Alan Collins

HR Professionals - there are lots of ways to care for yourself.
 
Here's ONE WAY that's often overlooked - plus 4 examples…
 
👉 Give yourself a “BIG MISSION“ that matters.
 
What is this?
 
It’s simply a CAUSE, a DRIVING PURPOSE or
simply the BIG REASON that inspires
you to get up in the morning!
 
👉 As an example, here's mine…  
 
“My big mission is to wake up every day, eager and excited to make my own unique mark in the HR profession in both big and small ways.“
 
“My passion is helping others in HR achieve their own personal career successes, overcome obstacles and become the best versions of themselves.“
 
“I want to leave a personal legacy that will exist long after I’m gone and that will inspire future generations of HR professionals through the helpful books, articles, presentations, coaching, and guidance I’ve provided.“
 
That’s the MISSION I’ve given myself that matters to me. 
 
Yes, I know it’s a mouthful.
 
But it’s what catapults me out of bed at crazy hours in the morning and gives me insomnia at night. (The insomnia part, I don’t recommend).
 
When I’m down in the dumps or need a spark, I’ll just look down at my phone where I’ve captured this MISSION as my motivational reminder.
 
👉 Here are 3 more “BIG MISSION“ examples from my network of contacts:
 
…🔸 From a Director, Staffing & Talent Acquisition 
 
“To hunt down and find great people and put them into fantastic roles so they can take full advantage of their talents, feel inspired and help our organization succeed.“
 
…🔸 From a Sr. Manager, Global Organization & Talent Development 
 
“To utilize my skills in partnering with business leaders so that they can improve their personal leadership results, enhance their team’s performance and provide opportunities for their best people to excel.“
 
…🔸 From a VP HRIS & Technology 
 
“To be nationally recognized as the leader of one of the leading HRIS groups so that I can help our organization operate more productively and efficiently…but also so that my peer HRIS leaders from other (non-competitive) organizations can benefit from my experiences.“  
 
Hopefully, you can feel the passion and emotion embedded in these missions just by reading them.
 
👉 Do you have a BIG MISSION THAT MATTERS to you?
 
If not, consider crafting one for yourself as a method of self-care and to inspire you.
 
As Liz Fosslien's great graphic below illustrates, to be able to care for & inspire others effectively, you have to care for & inspire yourself.
 
Just sayin'.
 
Make 2023 your best year yet!
 
Comments?
 
---'
📌 P.S. - Want to create your own personal Big HR Mission that Matters? Check out how to do it step-by-step in Chapter 19 in my new book, “Stay Inspired in HR“ at the link in the first comment below.

The best HR leader I ever knew had a gift for selecting great talent.

Here are her 10 criteria for great HR hires….

🌟1 - If your bottom line isn't “hell yes,“ - then say no!
Every HR person you hire should be raising the bar for your team.

🌟2 - Ask yourself if this person is among the top 20-25% of people you could hire for this role RIGHT NOW. If not, don't settle, keep looking…especially if your pay is competitive.

🌟3 - Hiring isn't about “fit“. It's about “add“. Do the people you hire add to your team culture, bringing unique perspectives and experiences?
💪🏻
🌟4 - NEVER settle for highly talented, arrogant jerks. They can potentially create a toxic environment for your team. Those with a positive, can-do approach with just a little less experience -- will outperform talented jerks in the long run.

🌟5 - Ask yourself if you're genuinely excited to have this person start work on Monday? If you’re not, don't hire.

🌟6- Hire for the strengths you need, NOT the absence of weaknesses.

🌟7 - Hire based on your HR team's values (this is what creates a strong culture). But also be open to (and aggressively seek out) people who are different from you.

🌟8 - If you're hiring a person who will lead other HR folks, imagine how you’d feel about this person hiring the next 5 HR folks in your organization, without your input.

---Envision how you’d feel about them representing the company externally, or giving a presentation to the whole company.

---If any of these make you uncomfortable, don't hire.

🌟9 - Is this person much better than you in at least one area?

🌟10 - Did you learn something new from them during the interview process? If so, this is just one small cue that you're speaking with a potentially great hire.

Many of these standards apply outside of HR as well.

Hope you find these helpful.

As an HR leader, make 2024 your best year yet! 💪🏻

Thoughts?

---
📌 P.S. - HR Leaders: Want more best practices to follow if you're in a brand new HR leader role? Then check out “The New HR Leader's First 100 Days“ at the link in the first comment below.

❌ You're not a fit.
❌ You're overqualified.
❌ You're not HR certified.
❌ You make too much money.
❌ You're not ready for this role.
❌ You've had too many HR jobs.
❌ Your employment gap concerns us.
❌ You don't have enough HR experience.
❌ You did well, but there's a hiring freeze now.
❌ You applied too late, we already filled the job.
❌ You did well, but we decided to fill the job internally.

There are over a 100 ways to be rejected in HR.
But rejection is only true if you agree with it.

✔️ Your value as an HR pro doesn't decline
because someone is unable to see your worth.

✔️ Keep going until you hear a yes.

✔️ It only takes one yes to absolutely
transform your career in HR.

Pep talk over.
Get moving.
Keep growing.💪🏻

And make 2024 your
best year yet!

Thoughts?

----
📌 P.S. - HR Professionals: Want to nail your next HR interview & wow your interviewers and land the job offer? Check out the proven strategies in “HR Interview Secrets“ at the link in the first comment below.

There are UGLY TRUTHS about advancing your career in HR.

Here are 7 you should know about…

👉 1--At work, if your spouse or partner calls, your close friends call, or your parents call…PICK up the FREAKING phone!

Family & close friends are always more important than work.

Never miss a moment with your loved ones because you've allowed work to take over your life. You will regret it in the long run.

Life's too short.

👉 2--If you're exceptional at what you do in HR and aren't getting promoted every 2–3 years internally, it's time to jump to another organization.

Respect yourself!
Go where your results are valued.
And you'll never regret it.

👉 3--The longer it takes to get promoted, the less likely you'll get one.

The job market is hot! These days the best organizations recognize and reward promotable, talented HR people early and often...or they lose them.

👉 4--Don't waste time on HR certifications when you're already past the Director or VP level.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big advocate of certifications. They can help open doors early in your career.

But as you gain more HR experience, your track record of proven results is much more critical. So if you're already experienced, put more time into improving those results that will enhance your resume.

👉 5--In truly great organizations, no one gives a crap when you show up.

They don't care if you arrive 30 minutes early.

Or if you're the last one to leave the office.

Top-notch organizations evaluate you on your performance against your objectives ...and on the quality of the productive relationships you build that benefit the firm. Nothing else.

👉 6--If you only deliver the HR work you're assigned, you are replaceable.

If you deliver more than you're told or assigned, you're indispensable.

Indispensable HR professionals are always in demand - in good times and bad.

By the way, AI robots will soon be able to do those regular, routine, and repetitive HR tasks you're doing now -- if they can't already. 😲😲

👉 7--If you're “indispensable“ to your organization, leverage this at performance review time.

And also during salary and bonus negotiations.

These are the few times it does NOT pay to be humble and modest.

So brag and showcase your accomplishments at review time -- after all, you've got bills to pay, mouths to feed, and a future to save for.

Just a few ugly truths I've learned the hard way.

Many of these apply beyond HR as well.

Just my take.

What's yours?

---
📌 P.S. - HR Professionals: Want more strategies, shortcuts, and more “ugly truths“ for excelling in HR? Then check out “Winning Big in HR: 100+ Powerful Strategies For Accomplishing Great Results Faster & Getting Your Clients To Rave About You As An HR Professional,“ at the link in the first comment below.

Here's the BRUTAL TRUTH if you regard your company as a family.
 
They are NOT. Here's my take on why they aren't… 
 
Your family will never fire you (as long as you hold up your end of the bargain). 
 
👉 Your organization CAN and often WILL fire you, even if you DO hold up your end of the bargain...often for reasons outside your control (e.g., mergers, a lousy quarter, downsizings, etc.). 
 
Your company will do what’s best for them.
 
They don’t “owe” you anything.
 
You don’t “owe” them anything, either.
 
I'm sure none of this is new news. 
 
👉 Now, if you are fortunate like I have been with both Quaker Oats and PepsiCo, you will land in a company that has:
 
- A worthy mission
- Amazing culture
- Great compensation
- Awesome benefits
- Incredible people to work with
 
👉 Working in such positive environments:
 
- Encourages you to go above and beyond
- Gives you fulfillment and purpose
- Inspires you to work weekends and evenings
- Motivates you to give your best each day
 
But it’s essential to manage your expectations.
 
You cannot expect undying loyalty from ANY company.
 
Companies put themselves first because they must.
 
It’s their #1 job to generate revenue and deliver for their shareholders.
 
👉 I advocate that you do the same thing for yourself.
 
--- Make the best decision for yourself and your family.
 
--- If it means politely declining an HR promotion, paying you 10% more, but it doesn’t allow you to spend the time you want with your family -- do that!
 
--- If that means making yourself available or leaving for better growth opportunities at another company -- do it! 
 
The company will be fine.
 
👉 You are your #1 priority.
 
So is your family.
 
Again, you know all this.
 
I'm just validating it.
 
Thoughts?
 
---
📌 P.S. - HR Professionals: Want to discover 21 more no B.S., brutal truths crucial for advancing your career in HR? Then, check out “Unwritten HR Rules“ at the link in the first comment below.