Shaping Your HR Role

This book has been written for the HR Practitioner and will provide readers with tools, guidelines, ideas, and strategies for developing their role within the Human Resources function. This text focuses on current issues and future trends in both the HR profession and the workplace. Organizations will continue to be forced to function in a lean and mean manner, HR professionals are now required to manage outsourcing functions and to move through multiple internal roles quickly. This book will act as a roadmap to help them plan and implement these roles quickly and efficiently, aligned to their organizations strategy.

Table of Contents:
Dedication Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Laying the Groundwork for Success Help Wanted: Competent and Confident HR Professionals The Opportunities The Challenges Making Development a Priority Bring Who You Are To What You Do References Chapter 2 What Does an HR Career Look Like Today?: Opportunities, Appeals, and Challenges The Opportunities: A Multitude of Options in Crafting an HR Career The Many and Varied Appeals of an HR Career The Challenges of an HR Career Concluding Remarks References Chapter 3 The Many Hats HR Professionals Wear Role Framework A Few Caveats Role Descriptions Primary Skills Required of Each Role Choosing One’s Role—Some Guidelines Consulting Careers Concluding Remarks References Chapter 4 The HR Career Success Model Why a Model? Underlying Assumptions of The HR Career Success Model The Model Additional Considerations Concluding Remarks References Chapter 5 Actions to Take: Learning About Yourself Experience—The Great Teacher What Skills Do You Bring to the Table? Traits—What is the Way You Approach the World? Values—What Would You Fight For? Likes and Dislikes—Knowing What Excites (and Deflates) You Emotional Intelligence—How Do We Manage Ourselves and Our Relationships? More Strategies for Gaining Self Knowledge Concluding Remarks References Chapter 6 Actions to Take: Learning About the Field Learning About the Functional Areas of HR Learning About Issues and Trends in HR Structured Learning Experiences Unstructured Learning Experiences Additional Guides, Steps, and Tips for Gaining Field Knowledge Concluding Remarks References Chapter 7 Actions to Take: Learning About the Organization Our Assumptions About Organizations The Success Model Factors Guides to Learning About the Organization Concluding Remarks References Chapter 8 Achieving Results: Pathways to Success Illustrative Case Studies Win-Win Passion Marketing by the Customer Demonstrating Impact Values Conflicts References Chapter 9 Your Future in Human Resources: Career Development Planning for the Savvy (and Sometimes Stubborn) The Case for Development Where Does Motivation Come From? Planning for Your Development: Getting Started Key Trends Affecting Your Plans Proven Development Steps The Next Dwelling House References Appendices Appendix A—Exercises and Activities to Gain Self-Knowledge Appendix B—HR and HR-related Professional Associations Appendix C—Interview Guide Appendix D—Example of HR Career Paths Index

About the Author :
Bill has been in the field of "people development" for over 30 years and has been a professor at GSU since 1990. Prior to his arrival at GSU, Bill was an organizational and human resources consultant for over ten years in three capacities-internally with General Electric Company, externally with a large, international consulting firm (Hay Management Consultants), and as an entrepreneur running his own consulting business. He also was a Human Resources Development (HRD) professional for the federal prison system, a public high school, and a university, as well as a professor of Counseling Psychology at Miami University of Ohio. His teaching assignments focus on non-training HRD interventions, including organizational career management, organizational development, and management consulting. In addition, Bill has guided numerous doctoral students to conduct their own research. His teaching style is student-centered; thus, he emphasizes the teaching of and learning from people more than subject matter, per se. His research interests include: employee involvement in decision making, innovative group career development strategies, consulting competencies for HRD professionals, and effective leadership of HRD functions. He has published over 80 articles in a variety of outlets, from the popular to the scholarly. Bill has been quoted frequently by local and national media on a range of "people issues" in the workplace. He served as editor of the Organizational Development (OD) Journal, a blind, peer-reviewed journal for OD professionals and academics. He also serves as a manuscript reviewer for several other scholarly journals. Bill was elected to and served on the Board of Directors of The Academy of HRD, the leading professional association devoted to HRD research. He has also served on the boards of several non-profit social service agencies and task forces, with the goal being to improve the lives of people and assist them in reaching their potential. Bi She has over 25 years' experience in consulting across a wide range of industries and has helped thousands of individuals resolve their career challenges. As an active faculty member of the American Management Association and an instructor at Emory University's Institute for Professional Learning, she delivers many courses in leadership, career development, and communication skills. Dr. Kahnweiler has been an internal consultant for GE Capital, AGL Resources, and the U.S. Dept. of Education. External consulting assignments have included projects with the Department of Homeland Security, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T, and the Coca-Cola Company. As Vice President of Manchester, an international human resources consulting firm, she delivered and marketed programs to senior executives. Earlier in her career, Jennifer was Director of Career Development and Placement at the University of Cincinnati. Jennifer is an entrepreneur and collaborated with Catalyst to create one of the first firm in the country to offer nationwide career assistance to relocating dual-income families. As a media expert, Dr. Kahnweiler writes a regular column on work issues for AARP The Magazine, which has a circulation of over 28 million readers. She has been a guest host and frequent career expert on JobTalk, a nationally syndicated weekly radio show on workplace issues and has also been interviewed on CNN radio. Jennifer has been published in over 20 trade and professional publications and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dr. Kahnweiler earned her Ph.D. in Counseling and Human Systems from Florida State University. She received her Masters in Counseling and Bachelors in Sociology from Washington University, St. Louis. She holds Master Career Counselor (MCC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certifications, and has served on the board of the National Career Development

Review :
"Combining HR science and soul, this soup-to-nuts book brilliantly tells how HR works, how HR pros make it work, and how you can make HR your career that works." -- Chip R. Bell, author, Managers as Mentors "With over sixty years of combined HR experience, the Kahnweilers' continued passion for HR comes through in this book. Their passion, however, does not preclude them from giving an honest portrayal of HR - the good and not-so-good. Their insights are right on, presenting the reader with a real foundation for success in HR. This book characterizes HR in real-world practical terms rather than in abstract superlatives, and illustrates the challenges HR professionals confront on a daily basis. This book is worthwhile for anyone in HR but particularly so for those somewhat new to HR and those considering an HR career. I wish I had read this book twenty years ago." -- Steve Hewitt, Senior Professional in Human Resources, The Hewitt Group