Unleashing your Professional IKIGAI
Clarity for HR Teams through finding their Purpose & Ikigai
Human Resources (HR) teams today play an ever more crucial role in fostering a positive work culture, ensuring the well-being of employees and supporting and developing organizations and leaders to deal with the BANI world we live in today. However, to truly excel in their responsibilities, HR professionals need to have a clear understanding of their purpose and find their "ikigai" – a Japanese concept of finding meaning and fulfillment in one's work. By aligning their purpose and ikigai, HR teams can drive significant organizational growth, change, employee satisfaction, and overall success and ensure clarity within HR and across the whole organization.
My experience in HR has been consistent with having built and maintained strong relationships in the business, being at the executive table and creating a strong HR brand within and outside of the companies I have worked at. One of the key success factors of this has been always being clear on what the HR function's purpose is within that specific organization and aligning with the organization's purpose, values and goals.
The following steps provide a guide on how to go about finding and defining what your HR Teams Ikigai is.
1. Defining the Purpose of HR Teams
This is the first step in establishing clarity within HR teams. Defining their purpose. HR professionals should understand that their role goes beyond compliance, policies, and administrative tasks. Their purpose is to act as strategic partners, facilitating the connection between employees and organizational goals. By recognizing their purpose, HR teams can contribute to a positive workplace culture and drive employee engagement.
2. Aligning HR Teams with Organizational Goals
HR teams must align their purpose with the overall objectives of the organization. By understanding the company's vision, mission, and values, HR professionals can develop initiatives and strategies that support the organization's growth and success. This alignment ensures that HR efforts are purposeful and contribute directly to the achievement of organizational goals and contribute to building a strong and value-added HR brand.
3. Finding Ikigai: Personal Fulfillment in HR Roles
Ikigai refers to the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. To excel in their roles, HR professionals need to find their ikigai within their work. This involves identifying passions, strengths, and the impact they want to make in the workplace. When HR professionals find their ikigai together as 1 HR team, they experience a sense of personal fulfillment that drives their motivation, creativity, and commitment to their work.
4. Impact on Employee Experience
When HR teams have a clear purpose and align their efforts with organizational goals, it positively impacts the overall employee experience. Clear communication of HR's purpose helps employees understand the role HR plays in their professional development, well-being, and job satisfaction. HR professionals can create initiatives that focus on employee engagement, career growth, and work-life balance, thereby enhancing the overall employee experience within the organization.
5. Driving Organizational Success
Clarity in purpose and ikigai empowers HR teams to drive organizational success. When HR professionals are clear about their purpose, they can proactively identify and address employee pain points, leading to increased employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity. By aligning HR initiatives with organizational goals, HR teams contribute to a positive work culture, attracting and retaining top talent, and enhancing the organization's reputation.
HR teams can significantly impact organizational success when they have clarity of purpose and find their ikigai. By defining their purpose, aligning with organizational goals, and finding personal fulfillment within their roles, HR professionals can create a positive work culture, enhance the employee experience, and drive organizational growth. It is essential for HR teams to invest time and effort in introspection and self-discovery to ensure they are clear on their purpose and find their ikigai, ultimately leading to a thriving and positive workplace culture.
If you would like to join a community of HR professionals focusing on this topic, please reach out to me via deluxleadership@gmail.com or over my Linkedin profile.