If you’re an HR department of one, prioritize connection. You’re never really as alone as it can feel sometimes! 

If you’ve ever been the sole HR professional in an organization, you know the paradox: you’re surrounded by people, yet the role can feel incredibly lonely. HR sits at the intersection of compliance, culture, and strategy, often in a space where every answer “depends.” That ambiguity combined with the expectation of objectivity can make it hard to find true peers inside your own company. 

In my past role as an HR manager with a team to support, I felt this sometimes. I had a group of operational peers at my level who could all lean on each other in a way that I just couldn’t lean on them. Having a team to support also meant I had to be careful about that differential, so even though I was surrounded by people I loved working with, I often felt that sense of HR isolation. 

Unlike operations or finance teams, HR doesn’t always have a built-in sounding board. You’re the one fielding complex questions, navigating evolving employment laws, and balancing organizational culture all while maintaining confidentiality. It’s rewarding work, but it can feel like you’re carrying the weight alone. 

That’s why community isn’t optional, it’s essential. Here’s why: 

1. Perspective Beats Isolation

HR decisions rarely have a single “right” answer. Connecting with other professionals gives you fresh angles and helps validate your approach. Sometimes, hearing “I’ve dealt with that too” is all you need to feel confident. 

2. Best Practice Matters

Every organization thinks it’s unique and to some extent, it is. But without external benchmarks, it’s easy to lose sight of what good looks like. Networking and attending HR events keep you aligned with evolving standards. 

3. Support is Strategic

HR often plays mediator between business needs and compliance. When those worlds collide, having someone who “gets it” can help you strategize and stay resilient. 

In that past HR Manager role, I often wished there was a way to pick up the phone and talk to another HR manager in real time, someone who could offer perspective when I was stuck or just remind me that I wasn’t alone. Imagine how much lighter the role could have felt with that kind of resource. 

So build your network! Join HR associations, attend events, and engage online. Because while HR might feel like a solo act, it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. There is a whole community out there, ready to help, who gets it, and if you’re looking for that “phone call away” support, give us a ring at uptreeHR, we’ve got your back! 

 

Annie MacLeod, CPHR, is an HR Partner at uptreeHR, an outsourced Human Resource department for small to medium-sized businesses. Annie and the team are based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

To book a complimentary 30-minute consult with uptreeHR, click here.