HR Connection - How Small Business HR Leads Change

Hosts: Sabrina Baker and Marie Rolston

Summary

In this episode of the HR Connection, Marie and Sabrina dive into the day-to-day reality of HR in smaller organizations, where there’s no bench of specialists and no time for over-engineering solutions. They talk about juggling priorities, building structure on the fly, and focusing on what actually moves the business forward. They share why small, consistent improvements often matter more than big transformations, and how being closely connected to the business can turn HR into a true strategic partner.

Key Topics

• Why small business HR is a standalone discipline, not a subset of enterprise HR
• The lack of resources and specialization in small business HR teams
• The concept of breadth versus depth in small business HR roles
• The emotional and decision-making challenges of managing HR with limited support
• Moving away from enterprise standards and measuring success on small business realities

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