It is a fact that the HR Department plays an important role to a business. It is in-charge with many important tasks which will determine the future of the company. However, it’s common even for professionals of all types to feel overwhelmed by mounting tasks, projects and deadlines. HR is especially affected by the December rush, and at times it might seem impossible to stay afloat. The good thing is, with the right strategies, you can still manage this hectic time while setting your team up for success in the upcoming New Year.
Making sure that everything will fall into place is hard to do. So here we listed the tips and tricks to hopefully make this one better for you and your business. Here’s what you have to do:
Advanced Planning
Nothing’s better than being extra prepared. Mapping out a plan a few months in advance and putting everything on a calendar to share with the HR team is the best thing to do. Make sure to list all the dates of communication reminders and who will be responsible for these items. Also, it is important to be able to schedule any meetings or information sessions early so the HR team will have time to prepare. Having a clear direction for all items that need to be completed will help everyone stay on track.
Setting of Goals
Your priorities help you to determine how you can adapt to new and competing business needs. You need to establish quarter goals and priority ranks them from highest to lowest. If a new business need comes into play, ask if it outranks the other initiatives. Let leadership know the tradeoffs you can make to get the new item done, and you’ll quickly learn if it’s a true priority or not.
Scheduling All Tasks in Your Calendar
No one can measure how important it is to schedule year-end items. All we know is that is IMPORTANT. So, put everything on your calendar, from when to order holiday cards to when to begin auditing W2s and 1099s — even include regular daily or weekly tasks. By keeping your calendar current, you will be able to spread out the tasks over the remainder of the year and not have to do it all in one week.
Making a Shared Daily To-Do List
Another important tip is that you should make a specific “daily to-do list” that your department can see and follow. Not only does a specific list keep you focused on the most crucial jobs of the day, but your department can hold you accountable to these tasks. It also gives your team a chance to help you by volunteering for delegated assignments.
Preparing your Schedule in case of Change of Plans
Include time in your plan to change the plan. HR often has to manage unexpected tasks that must be addressed immediately. Carefully thought-out plans have to be adjusted and reprioritized at a moment’s notice. Creating the time and space each day to review and reprioritize helps keep you on track. Make sure to schedule those adjusted activities immediately so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Strategizing and Delegating For Maximum Efficiency
As year-end chaos approaches, own your time and allow yourself to think strategically. A calendar can run your day, but assess where your time is spent and check if actions and priorities align. Identify items to delegate and where efficiencies can be gained. Block time for you, and see the big picture. This will allow you to work smarter and ensure you are a trusted HR partner to the business.
Uniting the Whole Team
Have committees looking after different areas to not only ensure things will get done, but also to pull in other functions and boost employee engagement. Bringing the talents of other departments, committee members will put together their own work streams to execute the master plan. The role of HR, or the lead, is to have regular catch-ups to track how well things are moving forward.
