Sue Meisinger's Top 10 List for HR Professionals
1. Don't spend too much time worrying about how to get a seat at the table. Everyone wants a seat. Just add value to the organization's strategy and people, leveraging your HR expertise to help the business. If you do this, the CEO will hold a chair out for you.
2. Take pride in your profession and what you do. Never, ever, ever underestimate the importance of HR or the significance of your role. Take pride in the role HR has played and continues to play in improving the workplace and the lives of millions of workers.
3. Never stop caring. As you sit at the strategy table, serve as a business partner, help drive the business, don't forget the "human" in HR. The minute you do, you lose sight of why you are in the field and your effectiveness is diminished.
4. Don't expect everyone to love you. HR is a demanding, difficult and challenging job. It takes special knowledge, skills and competencies. The decisions you make directly affect people's lives, and sometimes, they won't agree with you. It goes with the territory.
5. Never stop being curious. Make it a personal and professional goal to learn something new every day and take the time to reflect on what you've learned. Ask questions of peers and colleagues. Learn about the challenges they face and the industry you work in. Find out what keeps your CEO awake at night.
6. Be courageous. Speak out. Share what you know and relate that knowledge to your organization's strategy. You'll find that not only will your business grow, but you will, too.
7. Always be prepared to share your professional opinion, especially with public policy makers. You know the workplace better than they will ever be able to – share your wisdom with them.
8. If you aren't certified, get certified. If you are certified, stay certified. Certification shows others that you know your stuff. And it helps the entire profession by raising the bar for everyone.
9. If you aren't a SHRM member, you should be. If you are one, stay one. Where better to keep current on your profession and be able to learn from your peers? Get engaged and volunteer. You'll learn from them as I have every time I've had a chance to meet with them.
10. Laugh daily. Why? Because it helps put things in perspective. And who doesn't love a good laugh?
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Regards,
Bhagwan