In an era when HR is expected to do everything—drive strategy, manage risk, guide AI adoption, and still keep people happy—McLean & Company has rolled out something that might just keep chief human resources officers (CHROs) from losing their compass.
The CHRO Playbook, unveiled this week by the global HR research and advisory firm, is both a strategic framework and an executive partnership designed to help HR leaders master one of the most complex roles in business today. Think of it as a GPS for modern CHROs—one that comes with a human co-pilot.
A Roadmap for the Modern CHRO
The modern HR chief isn’t just running people ops anymore. McLean & Company notes that CHROs are now expected to shape enterprise strategy, steer AI adoption, and strengthen organizational resilience—all while earning credibility with CEOs, boards, and peers.
Yet, despite this expanding influence, many operate without a clear blueprint for success. That’s where the Playbook steps in.
At its core is the firm’s Strategic & Operational Capability Framework, which maps out 14 essential CHRO capabilities—from aligning HR strategy with business goals and leading change to managing risk and integrating talent strategy. The culmination? What McLean calls the “mega-capability of influence”—the ability to shape culture, guide strategy, and deliver measurable value across the organization.
“The CHRO Playbook combines a proven framework with the expertise of a dedicated executive counselor to help HR leaders translate complexity into clarity,” said Grace Ewles, Practice Lead for HR Research & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. “It’s about elevating strategic influence and driving results that resonate throughout the enterprise.”
Beyond a Framework: Partnership and Practical Impact
Unlike many HR toolkits that end at the PowerPoint stage, McLean’s Playbook comes with an executive counselor partnership, turning a static model into a living, iterative collaboration. Counselors act as trusted advisors—helping CHROs contextualize insights, prepare for boardroom conversations, and apply strategy to real-world challenges.
Ewles describes the Playbook as “giving leaders not just insight, but the partnership and confidence to act on it.”
The package also includes a self-assessment tool to identify capability gaps, a curated resource catalog of McLean & Company’s top research and templates, and built-in success metrics for tracking organizational impact.
Why It Matters: Influence Is the New KPI
In today’s HR tech and leadership landscape, influence is currency. As companies wrestle with hybrid work, AI ethics, and organizational transformation, the CHRO’s ability to connect operational excellence with strategic foresight has become a board-level priority.
McLean & Company’s Playbook lands amid a surge of demand for executive enablement tools—resources that help HR leaders move from “support function” to “strategic architect.” Comparable initiatives from advisory rivals like Gartner and Mercer have focused on diagnostics and benchmarking, but McLean’s approach distinguishes itself by combining a structured framework with a personal, ongoing advisory relationship.
Empowering the Future of HR Leadership
The CHRO Playbook is available now, with full access for Counselor members and preview access for nonmembers. It’s a timely launch as organizations continue to navigate post-pandemic transformation and mounting pressure to tie HR strategy directly to business performance.
Ultimately, McLean & Company aims to redefine HR leadership for the decade ahead. By giving CHROs a clear roadmap and a steady hand on the wheel, the firm is helping HR leaders not just react to change—but drive it.
Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights
