Well, we made it to 2021, but we shouldn’t expect anything other than more change. We are still in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, experiencing political unrest, the economy is struggling, diversity and inclusion has been escalated in importance and accountability, and remote/hybrid work continues and is likely here to stay. Our biggest challenge for 2021 is likely going to be becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. Change is the new norm.
Visier, an HR Tech Company, recently surveyed HR thought leaders and identified the following top three challenges predicted for HR professionals in 2021:
1. Workforce Planning Through Uncertainty – Planning for a year or more ahead is just not possible right now. Leadership needs to refocus workforce planning by the month or quarter. Agility will be the key for 2021. It will also be important to have contingency plans since it’s nearly impossible to predict where we will be even 1-3 months from now.
2. Diversity & Inclusion – Action, Not Just Talk – Employees as well as the general public are now demanding that organizations address D&I and have an actionable plan. It should be a business initiative, not just an HR initiative. Many tools are available to help you develop an effective D&I strategy. You likely already have data on hiring, promotion, and pay equity. Tools such as employee pulse surveys can help you gain insights from your current employees. Utilize this data to stay ahead of risks and set forth a plan for achieving your D&I initiatives. It should be a priority in 2021.
3. Improving the Employee Experience – Now more than ever it’s important to create a culture that supports your employees and the challenges they are facing both at work and home. Remote work has increased this challenge – you are now dealing with it at a distance in most cases. Organizations must figure out how to take the core elements of their corporate culture and make them relevant and achievable in a remote work environment. Taking a people-first approach will help you remain competitive in order to retain and attract employees.
We all learned a lot in 2020. Organizations were quickly tested on their ability to adapt to change. Agility was key to survival. 2021 will be another year that tests us. We must all maintain a growth mindset as we continue to navigate change and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
With that in mind, I invite you to join us for the 2021 HR Conference. This year we are focusing on how to achieve a growth mindset. We are very excited to announce a brand new, virtual format that spans over the week of March 15-19th. The sessions are so fitting for the challenges we are currently facing as HR professionals, I feel I need to mention each one:
- Embracing the Challenge of Change
- Social Super Glue: How to Create Camaraderie in Your Workplace
- Generating a Culture of Supportive Accountability
- 3 Key Skills to Thrive in Turbulent Times
- Finding the good: A Playbook for Perseverance During the Pandemic
- The One Choice Rule: Transform Your Life and Work by Transforming Your Mindset and Behavior
I hope you can join us. You can learn more and register here.