"We don't have a Human Resources Manager; we can't afford it and anyway all our managers have people management as a priority".
This view is often expressed by directors of small businesses. However, there are times when specialised HR advice can be necessary, as Pat Perridge, a senior member of Spindler's HR Consulting team, explains.
Everyone who runs a business should have a good general understanding of the legalities of employing people, know how to develop effective structures to achieve organisational objectives and have the ability to motivate and engage people in the business. In smaller businesses the senior management team can, in general, handle these things quite adequately most of the time. Sometimes however, external HR advice can prove beneficial.
It can help to get a third party opinion when the business is facing a major change in direction or in its organisational structure. It's also important to take advice when facing difficult people issues, which may end up in the legal arena. An outside perspective can help clarify thinking and promote the development of solutions which are both practical and commercial.
Business owners and senior managers are often aware of the strengths and weaknesses of people around them but can be reluctant to act on shortcomings for fear of damaging relationships. External consultancy advice can prove helpful in situations such as this as it can provide an independent third party perspective.
An external HR consultant can work with problematic individuals to enhance their skills, or help re-develop the business structure to work around the specific weaknesses or, if these solutions are not appropriate, to develop a plan to exit individuals from the organisation with minimum negative consequences.
We also work with our clients at developing teams, promoting effective team relationships and improving outcomes. Pat concludes, "When you are very closely involved in a business it's often very hard to see exactly what is required to move it forward. A professional HR consultant can assess the entire management team and create a tailored plan for both individuals and teams to develop their leadership skills."
Regular engagement with a HR consultant provides several benefits for small businesses. In particular an ongoing relationship allows the consultant to develop an understanding of the culture of the organisation. Recommendations can therefore be put in the correct context and so help the business to become more effective and productive.
If you feel your business could benefit from external advice, call Pat Perridge on 0118 939 4506 for an informal discussion.
Back to Spindler newsletter issue 3
