And the Oscar Goes to … HR! 4 Ways to Be an Even Better HR Leader This Year

Whether you love or hate the Academy Awards ceremonies, you have a reason to pay attention this year.

That’s because 2026 is the first year someone in HR will win an Oscar for their job, putting people in the right roles.

Can you hear it now? … And the Oscar goes to … HR!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added a new Oscar for Best Casting, with this being the first time it’s awarded for a movie released in 2025. In the motion picture industry, “casting” is HR: They pick the right people for the right roles at the right time (and when it’s done perfectly, the choices HR makes can lead the movie to the top Oscar win).

Putting in an Oscar-Worthy Management Performance

Why is it important that the Academy has decided to celebrate the people behind the people? It’s because casting — aka HR — does a huge, often-unseen job that impacts everything!

Moviemakers may be finally recognizing that their people-placement professionals are worth their weight in Oscar gold. We know you’re already well-versed in HR. But even HR pros can shine up their management skills from time to time.

So rather than give you ideas on how to manage benefits, recruitment or performance management, we’ll focus on something you have to do every day: manage.

Being a good boss is good enough. But in HR, you set the standard. So why not take a cue from moviemakers and be a great, Oscar-worthy leader?

Here are four strategies to up your management skills — strategies you can pass right along to your front-line managers by example or instruction.

1. Channel Creativity

Researchers have found that some of the best leaders hold this characteristic in common: creativity. By being creative — like a scene designer is — you can solve problems more easily and build confidence in your teams.

According to a recent study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, leaders who actively encourage creativity empower employees mentally to take on more and get more creative in what they do.

Makes sense, right? If you tell an employee, “Go ahead, take a stab at it. Try something different” — and really mean it — they’re going to think beyond what’s always been done.

And that’s where creativity can take off. The researchers found that when leaders continue to encourage good, creative ideas, it directly shapes the effectiveness in unlocking other ideas. Creativity breeds creativity.

So, encourage employees to think outside the box (office) more often. Throw your creative ideas and solutions to the team first to see how others react: Is it enthusiasm or fear? If it’s mostly fear, ask the team for their creative ideas – and go with the lowest-risk ideas until everyone sees a string of success with trying creative ideas and solutions.

2. Roll up Your Sleeves

The best leaders don’t step ahead of their teams. They stay in stride. When they must rise up to lead, they roll up their sleeves — are you seeing the movie director in his seat with the white shirt sleeves rolled up now? — and carry the team with them.

Be the ultimate team player. Not only act the part when necessary — that is, pitch in when team members need help — also consider yourself part, not head, of the group.

This serves two purposes: First, bosses who stand with the team don’t condescend to or leave behind employees. Secondly, great bosses run a more effective and efficient operation – and nearly everyone can respect a well-oiled machine.

3. Boast and Bow

Great leaders show pride in their team and employee accomplishments. But they’re humble about their own. Most certainly, you’ve seen the Oscar recipients who’ve had to be booted off the stage when they wouldn’t stop thanking an army of people who helped them get where they were?!

You want to consistently recognize your team’s efforts and accomplishments — not just when they’re grandiose. Great bosses know the effort is nearly as important as the accomplishment. Without honest everyday efforts, neither small nor great things will get done.

Whether you use calendar alerts, conscious observation or sticky notes to remind yourself to boast on employees’ efforts and accomplishments, do it sincerely. Half-hearted recognition and rewards are almost worse than none.

Also, when you’re recognized for accomplishments, spread the love: acknowledge the team and what they’ve done to help you achieve it.

4. Lead with Compassion, Direct with Clarity

Great leaders use compassion as a guidepost, not a compass. They recognize the need for empathy and concern for their employees, but don’t lose sight of business needs — like a good movie producer, who always has the art in her heart but the budget on her mind.

In practice, that means great HR leaders give direction with clarity, confirming employees see the goal and know the available resources. They maintain high expectations and make sure employees agree to the same.

This is where the compassion comes into play: Great leaders understand mistakes, missteps and failures will happen. When they do, directly address mistakes with employees with kindness while still keeping the focus on expectations. Then work together to resolve the situation.