I heard a sentence in a YouTube video from Milad Monshipour (the founder of TAPSI, a leading Iranian ride-hailing and transportation platform, and the first company in this sector in Iran to go IPO) where he was talking about strategy: “An HR manager should not have a trace of humanity.” He said it as a joke, but when I thought about it more, I realized how much it resonates with the reality of some organizations.

I am sharing this from my own point of view, without any HR background, and I am more of a technical person. What struck me is that the role of human resources always swings between two poles: supporting people and protecting the interests of the organization. When a crisis hits or pressure rises, HR has to make tough decisions, like changing working conditions or controlling costs. Some people think you have to be “ruthless” to do this, but in reality, it is possible to be strict while remaining fair and transparent.

This is where the humor in Milad Monshipour’s sentence makes sense. He meant that difficult decisions are always accompanied by human challenges. Even people who think in a technical way and have no HR experience can see that transparency and fairness in decision-making help maintain trust and motivation within the team. On the other hand, when HR acts only as a policy enforcement machine, team energy and commitment decrease and burnout increases.

Even when tough decisions must be made, it is possible to act humanely, communicate with respect, and explain the situation. This not only creates a sense of fairness but also keeps people’s cooperation and trust in the organization.

So when you hear a sentence like “An HR manager should not have a trace of humanity,” pay attention to the humor but also remember that the truth is, even in the toughest situations, transparency, fairness, and humanity can create balance and keep the team sustainable.