| I thought I'd take the opportunity here to share 50 | | | | 24. Three people that need to know your salary: the |
| things I've learned from twenty-five years in the HR | | | | IRS, your spouse & the headhunter finding you a |
| trenches. These are truths I've gained from personal | | | | better job. |
| successes, screw ups, three companies, sixteen HR | | | | 25. Take action. Motion beats meditation! He who goes |
| jobs and other HR professionals that I've worked with | | | | from notion to motion fastest wins! |
| who either guide me or inspire me. Hopefully, there are | | | | 26. I've learned that one year after you leave college, if |
| a couple here you might find helpful. While they are in | | | | you're knocking it out of the park, no one cares what |
| no particular order, I try never to ignore #50. Enjoy! | | | | your GPA was. |
| 1. It's easy to impress your clients with your HR | | | | 27. In HR, when one door closes, another opens. Don't |
| knowledge, when you've impressed them with your | | | | let anger over the closed door blind you to |
| knowledge of their business first. | | | | opportunities in the open one. |
| 2. What others say about your HR reputation is 1000% | | | | 28. When wrestling with a tough HR problem, it helps |
| more convincing than what you say - even if you're | | | | to find a dark room and shut your eyes in order to see |
| 100% more articulate. | | | | things more clearly. |
| 3. Stay current and on top of your game: Just when | | | | 29. A truly great HR leader searches for eagles, not |
| you think you are winning the rat race, along come | | | | turkeys, and then teaches them to fly in formation. |
| faster rats. | | | | 30. The best way to protect yourself and avoid HR |
| 4. You need an HR specialty. Even if you're a | | | | hell or HR jail is to: Document, Document, Document. |
| generalist and jack of all trades, you need to be a | | | | 31. You don't have to wait for great opportunities for |
| master of ONE. | | | | your chance to do great things. Seize small everyday |
| 5. Go first. Waiting for others to reach out to you - | | | | things and do them in a great way. |
| creates success in waiting, not in building relationships. | | | | 32. Learn to listen. HR opportunities sometime knock |
| 6. Unless your boss knows you're great & so | | | | very softly! |
| does her boss, and anyone else who could be your | | | | 33. Flying under the radar may be good for geese, but |
| boss, advancing your HR career where you're at will | | | | it's a terrible strategy if you want to advance your HR |
| be nearly impossible. | | | | career. |
| 7. Without commitment at the top, making real | | | | 34. When I complain about my time management |
| progress on any culture change or workplace | | | | problems, I remind myself that I have the EXACT |
| transformation initiative (e.g. diversity and inclusion) is | | | | number of hours in a day as Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, |
| like pushing water uphill with a rake. | | | | Oprah or Obama. |
| 8. HR pessimists complain about the wind. HR optimists | | | | 35. When traveling on the road, put a card in your |
| expects it to change. HR leaders adjust the sails. | | | | wallet with your name, your phone number, the phone |
| 9. Be authentic and be yourself. Everyone else is | | | | number of a friend/relative & the motel you're |
| taken. | | | | staying at - just in case. |
| 10. Do HR work that truly inspires other people and | | | | 36. If you're an HR leader, let your direct reports hear |
| helps your company succeed and career opportunities | | | | you say complimentary things about them to their |
| will chase you. | | | | clients or the higher ups. |
| 11. Never underestimate what you know. What may | | | | 37. I've learned that encouragement from a great boss |
| be common knowledge to you may be a revelation of | | | | can turn your HR career around in an instant. Be that |
| immense value to someone else. | | | | boss to someone else. |
| 12. HR professionals faced with ambiguity and | | | | 38. Keep a note pad, pencil or blackberry on your |
| uncertainty keep in mind that in the land of the blind the | | | | bedside table. Great HR ideas or solutions sometimes |
| one eyed man is king. | | | | strike at 3 AM. |
| 13. When seeking career advice, avoid mentors who | | | | 39. Treat your permanent HR position as a temporary |
| belittle your HR ambitions. The poor ones do that. The | | | | job disguised with benefits...because in today's |
| great ones make you feel that, you too, can become | | | | economy, it is. |
| great. | | | | 40. In HR as in life, your supporters make you happy |
| 14. You will advance much farther in HR if you trust | | | | but it's your critics that make you better. An honest |
| people first, rather than mistrust people first. | | | | critic is your best friend. |
| 15. As an HR leader, if you're never disappointed, your | | | | 41. You don't progress in HR based on how smart you |
| expectations are not high enough. Raise your bar and | | | | are, but based on how many actions you take to |
| start expecting more. | | | | succeed! |
| 16. Unfortunately, I've learned that the fastest way to | | | | 42. Great HR folks are unafraid to take a stand and |
| change results is to change the people producing them. | | | | express their point of view. Sometimes when you |
| 17. When your HR workload is taking priority over your | | | | straddle the fence, you sit on a spike. |
| family or taking care of yourself, you're not prioritizing | | | | 43. When negotiating your salary, think of what you |
| or delegating enough. | | | | want; then ask for 10% more. |
| 18. If your company's culture doesn't allow you to bring | | | | 44. When you find an ideal HR job, don't sweat the |
| your real, authentic self to work, you will be | | | | pay. If you've got what it takes, your salary will soon |
| uncomfortable short-term and miserable long-term. | | | | reflect your value - if not where you are, then |
| 19. The way to receive huge amounts of recognition | | | | elsewhere. |
| and credit in HR is to give away as much of it as you | | | | 45. Always stand when greeting a visitor to your |
| can. | | | | office. It shows respect. |
| 20. Enthusiasm and passion will cover many of your | | | | 46. Don't expect others to listen to your HR advice |
| deficiencies in HR. | | | | and ignore your example. |
| 21. The only 2 ways to get people to change is | | | | 47. Watch for big organization problems. They disguise |
| through inspiration or desperation...and as much I prefer | | | | big HR opportunities you can leverage to advance |
| the former, I've learned the latter is more effective. | | | | your career. |
| 22. The HR leader's job is change. If you're not | | | | 48. In HR, every knock on your door, e-mail, or call can |
| spearheading and guiding change, you're managing not | | | | potentially ruin your day...or be an opportunity that can |
| leading. | | | | make your career. Be prepared. |
| 23. If you want to master your time, invest 10% of | | | | 49. Take the stairs when it's four flights or less. |
| your time planning how you will maximize the other | | | | 50. Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one. |
| 90%. | | | | |