Gaining internal support is crucial for the success of any HR project. But how can you, as an HR professional, ensure that your project receives enough backing? This was the main question during the session by Bruno Bianchi, strategic advisor, at the 2024 麻豆原创 HR Connect. In this blog, we reflect on his inspiring session about leadership and speaking the right language.
Choosing the right story. That鈥檚 what the visitors of 麻豆原创 HR Connect 2024 did. After a plenary opening, breakout sessions offered various stories and insights. These sessions took place in several smaller rooms at the event venue DeFabrique in Utrecht. The attending 麻豆原创 customers and partners chose the story most relevant or interesting to them. 鈥淓veryone chooses their own story because everyone has different needs,鈥� said Bruno Bianchi as he opened his breakout session 鈥楥hoose your HR story and let leadership support your project.鈥� 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what鈥檚 important to remember. Everyone wants to achieve what鈥檚 important to them. That is the core of successful HR management.鈥�
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Bianchi bridged this concept to large HR projects, such as rolling out a talent management program or implementing a new HR information system. 鈥淭o make such a project successful, as an HR leader, you must continuously choose the right story. This means you not only need to have a clear understanding of your project and goals but also recognize whose support you need and how to approach these people.鈥�
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What鈥檚 in it for me?
鈥淲ithout the support of leaders, your project won鈥檛 get off the ground,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut every leader is different and has their own problems, priorities, interests, and ways of communicating. A production manager and a CFO, for example, have fundamentally different jobs, rhythms, and cultures. Additionally, you also deal with influential people who are not part of the management team. As an HR professional, you must continually tailor your message to the language of these specific individuals and ensure that you can explain within three minutes how your project benefits them directly. Change your words and choose the right story.鈥�
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鈥淏ecause ultimately, it鈥檚 not about you, it鈥檚 about them,鈥� Bianchi emphasized. 鈥淲hile you may be focused on HR, others within the organization have different KPI鈥檚 and a different perspective. You need to position your HR project leveraging the themes of: delivery of strategy, risk & governance, operations & financial, and other benefits. Only with the right story can you get people on board. Because everyone ultimately thinks about one thing: what鈥檚 in it for me?鈥�
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Get great at their world
Bianchi shared several important tips. 鈥淯se organisational threats or negative events and turn it into something positive by showing what your project can deliver or avoid, e.g., reducing high impact threats. Use benchmarking, data, and sound organisation-specific logic to strengthen your story. Don鈥檛 just talk about the benefits, but also be honest about the challenges and potential criticism your project might face, both internally and externally. This ensures your message is taken seriously because it is recognizable and relevant to each stakeholder.鈥�
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Thus, an HR transformation is much more than an HR project. As an HR leader, you won鈥檛 be able to structurally change or improve something in your organization alone. 鈥淵our story must directly align to what stakeholders in your organization want to achieve. Just like here, at HR Connect. You are here because this is relevant to you. Get great at grasping their world, support them, and speak their language鈥� while doing your HR stuff.鈥�
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Is your organization ready for an HR transformation and would you like to know more about 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors or our change management tools? Get in touch with our specialists. Send an email to bruno.bianchi@sap.com.