Playing Within The Lines

Tennis – like HR – is a game of boundaries.

Every move you make needs to stay within the lines. In HR, that means Employment Law, ACAS codes, good practice and Policies. There’s no room for wild swings or hoping no one saw that dodgy return. Because someone always does.

Just like in tennis, where the umpire is perched high above with eagle eyes and a finger on the challenge button, in HR there are tribunals, and employees all watching to see if you’ve made the right call.

You need precision. You need control. And you need to know the rules inside out.

A Team of One

HR can be a lonely court.

While the business plays on around you – sales serving up wins, marketing volleying campaigns across the net – HR is often the solo act trying to keep the people side of the business in check.

Yes, you may have a coach or a line manager watching supportively from the sidelines, but let’s be honest – they're sipping Pimm’s in the Royal Box while you're sweating it out on Centre Court, trying to keep your footing on the slippery grass of disciplinary meetings, grievances, restructures, and flexible working requests.

Like any top-level player, you're expected to know the strategy, control the pace, and deliver the win – even when things get heated.

Service with a Smile

Serving in HR is constant – and we don’t just mean tennis-style overhead smashes.

You're serving answers, guidance, reminders, warnings, and the occasional reality check. And you're doing it while staying professional, approachable, and maybe even smiling through gritted teeth when someone says, “I didn’t know I needed to run that past HR.”

Sound familiar?

The best players make it look effortless, but behind every smooth serve is hours of hard work, repetition, and emotional regulation. In HR, you're dealing with high-stakes issues that require diplomacy, consistency, and nerves of steel – and let’s not forget the occasional emergency when someone’s stormed off court (or out of a meeting).

Handling the Hecklers

HR isn’t always the fan favourite.

Let’s face it – sometimes you're the one delivering bad news. You're the person putting the brakes on an exciting idea because, well, it violates about six different policies and three pieces of legislation. You’re the one saying, “Actually, we can’t do that,” while the crowd groans.

But someone has to keep the game fair.

Good HR means setting standards and enforcing them – even when it's unpopular. Just like an umpire calling a double fault at match point, it's about integrity, not applause.

The Tie-Break Moments

Every HR professional has had that high-pressure moment. The tight disciplinary where the stakes are high. The redundancy conversation that could go either way. The grievance hearing where everyone’s backhanding blame.

This is where the game gets intense.

And just like a tie-break at Wimbledon, this is when it all comes down to focus, stamina, and decision-making under pressure. There's no room for guesswork. You’ve got to be on point, even when your hands are shaking and you’ve got metaphorical grass stains on your suit.

The best HR professionals know how to stay cool under fire. They keep the game moving forward. They make the hard calls – and then help everyone shake hands and move on.

Game, Set, Strategy

The truth is, winning in HR isn’t about dramatic overhead smashes or glitzy centre-court moments. It’s about strategy, consistency, and playing the long game.

It’s about nurturing a culture where people feel heard and valued – and where the rules are clear, fair, and followed. It's about making sure everyone knows what game they're playing, what the score is, and how to play well with others.

At Silver Star HR, we champion HR professionals and business owners who show up every day, solo or not, and keep the game going. We help you play confidently, stay compliant, and develop a people strategy that isn’t just reactive – it’s proactive, commercial, and designed for the win.

So, if HR feels like a five-set slog on a scorching day – we're here with your towel, water bottle, and tactical game plan.

Because with the right support, HR doesn’t just survive the tournament. It wins.