Michelle Cooper, people and performance manager, Peoplebank Australia, talks about connecting people programs to objectives and why she would like to dine with the Dalai Lama.
How would you sum up HR professionals in two words?
Strategy executors.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Do not try to please everyone because it is unattainable.
What are some of the biggest challenges that HR deals with?
The sole challenge is the difficulties in demonstrating that people programs were the main reason for the achievement of a specified goal/objective. It is usually bundled with other initiatives or market impact, i.e. causation vs correlation.
How do you see the role of HR changing in the future?
The future will have leaders even more equipped to manage daily employee firefighting scenarios and HR administration will be automated. Therefore the role of HR will comprise more high-level people strategy consultants and program managers.
What’s your favoured style of coffee?
Soy flat white.
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive and excluding family and friends, who would that be and why?
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t in HR, I’d be…. A healthcare professional. A nurse, doctor, aged care worker etc. They have dedicated their careers to the health and well-being of others.
Strategy executors.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Do not try to please everyone because it is unattainable.
What are some of the biggest challenges that HR deals with?
The sole challenge is the difficulties in demonstrating that people programs were the main reason for the achievement of a specified goal/objective. It is usually bundled with other initiatives or market impact, i.e. causation vs correlation.
How do you see the role of HR changing in the future?
The future will have leaders even more equipped to manage daily employee firefighting scenarios and HR administration will be automated. Therefore the role of HR will comprise more high-level people strategy consultants and program managers.
What’s your favoured style of coffee?
Soy flat white.
If you could invite three people to dinner, dead or alive and excluding family and friends, who would that be and why?
- Barack Obama - for his inspirational presentation style – something I strive for.
- Dalai Lama – I am a practicing Catholic, however I admire the Buddhism approach to mindfulness and fulfilment.
- Nelson Mandela – in hope to gain a better understanding of the source of his personal strength and resilience.
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t in HR, I’d be…. A healthcare professional. A nurse, doctor, aged care worker etc. They have dedicated their careers to the health and well-being of others.
