It's no surprise that I think HR and people leaders have one of the hardest roles at any organization. For me, it feels like sometimes we're not seen as true organizational partners. Or our role is so diminished and viewed as not important, yet everyone else in a business performs better because of the work that HR does. Coincidence? I think not! So, how can we finally be seen as key drivers to company growth, instead of the employee who puts out fires and pushes paperwork? My guest, Chris Haygood of Astute Edge, is here to shine a light on just how pivotal HR is when it comes to tackling big organizational challenges, not just the compliance stuff. We’re diving into how the view of HR is changing, its strategic importance, and some hands-on tactics to help HR pros cement their role as key business influencers. Our chat also touches on the next decade of HR, including the role of AI and the need for HR leaders to be considered for CEO positions. It’s time for HR leaders to finally be seen as strategic partners, because the success of our teams depend on it! 00:01:03 - Chris Hagood’s Introduction and Credentials 00:03:20 - What is the Key to Maintaining Strong Relationships at Work? 00:05:19 - Why HR Leaders Struggle to Be Seen as True Partners 00:12:40 - Common Misconceptions Other Executives Have About HR 00:16:34 - How Does Organizational Structure Impact HR Influence? 00:22:38 - When Do You Need a Senior People Leader? 00:31:49 - The Legal Misconceptions Around HR Duties 00:38:12 - The Exciting Potential of HR in the Next 10 Years 00:45:15 - How Organizations Should Perceive and Integrate HR Leaders 00:53:19 - Advice For HR Leaders Struggling to be Seen as Strategic Partners And if you love I Hate It Here, sign up to Hebba’s newsletter! It’s for jaded, overworked, and emotionally burnt-out HR/People Operations professionals needing a little inspiration. https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/i-hate-it-here-newsletter/   And if you love the podcast, be sure to check out  https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here for even more exclusive insider content!   Follow Chris: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrhagood/ X/Instagram: @chrisrhagood @astutedge Newsletter: https://astutedge.beehiiv.com/subscribe Company LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/astutedge/   Follow Hebba:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ihateit-here/videos LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef Twitter: https://twitter.com/hebbamyoussef