Business Partners
Developing High Impact Business Partners
Business Partners play an essential role in enabling a business’s core activities. Whether Business Partners are in Finance, HR, Marketing or other areas, they ensure these Functions deliver what the Line needs. It’s a powerful role which connects the needs of the Line with the expertise that Central Functions can provide. When it works well, there are enormous benefits – Business Partners enable the Line to deliver, and ensure best practice, efficiency and compliance. Organisations thrive when there’s a collaborative, dynamic, challenging and supportive relationship between Functions and the Line – and effective business partners are essential in this.
At The OCM we have a long track record of developing Business Partners through 1:1 coaching and skills training. We know it can be a hard role to do. There’s always a balance of ‘enabling’ and ‘safeguarding’ – and the Line do not always appreciate what Business Partners can offer. It is a rewarding and impactful role, but without support, can sometimes feel like a thankless task, where needs and complaints are expressed loudly, and praise and recognition are thin on the ground.
We have developed a programme specifically for Business Partners which helps build the essential skills and competencies needed to thrive and to deliver on what the Line needs.
I have been partnering with the OCM for a couple of years now as I have taken my team through a journey of significant change. Our focus has been on building trust and team spirit, resilience and courage and also on what a commercial and strategic HR Business Partner should really focus on. My team is much stronger and high performing as a result of these coaching interventions and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved together. Graham and Jenny are incredibly knowledgeable, flexible, quick to grasp the main issues at hand and super friendly. I would recommend them to any leader looking to move the dial with their teams.
Fabiola Thomas Chartered FCIPD, People Director at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
We offer a series of interactive workshops, combined with 1:1 coaching and mentoring, for teams of Business Partners. The programme enables participants to build relationships with stakeholders rapidly and build a strong foundation for mutually beneficial partnerships.
The series of practical skills-building workshops covers the following:
- Clarifying your vision for how you add unique value as a Business Partner
- Understanding the business need and context – seeing things from your internal customers’ point of view
- Essential coaching skills for Business Partners
- Building trust and rapport with your key stakeholders – the journey to being a trusted advisor
- Presenting technical information to suit the Line’s needs
- Influencing strategies
- Resolving conflict and using challenge effectively
- Managing your own presence and resilience.
We run a series of 3 workshops over a 2 month period which can be delivered in-person or remotely. Or we can run workshops as one-off sessions as required. All participants work with a seasoned OCM Coach-mentor who specialises in working with Business Partners – this coach-mentoring helps participants to apply the learning to their unique context and allows them to explore their own personal challenges in a safe, stimulating and supportive environment.