Currently browsing Karen Goodlett

I live just a few minutes away from one grandson and 1000 miles from the other.    Fortunately, I am able to spend time with each of them every week. When I have mentioned this to friends, the first thing they ask is, “how?”  The answer is simple:  A computer and a webcam allow us to overcome the distance and see our grandson, Lorenzo, as he has begun to walk, run and say words. We visit with Lorenzo and his parents for an hour or so every weekend. Lorenzo gets excited when we first can be seen on the computer screen and greets us enthusiastically. After everyone says hello, he proceeds with his play while we talk with his mom. A few minutes later, he will come back to the computer and wave, dance to music, laugh and wander off again. He blows us kisses and waves goodbye when the conversation is ending. In that hour, the relationship with his grandparents deepens and grows.

The same routine is followed with his paternal grandparents in Italy, though this conversation is in Italian. He responds – plays – dances and blows kisses. At 15 months, this little boy is connected across the globe! It is comfortable and commonplace for him in a way that would not have been possible a few years ago. 

It should be no surprise that HR is expanding into a global focus!  HR has changed; this millennium has seen the profession developing across borders and cultures. The dramatic changes that have occurred in the global landscape and economy have resulted in a world that is more connected than ever before.  Historical and geographical divisions are becoming increasingly irrelevant and our jobs in HR are becoming even more challenging.  A new world is dawning and we need to be ready.

I am not sure how Lorenzo’s generation will be referenced. Will Gen Z come after Gen Y?  Whatever they might be called, I see a generation for which technology is commonplace, diversity is the norm, and relationships regularly transcend geographical borders. It will be an exciting world, not just for Lorenzo, but for us all.

Get ready – study for the GPHR!  Visit www.hrci.org for details.

Keith Ferrazzi

Anyone who read my earlier post is aware of how much I have been looking forward to hearing Keith Ferrazzi speak at HR Florida.  Keith presented one of the Masters’ Sessions entitled “Relationships for Group Success”.  He is the author of two bestselling books emphasizing the importance of relationships in our personal and professional lives.

Keith’s two hour presentation included several “group work” sessions in which we were encouraged to use his relationship development ideas.  Each attendee’s experience was affected by what they learned through listening and interacting with others. It has taken several days of reflection to summarize my “take homes.”  Here they are:

*Relationships are fundamental to our success!

*Deep social bonding among team members will result in greater success for the team.

*It is essential to develop a strategic plan for our lives.  What do we want to achieve in 30 days? 3 years? Long term? (We must know where we’re going before we can map out a route to get there.)

*Find two people with whom to develop “lifeline relationships.”  Lifeline Relationships incorporate peers who we care for and respect. These relationships should be mutually beneficial and include the core values of honesty, transparency, and accountability. (Note the concept of “mutual relationship” – people are not a commodity to be used and tossed aside.)

*Ask for help: “What do you see me doing that holds me back?” (Friends can help someone recognize and move beyond negative behaviors and subliminal patterns.)

*Remember feedback is a gift. It is information to be processed just like all other experience.  Take it or leave it, but always say “Thank you”. 

We often hear the saying – “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” There is some truth in this statement; we are who we are because of our relationships with others. The relationships we develop at work, chapter meetings, conferences, and volunteering in the community help us to grow personally and professionally.  In Human Resources, as in life, “what you know” is critical, but it is in relationships with others that we are able to leverage that knowledge to make a difference.   

Though I enjoy “The Office”, other commitments on Thursday evenings generally keep me from watching this quirky television show.   A more relaxed schedule this summer has given me the opportunity to enjoy the reruns.

Toby Flenderson, Evil HR Guy

Toby is not a bad guy; in fact in most episodes, he is barely there– an innocuous character with no sense of fun or humor that is into rules, policies and procedures. That is the real reason Michael doesn’t like him. 

The entire episode bothered me.  When I go out into one of our departments, I’m excited about going in to make a difference.  I began to wonder:  do my organization’s employees see me and want to shout “Oh no – it’s HR!”?

I decided to ask friends about their perceptions when HR came to their offices.  The answers varied only slightly and almost all of them began with “oh no”…. 

• “Oh no… something is up. I wonder who did something stupid this time.”
• “Oh no… are we going to have to sit through another boring training session?”
• “Oh no… are we going to have to do team building again?”
• “Oh no…someone’s about to get fired…”

They laughed when I asked if they ever thought “Wow, HR is here – something good is going to happen!”

As HR professionals, we do so much more than disciplinary actions, terminations and compliance training.  How do we reverse this image of the dreaded visit from Human Resources?  

Maybe one of the networks will develop a television show about the exciting and often humorous world of Human Resources.  The main character will be attractive, smart and have a great sense of humor.  He/she will be a caring “people person” whose insight and actions will make a positive change in the corporate world one episode at a time.  (This could do for HR what CSI has done for forensic technicians!)

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to be happening this season.  Until that time, we need to continue to use our relationships, knowledge and commitment to make a difference in our organizations. We also need to keep our sense of humor and remember when out in other office areas if an employee doesn’t make eye contact not to take it personally; they are probably just texting “911” to their coworkers.