Understand the business as well as the senior management team. Be an expert in your field. A good HR business partner knows their stuff – not just the law and compensation, but how change happens and how to engage people.
Be flexible and open to change. If you are going to persuade others to take on new ideas and ways of doing things, you need to be flexible too.
Step back and take an objective view. Be involved with the business, but never lose the ability to view it objectively. This will enable you to challenge ideas and take a longer-term view.
Communicate ideas clearly. It is no use having great ideas if you can’t sell them.