Welcome to HR by Design (HRbD)
Why Build Capability and Enable Growth?
At HR by Design, we believe people are the heart of every successful organisation. For over two decades, we’ve partnered with businesses across the globe to design and deliver human-centred solutions that unlock both organisational and individual potential.
Human Resources by Design (HRbD) was established by Helen Hartley, a seasoned HR and Organisation Development professional whose global career reflects both depth and breadth across industries. Helen’s professional journey has taken her into boardrooms and businesses across the United States, Germany, India, Asia Pacific, and New Zealand. Her portfolio includes luxury retail, FMCG, manufacturing, financial services, digital, energy, water, education, and not-for-profit sectors.
Helen’s corporate pedigree includes senior roles at Duty Free Stores owned by LVMH, Schwarzkopf, and Levi Strauss & Co., where she contributed to international leadership, ethics and diversity programs. Her reputation as a creative solution-finder and strategic partner has made her a trusted advisor to executives, CEOs, and emerging leaders alike.
Today, HRbD is known for creating sustainable change through innovative programs that integrate strategy, planning, and execution. Recent successes include the global rollout of Momentum, our flagship Leadership Development Program, as well as Management Development and Women’s Development programs, delivered via live classrooms across three continents.
Founder & Owner
Helen Hartley
What does the research tell us, and why focus on People Skills for Leaders?
Contemporary research tells us that ‘soft skills for leaders are in demand. Do you think the term “soft skills,” although generally accepted, really encompasses the additional business skills that are needed? Soft suggests comfort, gentleness, and ease. The term ‘soft skills’ does not truly reflect what we need to understand when connecting with people.
There is nothing ‘soft’ about soft skills. I prefer to call them People Skills. Think of a time you had to navigate the delivery of bad news, an unpopular decision, a poor performance issue, the termination of an employee, or an employee redundancy. There’s nothing soft about these situations. They can be extremely difficult, challenging, and emotionally draining. I’m told that very things keep leaders up at night. As difficult as these situations are, over time, most employees will forget what happened, yet they will never forget how they were made to feel!
Leaders are expected to communicate effectively with people at all levels. They are expected to influence others, make decisions, lead happy and productive teams and produce successful outcomes for the business.
Alternatively, if you have high-performing teams with strong co-worker relationships, you will be challenged, as the leader, to support them in staying on top of their game. Using great people skills to connect and engage people will see them flourish as a team, develop individually and stay engaged.
Having a suite of great people skills enables leaders to communicate and connect with others more effectively. Ask yourself, ‘Do you understand your people, their drives and motivations? Are you able to understand their behaviours and interpret their reactions? How about recognising your impact on them? It’s about understanding how people tick!
Momentum will assist you in developing great people skills and provide a pathway to greater self-understanding by providing opportunities to deepen your understanding of how you tick.
For further information, please get in touch with Helen Hartley here!