HR, Big Picture & You

Big Picture

1. It is 2012

Not 1992. Or 1972. Ask others in your team to check the year, the next time that they tell that you:

• It can’t be done
• It was done before and failed
• It won’t work in your organisation.

Or get out of there fast!

2. Get used to..

…the confusion, uncertainty and shake ups. If you have a way through the maze, there are champions in your organisation that will support you. Find them.

HR

3.Business Partner?

I’m tired of waiting for HR to become the business partner that rest of the business is screaming for. Close the gap. Fast. Or risk becoming irrelevant.

4.Organisational Culture

It is incredibly difficult to change organisational culture. Like horror villains that refuse to die, organisational culture persists past change project 78.902. Keep trying. You (may) just succeed.

5.HR Wish List

At the first HR department meeting, each member of the team should submit their wish list – more zeros in the budget, more staff and more tools. Let them write and write, until they are satisfied with their wish list. Good. Shred it. Drop the bomb – your job is to figure out how you are going deliver exceptional results without any of your wishes being fulfilled.

You

6.Job

Make peace with yourself regarding your job. If you can’t reconcile what you have do, with whom you are and what you truly value, it is time to move on.

7.Peace with Others

Make peace with the board, line management, your boss, co-workers and staff. Some may turn you down. Others will ignore you. The rest will accept the olive branch. It is so much easier to drive any HR idea or project when others are not trying to bring you down.

8.Working Hours

If your normal working hours are from 9h00 to 17h00, leave work after 22h00. Just once this year. You will discover something about yourself, your work and co-workers. If you are normally leaving at this time, something is not working.

9. Three people that you must know:

• Tea lady
• Receptionist
• Security guard.

Ask lots of questions. You will learn more about your company and the talent inside it, than you could ever learn during HR meetings or the staff conference.

(HR Future, January 2012)