Aligning Key Themes in Human Resources to Lean | Agile Values & Principles
Lean | Agile has evolved as the predominant, most effective way of working in today’s turbulent times. And while Lean | Agile actively addresses critical aspects of Human Resources (HR), like engagement and performance, it also highlights the disconnect of traditional HR practices in the digital age. It is time for HR to embrace the realities of 21st Century people and organizations and to change the face and significance of HR forever.
Rapid transformation is affecting industries across the globe, and almost every organization today is forced to respond to issues of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). These new challenges can no longer be mastered through industrial age structures and practice.
The zeitgeist in these turbulent times is Lean | Agile. It has evolved as the predominant, most effective way of working across the entire organization. These responsive enterprises maintain competitiveness by transforming their business activities to leverage the digital age. They act by a) acknowledging talent, knowledge, and leadership as the new currency for competitiveness and by b) embracing Lean | Agile values, principles, and practices at scale.
The vigor of Agile practices lies in their ability to unite Agile thinking with the alignment needs of (large) initiatives and organizations, while at the same time acknowledging the critical role of intrinsically motived employees to success.
This means providing the right environment for people to prosper and do their best work and putting increased pressure on Human Resources (HR) practices. And while Lean | Agile can actively address critical aspects of HR like engagement and performance, it also highlights the disconnect of traditional HR in a Lean | Agile world.
This challenges HR to realign their People approach and impose a far-reaching transformation to bring HR into the 21st Century by shifting from process-oriented HR Management to empowering Lean | Agile People Operations. Something that will change the face and significance of HR forever.
The following key practices describe various aspects of modern People Solutions and provide guidance to Leaders and their People Partners on how to align HR with the demands and realities of a Lean | Agile Enterprise:
#1 Embrace the New Talent Contract
#2 Foster Continuous Engagement
#3 Hire for Attitude and Cultural Fit
#4 Shift to Iterative Performance Flow
#5 Take the Issue of Money off the Table
#6 Support Impactful Learning & Growth
The face of organizations is changing fast – and drastically. Lean | Agile reinvents the way we work and helps us build an engaged, talented, and vigorous workforce. It is a valuable stepping stone to guide your HR into the 21st Century. No matter where you are in your transformation journey towards a modern responsive enterprise, the time is right to embrace Lean | Agile People Operations and become equipped to deal with the challenges of today’s organizations and people.
So, Agile Professionals: Reach out to your HR organization and invite them to Agile trainings, ceremonies, and learning sessions; and support them in bringing a Lean | Agile mindset to their People approach.
Likewise, HR Professionals: Connect with Agile teams and experience firsthand the power of Agile; and become educated and knowledgeable about Lean | Agile values, principles, and practices.
Investing in Lean | Agile People Operations is an investment in your people – in your future.
Are you ready to bring your HR into the 21st Century with Lean | Agile?
