‘Organic nature’ to HR profession
The pandemic highlighted the critical role of HR in addressing urgent human capital needs. HR’s focus on the fundamentals – ensuring colleague safety and cultural management – became even more paramount, says Britt, and while the pandemic is now in the past, there is an opportunity to take those learnings forward.
“Today, HR leadership is a strategic enabler of a company’s success, maximizing the impact of people and offerings to business results,” says Britt. “Choosing a career in HR means you are in the ‘people business’ and there is an organic nature to the profession.”
She adds that the desire for greater remote work, versus being co-located with your business and team, makes it more far challenging for HR professionals to deliver the same strategic impact that took decades to cultivate.
“When you are remote, business leaders can’t stop in your doorway to discuss an idea, and you don’t get the subtle cues of a colleague struggling. Anticipating business needs and stepping into unplanned situations where human capital knowledge and business expertise drive different outcomes is paramount to impact,” she says.
“At Thermo Fisher, we take our mission – to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer – seriously. To have this impact on the world, ‘togetherness’ is a necessary forced multiplier for innovation, problem solving and team development,” says Britt. She says maintaining flexibility to balance work and personal needs is key and every company should find their right balance.