So You Want To Be A Chief HR Officer? Why It's Harder Than It Looks

Josh Bersin

In this podcast I walk through a few of the findings from our CHRO Insights® research, explaining why the CHRO role has become more complex and difficult than ever.

This podcast episode discusses the challenges, issues, drivers, success factors, and derailers of being a head of HR or CHRO. I share early insights from a massive research project that studied 47,000 heads of HR from various industries and sectors.

The research reveals that many CHROs did not come from their own company, indicating a lack of succession management and internal development. It also highlights the complex and multifunctional nature of the CHRO role, requiring HR domain expertise, C-level executive skills, systemic thinking, comfort with data and technology, and a good understanding of human nature.

If you are hiring a CHRO or aspiring to a senior HR role, listen in. And read my in-depth article on the topic.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Success and Frustrations of Being a CHRO or Head of HR 04:10 Insights from a Massive Research Project on CHROs 09:21 The Challenges of Moving into a CHRO Role 16:06 The Complex and Multifunctional Nature of the CHRO Role 21:53 Conclusion: Opportunities for CHROs to Learn and Connect

Additional Information

The Ever Expanding Role of the CHRO (YouTube)

Introducing The Systemic HR Initiative

Learn about Galileo, the World’s AI Expert Assistant for HR

Special Josh Bersin Academy Course: AI in HR (highly acclaimed)