"HR only works for the boss, never for you."
I get it.
I was once an artist who saw HR as the salary-capping enemy.
Now that I’ve been on both sides, I can see that uncomfortable truth most people conveniently dismiss:
“HR exists because it’s what a company is”
* Small companies don’t have HR departments because the CEO handles those functions directly (pray that he’s/she’s understand people needs).
* As companies grow, someone dedicated needs to manage the beautiful mess of human interactions.
* HR spans from soul-crushing paperwork to soul-nurturing development.
* No humans, no company, so “Human Capital” sounds more accurate.
The reality?
HR is just a reflection of leadership values.
When leaders see employees as expensive, necessary evils to hit KPIs (experienced this 1st hand in Luxembourg), HR becomes the weapon of twisted capitalism.
But when leaders (like Sebastien Moreau or Jasmin Hasel I’ve been fortunate to work with) see humans as the actual meaning behind the company, HR transforms into something entirely different.
A company literally means “people breaking bread together.”
“com” meaning “with” or “together.”
“panis” meaning “bread” (“pain” in french)
The company only exists BECAUSE of the people, not despite them.
So next time you’re tempted to dismiss HR as corporate hench(wo)men (like me back then), remember:
* The best HR professionals give all for team cohesion
* They’re translating business needs into human development
* They’re measuring success by how well teams work together
* They balance out equity fairly (sharing the bread)
I’m currently reading “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
(a masterpiece), and it reinforces what I’ve learned:
“When teams thrive, companies thrive.
Everything else is errands.”
If your creative team feels more like competing soloists than a symphony, maybe it’s time to reimagine what HR partnership could be.
Let’s talk.
