Learning to Lead: HR Organizations to Join

A large part of being a successful human resources professional is managing the employees at your place of business. Personalities, background, education, tenure, and experience all go into creating an environment that is conducive to productivity.

Networking with other human resources personnel through professional HR organizations can offer valuable insights into the day-to-day running of your office. Professional organizations can also be valuable resources for continuing education, providing ways to keep up on the latest trends in human resource management.

Here are a few professional HR organizations you may want to consider joining:

Planning and Leadership Skills

Planning and leadership skills are essential to a well-run place of business, and most HR personnel are involved in some level of both. Belonging to professional HR organizations that focus on leadership can help you become a natural leader.

The National Human Resources Association (NHRA) exists to enhance the planning and leadership skills of all its members, and it has networking programs throughout the United States. One of its goals is to help at every stage of the human resources career, from the internship to the executive-level position. The association also offers extensive professional development opportunities for its members.

Human Resource Management

Another vital part of a successful career in human resources is management. Among an HR team’s many responsibilities include developing benefit packages, offering employee perks and other compensations, and balancing vacation hours. On top of it all, HR professionals must manage employee requests and mitigate any issues that arise.

One of the best HR organizations to offer management development is the Society for Human Resource Management. SHRM is the largest organization of its kind solely devoted to this area of human resources. SHRM’s primary mission is to “advance human resource management as a professional practice.” It represents members in 160 countries and has chapters in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

Talent Development

Hiring top talent is a major objective for HR departments. HR professionals are using a number of technologies, marketing strategies, and big data for talent acquisition. As higher levels of talent are hired and onboarded, HR professionals are finding that their roles more heavily focus on developing talent within their organizations.

While many trainers and instructional designers are members of the Association for Talent Development (ATD), the organization also offers resources for talent development. With members in over 120 countries, HR professionals can find great value by joining ATD’s local chapters or attaining an international membership.

Labor Relations

Larger human resources departments often have individuals who specialize in a certain area. Labor relations is one such specialty. Being a member of a labor relations organization keeps specialists abreast of changes in labor laws that directly impact the workplace.

One such organization is the Labor and Employment Relations Association. This organization provides opportunities for members to network, share ideas and learn about new developments, issues and best practices in the labor relations field.

Payroll and Staffing

Human resource personnel also work in the areas of payroll and staffing. Membership in the American Payroll Association can provide payroll personnel with important answers to payroll questions, as well as courses and conferences for educational advancement in the field.

Staffing personnel are directly involved in the recruitment and hiring of new employees. Staffing personnel often lead recruitment teams and directly oversee the hiring of high-level personnel. The American Staffing Association provides networking and educational opportunities in ethical and professional practices for those in the staffing industry.

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