- Media: ETHR World
- Spokesperson: Vijaya Krithika
HR leaders are also synonymously referred to as people leaders. Most HR professionals often share that they are people persons and this attribute of theirs drove them into the HR domain. But is it necessary that one has to be a social butterfly to shine as an HR? What if a person isn’t that much extroverted? Can people with an introvert or ambivert nature successfully pursue a career in the HR domain? Does one’s introvertness become a hurdle to succeed in a people-centric career like HR? Let’s ask the HR leaders!
Hr leaders are also synonymously referred to as people leaders. Most HR professionals often share that they are people persons and this attribute of theirs drove them into the HR domain. But is it necessary that one has to be a social butterfly to shine as an HR?
What if a person isn’t that much extroverted? Can people with an introvert or ambivert nature successfully pursue a career in the HR domain? Does one’s introvertness become a hurdle to succeed in a people-centric career like HR? Let’s ask the HR leaders!
Shefali Sharma Garg , Co-chief, People Success, Publicis Sapient, says, “Success in leadership, whether it’s in HR or any other people facing role, is about aligning one’s personality with the people’s needs. It does not matter whether the individual is extroverted or introverted. Leadership is a skill that everyone must develop as they grow in their roles.”
“A good leader is someone who is a deep thinker, a listener and has empathy. The reserved nature of introverts doesn’t mean they lack communication skills; rather, they excel in their unique way by carefully considering their words and actively listening. This attentiveness allows them to pick up on subtle cues and understand others deeply, which is crucial in people management,” Garg adds.
Vijaya Krithika , AVP-HR, Movate, also opines that the success in HR is multifaceted, and it’s extending beyond one’s personality type. In her personal experience, Krithika has come across many of her colleagues who are introverts and have excelled in their niche areas of HR. “It’s a misconception that only extroverts succeed in HR careers. This misconception arises from a lack of awareness regarding the diverse career opportunities within HR,” she says.
Even though the HR profession often brings to mind the HR Generalist roles like recruitment and organising fun activities/events, Krithika points out that it also encompasses a wide range of roles, including performance management, compensation, payroll, organisational development, automation and analytics.
“Some of these roles demand analytical thinking, problem-solving and strong written communication skills. In fact, the competencies needed for automation and analytics are similar to those of a technical or functional consultant in any other specialised field,” she says.