HRIS Skills of the Future - Part 1

Relationships as your Tapestry

Tim Whitley

Nov 07, 2023

Send me the magic!

Over the next several weeks, I will focus on essential skills and knowledge for HRIS professionals.

Many of us fell into our roles with little preparation or guidance; we are muddling through the best we can.

It doesn't need to be that way.

My goal with this series is to provide a framework for:

New HRIS professionals
Experienced HR tech folks looking to grow
Leaders seeking to support their HR systems teams

For a sneak preview, download the complete list here.

Let's get started!

Relationship Building

Relationships are foundational for those of us in HR Tech. They allow us to act as navigators in a complex technological ecosystem.

By building relationships in and outside our organizations, we drive long-lasting change. As Keith Ferrazzi states, "Success in life = (The people you meet) + (What you create together)."

Looking back on my career, I can see the thread of relationships running through my work. The community I developed provided insight into my work and the needs of my customers.

Like a tapestry, each relationship creates a strand that, when woven together, displays a vibrant and unique portrait of you and your work.

This outline is not comprehensive but a beacon to guide you in creating your unique mosaic.

Human Resources

The first and most important thread in your tapestry is your HR team members. They will show you how to build systems that work and have the additional benefit of improving your morale and engagement!

Here are three areas you can focus on:

Job Shadowing: This is the #1 area I would tell my younger self to spend more time doing. Spend some time in the weeds of HR work - open requisitions, help employees enroll in benefits, and type employee documentation. This work is vital for understanding colleagues and developing a user-focused approach.
HR Events and associations: Training on HR-specific topics like compliance will fill critical knowledge gaps and provide opportunities to grow your network. Join your local SHRM chapter or find an online community dedicated to HR.
Informal Gatherings: Team lunches, happy hours, and water cooler conversations build HR relationships. They also generate insights that may not appear in meetings or normal work functions.

Information Technology

Your relationship with your IT team can supercharge your projects. This work starts with meeting your critical contacts in IT. It continues with building formal networks like peer groups to prioritize shared tasks and maintain open lines of communication.

Bring Information Technology folks in at the beginning of your projects, and you will reap the benefits of their expertise.

Business Leaders

Engage the influencers in your organization outside of HR - business line leaders, product managers, and frontline staff. You need to know how your business operates.

If you are for-profit, how does your company make (or lose) money? If you are a not-for-profit, what are your funding sources? Who are your primary customers?

Getting to know these individuals and speaking their language will bridge the gap that often exists between HR tech projects and the customers they serve.

These individuals can help you test new products, provide insights, and become champions for your systems.

Your HRIS Community

I can't stress enough the importance of building an HRIS community. Seek those HR tech professionals near or virtually, learn from them, and share your insights. You will stay in tune with the broader world of HR tech and create a supportive network as we deal with the struggles of HRIS life.

Look for an announcement in the weeks to come on a community I have been working to build.

Final Thoughts

Margaret Wheatley said, "Relationships are all there is. Everything in the universe only exists because it relates to everything else. Nothing exists in isolation. We have to stop pretending we are individuals that can go it alone."

This quote encapsulates the pivotal role of relationship building as HR systems professionals. Our work isn't just data and technology; it's about people.

As you add more threads to your relationship tapestry, remember that each piece enriches the whole, adding warmth, color, and, most importantly, purpose to your HR tech journey.

Reader Questions

Send me your questions at timwhitley@hrtechwizard.com, and I will answer them in future posts.

Interesting Stories from the Week

Shifting From a Technical Expert to a People Manager Role in IT
I found this article interesting as I moved into a managerial role recently. It’s a mindset shift. I took for granted how much I missed being involved in the day to day. Read it here.
Microsoft Launches New AI Skills Training and Resources
I am a fan of free training, and you know this one from Microsoft will be quality. This type of training will be essential for those of us HR tech and the HR teams we support. See the article here.
Workforce Management Software Market revenue to hit USD 24 Billion by 2035
This blows me away and shows how quickly the HR tech industry is growing. We are in a great spot to use our unique skillsets for the benefit of our organizations. See the full article here.

HR Tech Career Opportunities

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise specified, I can’t speak to the quality of the job or the company. I am displaying jobs I have found online that seem to have broad appeal regarding job requirements and work location. If you have an HR tech job you would like me to highlight, please email it to me.

Workday People Technology Analyst - Klaviyo - Boston, MA
Posting here
HR Analytics Manager - Crooton - Remote (UK)
Posting here
Sr Organizational Development Specialist - Dealer Tire - Remote
Posting here