Leading HR in changing times

As is the norm after Covid-19, change has become part of our lives, and we have learned to quickly adjust and adapt.

The same principle applies in an organisational setting, where human resources (HR) is at the centre of driving change through people.

This is not always a simple process or exercise but necessary for the evolution and progression of people and the organisation at large.

One of the key factors that determine how an organisation embraces change is through its culture, which eventually culminates in a positive or negative employee experience, because culture and experience greatly impact performance and retention.

Organisational culture change is an element that requires concerted effort in many of our Namibian institutions and organisations, as it is the bedrock of all we do and deliver.

The challenge is converting culture into organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) that leads to positive business conduct, performance and outcomes. It is the pulse that keeps an organisation’s heartbeat and people's passion going even in the midst of change and challenges.

We have experienced volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) in the past, and we still are, but a new term that describes the turbulent times we live in is BANI – brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible.

Thus, as HR, we should be able to manage both VUCA and BANI in our organisational setups and be agile enough to realign and reposition ourselves to remain relevant.

Another paramount aspect that influences the effectiveness of an organisation is how organisations are transitioning from skill-focused rather than role-based functioning.

Roles can’t fill up an organogram anymore, but skills required for these roles are the differentiator and a game changer.

As a progressive HR leader, one needs to be conscious of the pressure points.

The role of HR is to galvanise people's agendas for maximum impact.

Who we are and how we show up as HR determines our value as a strategic and enabling partner, even in challenging and changing times!

*Oaitse van Staden is an HR professional working as the chief human capital officer at the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP).