Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM April 2020 | Page 16

HR CORNER NICOLE BELLOW, DBA, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP Sr. Human Resources Consultant Smarter HR Solutions, LLC 713-999-1205 | [email protected] www.smarterhrsolutions.com THREE TIPS for Getting the Most Out of Your HR Consultant A re you currently working with an HR Consultant to help tackle your company’s HR issues? If not, this could be a great tactic to create more efficient work practices in your business. If a full-time HR professional is currently not in your budget or not a daily necessity, outsourced HR services are a fraction of the cost of an in-house HR Manager. With hiring a contractor for your HR needs, you get targeted results, flexibility, and affordability. You’ll want to be sure that you’re getting the best return possible on your investment, so here are some tips: Tip 1: Be Upfront and Honest It may be difficult to relay to your consultant that there 14 MOMENTUM are employee-related challenges within your company. Perhaps you’ve ignored some key policies such as time and attendance management, disciplinaries, or maybe you haven’t given your line managers the tools they need to excel in their roles. Whether there are minor or serious issues, be upfront with your HR consultant. They can’t solve problems if they don’t have all the information. You’ll save time and money by being as honest as possible from the beginning even if this feels a little uncomfortable. Tip 2: Think Beyond Firefighting Companies usually decide to bring in an HR Consultant because they have a specific problem that needs to be dealt with immediately. Rather than using an HR Consultant as a quick fix, consider how you can involve your consultant to sharpen your policies, procedures, and organizational culture so issues are unlikely to occur in the future. Using an HR contractor to fight fires is sometimes essential. If you can look beyond fires, you could ensure your practices are in alignment with business goals while allocating your people strategically. Tip 3: How Can You Create a Longer-Term Relationship? Having an HR professional with expertise on your side can offer real peace of mind. If you don’t want to recruit a permanent member of staff or you simply don’t have that level of need currently, consider working with a consultant on a retainer basis. With an HR consultant on retainer, you don’t have tackle employee-related issues alone - you’ll have someone to assist in navigating your way through HR processes. Think about it this way – the next time you have an HR matter that you need assistance with, wouldn’t you prefer a professional on speed dial who’s already familiar with your business and the way you operate? Savvy HR consultants can bring a lot to the table and can completely transform the way you run your business. Be sure that you consider your role in the process though, and how you can get the very best possible results.