What does it take to actually get this beside the fact that you just read it? Loads, loads of restless nights, a fucked up sinking business and stress. Yeah, sound harsh but look around you until this doesn't happen I don't think that many out there will get it.
HR isn't just about administration who does the payroll, deals with the hiring and firing process and has the clue which file is where in the cabinet.
If you want to have a successful business I believe I am not overreacting when I say you really need to get your HR department straight. Straight in the sense that they need to understand that they are for the people at each company, be it about a new starter, about a current or a former employee, or be it even about the Managers or CEOs. HR is there for the people.
This departments is the internal customer services department of every establishment. They are/ SHOULD BE the ones who know, get and provide the information about every human being that's collaborating with your firma to make things happen and bring dreams to actions. They should be the one who if I ask since when this person is here and doing this and whether they have the right skills or not for a certain task they should know it.
Sounds a lot hah? Well guess what, it is a lot, but they don't have to deal with the business strategy building, the quarterly finance plans, marketing campaigns and that sales targets are met or not.
Your HR people should build the department which besides doing the HR related administration, equally planning and dividing the tasks between each colleague working in the "mess" (because the bigger the messier it can become if you don't step on top of it in time), who actually are aware of who is doing what and where, do the training if needed for people to gain new skills (eg. how to communicate, how to not misunderstand everything that's pointed out and it is not clear, HOW TO INTERACT) and impartially listening and coaching others as and when required.
And one more thing: if an HR person, especially and advisor tells you that you are wrong without explaining and further clarifying a situation until everyone is happy with the solution provided and on the same page, please fire that person because they are just taking the space up 50% of their working time and if they have no clue how to use common sense now, they won't have a clue later either, EVER.
Having an HR qualification or 20 years of experience means most of the time nothing but by the time you realise this they have milked your bonuses to their section and your ship is already on the bottom of the ocean.
Good luck!