“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

Stop Saying You're a Business Partner (And Actually Be One) with Jeff Diana

Dec 6, 2024

Jeff Diana, a seasoned Chief People Officer and board advisor, shares invaluable insights on transforming HR into a strategic business partner. He discusses the importance of HR leaders joining sales calls, understanding P&L, and engaging in customer support. Diana emphasizes that HR must move beyond traditional roles and actively participate in business functions. By collaborating with operations and other departments, HR can gain crucial business acumen and credibility, thus becoming integral in shaping overall business strategy.

24:29

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Episode guests

Jeff Diana

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Quick takeaways

HR professionals should immerse themselves in operational activities to transform from isolated functions into influential business partners.

A strong business leadership mindset in HR emphasizes understanding financial metrics and aligning with broader corporate strategies for effective decision-making.

Deep dives

The Business Leadership Mindset in HR

HR professionals are encouraged to adopt a business leadership mindset, which focuses on understanding financial variables and external market conditions rather than solely prioritizing employee satisfaction. This approach requires HR leaders to start by analyzing company performance metrics and competitive landscapes, rather than just offering programs aimed at improving employee morale. The discussion highlights the importance of moving away from traditional HR activities and instead aligning with the broader business goals and strategies. By grounding their efforts in financial understanding, HR can effectively influence business decisions and operations.

Intro

4min

Empowering HR Through Engagement

11min

Building Business Acumen in HR Through Collaborative Insights

2min

Integrating HR with Business Operations for Greater Impact

2min

Elevating HR's Role through Active Business Participation

5min

Tired of hearing "HR needs to be more business-focused" without any real direction?

In this episode, Kelli and Nolan cut through the noise with actionable insights from veteran CPO Jeff Diana. Learn why joining sales calls, understanding your P&L, and getting your hands dirty in customer support might be your secret weapons.

Discover how top HR leaders transformed from "the team in the corner" to invaluable business partners – and how you can, too.

*Email us your questions or topics for Kelli & Nolan: hrheretics@turpentine.co

For coaching and advising inquire at

https://kellidragovich.com/

HR Heretics is a podcast from Turpentine.

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📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess

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KEEP UP WITH JEFF, NOLAN + KELLI ON LINKEDIN

Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-diana-a1906212/

Nolan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nolan-church/

Kelli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellidragovich/

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:14) HR is a Business Function: Action vs. Rhetoric

(02:09) The Business-First Approach Do's and Don'ts

(04:19) Fostering a Deeper Understanding of the Business

(06:01) Product Certification and Experiential Learning

(06:57) Understanding a Founder's Emotional Investment (even if it seems irrational)

(08:52) Knowing the Numbers

(13:14) Strategic Time Investment and Knowledge Acquisition

(15:56) Including Customer Success in Knowledge Gathering

(16:18) Sponsor: Metaview

(17:38) Internal Reviews and Cross-Functional Collaboration

(19:01) Internal Best Practices and Efficiency

(20:47) Growing Fluidity Between HR and other Business Functions

(21:14) Wrap

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hrheretics.substack.com

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