Professional courage and influence

One of the key behaviours people professionals need is the ability to influence others, and the courage to challenge decisions and actions.

We need these behaviours every day at work. Whether it’s making a case for change, contributing ideas, getting buy-in from stakeholders, or working with line managers on their people decisions – we all need to influence others. And influencing often happens in tandem with courage: the ability to challenge when there’s resistance or opposition, speak up when you know something isn’t right, and take a stand when it’s the right thing to do.

Alongside this, we also need the courage to know when we’ve made mistakes, to take responsibility for them, and learn how to do better in future.

To do all these things effectively, we need to build relationships with others to understand their views, concerns and needs, and use the most effective ways to communicate with them in order to achieve positive outcomes.

'Professional courage (and influence) for HR, OD and Learning professionals is more critical in a world where the truth, justice and the concept of 'being right' has been distorted and even weaponised.'

'Having the courage to hold lines on ethics, morality and fairness; being on the side of good, virtuous and just outcomes, is vital for HR as a profession.'

'With new challenges brought upon us by advancing digital technologies and new economic, societal and business models; we need courage to challenge both orthodox and emerging; and be positively influential and boldly creative in the future design of the world of work.'

Perry Timms, Founder and Chief Energy Officer - PTHR at People and Transformational HR Ltd