That the pace of change is ever onwards is indisputable. That opinion and outlook may be lagging behind is perhaps the inevitable consequence of people being involved in business. People as a whole are innately conservative. Anyone who has tried to transform an organisation’s processes or cultures will testify that one of the hardest barriers to overcome that of ‘we’ve always done it this way.’

So perhaps it’s inevitable that as technology leaps merrily forward carrying business into the future, our attitudes and our preconceptions can hold back the true potential for change. I was reminded of this when one of my colleagues reported overhearing a comment at a networking lunch to the effect that HR are a law unto themselves and don’t live in the same world as the rest of the business.

Should we dismiss this as the product of one particularly insular HR Department or is it a generalisation which still holds sway in business alongside other generalisations about the nature of the sales, accounts, IT and other departments? Sadly, in a number of organisations these generalisations do still appear but happily they are increasingly being seen as a relic of a business past in which silo working held sway.

When I scuttle into work head down, interact only with my immediate colleagues and have little to do with the rest of the business unless I am issuing diktats then it is inevitable that cross-departmental misunderstandings arise. But the new imperative is one of collaboration within a culture of innovation and that requires barriers to be broken down and generalisations to be swept aside.

Success comes through people

Within this new organisational culture of collaboration HR no longer sit aloof from the rest of the business, dispensing contracts and payslips with the odd foray into the recruitment arena (not that HR departments were ever really like that – myth is so hard to overcome). Nowadays human resources teams are far more aligned to the needs of the business and of its people. Developing potential, developing skills and developing understanding of the organisation all fall within the HR remit.  In order to deliver the new agenda we are seeing HR professionals becoming more resourceful in finding ways to deliver blended learning and personal development plans which will enable individuals to expand their personal horizons.

Those organisations which are looking to deliver genuine solutions and great customer experiences by building a culture of innovation know that success comes through people. When we value our people, when we engage with our people, when we challenge our people to do more, be more, deliver more, then amazing things can happen. Forget preconceptions and generalisations and silo working, they are things of the past. Tomorrow’s businesses rely on collaboration, with everyone working together in the pursuit of excellence.