Challenging conversations with the CEO are a given for a CHRO or chief people officer. And with return-to-office a hot topic among the workforce post-pandemic and layoffs a concern with employees as economic concerns loom, these difficult discussions between CEOs and HR leaders are likely to accelerate.

Navigating these conversations skillfully takes strategy. At the recent HR Tech conference in Las Vegas last month, chief people officers and CEOs offered up their sage advice on what it takes to prompt chief executives to truly hear HR's concerns.

Carina Cortez, chief people officer at HR solutions provider Cornerstone, and Jon Lowe, chief people officer at HR tech services company DailyPay, for example, stressed making a business case when presenting problems to the CEO. Archana Arcot, chief people officer at ground handling services provider Unifi, noted the importance of building a trusting relationship with the organization's top executive.