Professionals are highly competent and informed people who have received special training to carry out a specific task (professional, n.d). The most valuable asset of an organisation, according to the CIPD, is its workforce; therefore, the employment of people-practice specialists is essential. The profession creates sustainable business outcomes that are beneficial to all stakeholders through understanding, communicating, and harnessing the value of an organisation’s personnel (CIPD, 2022). People professionals are well-positioned to lead change, manage complexity, and navigate ambiguity in a rapidly changing world. The Profession Map sets the global standard for the people’s profession. HR professionals use it to help them make better decisions, perform at their best, act with conviction, promote organisational transformation, and advance their careers (CIPD| Explore the Profession Map, 2022).
The CIPD HR Profession Map provides a comprehensive framework for defining the contribution of a people professional. It identifies important behaviors, knowledge, and abilities required at various degrees of expertise. For example, at the Core level, it emphasizes building trust and harmonizing interpersonal connections. At the Advanced level, emphasis is placed on influencing all departments and shaping organisational culture. In my role, I have used the HR Profession Map insights to improve strategic contribution. I have made a substantial contribution to organisational success by merging my activities into the key areas of Organisation Design and Development, Employee Engagement, and Employee Relations, as shown on the map.
Being a people professional entails being a transformative leader capable of adding value and making an impact at work. To become an Impactful people practitioner, one must have a thorough understanding of change, workplace difficulties, and people. Being able to apply specific behaviors and points of view regardless of the situation is critical for people professionals, such as courage, fairness, and inclusion. A people professional should be trustworthy and honest, putting quality jobs ahead of personal gain. Finally, professional membership in regulatory organisations such as the CIPD is an important factor that helps people managers stand out as “real professionals” (CIPD, 2022). Unlike non-professionals, members of professional regulatory bodies have consented to be held accountable for their behaviour.
