It's All About Learning

I had one position to fill in my department and interviewed four internal candidates.

After the interview, I met with each to share my decision, provide feedback on their interview and to answer any questions they had. Having these meetings can be difficult but I could not do it any other way. Each person took the time to consider my position, put their application together, prepare for the interview and finally, to interview. It would not be right for them to receive the "official" HR notification without first hearing it from me.

Some candidates would say that the interview is the easy part and that waiting for the decision is the hardest of all. When I meet with candidates not selected, I know there is going to be disappointment and I leave room for that. The responses I received this week were very different and ranged from sadnessand anger to acceptance and relief.

One candidate asked what she could do to better her chances for the next opportunity. I told her she was doing exactly that right now - she was asking questions and she was seeking to learn. Continuous learning and growth - that is what it is all about isn’t it? Continuous learning and growth is why I do the things I do and why I encourage and support others in their endeavors to do the same.

The fact is, as a manager, I have departmental goals to accomplish and performance measures to meet and I am going to select the person that I feel can help me best meet those goals. I was fortunate to have had two candidates who I felt could do that for me, however, with one position, that hard choice was mine to make and communicate.

My daughter had a Halloween party last month. She was very adamant (as adamant as a 5 year old can be!) that everyone always gets to win. So, each time there was a game or activity, everyone would get to choose a small prize from the pumpkin head. Life does not allow everyone to pick from the pumpkin head every time. Life is not always like that and it’s not always about winners and losers. It is often about things happening for a reason or happening when they are meant to happen, not when you want them to happen. How a person responds to the disappointments in their life says volumes about them.

I provide the feedback, but what if they don’t hear?

Note: Two very excellent posts on the topic of continuous learning are at G-Town Talks and SittingXlegged.

Your Problem is My Problem

I was checking phone messages this morning and had one from one of our managers. This manager had realized something – something she had missed. Now if you have ever been there, this is one of those misses where the blood drains from your head, you feel lightheaded, hands tingle and your stomach flips. As I listened to the message, I started to feel the same because I was working on this and I missed it too. The message ended something along the lines of "this in not your problem, just wanted you to know" and I switched gears. My body slowed down and I went into another more focused, productive mode – your problems are my problems. It is my job, and the job of HR, to do everything we can to help manager’s solve their problems.

Yes, we missed the date. Many others did too, although that does not excuse me. This caught me off guard and I have to say that I thought we had more time so it was not my top priority this past week. Nonetheless, we are getting the things in place that we need to so this manager can, with integrity, prepare the necessary certifications for the medical center director’s signature.

I now have to wonder, what else is out there that is going to jump up and bite me this week? What will move from the bottom of the pile to the top on it's own? More importantly, how well will I respond to provide the leadership and resources to get it done, whatever it is, vs. being taken off task by doubts and frustration or needing to breathe into a brown paper bag? J