When Big Bend SHRM’s Communication Chair, Rebecca Devivo suggested the name HR Gumbo for the Chapter blog, I immediately became caught up in the imagery of a large black cauldron over a hot fire…. As someone who comes from a family of cooks, the concept of a recipe that involved Human Resources, subject matter experts, fresh ingredients and pinches of commentary told me this had potential….

I love to cook!  Sometimes, it is a rushed necessity, but cooking is more often a creative outlet that feeds both body and spirit.  For special occasions, I plan the meal beginning with a visit to the local grocery store. More often, I open the pantry and refrigerator and look at what I can create from the ingredients I have on hand.

As we look at our places of work, how many of us have the ingredients for HR Gumbo? I know we all have at least one “Subject Matter Expert”. Each of us brings our unique experiences and knowledge to jobs.  “Heat” is a constant that comes with the job.     “Fresh ideas” are readily available from many sources: networking with peers; professional development opportunities such as the HR Tallahassee Conference, the HR Florida State Conference & Expo or even the SHRM National Conference, and HR magazines, journals, and on-line resources.  Unfortunately, there are times when we get so caught up just trying to get through the week that we forget the resources available to assist us.   The feedback received from customers, employees, and management offers HR daily “Commentary” and opportunities to respond. 

So what could be missing?  How often have you read or heard someone in the past few months comment that we’re losing the “Human” in Human Resources?  That is the one ingredient that sets our gumbo apart from all the others. The “Human” ingredient is concern for others.  It is the passion for making a difference in people’s lives. It is our calling to make the world a better place. It is why we work in Human Resources.

As Human Resource professionals, we walk a fine line representing both our businesses and our employees; but in these difficult times the human face of our endeavors becomes even more important.  Yes, there may be layoffs, but we can deliver bad news with care and compassion and explain how to file for Unemployment Compensation and COBRA. Yes, there will always be performance issues, but we can discipline and still respect the employee.  Yes, budgets may be too tight for salary increases, but we can teach management to reward employees in other ways.  It is our job to build morale. It is our job to encourage employee creativity and growth. We might not be able to alleviate the circumstances creating job fears among employees, but we can almost always reduce the apprehension and other negative effects.

Look at your office.  Assemble your ingredients and make a big pot of HR Gumbo this summer! With all the right ingredients, the end result will feed both the body and spirit of your organization.