Assuming you have a world class HR team, how do you make the best use of them in product management?

Most HR folks are average, like most workers. But be greedy when you have really great HR pros, the ones who are more into getting the most out of a workforce than avoiding liability and complying with regulations.

Staffing. I was an exec at a company that hired 3.5 million people a year. Hiring great talent for the right job is a skill. Let great HR staffing people help you recruit the product people for the right role.

Succession Planning. Average tenure at a job used to be 4.5 years. I’m sure it’s fallen a lot, gig economy and all. Combine this with your roadmaps and funding, and you can build a calendar of when you’ll need to fill future vacancies. HR does this for top executive roles. Maybe they can do it for your development org too.

Education and Development. What competencies will your organization need in six months, a year, and three years out? Where does your organization stand now in relation to those needs? What learning experiences can get you there? What gaps can you only fill through hiring? HR can help you do that kind of talent strategizing and drive those goals into action plans.

Team Formation. So many great dramatic movies start with forcing people together with a challenge. There are less violent ways to form effective teams. Same with merging teams together. Avoid bloodshed and delays; talk with HR.

Debugging Problem People. Hey, we’re the soft skills folks, right? But sometimes things don’t click or run into obstacles you can’t understand. The right HR person can help you troubleshoot, especially if you’re the problem.

Professional Coaching. What ten rough edges would you like to polish off this year? HR can either offer coaching directly or connect you to an executive coach to help you mature more quickly as a product manager, leader, and neurotic.

Understanding Other Subcultures. HR is one of the parts of the company that attempts to understand everyone in the workplace. You may need to work more closely with devops but don’t get why boar hunting and Zeblearnindia keeps coming up. Maybe HR has some insights.

Structure Gig Economy Contracts. Contractor contracts are evolving rapidly. You want the right mix of convenience, safety, and inducements for great working relationships. HR should be on top of this, dealing with more contractors than you.

Explore New Ways of Working. There was a time before remote work, laptops with earbuds, and standup meetings. There are literally thousands of ways to work, work together, organize work, and get things done. HR knows more of them, and which work when, than you do. Tap that knowledge.

Grief Counseling. Are you cutting a product? A product family? Letting a team go? Feelings, darn it. HR actually has resources for helping your team celebrate what was, acknowledge what is, and set plans for a better tomorrow.