In the bustling world of startups, where every decision can make or break success, the role of Human Resources (HR) often finds itself relegated to a mere administrative function or an afterthought. However, as the landscape of business evolves, so does the significance of HR, transforming it from a cost center to a strategic advantage. Done right, startups can harness HR to their benefit.

Scaling a company isn’t just about finding product-market fit or securing funding. It’s about building the right team, developing a culture that attracts and retains talent and putting the right policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance. This kind of work requires rock-star HR support.

Over the last 19 years working with HR teams across 19 countries, I’ve seen and learned a lot. Regardless of industry, team size or collective years of experience, certain skills seem to rise to the top among top-performing teams. These four skills – adaptability, vulnerability, precision, and execution – aren’t just buzzwords. They’re critical capabilities for HR leaders and their teams in order to drive sustainable growth in a scaling business.