“Change as a constant,” has never been truer than it is today. Our Chief HR and People Officers have been tested in ways most of us could never have imagined a little more than a year ago. With that said, most of these leaders have arisen to the challenge and, in many cases, elevated the importance of the HR function in their organizations.

The opportunity to redefine both the “worker and the workplace” is no longer a strategic initiative being developed for the next decade, instead this is the New Normal. Velocity is of utmost importance for the CHRO today. Opportunities are grabbed as soon as they present themselves. One must stay a step ahead. Additionally, creative utilization of talent will leverage human capital in the most effective way. The CHRO must enable and ensure the talent is flexible, adaptive, and agile at making decisions.

While the CHRO has a full plate with an intense set of expectations on which they are being measured, the world of business is facing revolutionary change and keeping pace, in fact staying ahead of that change is a measure of success!

The obvious near-term priority is to prepare for the future return to the workplace and the “new normal” while creating a comfortable, reassuring, and safe environment for the ‘comeback’ that is imminent. The CHRO must lead from the front and be visible and accessible at all levels in the organization. This will be achieved by building a culture of trust and transparency within the organization.

2021 is the year for collaborative leadership and the CHRO and their organization have never been more important to redefining the future for organizations.