Fireplace Mantel Designs That Create a Focal Point

The mantel is one of the major attractions of a fireplace. It serves as an accent to the structure and gives it a unique appeal. This can show a simple style or it can have elaborate designs as well.

This part is what you see on the upper portion or the entire frame of the fireplace opening. It is often used as an area to display artwork pieces and decorations such as huge scented candles, figurines and picture frames. Fireplace mantel designs vary in so many ways today. They feature versatile and attractive materials that suit every home's interior or exterior design theme.

Shelf Frame

Materials

Fireplace Mantel Designs That Create a Focal Point

Fireplace mantels can be made from wood, cast stone, ceramic tiles, marble or limestone. Depending on your budget, they can be mixed and matched to achieve the design you want. And as most of them are fire resistant, these mantels can fit any type of fireplace whether it uses wood or gas for fuel.

Cast stones dominate many modern fireplace mantel designs today due to their light weight. As they're not the bulky and heavy type, they're easier to work with. Another reason for their popularity is the fact that they can disguise as a limestone, granite, marble or slate because of the availability of various colors that simulate those other durable materials.

Focal point

As a fireplace can be used as the focal point of a room's interior design, the overall theme of the space can start from this structure. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to make your fireplace mantel design a standout.

Fireplace mantel designs can be the frame type or the shelf type or the cabinet type. It can just cover the entire opening of the fireplace or it can extend up to the ceiling. Styles that go up the ceiling can be used to display large art pieces such as paintings to make it a real attraction in the home. The shelf and cabinet style can be used to display home decors as well as smaller art works that complement the overall interior theme of the room.

Design styles

Popular traditional fireplace mantel design styles you can choose from are the Classic, Renaissance, French, Italian, Victorian and Gothic among many others. These styles are known for their intricate designs such as the carvings that are a cut above the more modern designs.

The best part about the fireplace mantel design is it can be customized to suit your particular style. Many manufacturers have brought their business online these days which means great convenience on the part of the customers.

The fireplace of the past has greatly evolved through the years. Today, this structure does not only serve its major purpose of heating a home but it is also recognized for its aesthetics. Some homeowners actually prefer to have a fireplace in their home primarily as a means to enhance the beauty of their interior space. The heating function is only secondary.

So as a reminder, never forget the mantel when planning the design of your fireplace regardless of the place where you will be placing it in your home. This part can give your fireplace added value and beauty.

Fireplace Mantel Designs That Create a Focal Point

This article is brought to you by Gloria Smith of FireplaceDesignInfo.com. Need ideas for fireplace mantel designs? Our website offers the latest fireplace ideas and pictures. Visit: http://www.FireplaceDesignInfo.com

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Soft Skills for HR Professionals

Introduction

To work in any profession, one should not only have "Subject Matter Expertise" but also personality, behavior, decorum, mannerism, attitude, professional approach, and thinking to work efficiently and to sustain in that given profession. Failing which, irrespective of your knowledge, education and background you will never be able to grow in that profession. This is also true for HR Profession. There are some minimum expectations from HR Professionals, in the way they carry themselves, behave and present themselves that can hamper or lift their image and professional graph. Some of those traits and attributes I have mentioned in this article. Though, to a large extent I have covered all the attributes but still I consider this list as INCLUSIVE and not EXCLUSIVE. The need is to benchmark your Personality and Behavior. Respect can only be earned and not "asked for".

Nine Qualities all HR Professionals Should Have

Soft Skills for HR Professionals

1) Clarity of Thoughts - In most of the situations and circumstances, we come across two options; either we want to do or we don't want to do; either we agree to it or we don't agree to it; either it is acceptable or it is not acceptable; either you want or you don't want. It has been seen that many HR Professionals are confused. They are not clear, where they want to take their company. They don't know what role they like to play in the organization. They don't have clarity of role. They don't have clear expectations, neither from themselves, or from their team or from their internal customers (employees). With this confusion, they fail to take decisions. They fail to take stand.

2) Efficiency in Time Management - HR professionals is expected to be efficient in time management. They are expected to set time-frame and meet those expectations. Most of the time, I have seen that they don't give any time limit. You approach them for any work and they respond by saying, "Ok, it will be done". But when? I agree that "Good HR Professionals" have many things to do. Recruitments, Employee Relations, Talent Management, Career Development, Benchmarking, etc are the things, which takes lots of time. But, all goals, all dreams, all activities, all commitments looks good and are achievable, if there is a closing date for that. For Example, I want my company to be in top-10 companies in the world. It's a Vision. It's a good dream. But, if I don't specify, by which year or in how many years, I want to achieve that goal, it will only remain as a dream and will never become a reality. Uncertainty, Ambiguity, Open-Ended commitment, Confusion, these are things, that are not expected from any HR Professional.

3) Compare Performances / Compare Situations & Circumstances but do not compare individuals / People - Knowingly or unknowingly but quite often, instead of Circumstances and Situations, we tend to compare two different people. Instead of analyzing the behavior of a person we tend to analyze them as an individual and take this as our right. The very basic principle of science and management says that no two individuals are same.

4) Knowledge about the Business and Industry - Everybody should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They should be aware as what they want in their life and career. It is a well known fact and has been proved in various surveys that HR professionals don't care to understand the business of the company and the industry that they are working in. According to the survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy 67% HR Professionals in USA and 83% HR professionals in India do not know the nitty-gritty of their company's business. They don't know from where the revenue is coming. They don't know the business model of their company. I think, as it is important to know about the city and country that you are traveling to; it is equally important to know and understand the business of the company that you are working with.

5) Vision and Goal for the Department, Team and Organization - What you want to do for the organization? Are you planning to implement a competitive compensation plan? Do you want to take your company in the bracket of 25 "Best Employers in the Country"? Are you planning to acquire best of the talent from market? Do you think that you need to control the growing Attrition Rate of your company? Have you thought about "Organization Development" and "Talent Management"? Usually, that is the confusion. HR professionals and HR heads don't have that vision. They want to do something in HR but don't know what they can do or should do. They should have vision for the organization from HR perspective and goals for their department and team. It's a must have. Until and unless you are sure about your destination, you cannot take the path.

6) Love for Number / Data / Figures / Calculations / Analysis / Projections - You talk to any person in any other profession and tell them that you are in HR; two things will automatically flash in their mind - Theory and Politics. One reason why HR professionals in India have not been able to enter into the Board Room and make their presence felt in the organization is because though they have ideas, they have strategies and policies but they are not able to support those strategies with data. (It is just because of the fact that there is no mathematics and calculations involved in this subject that many people [mostly females] love to join this profession).

Just to substantiate my point that most females are not good with Mathematical and Statistical calculations and that is one of the key reason for them to join the profession of HR.

In a survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy, in 67 cities across the world in which they covered following geographical areas:
Asia,
North America,
UK,
Europe and
Australia.
They interviewed 11, 500 HR Professionals. The finding are as follows:

56.7% of total recruitment professionals are females.

79.4% of total trainers and "Organization Development" professionals are females.

39.1% of total HR strategists are females. They look after HR Policies, Procedures, Processes and forms

However, only 2.6% of females are working in Compensation and Benefits department of division.

8.9% females are working in Legal Compliance Team.

3.2% females are handling the payroll, investment advisory desk and tax advisory desk of their organization.

11.5% females are working in HR Operations, thereby handling Performance Management, Time Office, Career Development and Talent Management.

18.7% females are working as HR Analysts.

It is proved from the above data and figures that most of the females are working in those functions of HR which doesn't involve complicate mathematical and statistical calculations.

For example, if I have a "Retention Strategy" and I want to implement in the organization. I need to show, how much the implementation of that strategy will cost; by what percentage the company will be able to increase the employee retention and decrease the attrition; which are the companies that are using this particular strategy and how effective it has been in their cases. If, I am going with this data, calculation and analysis, I am sure that my strategy will be discussed and implemented.

Hence, HR professionals need to be more analytical, data oriented and good in calculations. They should not be subjective and theory oriented.

7) Enthusiasm to Share / Develop / Coach and Mentor - We have heard and read in our schools and colleges that "Knowledge is a wealth; the more you distribute/share the more you gain". In this profession of HRM & D; we are privileged and are in a very unique position where we can develop people. We can develop their career. We can develop their life. We can help them in changing their perception and behavior. We can groom them, so that they can be successful in their life. Don't you think that we have very important and crucial role to play?? How many of us have actually thought in these lines? Do, think about it, you have one life, give what you can. If 10 people will remember me once I bid adieu to this world for helping them in developing their life, I will consider my life as successful.

8) Self Discipline - This again is a common quality that everyone should have, irrespective of the profession they are in, but it is more appreciable in HR Professionals and is like a must have quality. They need to set standards for others to follow; they need to benchmark their own behavior and if they start flowing with water, everything else will go for a toss and things will go out of control. I have heard, people saying that I am doing this or that because others are also doing it but that is not expected from HR Professionals. Discipline in life is a must to grow, prosper and being successful. So, set standards and don't just flow.

9) Trust Worthy - This is very important quality and must have for all HR Professionals. Candidates, at the time of interview share important information with HR; Employees share lots of information, personal, professional, ideas, suggestions, future related, dreams etc. Imagine, if the HR professional keep sharing that information with everyone in the team of HR; will that employee ever comeback to HR to share anything with him. NEVER. HR professionals need to win that trust and then maintain and keep that trust. This is very true for HR Professionals, who are working in "Employee Relations". Relation of any kind, be it with employees, is based on trust and honesty. If ever, you break that trust, you will never be able to win it again.

5 traits that any HR Professionals should not have...traits that can hamper their Growth

1) Ego or Attitude: Larger than role attitude - Well, when you are working with people, interacting with people and the number of people that you are interacting with is large, you cannot afford to have ego. You need to come down from your level and talk. It is not easy, just next to impossible to match with the expectations of everybody. In this profession, people will hate you, ignore your contribution, blame you but in spite of that you cannot afford to have ego. I have seen HR professionals who are over-flowing with ego. When they start talking, it appears as if they are doing any favor by interacting with you, communicating with you and updating you with new strategy or policy. This is another reason, as why HR professionals are not able to make that impact in this profession to make them counted.

2) Should not be emotional - "Touch everyone's heart and don't let them touch yours". "Be empathetic but don't cry with your employees". Every human being is emotional and it's only irony that to be effective and focused, HR Professionals should not be emotional. By being emotional, there is a chance and high probability that these HR Professionals will not be able to do justice with their work. They should be like that fish, which need to swim in water to survive but should not get wet.

3) I know everything (I don't need to learn from you) - This is another negative trait of HR. They present themselves in a way, as if they know everything. That is not an end, the irony is that neither do they have "Subject matter expertise" nor they are good in "Human Relations" and nor do they want to learn anything. This reminds me one story of goat and lion. Goat, whenever she see or come across lion, she closes her eyes and assume that once I close my eyes, lion will not be able to see me. So, that is a situation of HR Professionals.

Read this axiom.

If he don't know and don't know that he don't know, he is arrogant, AVOID him.

If he don't know and know that he don't know, he is a student, TEACH him.

If he knows abut do not know that he knows, he is sleeping, WAKE him up.

If he know and know that he knows, he is a LEADER, Follow him.

I think, in this axiom, I have given the message that I want to convey to my fellow HR Professionals.

4) I am GOD; I am THE Kingmaker -

If you are hiring someone;

If you are paying salary to someone;

If you are giving promotion and growth to someone;

If you are nice to someone

You are not doing any favor to him. He deserves, that is why he is getting. If you are giving, even though he do not deserve, then you are CORRUPT.

Many of HR Professionals send across this message to the shop-floor that "Don't mess with me, I can spoil your career" or "I have done favor for you. Respect me".

5) Should not be biased (No Favoritism; No Grapevine; No Office Politics) - HR Professionals, most of the time keep themselves engaged in "Office Politics". They initiate "Grapevine", water this grapevine and believe in this grapevine. Whatever might be the reason but it is a gray area and they need to improve on that. This is another reason that no one take HR professionals seriously. I know, in one of my previous employment, when we started "Employee Relations" and "Employee Communication", all employees use to consider this HR Representative as "Company ka jasoos" (Detective from management). In office politics, most of the time HR Department is considered as "Hub of All Politics". HR Professionals need to come up, and increase their level of thinking. They need to be more matured.

Conclusion

As I have mentioned in the introduction, this is INCLUSIVE list of qualities that all HR professionals should have. In one of my previous article, I have mentioned that for HR professionals to stand-up and get counted, there are miles to go. Some HR professionals have started this journey but many have still to take that "FIRST STEP". Believe me, we are in a very good profession and if we can try we can changes in many ways. We have an opportunity to give jobs, give careers, professional growth, coach and mentor people. On other hand, we can increase productivity, motivate employees, manage talent, build brand for the company and also make the company "Best Company to work for".

So, kindly stand-up, take that first step and get counted.

Looking forward to your comments and feedback.

Soft Skills for HR Professionals
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Sanjeev Himachali
Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com
E-mail: ss_himachali@yahoo.com; sanjeev.himachali@gmail.com

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Tuscan Decorating Ideas To Make Decorating Your Home Easy - Learn Why It Is Todays Most Popular Tren

The sun is slowly sinking behind the Tuscan hills. The sky is alive with a warm, rosy-red glow. Nothing could be more relaxing than imagining yourself enjoying
This view.

If you would like to bring the peaceful, uplifting Italian Tuscan countryside into your
home, read on:
To create a uniquely Italian look, the following
aspects need to be considered: use of a bold design and original color scheme,
attention to detail, demand for quality and a desire for creative and dramatic
accents. Italian decorating expresses the individuality of the owner.
Obviously, Tuscan home decorating can involve many variables. You can create
an ambiance, your individual ambiance by selecting from a large variety of
uniquely Tuscan décor accessories.

Bring this old world flavor into your room with bold simplicity. You will achieve
this by incorporating textural contrast and earthly colors.

Tuscan Decorating Ideas To Make Decorating Your Home Easy - Learn Why It Is Todays Most Popular Tren

Consider color first

when creating your look. The Tuscan people felt a connection
to nature, from the landscape to agriculture, so choose from these rich, earthy
tones: golden olive oil, terracotta, luscious olive green, deep browns, rich
burgundy, Mediterranean blues, burnt orange and golden yellow. These colors
may be made to look weathered or muted to create an attractive, timeless
beauty.

One of the main features of Tuscan--Italian décor is the abundant use of
texture. Add texture to your walls by combining your paint with texture additives.
Wall texturing ideas include Venetian hand plastering, suede or granite texture
paints or sponge style painting techniques. These wall applications will give your
room that old world touch.

If you are planning a entire room makeover, you should consider stone tiles or
hardwood floors for a complete Tuscan decor look. But you may achieve the Italian theme, with the incorporation of a few great furniture choices and home
accessory pieces.

Solid hardwood furniture with textile or leather coverings are the trademark of an
authentic Tuscan home. Consider traditional, very comfortable style furnishings
to pull off your Tuscan feel. Strive for quality, uniqueness and personal comfort.

Much of the décor used in these traditional homes were from products that
were easily accessible in the region. With the help of local skilled artisans, many
unique works were created. The most popular materials used were tapestry
textiles, tile, wrought iron, ceramic, pottery, marble and hard woods.
When selecting your Tuscan decorations, start with a focus piece and work out
from there.

I would recommend that you select an Italian-Tuscan themed tapestry
Homedecoratingstudio.com has some great tapestry choices. A wall tapestry
will add texture, warmth and color. Tapestries are great for any room in your
home--whatever the theme. Select some of the colors in your tapestry to use
as accent colors throughout your room.

Tuscan wrought iron is an important feature for your Italian décor. Start by selecting a decorative rod for your tapestry. Now that you have placed your tapestry
above the sofa or fireplace mantel, you may now choose accessories to complete the entire wall. Tuscan wrought iron wall grills make very attractive accents
with a tapestry. The iron gives the sturdy, but simple Italian style and the tapestry softens the look for an inviting, comfortable feel. There are some great samples
of popular metal wall décor at homedecoratingstudio.com. You will always find the newest in Tuscan metal décor in our online home decorating catalog.

As you continue to add pieces to your room, remember to mix and match textures,
styles, colors, and shapes to create YOUR Tuscan room. Other trendy wall
décor that will bring your room to life may include a metal wall, mantel shelf. A
newer, emerging trend in Tuscan wall décor are metal wall pockets and candle
wall sconces. What makes the accessories work for you, is having unique
detailing and character, with an old world, aged finish.

One other interesting idea for your wall would be a wall clock. Wall
clocks have become a must have, functional home décor piece that accessorizes
any style home décor. Look for a clock of metal or a Tuscan style, hardwood frame.
Home decorating studio features a selection of very high quality, unique wall
clocks that would be a great addition to your Tuscan room.

Small, finishing touch accents may now be added. Give attention to every detail
by adding your own personal touches, incorporate such pieces as a grape
accented floral wreath or garland, word wall art and framed Tuscan wall art
or framed, inspirational verse art.

Your casual, Tuscan themed entertaining area calls for touches of décor featuring
wine: wine and grape wall art, metal wine bottle holders and wine word art.
Make it a fun, classy spot to entertain with unique, quality pieces that will help
you project an authentic Tuscan-Italian theme perfectly. Add the wine, glasses,
Napkins etc for the complete look.

The last areas to consider, are your shelves, counter tops, mantels and table areas.
Look for unique pottery pieces--vases and pitchers; chunky ceramic, marble or iron candlesticks; metal or ceramic containers; unique metal, wine bottle holders and large decorative chargers. Just remember, it's all about texture and color. We have some wonderful, unique tuscan decorating accessories in our online catalog. For a fresh, unique
selection of Italian-Tuscan home decorating accessories check out home decorating studio's online catalog; they have simply the best in selection, quality and price.

Article written by Belinda Crouse of http://www.homedecoratingstudio.com with 30 years
experience in the gift and home décor market.

Tuscan Decorating Ideas To Make Decorating Your Home Easy - Learn Why It Is Todays Most Popular Tren
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This article is provided to you by Belinda Crouse, owner of [http://www.homedecoratingstudio.com] and Cotton Seed Studio. I have a BS degree from South Dakota State University in Textiles and Clothing- Retail. I have been the owner of a gift, craft and home decor business since 1983. I opened Cotton Seed Studio, a home decor, personal product, gift and coffee bar shop, in January 2006. I also do custom design projects, specialty boutiques and have started doing home staging for local realtors. Early in 2007, we introduced our on line home decor catalog: homedecoratingstudio.com

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Free Storage Shed Plans

One who is interested to build a storage shed will get a lot of free storage shed plans available for download online. These free storage shed plans will contain all the information for building the shed like easy to read plans, door and window framing, materials list and other instructions manuals.

A storage shed can be built using the basic carpentry skills and following that free storage shed plans. While searching the web for plans, you will come across several plans that may suit your requirement as design. Bit by bit information will be given in it along with photographs and illustrations.

Shelf Frame

Let us discuss some of those free storage shed plans that are easily available on the internet -

Free Storage Shed Plans

8*10 Gable shed plan - One can get this plan in standard dimensions. The advantage of this design is that the finished shed is movable that means the shed has no foundations or footings since it is built on skids. It will have corrugated roofing iron along with plywood sheathing.

Garden building plans - Need space to put those garden tools, need space to put the grass mower or the snow mobile. Well then you have to seriously plan to work on having a garden shed by following these free garden building plans

Pump House storage plans - The Pump house storage plans mention the design for a small wood frame shed having a hinged roof to provide space for housing pumps or motors.

Most of the shed plans will be having different design levels that will fit to the budget or requirement.

Most of the economy shed plans will have wood siding whereas the deluxe shed plans will be having the material of vinyl siding. Most of those free shed plans also contains details related to roof rafters,roof plans, plan for the foundation, details about the window and door frames and how to fix the.

Garden sheds are becoming more and more popular since most of the people are interested in the idea of taking gardening as a hobby. At for most of these gardeners, the requirement of shed comes up. Without having any basic idea, one should out jump into the market and pick up a garden shed. One should estimate the available space, budget and the utility point of view need to be considered.

Download the free storage shed plans along with the blue prints that are available on the net and use them for different purposes. One can also purchase a plan if nothing useful is found on the free plans. Most of the plans come packed with DVDs, software and books guiding you step by step on building the garden shed.

Using a free plan, one can build their own shed that is simple to build and involves lot of fun. Few factors needs to be considered for building the storage shed like -

It depends on the type of timber that is being used for building the storage shed since it impacts the cost too. Timbers like the Red cedar give a royal look but it expensive whereas wood composite materials are of low cost and it needs less maintenance.

On the other hand, one can build the storage shed made of PVC vinyl and aluminum that is very durable, maintenance free and durable. The kits for these are easily available in the market and one can assemble them easily.

Most of the shed plans along with the kit can be purchased online that comes with the foundation kit. Better results do come out by properly following these plans. In fact the wooden sheds look ore attractive than the metal sheds. Take time to get to know and understand the different plans that you have downloaded from the internet. Do some ground work by knowing how much space you require for building the storage shed. If you are unable to understand the plans then take the help of a carpenter and know about the project. Lot of patience and attention is required at the time of understanding the plans.

So, building a good plan requires few carpentry skills, some free storage plans available for download along with pictures, illustrations and instructions that will guide you easily in building your own shed.So,why not put few hours in browsing the net to get information on the free storage shed plans.

Free Storage Shed Plans

Gardening is my main hobby. To enjoy it even more I love to have all my tools available and organized. Garden Sheds and Storage site is here to share with you my experience and research in the area.

Visit my site at http://gardensheds911.com

Want to buy a shed, or build one? How to choose sheds plans? Need a garage shed, a storage shed, a garden shed? Come and visit me at my site so I can share with you my experience at - http://gardensheds911.com/

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Soft Skills for HR Professionals

Introduction

To work in any profession, one should not only have "Subject Matter Expertise" but also personality, behavior, decorum, mannerism, attitude, professional approach, and thinking to work efficiently and to sustain in that given profession. Failing which, irrespective of your knowledge, education and background you will never be able to grow in that profession. This is also true for HR Profession. There are some minimum expectations from HR Professionals, in the way they carry themselves, behave and present themselves that can hamper or lift their image and professional graph. Some of those traits and attributes I have mentioned in this article. Though, to a large extent I have covered all the attributes but still I consider this list as INCLUSIVE and not EXCLUSIVE. The need is to benchmark your Personality and Behavior. Respect can only be earned and not "asked for".

Nine Qualities all HR Professionals Should Have

Soft Skills for HR Professionals

1) Clarity of Thoughts - In most of the situations and circumstances, we come across two options; either we want to do or we don't want to do; either we agree to it or we don't agree to it; either it is acceptable or it is not acceptable; either you want or you don't want. It has been seen that many HR Professionals are confused. They are not clear, where they want to take their company. They don't know what role they like to play in the organization. They don't have clarity of role. They don't have clear expectations, neither from themselves, or from their team or from their internal customers (employees). With this confusion, they fail to take decisions. They fail to take stand.

2) Efficiency in Time Management - HR professionals is expected to be efficient in time management. They are expected to set time-frame and meet those expectations. Most of the time, I have seen that they don't give any time limit. You approach them for any work and they respond by saying, "Ok, it will be done". But when? I agree that "Good HR Professionals" have many things to do. Recruitments, Employee Relations, Talent Management, Career Development, Benchmarking, etc are the things, which takes lots of time. But, all goals, all dreams, all activities, all commitments looks good and are achievable, if there is a closing date for that. For Example, I want my company to be in top-10 companies in the world. It's a Vision. It's a good dream. But, if I don't specify, by which year or in how many years, I want to achieve that goal, it will only remain as a dream and will never become a reality. Uncertainty, Ambiguity, Open-Ended commitment, Confusion, these are things, that are not expected from any HR Professional.

3) Compare Performances / Compare Situations & Circumstances but do not compare individuals / People - Knowingly or unknowingly but quite often, instead of Circumstances and Situations, we tend to compare two different people. Instead of analyzing the behavior of a person we tend to analyze them as an individual and take this as our right. The very basic principle of science and management says that no two individuals are same.

4) Knowledge about the Business and Industry - Everybody should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They should be aware as what they want in their life and career. It is a well known fact and has been proved in various surveys that HR professionals don't care to understand the business of the company and the industry that they are working in. According to the survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy 67% HR Professionals in USA and 83% HR professionals in India do not know the nitty-gritty of their company's business. They don't know from where the revenue is coming. They don't know the business model of their company. I think, as it is important to know about the city and country that you are traveling to; it is equally important to know and understand the business of the company that you are working with.

5) Vision and Goal for the Department, Team and Organization - What you want to do for the organization? Are you planning to implement a competitive compensation plan? Do you want to take your company in the bracket of 25 "Best Employers in the Country"? Are you planning to acquire best of the talent from market? Do you think that you need to control the growing Attrition Rate of your company? Have you thought about "Organization Development" and "Talent Management"? Usually, that is the confusion. HR professionals and HR heads don't have that vision. They want to do something in HR but don't know what they can do or should do. They should have vision for the organization from HR perspective and goals for their department and team. It's a must have. Until and unless you are sure about your destination, you cannot take the path.

6) Love for Number / Data / Figures / Calculations / Analysis / Projections - You talk to any person in any other profession and tell them that you are in HR; two things will automatically flash in their mind - Theory and Politics. One reason why HR professionals in India have not been able to enter into the Board Room and make their presence felt in the organization is because though they have ideas, they have strategies and policies but they are not able to support those strategies with data. (It is just because of the fact that there is no mathematics and calculations involved in this subject that many people [mostly females] love to join this profession).

Just to substantiate my point that most females are not good with Mathematical and Statistical calculations and that is one of the key reason for them to join the profession of HR.

In a survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy, in 67 cities across the world in which they covered following geographical areas:
Asia,
North America,
UK,
Europe and
Australia.
They interviewed 11, 500 HR Professionals. The finding are as follows:

56.7% of total recruitment professionals are females.

79.4% of total trainers and "Organization Development" professionals are females.

39.1% of total HR strategists are females. They look after HR Policies, Procedures, Processes and forms

However, only 2.6% of females are working in Compensation and Benefits department of division.

8.9% females are working in Legal Compliance Team.

3.2% females are handling the payroll, investment advisory desk and tax advisory desk of their organization.

11.5% females are working in HR Operations, thereby handling Performance Management, Time Office, Career Development and Talent Management.

18.7% females are working as HR Analysts.

It is proved from the above data and figures that most of the females are working in those functions of HR which doesn't involve complicate mathematical and statistical calculations.

For example, if I have a "Retention Strategy" and I want to implement in the organization. I need to show, how much the implementation of that strategy will cost; by what percentage the company will be able to increase the employee retention and decrease the attrition; which are the companies that are using this particular strategy and how effective it has been in their cases. If, I am going with this data, calculation and analysis, I am sure that my strategy will be discussed and implemented.

Hence, HR professionals need to be more analytical, data oriented and good in calculations. They should not be subjective and theory oriented.

7) Enthusiasm to Share / Develop / Coach and Mentor - We have heard and read in our schools and colleges that "Knowledge is a wealth; the more you distribute/share the more you gain". In this profession of HRM & D; we are privileged and are in a very unique position where we can develop people. We can develop their career. We can develop their life. We can help them in changing their perception and behavior. We can groom them, so that they can be successful in their life. Don't you think that we have very important and crucial role to play?? How many of us have actually thought in these lines? Do, think about it, you have one life, give what you can. If 10 people will remember me once I bid adieu to this world for helping them in developing their life, I will consider my life as successful.

8) Self Discipline - This again is a common quality that everyone should have, irrespective of the profession they are in, but it is more appreciable in HR Professionals and is like a must have quality. They need to set standards for others to follow; they need to benchmark their own behavior and if they start flowing with water, everything else will go for a toss and things will go out of control. I have heard, people saying that I am doing this or that because others are also doing it but that is not expected from HR Professionals. Discipline in life is a must to grow, prosper and being successful. So, set standards and don't just flow.

9) Trust Worthy - This is very important quality and must have for all HR Professionals. Candidates, at the time of interview share important information with HR; Employees share lots of information, personal, professional, ideas, suggestions, future related, dreams etc. Imagine, if the HR professional keep sharing that information with everyone in the team of HR; will that employee ever comeback to HR to share anything with him. NEVER. HR professionals need to win that trust and then maintain and keep that trust. This is very true for HR Professionals, who are working in "Employee Relations". Relation of any kind, be it with employees, is based on trust and honesty. If ever, you break that trust, you will never be able to win it again.

5 traits that any HR Professionals should not have...traits that can hamper their Growth

1) Ego or Attitude: Larger than role attitude - Well, when you are working with people, interacting with people and the number of people that you are interacting with is large, you cannot afford to have ego. You need to come down from your level and talk. It is not easy, just next to impossible to match with the expectations of everybody. In this profession, people will hate you, ignore your contribution, blame you but in spite of that you cannot afford to have ego. I have seen HR professionals who are over-flowing with ego. When they start talking, it appears as if they are doing any favor by interacting with you, communicating with you and updating you with new strategy or policy. This is another reason, as why HR professionals are not able to make that impact in this profession to make them counted.

2) Should not be emotional - "Touch everyone's heart and don't let them touch yours". "Be empathetic but don't cry with your employees". Every human being is emotional and it's only irony that to be effective and focused, HR Professionals should not be emotional. By being emotional, there is a chance and high probability that these HR Professionals will not be able to do justice with their work. They should be like that fish, which need to swim in water to survive but should not get wet.

3) I know everything (I don't need to learn from you) - This is another negative trait of HR. They present themselves in a way, as if they know everything. That is not an end, the irony is that neither do they have "Subject matter expertise" nor they are good in "Human Relations" and nor do they want to learn anything. This reminds me one story of goat and lion. Goat, whenever she see or come across lion, she closes her eyes and assume that once I close my eyes, lion will not be able to see me. So, that is a situation of HR Professionals.

Read this axiom.

If he don't know and don't know that he don't know, he is arrogant, AVOID him.

If he don't know and know that he don't know, he is a student, TEACH him.

If he knows abut do not know that he knows, he is sleeping, WAKE him up.

If he know and know that he knows, he is a LEADER, Follow him.

I think, in this axiom, I have given the message that I want to convey to my fellow HR Professionals.

4) I am GOD; I am THE Kingmaker -

If you are hiring someone;

If you are paying salary to someone;

If you are giving promotion and growth to someone;

If you are nice to someone

You are not doing any favor to him. He deserves, that is why he is getting. If you are giving, even though he do not deserve, then you are CORRUPT.

Many of HR Professionals send across this message to the shop-floor that "Don't mess with me, I can spoil your career" or "I have done favor for you. Respect me".

5) Should not be biased (No Favoritism; No Grapevine; No Office Politics) - HR Professionals, most of the time keep themselves engaged in "Office Politics". They initiate "Grapevine", water this grapevine and believe in this grapevine. Whatever might be the reason but it is a gray area and they need to improve on that. This is another reason that no one take HR professionals seriously. I know, in one of my previous employment, when we started "Employee Relations" and "Employee Communication", all employees use to consider this HR Representative as "Company ka jasoos" (Detective from management). In office politics, most of the time HR Department is considered as "Hub of All Politics". HR Professionals need to come up, and increase their level of thinking. They need to be more matured.

Conclusion

As I have mentioned in the introduction, this is INCLUSIVE list of qualities that all HR professionals should have. In one of my previous article, I have mentioned that for HR professionals to stand-up and get counted, there are miles to go. Some HR professionals have started this journey but many have still to take that "FIRST STEP". Believe me, we are in a very good profession and if we can try we can changes in many ways. We have an opportunity to give jobs, give careers, professional growth, coach and mentor people. On other hand, we can increase productivity, motivate employees, manage talent, build brand for the company and also make the company "Best Company to work for".

So, kindly stand-up, take that first step and get counted.

Looking forward to your comments and feedback.

Soft Skills for HR Professionals
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Sanjeev Himachali
Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com
E-mail: ss_himachali@yahoo.com; sanjeev.himachali@gmail.com

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Should You Build a Shed Or Buy One?

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