Skip to content
Get started
All posts

7 Essential Skills for HR in 2025 (incl. Internal Comms)

Picture of Emma Davies By  Emma Davies  ·  3 minute read

Introduction

The world of HR is moving fast. HR specialists, recruiters, people-ops pros, and HR leaders need more than traditional hiring and benefits know-how. You need a growth mindset, tech savvy, and the ability to connect with your people. In this post, we’ll share the eight must-have HR competencies for 2025—especially the art of internal communications skills—and show you how to start building them today.

The Evolving Role of HR in 2025

HR isn’t just an administrative function anymore—it’s a strategic engine. Companies lean on HR to interpret data, shape culture, and guide change. To stay ahead, you’ll need to blend insights with empathy: translate metrics into meaningful action, and keep everyone aligned and motivated.

Overview of the Top 7 Skills

  1. Data Literacy & HR Analytics

  2. Digital HR Tools & Automation

  3. Strategic Talent Planning

  4. Internal Communications Mastery

  5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Expertise

  6. Coaching & Leadership Development

  7. Employee Well-Being & Mental Health Awareness

Skill #1: Data Literacy & HR Analytics

You don’t have to be a data scientist—but you do need to speak the language of data. Start by:

  • Gathering key metrics like time-to-hire, turnover rates, and DE&I benchmarks.

  • Using tools such as Power BI or Tableau to spot trends.

  • Sharing simple, visual dashboards that drive real conversations.

Get started: Try Google’s Data Analytics Professional Certificate. Then build a monthly HR dashboard—share it with your leadership team and get feedback.

Skill #2: Digital HR Tools & Automation

Automation frees you from repetitive tasks so you can focus on people. Here’s how to jump in:

  • Explore HRIS platforms like Workday or SAP SuccessFactors.

  • Test AI-powered tools (e.g., chatbots for candidate outreach).

  • Automate onboarding steps with RPA to save hours each week.

Action step: Take LinkedIn Learning’s HR Automation course and pilot a simple bot for offer-letter generation. Track the time you save.

Skill #3: Strategic Talent Planning

The best HR teams don’t just fill roles—they build the future workforce. To plan like a pro:

  • Forecast skill gaps with input from business leaders.

  • Create succession plans for critical positions.

  • Collaborate with finance to model hiring costs.

Pro tip: Use SHRM’s workforce-planning guides and CIPD’s talent pipeline frameworks. Map out talent pipelines for two key departments this quarter.

Skill #4: Internal Communications Mastery

Great messaging fuels engagement. When you communicate clearly and consistently, people feel in the know—and stay motivated.

  • Craft stories that connect your team to company goals.

  • Choose channels wisely: Slack for quick updates, Teams for live Q&A, intranet for deep dives.

  • Invite feedback—make communication two-way.

  • Use Internal Comms Tools - powered by AI like Thesmia.ai to craft messages.

Why it matters: Engaged employees are 3.5× more likely to go above and beyond and 2.5× more likely to stick around.

Real-world ideas:

  • Monthly “Ask Us Anything” sessions with leaders.

  • A weekly “Team Wins” email spotlighting achievements.

  • An interactive intranet feed for peer shout-outs.

Level up: Enroll in our Internal Comms Course to learn how to win over Senior Leadership. Track your open and click-through rates, and gather feedback with short polls.

Skill #5: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Expertise

DE&I can’t be a checkbox—it needs to be woven into everything you do:

  • Audit hiring, promotions, and pay for bias.

  • Write inclusive job descriptions that attract diverse talent.

  • Train managers on unconscious biases and allyship.

Start now: Sign up for Cornell’s DE&I certification. Then partner with your ERGs to launch a new initiative, and measure impact via your inclusion-score surveys.

Skill #6: Coaching & Leadership Development

Your job is to unlock potential. To coach effectively:

  • Practice active listening and empathy.

  • Facilitate workshops on feedback, delegation, and decision-making.

  • Build personalized development plans for high-potential employees.

Next step: Complete an ICF-accredited coaching program. Survey coachees after three months to measure skill growth and confidence.

Skill #7: Employee Well-Being & Mental Health Awareness

A healthy workforce is a productive one. Focus on:

  • Launching mental-health resources like EAPs and mindfulness apps.

  • Training managers to spot burnout signals.

  • Encouraging work–life balance through clear policies.

Get involved: Become certified in Mental Health First Aid. Host a well-being challenge and track participation and stress-level feedback.

Putting It All Together: Your Learning Roadmap

Ready to go? Here’s how to track your progress:

  1. Audit yourself: Rate each of the eight skills—ask peers for feedback.

  2. Set goals: Use a spreadsheet to schedule courses and deadlines.

  3. Mix it up: Combine free resources (Google, LinkedIn Learning, SHRM webinars) with paid programs (Wharton People Analytics, Prosci, CIPD DE&I).

  4. Apply immediately: Run small projects or cross-functional pilots.

  5. Measure impact: Build a dashboard with engagement scores, time saved, and diversity metrics.

Stick to this plan, and you’ll master the skills that matter most for 2025.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Take a moment to audit your skill set—where do you shine, and where could you grow? Then pick one course or certification and get started.

Join our Internal Comms Mastery Course today → Enroll Now