5 Lessons for Aspiring Global HR Managers - From WEF

I was fortunate to be part of a gathering of heavyweights a few months back - CHROs (Chief HR Officer... for the uninitiated) , CFOs, some CEOs - everyone in the room was a CXO worth his salt and experience. One of the heated discussions (as always) was around why there were so few CHROs who were ready for CEO material. It became pretty obvious to me that one reason was simply that "HR" itself became "essential" a decade and a half back or about that time. Now what was more important, than the cause, were the valuable suggestions to follow. So I have never listened more intently in my life, when someone suggested that we need to start early (like they say in Sport Management a.k.a. BCCI).

Fantastic! Finally, this bunch of veteran and venerated HR gurus were making sense to me - so the thread thereafter was how to start grooming CHROs today. Like my fave Guru Chanakya spotted an Emperor in a maid's young child and Michelangelo, a beautiful statue, in a large shapeless piece of marble, one has to identify young Talent and systematically groom "CHRO Talent". Now amongst many things, it seemed to me that its important to groom Young Managers today for becoming Global CHRO rather than for a Unit or Business alone, so I rummaged my notepads for some valuable inputs that I could offer to the Guru group or Zorporates ( a term for heavyweight Corporate pros).

Serendipity intervened and I stumbled on this piece of advice that I had copied just the previous day, after watching SHRM Foundation's DVD on World Economic Forum's (www.weforum.org) recommendations for Young Global Managers. Here they are:

1. Seize opportunities to learn about different cultures, Values and perspectives.
2. Get a mentor or a coach or both, early in your career.
3. To lead Leaders, be authentic and genuine (platitudes don't work)
4. Recognize the interdependence between Global issues, cultures, communities and people
5. Practice collaborative Leadership

Although true for every budding Global Leader, their importance for the young HR leader cannot be overemphasized. I threw my hat in the ring and stressed the interdependence of senior HR Leaders with the younger counterparts along with the above lessons . My suggestions were met with acknowledging nods around the table...thank you WEF and SHRM Foundation. Over to you, the young HR pros!

Jai Ho!!!!!

Rajesh Kamath