When I was younger…much younger…I played in several rock bands. We were okay (that’s a bit of a stretch), but it was certainly fun. Singing and playing for several dozen to several hundred people was a thrill. As I reflect back now I can see that even if the quality of our music was not going to land us a record deal, we created a tremendous amount of energy simply by being focused on the same goal. Through hours of rehearsals and live performances we were able to get people, and ourselves, fired up.
Why can’t that same jam session feel carry over into the workplace? Specifically, why can’t HR have its own jam session of sorts to create some energy around the employment experience?
Well my friends, I’m here to tell you it can.
That’s Too Touchy-Feely
It seems to me that when old school leaders are faced with the reality that they must connect with their teams in a meaningful way (read here => they have no idea how to do it) they default to criticizing those skills as being soft and mushy. In reality the only thing soft and mushy is…well…them.Getting out and connecting with people, greeting them with a smile and a loud hello, remembering their names, and stopping to chat if the moment is right are all hallmarks of a confident leader that can be trusted. The leader who is simply too busy to make eye contact and come out of their office to show their human side becomes a mystery to the employees. Hence the term “empty suit.”
“How in the world are employees expected to trust, follow, and help to implement changes if they’ve never met or even seen the leaders who are driving the change agenda?”
How About You
As an HR leader do you show your enthusiasm for your work? Can your staff tell? How about the employees that don’t report to you, but are part of the larger organization? You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be real.
As an HR leader do you show your enthusiasm for your work? Can your staff tell? How about the employees that don’t report to you, but are part of the larger organization? You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be real.
I’d love to hear from you.
No Excuses.
