Managing Relationships with Managers

I am sure many of you have been in a situation where you had to deal with a manager who was not a fan of HR or for that matter not a fan of you. I know over my years in HR I can site at least 2 examples of this and how I dealt with them. So here are some useful tips on how to manage manager relationships:

• first, make sure you know who you are dealing with
• offer an olive branch to the manager to discuss an issue but start off with a slow burn towards your topic 
• ask, if they are no fans of HR, why they are not fans but do not immediately become defensive
• if they are not fans of you, ask why and how you can change their mind about your relationship
• this takes lots of work, effort, and humble pie my friends but the outcome will be most valuable
• see how you or your department can help the manager in other than HR ways
• and finally, do not force the issue. 

And here are a couple of other items for your quiver:

• know when to step in, don't interject every time there is an issue
• don't let one bad apple spoil the bunch
• help co-workers to get to know one another, provide opportunities for your staff to interact with others
• reward positive role models
• and also set the example,  Whether you're doing the managing or being managed, take a step back and look at the kind of tone you're setting.

I hope this help in our continuing efforts to manager the HR function.