Having had the chance to connect and speak with many top-level organization CHROs, we have identified 7 traits that make a CHRO successful in their field of work.

One of the biggest responsibilities of any CHRO is to make sure that the team is finding the right fit regarding talent and company culture. The next step is, to take that talent and guide them well towards success.

“The No. 1 thing that causes our employees to stay or leave is whether they have access to do meaningful work.” -Beth Galetti, CHRO at Amazon.

Listed below are the 7 traits that CHROs should embody to set themselves, their department, and their company employees up for success.

1. Great Communicators - Great CHROs are exceptional communicators. A successful CHRO knows how to demonstrate to the other C-suite Executives the value they provide and prove that the function is worthy by fully participating and contributing to company goals.

2. Mission-Focused - A CHRO brings in exceptional value when looking at human resources from a business perspective. Therefore, it is essential to think of ways to impact the organization by utilizing trends and tools to ensure that the organization meets its needs and expectations. A forward-looking CHRO will be curious about how the business operates from a global perspective and not just limited to a single discipline. You will always see a successful CHRO asking insightful questions about how they can help drive results.

3. Strategic Thinkers - A strategic mindset is the most important element that molds a successful CHRO. They must possess the capability of thinking and operating strategically and determining how current actions will impact the future. This is the most basic yet the most difficult task that a CHRO is relied upon to handle.

4. Change Drivers - Coping with change is no easy task, CHROs are challenged. So be it bringing a change on a small-scale or multi-nationally, they are supposed to be the drivers to communicate and influence their department and employees to give them the push to head in that direction. 

5. Multi-Faceted - Being an astounding people’s manager is definitely a requirement for any Human Resource leader. However, a top-level HR leader would be aware of human resources and other aspects of business such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations. This gives a CHRO knowledge, experience, and insight and allows them to make clever strategies that fulfill an organization's goal from a larger perspective.

6. Data-Driven - Modern HR departments understand the importance of HR analytics. When the right data and analytics are collected and analyzed, it helps HR departments make more informed hiring and managing decisions. A CHRO will need to understand the important data points and align with the organizational goals.

7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) - As organizations work across generations, they need to understand what motivates candidates to be a part of their organization and stay with them because that’s tricky. Not only are alignment and adaptability important with a multi-generational workforce, but they are also important for sharing and executing corporate strategies & decisions.

“In our always-on, always-connected world, it no longer makes sense to expect employees to work an eight-hour shift and do their jobs successfully.” -Brent Hyder, CHRO at Salesforce

We have been Talent Partners to some of the most impactful organizations for the better part of a decade, and we can confidently say that we understand the challenges and importance of hiring the right talent. Being a CHRO is taking up a great responsibility, and we salute all the CHROs out there for their courage and perseverance. 

We look forward to engaging with you.