Tag: culture

Shed Shopping

This weekend I personally crossed a threshold. I have always enjoyed mowing my yard by walking it using a self-propelled mower. When we first owned our house, I could mow the entire 1/2 acre in about 1 1/2 hours and on one tank of gas. It was invigorating and I looked forward to every cut. Now, Father Time is winning and what was once a task I enjoyed has turned into a chore.

I still love being outside and working in my yard. I hope that desire never wanes. However, mowing has now turned into a several-hour task where I end up spent and exhausted. I have resisted the purchase of a riding lawn mower. I have been defiant and stubborn because I never wanted to admit defeat. The time has come to accept that I need an alternative so that mowing never becomes a health issue.

To get this elusive piece of equipment to assist me in my yardwork calls for a new addition – a shed. We don’t have enough room in our garage for a riding lawn mower with our cars. I know I could park outside, but we have enough room to add this new structure. (Please note that I know we’re fortunate to have the home and property we have and don’t take it for granted.)

To find a location that sells sheds, I searched online and found a location that was a mere five miles from my house. That seemed ideal and too good to be true. My wife and I jumped into the car and trekked over to hopefully find what we were looking for. When we pulled up to the drive, we were a bit concerned. There were examples of sheds lined up along the right side of the drive, but we didn’t see anyone we could talk to. We saw one of the buildings that had a small clock sign on it with hands saying people would be back at 10:00 am. It was 10:30 am. We didn’t feel confident about this location or experience. It was disappointing, but we weren’t defeated.

We looked for other places throughout the city we could venture to. One site looked promising but it was quite a drive to get there. Undeterred, we headed out. As we pulled into the location at Miller Barns, we felt more at ease and thought we’d potentially find a shed. The buildings were more spread out and there was a main office right as you entered the property. We were able to meander in and out of as many buildings as we liked. We checked out sheds of every style and size. Inside each one was pricing information and dimensions.

After almost an hour, we went into the office and were greeted by two young, eager, and engaged men. They started with, “Hi there !! What brings you in?”

“We’d like to buy a shed,” I replied. “Well, then I think you came to the best place for that,” said the lead manager. I know this sounds cliche but it wasn’t. The two staff were full of passion and couldn’t wait to answer every question we posed. They asked what our time frame was and tried to gauge our interest. They were fairly sure we weren’t going to make an impulse buy, but they wanted to do their best to get us closer to making a purchase.

We thanked them for their time and reassured them we’d be back to get a shed after we did some measuring back home. To try to ply us one last time they offered us some delectable donuts on the way out. (We passed . . . this time.) The experience with the team who loved their job made our decision easy. We’ll definitely be back to get the new house for the impending riding lawn mower.

Do you see what a difference it makes when you encounter people who love their job? The first place we visited was run down, sketchy, and virtually abandoned. The second place was warm, welcoming, informed, and prepared to provide a great customer encounter. What is it like where you work? How about you personally?

You see, I think we focus so much on what’s wrong at work. Or, we complain about how others aren’t as good producers as they should be. The two gentlemen did none of that. It’s going to end up in a sale. What if we took on their approach and loved what we did instead? What would our companies look like if we expected this from others as well?

I know it makes a difference by loving the work I do. I believe that if you can see this shed shopping, you can make it come to life everywhere !!

Develop a Concert Culture !!

This past week I checked off an item on my bucket list by seeing the Foo Fighters live in concert. I went with Todd, one of my best friends, who is a huge fan. We ventured to downtown Cincinnati to the Great American Ballpark. The venue is used to being packed to the brim with fans for the hometown Cincinnati Reds, but this night it was converted into a rock venue for some 40,000 people.

Both Todd and I dig live music and we planned to get there early to take in every moment of every band. The night was going to be a mix of sounds and styles for sure. The opening band was Mammoth. They’re fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of rock guitar legend, Eddie Van Halen !! The second band was also on my bucket list and I never thought I’d get to see them. Ohio’s own Pretenders !! The Foos were the headliners and made for a phenomenal bookend to a night full of tunes.

I could write volumes on how the entire night was full of emotion. As the sonic output of every band emanated from the towers of speakers, I experienced levels of joy, surprise, and familiarity. There was a mix of laughter, screaming, singing, and even a few tears. You need to know I’m a massive music freak so I was definitely in my element.

After we took in the 5 1/2 hours of music (which was epic !!), I had a chance to contemplate what I saw and how it could reflect the workplace. We spend so much time trying to find the perfect solution for a culture that will enable employee engagement. There are methods, programs, initiatives, mottos, activities meant to bring “fun” alive, and surveys to measure all of our efforts. It’s exhausting and produces lackluster results. I think we could learn from the Foo Fighters in how to build an engaged culture.

First of all, you need to have a venue that is open to one and all. You can either stand next to the stage or sit miles away in the atmosphere. You’re not confined by anything and can wander around to get your needs met with food and drink. You can even get merch to mark the event and have it serve as a memory reminder of what you experienced.

Secondly, you need to make sure you represent every generation in the workplace. The opening band, Mammoth, is just starting their career and featured young musicians trying to make their mark. The Pretenders lead singer, the legendary Chrissy Hynde is a spry 72 years young. She was performing before many of the concertgoers were even alive. The Foos are experienced and have members who have been with them for a few years along with the founder, Dave Grohl, who has only 3o years of experience with this band. (BTW – He was the drummer of the Grunge legends – Nirvana – as well.)

Finally, you need to have a leader who exhibits passion and vision. If you’ve never seen the Foos in concert, then you need to look at some live coverage on YouTube. Grohl is a true ringleader. He bursts onto the stage and immediately yells to the crowd to invite them in for the night. He exhibits fierce artistry and talent while his long hair becomes matted to his face and covered with sweat as he rips through song after song. He stops at intervals to make sure the crowd is engaged and with him. He doesn’t want one single person to detach and not pay attention.

Midway through the concert, he stops to individually recognize each of his band members. He heaps glorious praise on them publically and then allows them a few moments for them to play their instruments on their own. Their talent is evident and shines. He also acknowledges how each of them makes up the whole. He values each of them as musicians singularly, but reminds them that together they make up the band that is now in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame !!

All of the components of a great company culture are there in one neat package. If you:

Provide an environment that meets your employees’ needs which is welcoming, safe, and allows them to move and find their space, and,

You make sure that everyone is included regardless of age, skill level, background, or level of experience, and,

You have someone who provides vision, expects you to be involved, is visibly passionate, and guides you with direction, then . . .

You have a concert culture !!

Just think what work would be like if we took this example and incorporated these facets where we work. You wouldn’t have to ever measure employee engagement because you’d see it lived out in front of you every day. So, this week figure out how you can take the stage, look out into the crowd, and when you hit the first note a new culture of engagement is born !!

To get you inspired, here is my favorite Foo Fighters tune – These Days.

Tell Me a Story

A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to meet many people who wanted me to do one thing . . . listen to them.

You see, I was wandering the massive conference hall at McCormick Place as part of the SHRM Annual Conference. Something truly unique has been happening the past few years when I attend. My friends have learned to be very patient when walking alongside me while I wander. Why is that? As I go from place to place, I will often be stopped by a fellow attendee who wants to meet, introduce themselves, and take a few moments to chat. Whenever this occurs, my friends inevitably either have to pause or keep going to the area we were all heading. I usually tell them that I’ll text and catch up when I can.

I don’t take one moment of this for granted or think that I deserve this level of attention. There isn’t a good enough word to describe how humbling it is that someone wants to meet you intentionally. I’ve had a few people who have told me they’ve waited for years to do so because they were just unsure if they should take the chance to stop me. That is hard for me to come to terms with because I never want to be in a position where I’m perceived as unapproachable.

Once I’m stopped, the real joy of the encounter starts to take place. After we share names and I ask them where they’re from I stop talking. I want to listen to whatever they’d like to tell me. Sometimes people want to let me know what they enjoyed from a session. Other times people want to share they were encouraged so they could continue to bring a human-centric approach to HR. Every conversation is filled with emotion. It may range from joy and laughter to tears and hugs. You never know what is going to be shared, and I’m completely cool with that.

Why? People want to share their story.

For anyone to have the courage to approach someone they know very little and share something that is personally important to them is amazing. I have found that it is also a felt need that typically isn’t being filled. I don’t know if this is true from their personal life, but I can almost guarantee it’s happening because of their professional life.

We have become a society filled with little tolerance for giving our time to others without an agenda. We value production and closure far more than we do having a conversation. We feel that most people are in the way, an annoyance or they’re sure to ask us something that will have a negative consequence. This is true with our peers, leaders, and employees at work. I can’t tell you how many times people feel bothered when others attempt to get someone’s attention to talk with them.

You’ll see people look over someone’s shoulder or they’ll glance at a screen because their mind and attention are already seven steps ahead. When I hear people complain about the amount of broken communication at their company, I am sure it’s because we feel that other people are not worth our time.

That’s why if anyone ever wants my attention, I stop and give it to them. My day is as full as theirs, and I have work I could get to or a place I could visit. But, if I rush to what I tell myself is more important, I miss their story. I can’t do that. I want to hear what they want to share.

Giving someone a few moments of my day is far more valuable than any task that is burning to be done. Having an unhurried conversation with someone who has sought me out on purpose deserves whatever time they need. And, more than anything, I get to learn about the wonderful, creative, talented person across from me. You never know who you’ll meet and how the interaction you have will brighten their day.

Everyone has a story. From now on take time to stop, listen and learn.

Be Still

Whenever I get the opportunity to speak in front of a room of HR and business professionals, I need to do something to capture their attention. That’s because if given the chance, they’ll be staring at one screen or another. It may be their laptop or their phone. It doesn’t really matter. The pull and allure of each device are so strong that we’ve all become mentally and emotionally attached to them. Sound harsh? It should because it’s what has happened to every person (including me.)

The voices in our heads tell us that we must stay eternally connected because if we don’t, we’re sure to miss something. I’m not being critical just observational. We don’t break away – and honestly don’t want to. When canvassing the presentation attendees each person is burdened because of the busyness they find themselves in. It’s all-encompassing and it seems like there is no exit. Instead of finding a needed respite, we take on more and more tasks and commitments adding to the crushing weight we already carry.

Whenever we do try to step back and rest, we feel guilty and tell ourselves that if we don’t jump back in quickly then “things” won’t get done. We’re not entirely clear what those “things” are, but we are confident they will remain undone. We don’t really know if that’s true or not because we’re not patient enough to find out. It’s a vicious cycle.

Lately, I’ve been more reflective and intentional to not fall into this trap any longer. It’s not that I want to avoid getting things done. Far from it. However, feeling compelled to be on the go constantly isn’t healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically. I heard a person recently state that people find that “low-grade exhaustion is the new normal.” That’s encouraging, isn’t it ?? I have a feeling that you can relate to this even while you’re reading this.

What can we do? How can we make time for ourselves to rest and disconnect? What will happen to the myriad of tasks, deadlines, and mountains of work and activity if we dare break our pattern? It’s a two-word answer.

Be Still.

It’s not more complicated than that, but the discipline and faith to make this a reality takes true effort. Whenever you try to move in this direction, the pull to stay entrapped is great. However, once you do accomplish this breakthrough, the benefits are immense. I don’t want to be prescriptive or suggest a step-by-step model that surely will work for each of you. I think this approach is ineffective.

Being still is a cognizant step to breaking your current life pattern with the assurance it will work. You’ll have to trust me that it does. I now take time to be still regularly. I don’t try to fill this space with something else. I just simply take a break to calm myself, focus on the environment and people around me, and relax. Stopping the maddening pace of life gives me peace. I find that having this practice built into my days has actually rejuvenated me.

Now, I have more energy, joy, and time (yes, time) because I refuse to keep running at a breakneck pace. Being still has also cleared my thoughts enough that when the next challenge or conflict is at my doorstep, I’m in a better mental space to address it.

This week break away. This week don’t keep fighting to stay afloat. This week refuse to keep running. This week . . . Be Still.

A Fresh Coat

My wife and I have been fortunate to have lived in the same house since 1991. When we bought it we had been married for just over two years. We stretched quite a bit. It wasn’t a “starter” house but we found the right place at the right time. The family who was selling the house was being transferred to Mexico for work and they had four young kids. The husband was reluctant to sell it to us because we offered less than they were asking but it was as far as we felt we could go and still make house payments . . . and eat.

The wife was awesome !! She told her husband, “We have five days to move to another country with four children and they are the next young couple to get this house. They were like us. Sell it to them.” He did and now 33 years later we’re still here and we’ve grown into the house for sure. We raised our two kids into adults and we’re back to being the couple who owns the house – just a bit older.

As with any house, you always have chances to do projects, updates, remodels and/or repairs. Debbie asked me to paint our garage a little over two years ago and I dragged my feet as long as I could. I knew it would be a massive undertaking because garages are one of the most used areas in a house. We’ve always parked in the garage with our two cars and it houses too many tools and sundry items.

We started clearing out everything and put things out on the driveway. We, of course, found things that had been “lost,” and we also took the opportunity to get rid of items that had not been used for years. Next, came washing 33 years of grime and dirt off the once-white walls. The walls still looked whitish after all of this time. However, the simple action of washing the surfaces with hot water and a rag began the needed transformation. Once the walls were washed, I asked Debbie to help me lay out drop cloths to cover the concrete and asked her to leave me to it.

That isn’t meant to be harsh or dismissive. We know that I do better painting walls and ceilings while she rocks out with more delicate paintings like trim and doors. I turned on my Bluetooth lava lamp (yes, lava lamp) and opened the 5-gallon bucket of glistening white paint. The first coat took hours and hours and hours and hours. I was painting for almost six hours and I was covered from head to toe with splatters. I had hit my limit and even broke down crying because I was so sore. I was overwhelmed and knew the project wasn’t even half complete. My wife was so supportive even though I had lost my cool and snapped at her. (She’s awesome BTW !!)

After getting a late dinner, I apologized and she encouraged me to finish the garage the next day. The second coat went on much more quickly and smoothly. It only took about four hours to finish. The garage looked amazing, and new and it looked like life was breathed back into it. We reorganized the garage’s contents and we had more room than we ever imagined. All it took was attention and a fresh coat of paint.

It sounds like work, doesn’t it? How many places, departments, policies, procedures, etc. are cluttered, old, worn out, and outdated? We could easily take the steps to make them all current and relevant, but we delay and delay because we convince ourselves they still are somewhat effective. We can live with that.

But, should we? The answer is a resounding NO !! We all have the same opportunity I did with painting the garage. Yes, it was hard work that almost broke me, but it was worth it. The garage is still functioning as a garage. It hasn’t changed dramatically. It finally did get my focus and effort. The hours that were at times taxing were worthwhile as an investment. In fact, we probably won’t have to redo it for another thirty years if we are mindful of its appearance.

There is so much wasted space, systems, and time in our roles and throughout our companies. This week, take a deep breath, get some paint, and give everything a fresh coat.

Just 3 Chords !!

A few weeks ago I was fortunate to attend the Louisiana SHRM State Conference. I relish it when I can spend time with HR peers. It fills my bucket. I also gave two presentations and got to see the good work of other presenters. Conferences are a great time to connect, network, learn, and have fun. We spent so much time laughing while getting to know each other better.

After the conference came to a close, my dear friend Rebecca secured tickets for a real treat. A handful of us who were staying after the conference decided to go see two legendary bands – ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynrd !! I was so geeked because I have been a fan of both bands throughout their long and illustrious careers. The night started by grabbing some incredible Mexican food and decompressing from the successful conference. We gobbled down our food and drinks because Rebecca and I wanted to make sure to catch every moment of the show.

When we made our way to our seats a third band on the bill, Black Stone Cherry, ripped the roof off. This was completely unexpected. I had never heard of them. They destroyed their set and were a mix of southern rock, heavy metal, and a bit of country. ZZ Top quietly took the stage as they sauntered out. Billy Gibbons strummed his first note and they were off !! (I’ll come back to this Texas trio in a sec.) Skynrd was so talented. They played a series of hits and elevated the room as we sang along ending the night with Freebird. The whole night was epic !!

The surprise of the night for me though was ZZ Top. Three musicians made enough noise to literally shake your chest with their sonic mastery. It was astonishing. All of the band members are now in their 70s which is ridiculous. They spoke little but did share the quip – “We’re just three guys with the same three chords.” So simple yet so powerful. They played a mix of their hits along with some deep, deep cuts and I was in heaven. I sang, screamed, and cheered throughout their entire set.

There is magic in threes. This is true for these rock legends just as it is for us professionally. We often talk about the need for mentors in the workplace. I agree. Being a mentor is a great privilege. Helping others learn the ropes so they can succeed in the company has limitless value. There is a watch out for this though because one should not just be a mentor. No one should feel they are so talented that their sole purpose is to have people sit at their feet just to listen to their wisdom.

People who are successful mentors have mentors themselves. That approach puts them in a trio. You shouldn’t mentor others unless you have a mentor. You need the 3 chords in order to make mentoring work effectively. We gather experience over time and there is strength in sharing what we’ve gone through. At the same time, we should never stop learning. Never. There is always something new to learn or glean from others who are your mentors.

This week follow the ZZ Top model for mentoring. They’ve been together playing their unique style for over 50 years. Three guys playing three chords works. It always will !!

To keep the vibe going as you read this, enjoy this deep cut they played live.

Totality

I don’t know if you’ve heard or not, but the solar eclipse is on Monday, 4/8/24. People around us are geeked !! At my workplace, we’re almost in the path of totality. My hometown is in the path of totality, and there are events planned all day for the 4+ minutes of darkness.

One of my team did a great job setting up a display at the corporate office of Sun Chips, Oreos (like the moon covering the sun), Mini Moon Pies, and Eclipse glasses for people to wear on Monday. I went off book because I wanted to get a pair of tie-dye glasses to wear and commemorate this celestial event.

I think there are lessons we can learn from the eclipse. I’m not talking about “embracing the energy” or that some unexpected spiritual occurrence will take place. The things I’m talking about are around work.

First, it’s quite refreshing to see people rally around a common event !! When people do this, have you noticed that grousing and complaining disappear? Instead, people exude joy, curiosity, and collaboration. It seems natural and people show little resistance.

What if that was the norm in our company culture? How could we take the steps needed where people rallied around the work they did and the people they worked with? What would our days look like if we didn’t focus on weaknesses and what isn’t being “done”? We could foster and develop an environment where people looked forward to getting together. They valued the different perspectives and approaches of their peers. Is it possible ??

The answer is YES !! What’s missing is no one acts as a conductor to bring this to life. This is an incredible opportunity for forward-thinking HR pros to be those conductors. This type of constructive and inviting culture should become our norm and not be as rare as the appearance of a solar eclipse.

What do you say? Are you willing to shift what you do to move your culture in this positive direction? I think we ALL should do our best to make this happen.

Secondly, the moment everyone is anticipating is when the moon completely covers the sun. It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands are flocking to try and be in the path of totality. We want to see it first hand. We want to see the sun blocked out from the sky even for a few moments.

We could also provide moments of coverage for others at work. As HR pros, we need to be present, available, and attentive to all of our employees. ALL of them. Instead of letting people get hung out to be criticized or ridiculed, we should provide cover. This rarely happens and instead, we end up picking up the pieces of interactions that went awry. Aren’t you tired of being called on only as an afterthought? When the majority of your HR job is reactionary in nature, you get burned out.

We can see lessons in the world around us that can be applied in the work we do. In fact, those learnings are often far more effective than trying to glean items from webinars, conferences and textbooks. Tomorrow, don your eclipse glasses and look up to enjoy this celestial marvel. Then take the steps to provide cover for your people and improve your culture going forward. Enjoy the eclipse !!

It’s That Time Again . . .

The sun is out and shining magnificently. Blue skies are dotted with wispy clouds moving quickly because it’s so windy. I check my Weather App and the temperature is a chilly 41 degrees (5 degrees Celsius for the global reader). I am wearing three layers – a tie-dye shirt (of course), a hooded sweatshirt, and a windbreaker in the hope of keeping warm. I slip on my yard crocs, get some gloves, and finish my prep by rolling out the yard machine just aching to fulfill its purpose.

I add gas to the tank, check the oil, and make sure the deck is set at the correct height. Before I pull the tow rope to start the mower, I make sure to have my Raycon earbuds securely in place and my Apple watch set on Outdoor Walk for exercise. I choose an episode of a Dateline podcast, hit start on the show, tap my watch, and pull the cord. The mower jumps to life waiting to tackle the vast sea of green ahead.

It’s that time again . . . the season of lawn mowing has begun !!

Our lawn is a feature of our home that I enjoy. Yes, it takes constant work and attention, but I love being outside working on it. I’m still a bit old-fashioned because I have a self-propelled push mower. Now that I’ve passed over into my sixth decade on this planet, I don’t have the same level of energy I did when I made the first cut in 1991. I used to be able to cut the whole yard in 1 and 1/2 hours without a break. In fact, I’d mow the yard and then spend several more hours with landscaping tasks beckoning me.

When I mow now, I take two to three breaks and stretch things out. I still enjoy it and don’t mind slowing down a bit. Being outside gives me a chance to break from the pace of life and enjoy the sites and sounds of nature. It is refreshing and rejuvenating.

As I walk back and forth row after row, I have a chance to let my mind wander and consider how this weekly chore relates to work and HR. You may find that odd, but I think you can tie all we do in life back to the work we get the opportunity to do. Lawn mowing is a lot like how work should be.

First of all, the grass looks better after you make a fresh cut. Ignoring the grass just means that it will grow wildly and look unkempt. If we look at trimming the things that employees don’t need or aren’t necessary, it would give them a chance to grow. The key is getting their work and relationships in shape so they can then stretch and grow through their performance.

Secondly, lawns deserve and need our attention. This is true of our people as well. Employees deserve our attention. They don’t have to report to work or do a good job. They choose to and we lose sight of that. Instead of being grateful for people showing up to perform, we focus on those who drain our souls. It’s not what we should do. The entire lawn gets mowed and EVERY one of your employees should get your time, focus, and attention.

Finally, taking care of your lawn gives you contentment and a feeling of accomplishment. The same can be said of our employees. It is okay to care for others !! Honestly, if you’re not someone who cares, you shouldn’t be in a role responsible for people. I’m not kidding. The workplace is more rich and meaningful when it is filled with people who are passionate and care for each other.

The mowing season here starts in March and goes until November. That’s a long time, but it’s worth every pass of the mower. The lawn responds and flourishes. If you do the things noted, your employees will too !!

I Just Need a Stick !!

Life is complicated. We don’t want it to be but it is. If we had our way, we’d eliminate all of the challenges and obstacles we could. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

One of the areas of our lives that compounds this feeling of endless complications is work. Ironically, the place where we spend the most time during our waking hours is layered, convoluted, and nearly impossible to navigate. An additional impediment is people. Seriously. We are all carrying our own bundle of complexity. If you do the math and try to calculate just how intertwined work is, you’d need to use the following formula.

Take the number of people working in a department + the number of responsibilities they have + the distractions we all experience that keep us from our jobs + the infinite number of interruptions and unknowns and finally add the factor of everyone having different priorities. That comes out to one “normal” day.

It’s no wonder people feel frustrated and stuck. Honestly, it’s also fairly astonishing we get anything done. Thankfully, people have learned how to find a path that works most of the time and we’re good with that. In the midst of all of the activity occurring around us and the activity we’re trying to do, work happens (sort of). There’s another factor that aggravates this situation and all of the great people doing their best to perform. Instead of simplifying the work we have on our plate, we offer solutions which only add and add and add and . . .

I was having lunch this past week with a co-worker and we were talking about how we have people who are sinking in quicksand. Every time they try to address one situation it seems like ten more pop out of nowhere. It’s exponential and never-ending. We started our conversation like many that have happened before when we tried to assess what was happening when my co-worker just stopped. He paused, took a deep breath, and said the most astute thing I’ve heard in ages. “Steve, they just need a stick. They’re sinking and we keep coming up with multiple approaches and potential solutions when all they want is a stick to get them out of the quicksand.”

I sat there stunned. He was on point. It’s astonishing that the simple answers always seem to elude us. We’re as caught up in the many hairballs of work as anyone else. We should come up with the simple option, but we forget that simple is hard. So, here’s a way to offer a stick to our good folks who truly want to do good work.

S – Simplify. We don’t have to continually keep layering work. It takes more discipline to simplify work, but it is worth the time and effort. Strip away steps which pull people further into the weeds.

T – Talk to folks. You need to talk to your people about how they feel and where they feel stuck. Without assessing what they think they’re facing, you’re just going to come up with an approach that will be another burden to handle.

I – Intentionality. We often skirt around the edges of situations instead of being respectfully direct. We fool ourselves into thinking that people will arrive at conclusions if we just hint at what should be done. It has never worked. Be intentional to reach your people.

C- Change. At some point we need to get out of the cul-de-sac of coming up with the next best thing because someone will say, “Well, what if . . .” Change is a constant. Figure out when you’re close enough and then step into the change needed.

K – Keep at it. Work is a continuum and as soon as you get someone unstuck, there is sure to be someone else who has found their pit of quicksand. This is somewhat daunting, but being diligent and agile works against the trap of being stagnant.

This week take a look around and see who’s sinking. When you find them, fight the urge to create the next best system and procedure. Pause. Breathe. Then offer them a stick !!

Check on Your Icicles !!

I have lived in Ohio for the majority of my life. I love that in this part of the Midwest, I get to experience all four seasons of the year. Each season has its pluses and minuses. I have to admit that I do love a good snow !! This past Friday afternoon a legit snowstorm took over for several hours. It was part of my commute home and I was able to get back and enjoy the flakes floating down from the sky. When it was over, we had 3 inches covering everything in a smooth white blanket.

I am one of the odd people who regularly yearns for more snow. I think it paints a beautiful landscape of Winter. I knew the picturesque scenery would be short-lived because Spring is doing its best to arrive and start the second season of the year. As the snow began its inevitable melt, the conditions were just right for icicles to form. I LOVE icicles !! They are a wonderful creation but they don’t always appear after every snow. So, when they occur I make sure to cherish them.

Icicles are fascinating because they form while melting. They cling precipitously off the edge of something or other. There is no rhyme or reason to how long or short they’ll be. Also, some just seem to build and build until they become a massively thick structure reaching down as far as they possibly can. As rarely as icicles form in our area during the winter, their time is limited as well. As the outside temperature rises, the icicle begins the end of its “life” by slowly dripping from its tip. You hope for it to melt completely, but more often than not, the icicle detaches from its edge and it rapidly freefalls to shatter on the ground below. As I’m writing this blog, there is a barrage of icicles falling and smashing on the back patio.

It’s a shame that they don’t stay around longer than they do. I understand that everything has its time and life cycle. However, they are so magnificent and make such a visual impact that it’s brighter when they’re around.

As I take a look at these dangling masterpieces, it makes me think of people. You’ll hear the term “well-being” being used more regularly these days in the workplace. Unfortunately, it took a global pandemic for organizations to realize the well-being of our people has ALWAYS been something that deserved our focus and attention. Now, hang with me here (pun intended). I think many of our employees act just like icicles on a daily basis.

You don’t see them before they appear magically from the crowd. It’s just like icicles that emerge from the “crowd” of a fresh snowfall. Once they show up and are visible, you see them as the talented and unique people they’ve always been. What you don’t notice is they may be hanging on a ledge and you don’t even realize they are. On the outside, they glisten and are on display while also melting on the inside at the same time.

Most likely, our great people will detach and fall as well before they reach out. That shouldn’t happen. We should be in a position to not only enjoy them for all they bring to the company, but we should make sure they’re more anchored all the time so they don’t fall. Making sure we are intentional in knowing our people all. the. time. needs to be our baseline as HR pros. They should never be oversights that get in the way of our work.

People are looking for someone who will be there for them all the time and not just in times of crisis. Taking note of a person’s well-being is a full-time endeavor. The more we embrace this, the healthier people will be. Let’s turn the tide and take care of our icicles. Value them every day and give them the awe and attention they deserve. Then you’re sure to have them with you year-round.