9 Faces of HR: A Disruptor's Guide to Mastering Innovation and Driving Real Change

I ordered this book because I love almost everything that Kris Dunn writes and presents. As a fellow disrupter in the HR space, I knew that this book would be good. But, life happened including a pandemic that turned my HR world upside down and I didn't get to read it right away. Fast forward to one night when I couldn't sleep and I thought a business book would aide in getting me to sleep - I picked it up. I finished half the book that night! In his usual humorous but wicked smart way - Kris brings to life the 9 Faces of HR and delivers some of the best career and leadership advice I've read in HR in a LONG time. It's helpful that it's a quick read but so impactful. I have a system when I read a book. I highlight stuff (like everyone) but then I star stuff that's really good (I use this in the future when I go back to a book and I want to remember the best parts) and then "GOLD/YES" means an action item. To put things in perspective - I usually have 10 stars and 3 "GOLD/YES" in a book when I'm done. This book had 38 stars and 10 "YES/GOLD". So, I have a lot of work to do. I read this book at a time when I was seriously re-considering my HR career (after 20+ years doing it) and it brought back the passion and love I feel for this job. It turns out I wasn't thinking of my strengths and weaknesses in the right way - and I ended up in an organization that isn't a great fit for my style. The practical tips this book gives will be valuable for any HR pro. Chapters 23, 24 and 25 are worth their weight in gold. Chapter 23 Your Future Boss Thinks You Suck should be required reading for any mid-level and senior level HR pro. Not in HR? No problem - this book still is packed full of great tips and helpful hints about your career. I ordered the book for all the HR pros on my team that want to read this type of book (let's be real - it's not everyone!). If you are still reading this far into the review - do me a favor - ORDER the DAMN book! You won't regret it. What is it they always say - it's only giving up 4 lattes - ha! A must read that you won't regret - just don't start reading before bed. From Stacey, VP of HR and the Mentor.

Get a seat at the table. Get strategic. Know the business. What does it really mean for HR pros in 2020 and beyond?Kris Dunn just wrote a new book called “The 9 Faces of HR: A Disruptor’s Guide to Mastering Innovation and Driving Real Change” where he pitches a hard, yet compelling reality — that every HR professional on the planet can be classified as one of nine faces.I loved it.There are millions of HR pros, but only nine total “faces” or personas. Maximum. Some of these faces know the business, get strategic and find the seat. Others can’t.The world needs all kinds of people, and Kris took a hard look at the HR landscape and profiled the “9 Faces of HR” pros in existence today. In his book, he tells stories of how people get stuff done and makes comparisons to pop culture icons in our society.How does the 9-face system work? Kris uses a nine-box model characterized by two non-negotiable factors:1. The career level and subject matter expertise held by the HR Pro in question and;2. The HR pro’s capability towards adding real value and driving change in the organizations they serve.Kris measures people based on factors such as cognitive speed, assertiveness, sensitivity, and detail-orientation. The result? HR pros with the same career experience and subject matter expertise occupy radically different faces. One HR professional can easily be designated a “Judge”, while another HR pro with a similar career level and subject matter expertise is tagged an “Assassin.”In addition to breaking down each of the 9 Faces of HR, Kris describes the career tracks and behavioral markers for each face. He also outlines macro-trends that are driving the market demand for each face. Finally, he tells you how you might be able to change your persona if you’re assigned to a box that doesn’t feel right to you.Which face are you? Which one do you want to be? Pick up a copy of “The 9 Faces of HR: A Disruptor’s Guide to Mastering Innovation and Driving Real Change” for yourself or your CHRO. It’s the hottest professional development book for HR pros in 2019. Learn more about the HR pros you love and some of the ones you don’t.

KD is an astute observer of professional personas, and how an HR leader can impact the success of his/her organization.In this book, Dunn compiles a guide that can be used for several practical purposes:1. An HR leader can use this to assess their teams, and how to use their respective DNA characteristics to better the performance of the team/organization.2. An HR professional can use this to model to self-diagnose their own profile, so that they can find the best environment in which to thrive, and gain insight into how to grow their own career.3. A non-HR executive can find insight into which persona is most appropriate for the Talent leadership role for their own organizations.Buy this book. Read it. Highlight it. Mark it up. Use it in your own development, and the development of your team.This is Dunn's first book. While we are waiting for his future publications, I highly recommend subscribing to his "HR Capitalist" and "Fistful of Talent" blogs.

It's about time HR had a playbook that's fun and inspiring. Bonus, this one gives us tools to maximize our business value and careers! I am not surprised that it has come from Kris Dunn. As a long time reader of Fistful of Talent, I was quick to bring this beauty of a book into my life ready for some good laughs, relatable and pertinent content. It delivered. I mean, he found a way to show HR that we can learn from Drake (also, go Canada!...yes, Drake is Canadian and so am I).Everyone in HR should read this book, for no one but themselves. If we all read it and found our HR face, we'd probably start having more true fans, just like Drake! Down with the HR skeptics and upwards with self-aware and innovative HR professionals getting a seat at the table. Read this book and you'll feel confident in driving change as an HR professional at any stage in your career. Just be prepared; you might find yourself saying yes more than no.

Loved this book. Kris did such a great job depicting the 9 archetypes of HR professionals. As a HR leader you can use these archetypes to design and develop your team. As an individual you can use the book to plot your development and career plan. I could easily pick off my archetype and some of my colleagues. Good humour interjected throughout...because HR can get icky at times. Would highly recommend this quick and informative read!

This was a unique an compelling view of the skills and criteria that distinguish strategic and innovative HR pros. Kris offers practical (often hilarious) guidance on navigating a career and the players you'll encounter in this ever changing profession. A must read whether you're new to HR, a tenured HR leader building your team, or a line of business manager who works closely with HR.