The HR landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years—and it’s only going to keep evolving. With more geographically and culturally diverse workforces than ever before, HR leaders face the challenge of adapting to new dynamics. The list of essential HR skills is expanding, and staying ahead of workforce trends is key to long-term success. Now, workers expect more from their HR and people teams—they want involvement, support, and a deeper connection.

Finding and developing top HR skills is crucial to creating an environment that attracts new talent and engages your best employees. And now that 2025 is fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to dive into what today’s workforce is looking for from their benefits and HR teams. In this article, we’ll explore good skills for an HR admin, how to future-proof your HR teams, and how to improve HR skills.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

Understanding the Evolving Role of HR in 2025

HR roles are shifting from general administration and recruitment to driving new results—and the skills needed for HR are changing with them. While administrative tasks remain essential, HR professionals are now expected to actively shape a positive company culture while enhancing employee well-being and engagement.  It’s no longer enough to make the work environment simply function, it must truly thrive.

HR leaders face the challenge of balancing administrative duties with fostering a dynamic company culture. While expectations are higher than ever, so are the resources available to boost the employee experience and strengthen future HR skills.

Diverse Workforces

Whether diversity stems from nationality, talent pool, or geographic location, the workforce only continues to evolve. To keep up with these changes, HR professionals must move away from traditional “one-size-fits-all” benefits and culture plans. While it may be simpler to implement a standard benefits plan, it often overlooks the unique needs of some employees.

HR professionals need to know how to engage and support a diverse workforce, no matter their personal interests or benefit needs. This requires incorporating a variety of skills into their approach to create a successful and inclusive workplace.

Top 8 HR Skills Every Leader Must Master for Success

While there is no definitive HR skills list that guarantees success, there are key skills that can help your HR teams build stronger connections with their employees and foster a thriving workplace.

1. Introducing Total Well-Being

The skills needed for HR professionals today go far beyond administrative duties. It’s about focusing on employee’s total well-being, which includes their financial, mental, and emotional health—not just physical health. Developing a robust benefits program that champions diverse offerings and global accessibility is an essential starting point for supporting employees in every aspect of their lives.

2. Seamless Communication

Effective HR leadership often comes down to simple, yet powerful, skills like transparent and frequent communication. Building trust with your employees through openness and periodic check-ins creates a comfortable, productive work environment. Actively listening to their needs and implementing solutions ensures they feel heard and appreciated.

3. Embrace Technology and Technical Skills

With remote and hybrid work increasingly normalized, HR teams must embrace technology to manage a globally dispersed workforce. Technology that adapts to diverse employee needs is a powerful tool for those honing their HR technical skills. By consolidating point solutions and leveraging platforms that streamline HR processes, teams can proactively address issues before they arise, making workflows smoother and more efficient.

4. Foster an Engaging Company Culture

Company culture is more important than the occasional pizza party or celebratory pat on the back. According to a Gallup survey, only 23% of employees feel they receive adequate recognition for their efforts. When they feel unappreciated, their engagement and productivity can suffer.

Creating a culture of well-being and recognition, whether through wellness activities or monetary rewards and recognition programs, incentivizes high performance. Acknowledging their success with gift cards, a points system, or extra Lifestyle Spending Account funds creates a happier and more involved team.

5. Retaining Top Talent

As many HR professionals know, high turnover is costly and disrupts productivity. To avoid this, HR teams need to create a more supportive work environment. 50% of employees say well-being programs make a company more attractive. By prioritizing retention strategies that focus on employee well-being, HR can reduce turnover and retain top talent.

Download the 2024 Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) Benchmark and Trends Report 

6. Champion Diverse Voices

Receiving and implementing feedback is an essential HR skill. Collectively listening to employees, regardless of their position or seniority, is the core skill of an intuitive people team. By creating a psychologically safe workplace where everyone feels empowered to share their opinions, employees feel more connected to the employer’s mission. When employees have a voice in shaping processes that affect their day-to-day work it strengthens their connection to the company and makes their job easier, and yours in turn.

7. Emotional Intelligence

Similar to platforming diverse voices, a high degree of emotional intelligence ensures the success of an HR team. Engaging in regular one-on-ones that go beyond work discussions and focus on personal interests can create a sense of comfort and trust. This helps employees feel that their well-being matters, making them more likely to stay engaged. Active listening can make your people feel comfortable and that their opinion is valued. 

8. Seek and Adhere to Feedback

Seeking feedback and improving processes and programs are among the top HR skills to develop. Not everything will go as planned, but by regularly checking in with employees about what’s working and what’s not, HR teams can continuously refine their approach.  Key questions might include:

  • Does this new process make your day-to-day easier?
  • How can we improve this for you?
  • What’s worked for you in the past?

By listening and adapting based on employee feedback, HR teams can create a more productive, supportive work environment that benefits everyone.

How to Improve Your HR Skills to Lead Effectively in 2025

While understanding the key skills needed to lead a successful HR team is crucial, the real challenge is improving those HR hard skills over time. Here’s how you can continue to grow and evolve as a people leader:

  • Research some HR Tech platforms that have high satisfaction rates. These tools can streamline workflows and provide better insights to help you lead more effectively
  • Engage with your team. Have open, genuine conversations. Ask for feedback on how you can better support them and make their experience at work more fulfilling
  • Invest in continuous learning. Take courses on crucial topics like conflict resolution or leadership development to stay ahead of the ever-evolving HR landscape
  • Build trust through confidentiality. Always keep conversations confidential to create a safe space for employees. This will build trust and ensure your team feels comfortable sharing openly

HR teams are tasked with managing complex and diverse needs across an organization. Adaptability is the cornerstone of success. Whether navigating new technologies, shifting workplace dynamics, or changing employee expectations, being adaptable and open to growth will help you lead effectively in 2025 and beyond.

Empowering HR Teams to Succeed in 2025 and Beyond

A Lifestyle Spending Account combined with a comprehensive rewards and recognition program is a win-win for both HR leaders and employees. By streamlining processes and removing administrative burdens, HR leaders can focus on addressing core organizational challenges, developing the best HR skills, and fostering a safer and more productive work environment. The future HR skills for success begin with a powerful, accessible platform that makes these initiatives seamless and impactful.

Contact us today to schedule a demo and take the next step toward a more engaged and supported workforce!

 

Employee Reward Programs: An Essential Plan for Boosting Engagement

 

 

Distribute On: