Cultivating Effective Communication Styles for HR Practitioners

Understanding the Languages We Speak with One Another

Chris Stanzione, Talent Acquisition Relationship Manager, AutoTrader Group

April 28, 2014

Introduction

Chris Stanzione, MBA, CIR14 years of Recruiting Experience• Staffing, Consulting, and Corporate• Has helped facilitate over 10,000 hires

in 47 states (HI, AK, ND)• Atlanta since 2004• Founded Atlanta Recruiters Group in

2008 • Just found out I am in HR

Passionate about Communication and Talent Acquisition

Purpose / Challenge

Human Resources

Business Unit

Talent Acquisition

Adaptive Challenge at Hand:• Three groups trying to

accomplish the “same” thing, but speaking different languages

• How do we bridge the languages gap with each other in order to accomplish what each group needs?

No Strategy: Instead….

© @JenniferMcClure

What are the Different Languages We Speak?

Corporate

HR

Business Unit

Talent Acquisition

What are the Languages We Speak?

HR Language

Human Resources acts as both a strategic partner and an excellent measure of the health of an organization

Operating language is: How can people best impact our organization? What are the ways in which we have a more engaged workforce with career development? How do HR Services (Total Rewards, Employee Relations, Workforce Planning, etc.) affect people? People matter.

Subtext language is: Are my inputs being listened to by the business? How do I quantify HR counsel and impact? How can we quit making the same mistakes over and over again? Why aren’t we considering the human impact to our business decisions.

Talent Acquisition Language

Talent Acquisition is both a strategic partner and a production unit of the firm.

Operating Language: What do you need by when? Who is involved? What are the hurdles? How can TA show you the value in what they know on an ongoing basis?

Subtext Language: What if we can’t find that person? What if our compensation / benefits / relocation / etc.. is not competitive? What if I fail at meeting the demands of the production order? What if the candidates all quit?

Business Unit Language

Business Units are the drivers of our companies. The business’ needs are there to be served but also need direction and counsel

Operating Language: We need to grow / scale. We need better quality people in the organization. We don’t have the time or money to spend on programs, we simply need results. We need people to understand what we do and who we are.

Subtext Language: You many not understand us. We just want the results. Why is working with HR/ TA so difficult and why are there so many rules?

Can we count on you?

The Different Languages We Speak?

Corporate

HR

Business Unit

Talent Acquisition

Case Study

Business Growth

Employee Relations

Finding Top Talent

TA filling jobs with “Available” candidates

Local, one location company

Business Unit needed 100+ “Quality” people to grow sales

HR concerned about fast growth impacting

employee relations due to internal equity

Finding Common Language(aka Synergy)

syn·er·gy nounthe interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

Creating Synergy through Common Language

Creating Synergy through Common Language

Before you Speak…

Listen!

Engagement through Effective Listening

Listening Tips:• Establish and maintain eye contact• Carefully listen to the other person• Focus full attention on their words, facial

expressions, and gestures• Indicate that you are listening through

periodic comments, expressions, and gestures

Ask Good Questions!!

Listening Pitfalls:• Being preoccupied• Interrupting• Listening only for what you think will be said• Ignoring non-verbal cues• Focusing on details and missing the broad

picture

Implementation(This is where we take all of the concepts and put them into action!!)

Ask Questions

Listen

Collaborate

Recap

Implement

Review / Measure

Communication

Sharing Successes

Start small…and share your…

Q & A

Thank You

Chris.Stanzione@AutoTraderGroup.comLinkedin.com/in/chrisstanzione

@cjstanzione