Secrets Of The High-Performing CHRO: It's Harder Than It Looks
Feb 12, 2025
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Explore the rapidly evolving role of the Chief People Officer, where strategic importance and leadership development take center stage. Discover new research highlighting the backgrounds and capabilities of top HR leaders. Learn about the CHRO Insights program, designed to empower future CHROs through coaching and resources. Hear about professional development initiatives like roundtables and conferences that foster skills needed for high-performing HR leadership.
The CHRO role has evolved from an administrative function to a vital C-suite position requiring multifaceted business and HR expertise.
Research identifies distinct career paths to becoming a CHRO, highlighting challenges in internal succession and the rise of non-traditional entrants.
Deep dives
Evolution of the CHRO Role
The role of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) has significantly transformed over the years from being an administrative position to a vital C-suite role. This evolution reflects increasing responsibilities that encompass not only HR strategy and programs but also critical business functions such as talent management, labor relations, and organizational transformation. As a forward-facing leader, the CHRO is now deeply involved in the company’s strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions and adapting to new markets. This shift has raised the profile of the CHRO position, resulting in a rise in both authority and compensation, highlighting the need for multifaceted expertise in both business and human resources.
Paths to Becoming a CHRO
Research indicates there are four primary paths individuals typically take to become a CHRO, each with distinct characteristics. The most common, the career CHRO, comprises about 70% of current CHROs, who gain experience through various roles and companies in HR before achieving this position. Conversely, the company CHRO is promoted from within, accounting for only 15-18% of CHROs, indicating challenges in internal succession planning. Additionally, the business CHRO and operations CHRO paths highlight a trend where leaders without traditional HR backgrounds or rooted in administrative expertise are increasingly entering the role, introducing new perspectives but potentially lacking essential HR knowledge.
Challenges and Resources for Aspiring CHROs
The CHRO role is fraught with challenges that require a proactive approach to development and adaptation. Aspiring CHROs must cultivate a robust skill set that includes strategic influence, crisis management, and a nuanced understanding of evolving workforce dynamics. As noted in recent findings, many successful CHROs emerge from heads of talent or talent acquisition, indicating the importance of complex, interconnected operational experience. To support professional growth, new resources, including development planning tools and comprehensive insights into HR leadership, are becoming available, aimed at accelerating the preparation of future CHROs and enhancing their contributions within organizations.
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Unveiling the CHRO Insights Program: Elevating Human Resources Leadership
In this week’s podcast I introduce our new research on the important and fast-changing role of CHRO, or Chief People Officer.
Over the last decade this role has exploded in scope and importance, leaving many CEOs and CHROs working to keep up. After a year of research studying the career history and performance of more than 20,000 senior HR leaders, I explain how the role has changed and share our new research on the backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities of the world’s leading Chief HR Officers.
If you’re a senior HR leader, please join our benchmarking survey to learn more.