Season 2

The UnleashPeople Podcast Episode 10

What we don't speak about anymore in HR with Andreea Lungulesco (en)

In the tenth and post-summer break episode of the The UnleashPeople podcast, hosts Ina and Christian are joined by Andreea Lungulesco to discuss the fundamental HR and Talent Acquisition topics that have been overshadowed by the recent AI hype. While the industry is distracted by the rush to adopt fancy new tools, many companies are ignoring outdated and poorly documented processes that have sometimes remained unchanged for nearly a decade. Andreea and Ina emphasize the critical need for operational excellence and urge organizations to step back, establish a baseline, and build a common understanding of their foundational processes before implementing new technology.

The conversation also highlights the danger of over-specialization in HR, encouraging TA professionals to break out of their silos, learn from adjacent disciplines like product management and manufacturing, and adopt a multi-faceted approach to their roles. Ultimately, this solution-focused episode calls for a return to the basics, challenging both organizations to define clear responsibilities and individuals to take proactive accountability in driving meaningful change.

5 Key Takeaways‍

Fix Broken Processes Before Adding Tech
Companies need to stop slapping new tools and AI on top of outdated or broken processes. Before investing in expensive technology, organizations must sit down, create standard operating procedures (SOPs), and ensure everyone has a common understanding of the process baseline.
Proper Processes Create Speed, Not Bottlenecks
Contrary to the belief in many tech and startup spaces that processes make you rigid, well-designed and iterated processes actually increase flexibility, speed up decision-making, and save money in the long run.
Cultivate "T-Shaped" HR Professionals
TA professionals shouldn't be too narrowly niched, as it limits adaptability and future growth. HR can deliver better business impact by adopting an unsiloed mindset and learning from other fields, such as manufacturing (Lean, Six Sigma) and product management.
Establish Clear Accountability
A major reason new methods fail is the lack of defined responsibilities. HR roles often suffer from generic job descriptions, leaving it unclear who is actually accountable for specific processes or who holds decision-making power, such as veto rights in hiring.
Drive Change from the Bottom Up
Waiting for top-down changes is not enough; HR professionals must take individual responsibility for their work environments. Instead of coasting in their roles, individuals should pull on their "big girl pants," proactively influence leadership, and step up to optimize the processes they work with every day.

In case you want to just listen to the episode, here are the links:

The UnleashPeople Podcast - Season 2: Episode 10