Changing the HR Story

The new year presents a fresh start. If there is something you'd like to start doing, stop doing or change the way you are doing it, this is when many jump on the resolution train. Whether you are a resolution-maker or not, making something better is bound to be on your mind.

It is on mine. Right out front, I have my running (I plan to run a half-marathon), my food choices (I've been Paleo for over a year now but have begun to sugar-stray), my skin (time to pay my dues for my younger years of sun worship) and the coaching I give, receive and accept.

HR Principal.png

On my mind today (but only because of a prompt) is what I'd do to make HR better. So, here it is.

How human resource professionals are viewed has a direct impact on their ability to impact change. And in many cases, HR pros are viewed as transaction managers, or worse, a necessary evil.  The stories about human resources go like this:

  • HR is hard to work with.
  • HR can't get the basics right.
  • Include HR, why? What do they do anyway?

The stories are not going to change on their own.  Bob McDonald, then CEO, Proctor and Gamble said, "People are going to tell stories about you whether you want them to or not. Choose which ones they tell." 

I love this quote for a few reasons: first, it's true and second, it puts HR professionals and leaders across the globe in the driver's seat. Don't like the stories? Change them. Quit hiding behind technology, leading with the employee handbook and blaming the economy for recruitment and retention challenges. Stop talking (what you think sounds expert and dazzling is actually distancing) and start listening.

Start by getting your HR house in order - strengthen your HR infrastructure and your HR workforce. Align business decisions with organizational objectives  - focus on streamlining the hiring process, ensure employees have the necessary skills and abilities to do their jobs and develop targeted strategies to assist supervisors and managers with performance management. Share your success, take credit where credit is due and be nice to your friends.

Do this and I guarantee the conversations about HR will change and you will be sought out by others for your absolute awesomeness.

Changing the HR Story first appeared on lisarosendahl.com

Meet Madison Jones

One of the many things I enjoy about this hyper-connected social world we live in today is that I get to meet people I would not normally have the opportunity to meet.

Photo credit: iStock Photo

Photo credit: iStock Photo

Last week, I met Madison Jones. Madison is a self-described 30-something writer, speaker, social media enthusiast and human resource connoisseur. She started a shiny new blog and reached out to me for an interview. Women, HR, new blog - how could I resist.

Madison asked great questions about how my military time shaped my HR life, technology on the job, choosing a workforce team, employee performance and industry blogs. It was fun.

Take a look at our interview here.

We connected through Women of HR so let me take a moment to point you in that direction to check out the best compilation of writing and topics related to women, HR, leadership, business and community on the web.

Have a good one!