HR and the recession
People are out hunting again for information on HR and the recession. I’ll briefly recap my thoughts her.
1 Keep positive
The over-riding goal of HR during a recession is to remain positive. I don’t mean vacuous gushy “everything will be alright” talk. We look foolish when we deny the reality of the precariousness of our financial situation and our the hardships being encountered by people around us.
In practice, being positive means this. Get yourself home. Get your staff home. Have plenty of R&R. Begin the survival course of the recession by keeping the HR team in blooming psychological health.
Then work on the managers. Make sure they are in rude psychological health. Get them home. Make sure they are keeping things in perspective.
And lastly work on the employees. Make sure they have plenty of time off and if they are on short-time, try to arrange training and meaningful activities that speak to their innermost dreams and sense of who they will become in the future – good economy or bad.
In short, our job is to “do our blooming in the crack and whip of the whirlwind”. We can’t stop living just because the economy has gone bottoms-up.
2 Get business minded
Cut out the BS, the bullying and the waste of trees. Get the business facts onto the table. Ask what evidence there is that something works or doesn’t work.
Ask what needs to be done now. Right now. When someone is throwing their weight around, ask them for one hour when they can stand up in front of the company and explain their vision of the future with facts and figures.
Keep the discussion focused on what our current customers are buying, what we do well, and what we could do more of quite easily. If someone has a wish-list, ask them to sketch out a project and take charge of it – including persuading people to cooperate.
3 Get negotiation minded
No one is in business to please us. Not our customers. Not our suppliers. Not our employees.
What are they willing to do right now? This minute. What of those choices is good for the business? Get that done right now.
When someone sulks, ask them what they are willing to do right now.
Of course, negotiation is a two way street. What are you willing to do right now. And do it when called for.
Is this HR?
Sure it is. HR isn’t a set of tree-wasting morale-hoovering procedures. It is keeping the team together in a constructive mood.
We can only achieve our mission when we are feeling fresh and rested. We can only do that when we are talking about mutual goals (business). We can only do that when stress belonging – what we are doing together rather than what we are not.
And it begins with us. If our mental health is ragged, we can’t support the managers. They will become ragged and they can’t support their employees. If necessary, retain a positive psychologist to telephone you weekly or even daily. Otherwise just look after yourself. Go home. Eat fresh food. Take exercise. Keep a gratitude diary. You will notice the difference.
Then cut out the time-wasting and focus on business.
Then focus on belonging. Why does this person want to be here? Why do we want them here? Have we made that clear? Are we setting th tone for a positive inclusive enviroment?
HR is a leadership role
A stern tone – yes, I think I am becoming impatient. That won’t do. I must take my own advice. But this why I am so certain of my advice.
This is not a recession folks. Stop dithering, and step up to the plate to deliver the positive, business minded, inclusive leadership that we joined HR to do.
And that applies to me too.
