Moving Up—CHRO Among the Fastest-Growing C-Suite Roles

HR leaders face many challenges in their journey to the top but despite the roadblocks, the CHRO C-suite role is growing in importance at a very steady pace. According to a recent report by LinkedIn, the Chief Data Officer (CDO), Chief Legal Officer (CLO), and Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) roles have been the top three fastest-growing CXO roles between 2022-23. 

The study consolidated data from the “career and skill patterns of executives who work in the S&P 500 and venture-backed US ‘unicorn’ companies” to help us learn from the experience of those who have found success already. The evolution of the CHRO role is something that many HR professionals are interested in, but the path toward such positions is not always easy to track. Looking at industry experts is one way to chart out your own roadmap.

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CHRO C-suite Roles Are Growing at a Commendable Pace

In the shifting landscape of work, the CHRO role has been the third-fastest growing C-suite title over the last two years. The title of Chief People Officer can also be found on the list at the ninth position, which indicates that two types of HR-oriented are being prioritized, albeit at different scales.

CHRO and HR leadership trends suggest that these roles are evolving particularly as a result of technology, and while these C-suite leaders continue to maintain a people-focused approach, there is much to consider when it is paired with the evolution of AI. The emphasis on AI skills is not as apparent in these leadership positions however, it is still among the top priorities in an employee’s journey towards these positions.

According to the authors at LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute, this list “paints a picture of companies prioritizing AI, data knowledge, and privacy in their leadership ranks, while also balancing that with a strong focus on executive positions focused on people and human capacity.” 

CHRO Growth in Business Linked to Changing Trends in Skill Sets

The study took a closer look at the skills listed on the profile of top C-suite executives to get a better sense of what was fueling their growth. The relevance of technical skills can never be diminished entirely, however, recent trends suggest that leaders are more commonly listing soft skills on their profiles. 

In 2023, 13.1% of all skills listed on the LinkedIn profiles of C-Suite executives hired in 2023 were technical skills, but that number is lower than those observed in previous years. In comparison, 9.6% of the skills listed on the profiles of C-suite executives hired in 2023 were soft skills, representing a 31% increase from 2018. Technical skills are not irrelevant even today, but C-suite growth in business has been paired with an emphasis on soft skills.

Strategic thinking, presentation, communication, strategic vision, and conflict resolution were examples of the top 5 fastest growing soft skills listed on these profiles. Soft skills are important for all employees but these qualities are particularly relevant for top leaders considering their expansive role of overseeing the functioning of their department. 

This upward trend in soft skills can also be a result of the small but significant rise of women taking on C-suite positions, as uncovered by the study. Earlier research indicates that women are more likely to list soft skills on their profile, but the overall growth in emphasis on these skills suggests they aren’t the only ones to do so. 

The Path to a C-Suite Role Is Growing Less Linear

Back in the day, employees would start at an organization and work their way up within the organization, hopefully toward a C-Suite role. In the present, there is no longer a single right way to achieve the role you aspire to perform. 

The study was able to track the career path of C-suite executives and it found that there is a decline in the number of professionals who have only worked in one industry before ascending to their role. The percentage of C-suite executives who only worked in one job function also saw around a 27% decline. 

There might be many disadvantages to job hopping very frequently, but it is also evident that diverse experiences can pay off in the long run. Internal promotions are a great way to retain talent but there has been a decline in the number of CHRO C-suite roles growing from this particular channel. 

Not all organizations have moved away from elevating members from the existing team to C-suite positions, so in order to chart out your own career, you will have to keep an eye on HR leadership trends while also understanding how your employer operates.

Emulating the evolving CHRO role may appear to be intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Confidence in your own career and the ability to explain how the diverse experiences you have had in the past can greatly improve your chances of getting hired for a senior role. 

To better understand the growth of HR executives, you can take a page from LinkedIn’s study. This is possible by interacting with those who have already succeeded in the field to better determine how to shape your own career to make the most of existing trends. 

The post Moving Up—CHRO Among the Fastest-Growing C-Suite Roles appeared first on The HR Digest.

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