HR'S GUIDE TO THINKING LIKE A CONSULTANT. It's an exciting time to be an HR professional: You are on the front lines for changing the way the world works. By taking a consultative approach to developing strategic guidance for key decision-makers, you'll not only add value to your organization but contribute meaningfully toward bringing about the change you want to see. Covering guidelines and best practices for building and applying your consultative skills, Mastering Consultation as an HR Practitioner features cases studies, worksheets, and additional resources that can be used immediately and applied every day for: Defining customer needs Gathering the right data Avoiding common obstacles Building a framework for change Developing and presenting new HR solutions

Applying Critical Evaluation draws from existing thought leadership and real-life examples to provide ready-to-use recommendations HR professionals can incorporate in nearly every aspect of the job - from selecting an HRIS and identifying training programs to developing an onboarding process and proposing organizational restructuring. Written especially for HR professionals in small businesses and HR departments of one, Applying Critical Evaluation highlights best practices for interpreting and promoting findings to better inform business decisions. Featuring tools, worksheets, case studies, and assessments that can be used immediately and applied every day, it is a resource HR professionals will regularly consult. " Applying Critical Evaluation lives up to its name and more. Currence shows how evaluation must evolve from traditional smile sheets and tests to efforts that truly connect HR with business results and strategy. Please read and apply its tools and recommendations to become a true strategic business partner!" -Jim Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., author of Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Training Evaluation and Training on Trial "Full of smart, practical information you can use every day, Applying Critical Evaluation is a book you'll pull from your professional bookshelf and consult time and time again." -Susan Craft, MS, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR, consultant, adjunct professor, and president emeritus of the Virginia SHRM State Council "This is a fresh look at what I do every day as an HR director. It reminded me of concepts that I had forgotten and ones that were new to me even after 15 years in HR. This is a great 'handbook' for the small business HR professional in any company." -DaNell D'Alfonso, SPHR, Senior HR Director, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill Preface Chapter 1. Defining Critical Evaluation Chapter 2. Assessing the Big Picture Chapter 3. Processing the Data Chapter 4. Refining an Optimal Solution Chapter 5. Making the Final Decision Chapter 6. Summary Appendices Suggested Reading Endnotes Index About the Author Additional SHRM-Published Books SHRMStore Books Approved for Recertification Credit

The small business HR professional has a unique work environment. For one, HR departments in small businesses are typically quite small, often consisting of only one or two employees. Because of this, these HR professionals are usually expected to be generalists able to answer all HR-related questions. But because there are only one or two of them, they are also expected to be specialists in those same areas. With so much responsibility, how do small business HR professionals have time to focus on their own professional development? And where to start? Surveys demonstrates that building career-long business, interpersonal, and leadership competencies should be the goal of every HR practitioner. Business Acumen falls within the first category. An HR professional who understands the business as a whole is better equipped to make decisions that positively affect the entire business. HR professionals in small businesses have more opportunities to do this than in larger organizations simply because the smaller size helps reduce the barriers to knowledge of various functions. The purpose of Developing Business Acumen is to provide the small business HR professional with a practical, hit-the-ground-running guide to becoming a more effective business partner. The reader will learn the elements of business acumen, such as: Reading and understanding a company's P&L statement; Formulating and tracking metrics that help implement HR programs; Communicating more effectively with other departments and throughout the organization; Developing mutually beneficial relationships with sales and marketing; Conducting environmental scans that can lead to positively influencing the organization; and Expanding an entrepreneurial spirit to enhance corporate culture. This is the first book in the Making an Impact in Small Business HR Series.