Thoughts Without Words

2013 has started like an NHL playoff game: non-stop action, very high stakes and a huge amount of energy being expended. Quite honestly I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have one of the most exciting years ahead of me professionally, but not because I feel like everything is going smoothly and I can sit back and bask in the glow of success. No, that is not the case this year (or any year for that matter.) Although 2012 was very productive, and looking back will be considered a year that my team and I build the foundation to take our HR organization to a whole new level, the coming year represents a new set of challenges.

Looking Outside
2012 was a year that transformed the culture inside our HR organization. Roles changed, people changed, strategies changed, perspectives changed, resources were allocated differently, and we came out with a list of initiatives that represent the future of what effective healthcare human resources work should look like. That was on the inside.

Now we have to step up and take that same mindset and push it outside the safety, comfort and familiarity of HR and spread it to other parts of our company. That is not something that human resources teams typically do (although they talk about it way too much.) So we're gearing up to do something bigger and better, and we need to do much more than just think about it without saying anything.

We need to start inserting ourselves into areas that create discomfort, that challenge leaders, and push ourselves to a whole new level of performance. It's time to put our money where our mouth is.

How About You
Are you stepping up this year? Do you have big plans that you've been thinking about but you haven't articulated to anyone? Why not? It's time to move beyond just thoughts, and put your words into action.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



photo credit

Thoughts Are Mine...No Kidding

"Thoughts are mine."

Ever seen that tag line? I've used it. I've kidded myself that it actually meant something, as if it was some sort of disclaimer that magically separated me from my role when I used social media. Seriously?

Of Course They Are
Consider how odd this phenomenon is...you've set up a social media account, you've populated the profile with a list of your nifty little interests, dropped in a couple of hashtags, and even included your latest pic. Then to top it all off you add the infamous words "thoughts are mine." Really? What does that mean exactly? I used to think that I knew. It meant that I was not speaking on behalf of my employer, I was simply going to use the Internet to blast my views on a variety of topics for all to see...including my organization's employees. Simple. No harm done. It's just me.

It's hard to be a social media rookie.

Of Course You Represent Your Employer
This realization can be viewed as a significant constraint on your personal life. It can cross the line between personal and professional boundaries and severely limit what you can and can not say. It's almost as if....well...

"It's almost as if we're trying to hide something. Why else would there be so much paranoia around a simple tweet or post?"

Leadership Means You're Actually Accountable
Imagine that? Being responsible for what you say and do because you're a leader. Shocking! Now before everyone gets all twisted around on this, I do realize we're all human and are allowed to have our own lives outside of work. I sure as hell do (uh...hockey anyone?) But if any of us believe we are able to live some sort of parallel private life away from all of the responsibility, authority and success we've worked so hard to achieve then we're poorly mistaken.

How About You

Do you have the courage to embrace your role and be mindful when integrating social media into your whole life? Or, are you so worried about a tweet that mentions a great happy hour or a heavy metal song that you're going to stick with posts about accounting principles?

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.



pic courtesy of simplyzesty