Human resource management (HRM) refers to a strategic approach for effectively managing people in an organization or company ultimately helping in the gain of a competitive advantage. HRM’s overall purpose is ensuring that an organization or company achieves success majorly through its human resources or people. HRM is a strategic approach in the management of workers in a company or organization, with workers considered one of the most valuable organizational assets. HRM encompasses the day-to-day handling of people committed either at individual or collective level to ensuring organizational success. The fact that the process entails actual handling of people points to the need for a high proficiency of competencies amongst personnel working in the HRM department. A proficiency of competencies is also important for professionals working in the HRM department. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a competency refers to an aggregate of knowledge, abilities, skills, and other traits that have a positive impact on job performance. The SHRM Competency Model for HR professionals lists nine fundamental competencies: human resource expertise, ethical practice, leadership and navigation, business acumen, consultation, critical evaluation, communication, global and cultural effectiveness, and relationship management. In this paper, proficiency is assessed in communication and business acumen competencies that are a strength and weakness respectively with focus on how they relate to health care organizations striving for a culture of excellence.
Assessment of Proficiency for Communication and Business Acumen
Communication and business acumen are important competencies in any organization. Communication refers to an individual’s ability to effectively exchange information with other stakeholders (SHRM, 2016). My proficiency in the communication competency is manifested in how I often provide clear and concise information to other people in various communication formats such as written, verbal, and electronic. I am also an active and empathetic listener to other people’s views. I always provide constructive feedback when the need arises. Moreover, I am often committed to ensuring effective communication at the workplace. Business acumen is one competency area I could improve on. It is about an individual having the capacity to not only understand but also apply information and to some extent making contributions to an organization’s strategic plan (SHRM, 2016). I need to learn more about organizational metrics and how they relate to business success. I should focus on leveraging technology in the solution of business problems. Most importantly, I must strive to showcase a capacity for understanding various business operations and their functions at the organizational level.
Analysis of Competencies in Relation to Healthcare
Communication is one of the most important aspects at the organizational level. In healthcare organizations, for instance, effective communication amongst the workforce ensures a culture of excellence as quality healthcare services to the patient are guaranteed (Flynn et al., 2015). Through effective communication, care providers can obtain critical information that helps in the treatment of a patient. Conversely, effective communication between a patient and a care provider gives the former confidence and courage in the care delivery process (Sibiya, 2018). With effective communication, healthcare organizations and stakeholders benefit in terms of decreased adverse events, reduced length of hospital stays, improved patient outcomes, and safe working environment (Merlino, 2017; Vermeir et al., 2015). Moreover, effective communication in the healthcare context is associated with increased chances of patients recommending the organization to others, as well as rating the organization highly (Flynn et al.,2015). Gaining further proficiency in the communication competency would enable me to contribute to my organization’s culture of excellence by building support and inspiring confidence amongst stakeholders and creating a culture that fosters effective interactions and decision-making by all stakeholders involved.
Business acumen is also an important competency for any organization’s workforce. In health care organizations, proficiency in the business acumen competency is important in ensuring increased accountability amongst staff (Flynn et al., 2015; Rothausen & Barzako, 2014). Increased accountability comes with heightened attention and increased efficiency, particularly in the care delivery process (Chubbs, 2013). Essentially, being proficient or knowledgeable in business aspects of healthcare strengthens healthcare providers’ capacity to lead their organizations in more effective and comprehensive ways. A culture of excellence is thus a manifestation of the more effective and comprehensive leadership brought about by business acumen proficiency (Williams & Williams, 2019). Gaining proficiency in the business acumen competency would enable me to contribute to my organization’s culture of excellence as I would stress on stakeholders maintaining a working knowledge of business that would enhance competitiveness (Sonnino, 2016). I would also contribute to my organization’s culture of excellence by recommending important plan improvements and business practices. Moreover, I would be in a position to come up with HR business strategies crucial in driving critical business results.
Conclusion
Communication and business acumen are among the nine fundamental competencies listed by the SHRM Competency Model. Proficiency in communication competency is manifested in the provision of clear and concise information to other people, active and empathetic listening, and provision of constructive feedback. Proficiency in the business acumen proficiency is manifested in having knowledge of organizational metrics and how they relate to business success, as well as leveraging technology in the solution of business problems, among others. Effective communication helps to create a culture of excellence in the healthcare organizational context. Proficiency in the business acumen competency is also critical to any organization’s culture of excellence.
References
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