Priceless Advice

One of the most valuable things in my career has been my access to mentors.  I have informal and formal mentors both within my company and outside of it.  I've realized that the number of times that you'll find yourself in a completely unique situation at work is pretty limited (unless of course you work on a nuclear submarine).  While these are reflective of my time as an HR manager, they're pretty applicable across the board.

Earlier this year I was struggling within my store with employee relations issues and influencing my peers.  I went and sought advice from one of my mentors, who happens to be a top ranking HR Executive and she gave me some valuable advice. 

1. Get Out of the Fray--Sometimes you have to just set the stage and then get out of the way.  You have to decide what you can and cannot ignore day to day, and that's what shapes your value.   

2. Be the Adult--Actually, Kelly's exact words were "SOMEBODY has to be the adult here, you decide".  Be specific about what you need from your peers and your team, and then understand that they have needs as well. There's a quote that says "we become who we spend time with".  If you want to change the culture of the building, make sure you spend time with those who need it. 

3. Spend Time Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason--Of course, my next question was "what's the right reason?".  Her answer was simple, "to help them".  She challenged me to go through my day and not suggest anything that doesn't make their lives better.

4. Know your role as an HR partner--HR is a support role, but I also need to be able to be an effective business partner for my peers.  In many big box retail environments, there is only one HR manager in the building (unless you now work for Home Depot). That being said, we are the only one's who do what we do.  So if I'm not performing, it doesn't get done.  With those words, I felt an immediate sense of responsibility to the Brand.   

5. The only way they'll leave you alone is if you ARE great--This might the most valuable tidbit that I pulled from my chat that day.  It was my first lesson in true credibility, and yet another reminder that my day to day work is what people remember.