President, doing the public speaking, they may use hand gestures to deliver and emphasize on certain key points.

If HR practitioners can develop good business communication skills, it will not only nurture healthy culture inside organization, but also deliver good business results! Many researchers believe that good communication can help to improve healthier culture.

References:

Appleman, J. E. (2018). 10 steps to successful business writing. ATD Press (2nd ed.).

Garton, E. (2017). HR's vital role in how employees spend their time, talent, and energy. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 2023, from https://hbr.org/2017/01/hrs-vital-role-in-how-employees-spend-their-time-talent-and-energy?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=domcontent&utm_term=Non-Brand&tpcc=paidsearch.google.dsacontent&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7OqrBhD9ARIsAK3UXh2nEXrE8mIkqbD7N0yA7aXm9acJTyv8dmSD9yPlMVHBVBSQ6NW1Q20aAtI-EALw_wcB