HR summarized in a poem

Our AVP, HR shared this with our whole HR Department today.  I love it, and my first thought was -- "This is something I cannot not share!".....so here I am....Sharing!

At the 2014 Public Sector HR Conference Wrap-Up, while other closing speakers would have just talked about the main conference themes, John Brewer (2014 Chair) wrapped-up the conference with the exceptional poem below. Read and Enjoy! :-)

The Wrap-Up Poem

 

There must be some way out of here, said the public servant to the chief

I can’t carry on working like this—please give me some relief

These are challenging times for human resources
you’re dealing with change and irresistible forces

Money is short, demographics are shifting
at the end of the day you’ve got to do some heavy lifting

Recognize that while things might now look okay
severe labour shortages are on the way

 

But you are positive, approach the future with a smile
knowing most public servants go the extra mile

So you must change—you must innovate
you have a blue print and a new workplace—won’t it be great

But innovation means being allowed to fail
Stop treating perfection as the holy grail

So I offer this chart for your consideration
I know, this won’t work for your organization

 

But change is not really like that I must confess
It’s way more complex—causes lots of stress

There’s policy people both need changing
IT and processes need replacing

Then there’s big data, it’s not just big it’s vast
and it’s also varied and coming at you fast

So ask yourself what is it that you will need
for your HR strategy to succeed?

 

So I offer you what I learned yesterday and today
what are the lessons I’ll take away?

 

One: Times are changing and changing fast
you can’t rely on how you did things in the past

Technology’s advancing—an iPhone in every pocket
we’re heading for the future and travelling by rocket

Think of netflix, apple, google
but can you be like them and also be frugal?

Maybe look to the next generation
they demand and need participation

Not for them deference to someone’s position
they will speak up and not ask permission

So perhaps hierarchy will begin to end
your DM might become your Facebook friend!

This is the decade when talent’s the top of the list
its an opportunity for HR—it must not be missed

 

Two: Strategy and planning are what you need to do
you need a plan and goals to get you through

So be more about strategy, less operation
here in Ottawa and across the nation

It’s about the value you provide
promote what you do, don’t curl up and hide

Make sure you’re a partner—get a seat at the table
or else your plan will just be a fable

And in the future strategy will be driven by data
so learn to love statistics, don’t be a number hater

 

Three: Performance Management needs doing and needs doing right
though it causes anxiety, even fright

It means having difficult conversations with your staff
this isn’t easy, it ain’t no laugh

These conversations are not idle chatter
they are the heart of your culture—they really matter

And performance isn’t an island unto itself
link it to engagement, innovation—put them on the same shelf

And upon values your performance must be based
or else it’s just a process—a waste of space

And don’t forget curiosity and passion
these are public service values, not just a fashion

Everyone must have their own performance plan
know what’s expected every woman and man

So everyone must know what behaviours you expect
what are the values you respect?

Executive buy-in is a must
leadership values have to include trust

Focus on the performance not the tool
otherwise you’ll look the fool

 

Four: Deal with absenteeism—it’s a major cost
add up in your head the billions that’s lost

We need to face hard truth it isn’t fake
the more sick days you offer, the more people will take

But if your absence rate is high
you might need to improve the workplace—it’s worth a try

Or it might be how people react when they miss the bus
one struggles in the other goes home to fuss

You need to invest in some prevention
and then you’ll need less intervention

 

Five: Productivity is the heart of the matter
without it any plan you make will be in tatters

To be honest I’m not sure quite what to say
but one idea occurs to me—so bear with me I pray

I keep on hearing “do more with less”
it’s getting tired I must confess

By doing more with less you’ve increased productivity
you see it’s not hard it’s really easy

 

Six: Productivity and wellness go hand in hand
without wellness performance is built on sand

Make the case for investing in employee health
it doesn’t take huge resources—it will create wealth

Watch out for your people, take care of their body and mind
let your motto be , "no employee left behind!”

Pressure and stress can make people their best
but too much can cause them fatal distress

We need to teach people resilience and focus
this isn’t fluffy stuff it’s not hocus focus

And it’s the high performers who are most at risk
so act fast—do something brisk

 

Lastly a few things if you want to succeed
I think you’ll agree these aren’t wants they are needs

Resilience, focus, respect and trust
without these your efforts will be a bust

 

And don’t believe everything you think
or pretty soon you’ll be on the brink

And you have to crawl before you walk
so get started on something—more do, less talk

 

So now it’s the end I’ll bid you adieu
but before you go there’s one thing I’d like you to do

Stand up and give me a wave to say goodbye
now turn around, look over your shoulder and give it another try

Now please bend down, look through between knees
and wave one more time, please please please

That’s okay it was just a demonstration
that first wave was change, the last transformation

And you must transform HR create and share the wealth
so take your job seriously but never yourself

Journals in the Workplace

I am of Filipino heritage -- an Asian who has lived and worked amongst North Americans for more than 2 decades now.  It is a common perception in the Western world that Asians are meek and mild and I am aware that some people think I am that way, but those who know me well are very much aware that I am not like that.  I speak my mind, I am proud of my achievements and I revel in my successes.

At my workplace a new academic year starts again this week. A new year, a new start.  I have been reading-up on performance evaluations (in conjunction with a project I currently have) and by coincidence, my performance appraisal is also in process.  Due to all of these happening at the same time, I am writing this post to talk to you about how making journaling a major part of the performance management process is important.

For the Employee: Having a well-maintained journal not just of your accomplishments and successes but also of your challenges as they occur, will ensure that you can provide real examples on your self-evaluation.  It will also make you ready during the evaluation meeting with your supervisor. You and your supervisor can compare notes and have a more effective evaluation meeting where you get to see each others' perspectives.  These journal notes can range from thank you emails from clients and colleagues, project completions, career aspirations, training goals, etc. A very good project turn-out will not be fresh in your mind six months from now, so journalize, journalize, journalize. 

For the Supervisor:  It would be perfect if as a supervisor you maintain a journal on each of your reports. These could be take-off points for coaching and mentoring. As a supervisor, you could also use these notes to identify and address a performance issue at an early stage and help the employee before it becomes a success-blocker. 

A good performance evaluation meeting is a meeting of "planning ahead", not a meeting of 'looking back", and these journal notes will be excellent tools for that.

Start journaling.

What NOT to say in the Workplace

I found this LinkedIn article today from Ilya Pozin (Inc and Forbes Columnist and Founder of Open Me and Ciplex) and I couldn't help but share it. It is wise to ensure that you know which phrases "NOT TO USE" at the workplace, if you want to move up the ladder.

 

 

 

You want to be successful. Everyone does. But your actual words might be undermining your chances of success. The things you say in the office, no matter how innocuous they seem to you, might be knocking you down the career ladder and putting the top position you dream about out of reach.

Your career is too important to be tanked by a few negative phrases. Here are the seven things you should strike from your workplace vocabulary if you want to achieve the success you richly deserve:

1. “That’s not in my job description.”

When you accepted your current position, you had a good idea of what the responsibilities and workload of the role would entail. Throughout the months or years since you settled into your job, however, your role has expanded and changed shape. Some of these changes have probably been good, while others have made you wish for simpler times. When a boss or manager piles another responsibility on your already sore shoulders, it might be tempting to pull out this classic gem of work avoidance.

The better option, however, is to schedule a time to talk to your boss about your role. A specific conversation about your place in the organization is a good time to bring up the particulars of your job description, not when you’re asked to get something accomplished. No matter how stressed you are or how valid the complaint, dropping this phrase only makes you look lazy and unmotivated.

2. “It can’t be done.”

Throwing in the towel makes you look like a quitter -- and quitters don’t get promoted. Instead of giving up on a project entirely, frame your response in terms of alternative ways to get the work accomplished. Very little is truly impossible, and most managers and executives want forward-thinking problem solvers to climb the corporate ladder. If you offer solutions instead of giving up, you’ll be seen as a valuable member of the team.

3. “It’s not my fault.”

No one wants to work with a blame shifter. After all, it’s just a matter of time before this person eventually shifts the blame onto you. Take ownership of your mistakes instead of pointing out where others have fallen short. Admitting to a mistake shows character and the ability to learn and grow from problems. Pointing the finger at someone else strongly implies you’ll never truly learn from your errors.

4. “This will just take a minute.”

Unless something will literally take only 60 seconds, don’t overpromise and underdeliver. Saying something will only take “a minute” also has the side effect of undermining your efforts. Most likely the reason the particular task won’t take long is due to the benefit of your professional experience and acumen. By saying it will “just” take a minute, you're shortchanging what you bring to the table.

5. “I don’t need any help.”

The rugged lone wolf type might be the hero of most action movies, but they’re unlikely to become the hero at your company. You might think you can go it alone on a project or in your career, but teamwork is essential. Being able to work with others is the hallmark of a good leader; you’re unlikely to climb your career ladder always flying solo.

6. “It’s not fair.”

Life isn’t fair, and often your career won’t be as well. Instead of complaining, you should look for specific and actionable workarounds to the problems you encounter. Is it unfair a coworker got to run point on the project you wanted? Maybe, but instead of complaining, work harder and go the extra mile. Finding a solution will always be preferable in your professional life to whining about a problem.

7. “This is the way it’s always been done.”

Doing things the way they’ve always been done is no way to run a business. Just ask some of the companies which toed the line, accepted the status quo, and went under. Adapting to an ever-changing marketplace is really the only way to survive in an economy constantly being disrupted by the next big thing.

You don’t have to be a slave to the trends, but you also can’t stick your head in the sand and hope things go back to normal. Instead, come up with creative solutions to new problems and innovate, and you’ll soon be in the driver’s seat taking your organization into the future.

Everyone wants to be successful, so make sure your words aren’t holding you back. These seven phrases are career kryptonite -- by avoiding them, you can fly into your future and become a successful superstar.

What do you think? What phrases do you avoid on the job? Share in the comments!