Archive for the ‘Strategic HR’ Category

Have you ever worked on a project for so long that it begins to feel like your baby?  Maybe you’ve had certain responsibilities that you’ve focused on and now your role has changed in your organization and they aren’t your responsibility anymore?  It’s tough isn’t it?  For the sake of the rest of us, please let it go!

I take my work, whether professional or volunteer, seriously.  I pour everything into making what I’m working on the best it can be.  I am passionate about business and human resources and it shows in the work I do.  I would love it if everything went “my way” but I realize that my way may not always be the best way for the organization.  Managers everywhere need to remember that!

I’ve learned that just because a manager or employee may do something in a way that I wouldn’t doesn’t necessarily make it the wrong way.  As a manager I’ve had to learn how to encourage others to share their ideas and make them feel appreciated.  Don’t be that stubborn manager who goes on a tirade every time something is done differently than you would have done.  All this will accomplish is to discourage creativity and employee involvement – you won’t gain respect this way.

Chill out.  If it doesn’t fall under the reigns of your job duty any more let it go!  If you have done your job correctly individuals will feel comfortable stepping up to the plate and taking lead on projects, even something that you may have led.  Watch patiently and provide mentoring when necessary – encourage change, be a good manager. 

The last thing we all need is another tyrant in the office!

Have you had to deal with an office tyrant who wont “let it go?” If so how did you handle it?  Have you ever had a problem letting something go that has been your responsibility?  What got you through it? Please share!

As midsummer approaches, I find myself eagerly anticipating the HR Florida Conference & Expo in August.  I am looking forward to the networking and sessions, especially Keith Ferrazzi’s “Relationships for Group Success”.  I am reading his newest book, “Who’s Got Your Back?” in order to better prepare for his session.

Last fall, Keith Ferrazzi was a keynote speaker at the national College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) conference in St. Louis. I was presenting a concurrent session that morning and almost skipped the keynote to do a last minute run through of my presentation.  I was glad I stayed and listened. 

Keith, who is also the author of “Never Eat Alone,” told his story of going from being the son of a steelworker and a cleaning lady to earning a scholarship at Yale, receiving his MBA from Harvard, and becoming the youngest partner in Deloitte Consulting’s history. All of these accomplishments were the result of his ability to connect with others.  He stressed the true value of networking is not exchanging business cards, but building actual relationships.  It is our individual stories and our passions that give us the tools to connect with others. Conference attendees were encouraged to step out of our comfort zones and introduce ourselves to one another by sharing what was important to us, that passion that defines who we are. We were challenged to do that throughout the remainder of the conference.

The concepts were simple and I took the challenge seriously.  I left the session and hurried to the room assigned to my presentation, knowing I could no longer present it in the way it had been practiced. How could I better tell the story behind the presentation?  Where was my passion for Human Resources?  I had 15 minutes to revise a presentation that had come together over several months. 

As the room filled and it was time to start, I took a deep breath and introduced myself – not as a title on an organizational chart, but as a Human Resource professional whose passion is to make a difference in the world. The PowerPoint presentation became the vehicle to help tell a story.  The presentation became more personal and the interaction with the 40 people in the room became frequent and genuine. I realized later it was the best presentation I had ever given.

Most people view conferences as a good way to retreat from their day-to-day world, make new friends and earn continuing education credits.  A good conference can be so much more; what you learn and the connections you make can make a difference.  It’s not too late to register for HR Florida! Go with an open mind and a willingness to explore new ideas!  I guarantee you will hear something that lights a fire or kindles a passion, allowing you to return to your day-to-day world empowered with new gifts and a fresh commitment to HR.

Recently I attended an early evening meeting after already completing a ten-hour workday.  It may be important to know that I might not have been at my (most patient) best.

The meeting started calmly enough, but I was amazed by how many late arrivers disrupted the proceedings by making loud, raucous entrances.  It was like they wanted everyone to know they had arrived and it was irrelevant that they were late.  Clearly, they were under the impression that they were more important than the agenda.  After all, weren’t we all so glad to see them?  Hugs all around.

So, that was the first time I used my “church glare.”  That’s the look my mother used to give me when I would laugh or talk with my friends during church services.  Her eyes would narrow and she would make direct soul-to-soul non-verbal contact revealing her irritation at my irreverence. 

Order restored.  Now, back to our meeting.  One of the attendees didn’t agree with the direction of the discussion regarding the second topic on the agenda and began a loud sidebar with his neighbor.  Church glare number 2.

As the debate continued, the chair requested clarification from the attorney.  Another attendee, who was less than pleased with the attorney’s guidance, then began to argue historical events.  You know the phrase, “we’ve never done it like that before.”  And, he did that without being recognized by the chair.  Church glare number 3 followed by a loud sigh.

At some point, total chaos broke out.  Multiple people were shouting over the person who rightfully had the floor who began to speak louder to be heard over the cacophony of interruptions.  I glanced over at the exasperated secretary who was unsuccessfully attempting to record the proceedings.  My church glare was in overdrive, but I saved the meanest, sternest glare of all for the chair of the proceedings.  Finally, he banged the table and restored order.  Whew.  Relish the calm…

In an appropriately dignified manner, discussion continued.  Then, from the far corner of our elongated boat-shaped conference table came an unrelated, one-person dialogue.  As I realized the individual was actually having a personal cell phone conversation, my glare went into retirement and from my lips exploded, “Are you freakin’ kidding me?”  I really did say, “freakin’.”

What was wrong with these people?  Where was the respect for the other people who were sacrificing their time to contribute to this group?  Oh, I get that they’re passionate about the topics.  Of course they are.  We wouldn’t want ill-informed, apathetic individuals in the group.  But, can we please have a little decorum?

I left that meeting exhausted and mulled over the proceedings on the drive home.  I reached two distinct conclusions: the meeting chair’s duty is to maintain order and my church glare doesn’t pack the same wallop as my mother’s.