Comments on: The case for the HR generalist http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/ Business, Culture & Technology Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:36:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Chris Ferdinandi http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9548 Chris Ferdinandi Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:20:11 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9548 @Maleea - Fantastic analogy! Thanks for commenting. =) @Maleea – Fantastic analogy! Thanks for commenting. =)

]]> By: Maleea http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9516 Maleea Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:44:36 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9516 I can't help but compare this to the medical field, and how general physicians become so underrated, although I hear there's a comeback for them as well now. Get advice from a surgeon and it will always involve a scalpal. Go to a general physician and you'll start small and work your way to the most complex solution, if necessary. As a generalist, I become a specialist on an as-needed basis. When I need to know more about a specific issue, I dive really deep to resolve that issue, typically with the help from a fellow specialist in my network. Small to medium companies need generalists, otherwise the needs of the organization would never get met. I can’t help but compare this to the medical field, and how general physicians become so underrated, although I hear there’s a comeback for them as well now. Get advice from a surgeon and it will always involve a scalpal. Go to a general physician and you’ll start small and work your way to the most complex solution, if necessary. As a generalist, I become a specialist on an as-needed basis. When I need to know more about a specific issue, I dive really deep to resolve that issue, typically with the help from a fellow specialist in my network. Small to medium companies need generalists, otherwise the needs of the organization would never get met.

]]> By: Chris Ferdinandi http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9273 Chris Ferdinandi Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:51:07 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9273 @Suzanne - Thanks for the comment. For larger organizations, what are your thoughts on a hybrid model where generalists who support a segmented portion of the workforce partner with specialists to create solutions? @Suzanne – Thanks for the comment. For larger organizations, what are your thoughts on a hybrid model where generalists who support a segmented portion of the workforce partner with specialists to create solutions?

]]> By: Susanne Witteborg http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9272 Susanne Witteborg Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:27:32 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9272 I've been a generalist for my entire 20-ish year HR career, so absolutely I'm going to agree with you! I like that I have the the "full picture" of HR issues, so I am better able to provide insight about myriad issues to the management team -- comp, benefits, employee relations, recruiting, you name it -- instead of needing to cull this information from a variety of specialists. Also, I think generalists are perhaps more "user friendly" for employees (I hate that I used the term "user friendly" but my brain is tired!) Instead of having to figure out who to call about this issue or that issue, it's one-stop assistance. That said, however, I have worked for companies in the 100-500 employee size-ranges, so generalists probably make more sense for that size workforce. I’ve been a generalist for my entire 20-ish year HR career, so absolutely I’m going to agree with you! I like that I have the the “full picture” of HR issues, so I am better able to provide insight about myriad issues to the management team — comp, benefits, employee relations, recruiting, you name it — instead of needing to cull this information from a variety of specialists. Also, I think generalists are perhaps more “user friendly” for employees (I hate that I used the term “user friendly” but my brain is tired!) Instead of having to figure out who to call about this issue or that issue, it’s one-stop assistance. That said, however, I have worked for companies in the 100-500 employee size-ranges, so generalists probably make more sense for that size workforce.

]]> By: Chris Ferdinandi http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9237 Chris Ferdinandi Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:07:44 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9237 @Bonita Martin - Thanks for sharing your experience moving from a specialist to a generalist. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks generalists add a lot of value! @Bonita Martin – Thanks for sharing your experience moving from a specialist to a generalist. Glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks generalists add a lot of value!

]]> By: Bonita Martin http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9236 Bonita Martin Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:57:51 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9236 I also started out as a specialist (in recruiting) and am now a generalist Biz partner. As a generalist, I have the opportunity to make a much greater impact on the business by understanding all of the pieces of the puzzle. I also have exposure to LEARN more about the business through the many different interactions with employees (benefits, comp, recruiting, retention, EE relations,etc...), which interns help me to make a greater impact in the future. It's a winning cycle! I also started out as a specialist (in recruiting) and am now a generalist Biz partner. As a generalist, I have the opportunity to make a much greater impact on the business by understanding all of the pieces of the puzzle. I also have exposure to LEARN more about the business through the many different interactions with employees (benefits, comp, recruiting, retention, EE relations,etc…), which interns help me to make a greater impact in the future. It’s a winning cycle!

]]> By: Jess Booth http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9223 Jess Booth Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:27:08 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9223 I started out in an L&D/OD specialist team, where we came up with heaps of great ideas and tools for the business and I always found it a bit frustrating when HR Business Partners didn't share my enthusiasm or said that they were too busy to roll something out. Now as a generalist, I can appreciate the difficulties of being in the front line- but still maintain the bigger picture must also be seen in addition to putting out the flames! I started out in an L&D/OD specialist team, where we came up with heaps of great ideas and tools for the business and I always found it a bit frustrating when HR Business Partners didn’t share my enthusiasm or said that they were too busy to roll something out.

Now as a generalist, I can appreciate the difficulties of being in the front line- but still maintain the bigger picture must also be seen in addition to putting out the flames!

]]> By: Chris Ferdinandi http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9221 Chris Ferdinandi Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:23:49 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9221 @Jess - Thanks for the personal story. What did you specialize in, and how do you think working as a generalist has helped shape your perspective of HR? @Jess – Thanks for the personal story. What did you specialize in, and how do you think working as a generalist has helped shape your perspective of HR?

]]> By: Jess Booth http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9207 Jess Booth Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:40:00 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9207 Great post. I actually started my HR career as a specialist and moved over to generalist because I think it's important to understand how things will be actually rolled out in the business. Too often specialists have amazing ideas- but without the perspective of the generalist- those amazing ideas will fall flat on the ground. We should be fully utilising specialists and generalists for what they do best in HR. Great post. I actually started my HR career as a specialist and moved over to generalist because I think it’s important to understand how things will be actually rolled out in the business.

Too often specialists have amazing ideas- but without the perspective of the generalist- those amazing ideas will fall flat on the ground.

We should be fully utilising specialists and generalists for what they do best in HR.

]]> By: Chris Ferdinandi http://renegadehr.net/why-what-hr-generalist/comment-page-1/#comment-9188 Chris Ferdinandi Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:28:02 +0000 http://renegadehr.net/?p=2594#comment-9188 @Paul - great analogy. thanks for the comment! @Paul – great analogy. thanks for the comment!

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