Blog: Three 'not so new' trends the HR world is still struggling to adopt

Strategic HR

Three 'not so new' trends the HR world is still struggling to adopt

The three 'not so new' trends that the HR is still struggling with
Three 'not so new' trends the HR world is still struggling to adopt

With 2015 moving into its last quarter, it is time to reflect on the trends that the year has seen. A fair share of ideas emerged that took the HR world by storm. The year began with a focus on creating a more humane workspace and talking about how to solve the problem of the ‘overwhelmed employee’. The world began to talk about shifting from ‘Do more with less’ to ‘Do less better.’ The HR fraternity also spent considerable time discussing data and social media.

Amidst all of this, a fair share of ideas also got tucked away in the corner and failed to see the adoption rate that they should have. Here I am going to talk about three ‘not so new’ trends that are still struggling to find a spot in the mainstream.

1. Infographic Resumes

The ideal resume is a thing of mystery. One quick search on the internet and the number of articles on resume writing alone go to show that this is a topic of universal interest. Sometime in 2014, infographic resumes became a rage; and why not, data is after all, best represented through visuals. A number of websites emerged to help candidates build their own visually appealing CV’s. However, today, infographic resumes in the market are still few and far between despite evident benefits. Are our systems and mindsets build to digest these resumes? Maybe not. Most application tracking systems (ATS) are still not capable of handling these. Some traditional companies even send these resumes into the ‘no’ pile for they apparently do not reflect seriousness about the job. As the debate on effectiveness continues, it is essential that we are equipped to handle this trend and do not let it die.

2. Storytelling

Storytelling is the strongest way to leave a lasting impression on memory. L&D professionals across industries have long grappled with the challenge to make learning more impactful. While e-learning is gaining popularity, building culture and driving learning through storytelling is still in its nascent stage. Every organization has a treasure trove of great stories within. Few companies like Volvo, Amazon and HP are on a constant search for these stories and encourage its employees to learn from them. Few companies let the stories die. It is important to tap into your organizational memory, draw out these gems, and get your leaders to narrate them. There is no better way to learn.

3. Crowdsourcing solutions

Some of the best ideas come from employees. Asking them to collaborate on solutionising has taken various forms in different organizations but has not reached the adoption or maturity one would want to see. Crowdsourcing solutions from employees has multiple benefits. Not only does it help give multiple perspectives to an issue, it also makes the employee feel valued because he/she is now a contributing member in the decision making process.  From moving to a ‘good to have’ practice to a ‘need to have’ practice, many organizations need to go a long way in adopting this.

As we race towards 2016, now is a good time to introspect and check what we have yet to capitalize on.  It won’t be long before the next year sweeps in with its own list of trends and the ones we’ve failed to adopt move to the sidelines. 

 

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Topics: Strategic HR, #Trends

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