On the Brink of Lies

"I've had enough of her...get rid of her today."

"We're fallen behind schedule...someone is going to pay!"

"That's ridiculous...go writer her up now. Right now!"

"That's why I have you here...to keep me out of trouble when I have to take action."

"We've lost confidence in you..."

"You're no longer a good fit..."

HR Leadership is Hard
I don't know how many times my colleagues have told me the following..."I could never do your job." 

Wait, what? Is HR that horrible? Is it so pressure-packed that our friends and colleagues can't even imagine sitting in our chair?

Wow.

So, why then do we put ourselves through that pressure-cooker? Why do we put ourselves out there for all the world to see (and sometimes criticize) and frequently thank us for helping them through difficult issues or projects?

I used to have very HR-ish sounding answers, full of cliches and jargon, blah, blah, blah. I don't think I feel that way any longer. 

As I...ahem...grow more mature in my career...my answer feels different than all the HR-speak I've pumped out for years.

Something Bigger
HR leadership is not the only difficult role out there. And guess what? I've told my colleagues I would not want to do their jobs either. Have you caught yourself saying the same thing?

Be honest.

Leadership to me...HR or otherwise...done authentically, honestly, and frequently with a mouth full of humble pie has to be done deliberately. It has to matter to us as individuals. Of course we want to make our organizations better. Of course we want to create an environment where people want to work and feel as if their contribution to the world matters.

Leadership...for me...is about doing something that is bigger than me, and staying committed to that, even when times get tough once in a while.

I've never heard of any effective leaders that didn't face significant problems in their careers. I'm no different.

But when leadership means doing something bigger than yourself, you don't quit. You don't deflect responsibility or run for cover. You pick yourself up, get your game-face on, and you own every damn bit of the problem. Only then, can you make the course corrections necessary to be successful.

How About You
Which leaders do you look up to? Have their careers been perfect? Have they always made the right call? Or, do they mean so much to you because in spite of their missteps, they never quit? Ever.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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As I Lay Dying

Have you every felt completely stuck in your work? You know the feeling...projects are not on track the way they should be...leaders are doing lots of talking but very little leading...and it looks like deadlines are going to be missed.

So many issues hitting all at once.

The Cycle of Doubt
I would be lying if I told you I didn't suffer from a cycle of doubt every once in a while. First comes a series of challenges that are quickly followed by the pressure and frustration of the work not being executed the way it should.

I hate that.

Next is that sense of desperation as the pieces seem to be spilling out everywhere without any coordinated plan that is actually being managed. Many leaders tout their own skill set, but very few actually execute effectively. 

Titles do not equal skills. Ever.

The Cycle of Success
Hitting a low point every once in while does have it's advantages, although I would prefer never to get there myself.

Renewed Focus
Sometimes we need to simply change the way we frame our desperate situation. Consider the low point you're feeling as the laser focus you needed to drive forward. The issues are clear...now focus exclusively on those issues. As you begin to resolve them one by one you will feel not only a sense of satisfaction, but a sense of real control.

Energy
Have you ever noticed that when things start to go well you feel even more enthusiastic about the work you're doing? Progress brings with it a new infusion of energy. Embrace that adrenaline rush and keep pushing.

Work
Now it's time to leverage your focus and energy and build a reasonable plan...and for God's sake execute that plan.

Results
As your hard work pays off be sure to recognize the results you and your team are achieving. Part of every plan should be a few moments to formally acknowledge the successes along the way.

How About You
You're not laying there dying. You are a beast. Get the hell up, dust yourself off, and go kick ass.

Now.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Friction Points

Watching new leaders struggle is an odd experience. Many new leaders consider themselves to be quite experienced; yet in reality they are not. Having a large scope of responsibility does not equate with being an experienced and effective leader.

It just means you were involved in lots of stuff. Big difference.

Reactions Matter
For new executives the struggles are even more pronounced. Their previous world which was typically narrowly defined by their role is suddenly expanded to include the entire organization. Yes, regardless of the title, an executive must think in terms of the entire organization. 

Their "newness" is often characterized by a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, energy, and desire to prove they are worthy of the role. Those same qualities can get in the way however when problems arise. It is their reaction to change that often creates friction, and in turn hurts their credibility. 

Calm, Calm, Calm
In those moments when change occurs, or someone gets upset, or suddenly there needs to be a new plan of action, it is imperative that leaders remain calm. This is not an option, nor is it negotiable. Effective leaders do not over react, make knee-jerk decisions, or convince themselves that "it will be better if they just handle it by themselves."

No, no and no.

The best leaders stay focused and calm. Why? Because the people they are leading are watching their reaction in the moment. They want to know that the unexpected challenge is not going to hurt them or the company. They want to know everything is going to be okay. 

When leaders over react and get all fired up as a first response, the team gets nervous and ultimately loses faith in that leader.

Don't give your team or organization a reason to lose faith in you.

How About You
Do you know new leaders who struggle with the burden of their role? There is a reason the phrase "leadership is hard" has been around so long. Because it's true! Be calm today in your world...and role model for those other leaders around you how it's supposed to be done.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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Resistance is Futile

I've been thinking a lot lately about the persistent challenges I face in my work life. Meeting after meeting with leaders and staff, pouring over data sliced and diced all different ways, brand new strategies that are not being used widely in my industry, and many more hours just wrestling with these challenges in my mind have me thinking about my corporate culture. But this time it feels more personal. I'm the type of leader who doesn't take too many things personally in my work life. But when I can't solve a problem in a reasonably short period of time it starts to get me more worked up.

Missing Pieces

So now I have a heightened sense of urgency, and despite the fact that I know the team is all pulling in the same direction, it doesn't make me feel any better that we're still struggling to resolve some things that aren't coming together just yet. Perhaps I'm not looking in the proper places? I'm wondering if I'm truly embracing the diversity  that could add so much value and talent to my organization? Every time I've worked with a more diverse group than a less diverse group, the outcomes have always been better.

Maybe I'm on to something here.

The Futility of Doing the Same Thing Over and Over

While I will admit we're pushing into some very new territory in the healthcare HR space, we are not reinventing the wheel. But perhaps for my organization, it's time to think about a better wheel...a very diverse wheel that intentionally includes all of the potential spokes out there.

How About You
When you're battling a persistent challenge in your work life do you simply work harder; or, do you open your eyes a bit wider (as I'm trying to do) and see the unlimited potential in the diversity around you?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



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