HR Consulting in the Grey:�How to Provide Strategic Advice that Leads to Sound Decisions

Mani Vang, Senior Director

OHR Employee & Labor Relations

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One HR: Shaping the Future of Work Together

HR in Balance

Policing Partnering

Reactive Proactive

Operational Strategic

Quality Quantity

Short-term Long-term

Administrative/Transactional Consultative

Functionally-oriented Business-oriented

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Adapted from ”Human Resource Champions” by Dave Ulrich

Operating in the Grey Zone

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This is rare.

Most of our time is spent here.

This is rare.

Competencies

What competencies are important to help you navigate the grey?

• Dealing with ambiguity
• Flexibility
• Adaptability
• HR Business Acumen
• HR Technical Knowledge

HR is an onion.

Look beyond the first obvious answer

• Do you fully understand the situation?
• What other information are you missing?
• Who else might you need to talk to?
• Are there other possible solutions?
• What are the ripple effects of the decision(s)?

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Increase Your Ability to Give Strategic Advice

• Continuously educate yourself
• Know priorities, programs, people, budget, values, vision…
• Attend department meetings, faculty presentations
• Read your college’s newsletter, UMN Brief, etc
• Be curious – ask questions – store information
• Listen carefully

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Increase Your Ability to Give Strategic Advice

• Offer options/solutions
• Maintain technical HR competency
• Understand problems/goals
• Set & meet service timelines
• Use efficient processes

Exercise 1

HR Leadership Panel

• Joy Wise-Davis, HR Director, School of Dentistry
• Mia Riza, HR Director, College of Design
• Sarah Mattson, HR Director, Morris Campus

Exercise 2 - Reflection

Thank you