The Evolving Role of HR and Recruiting

Waking up in Chicago at the start of TalentNet Live followed by Illinois SHRM, I am thinking about the messages I am about to deliver.  They are two very different sessions but each ties to the evolving role of HR and recruiting professionals.

As I’ve witnessed in my career, those who seem to get ahead and lead organizations and divisions, the real “on the ground” thought leaders, must take an active role as business leaders and not be solely defined by the HR or recruiting title.  It seems odd that in a relatively short amount of time, less than thirty years, the role of the leader in this industry has taken on such fast evolution.

Gone are the days where we only think of job boards and  compliance.  Gone too are the years where the focus was on the “soft” areas such as performance management and coaching.  Those are all still important areas, but from where I sit, I see leaders with a strong finance focus, those who understand the ebbs and flows of the business, those who help lead the marketing of the employer brand, and those technologically driven as the ones who are advancing.

What are you seeing from your seat?  What direction do you think HR and recruiting leaders are evolving into?