Ask Me A "Dumb" Question

What is the hardest thing about working in HR? 

Is it the long hours?
Is it the endless conversations about the human condition?
Or is it some of the never-ending battles like health care costs and employee engagement that have you at an impasse?

Or is something simpler?

It's funny how the brain works. I can run circles around HR philosophy and strategy. But when it comes to some minute tactical concept, occasionally the brain will shrink into a catatonic state in the corner.

Fortunately when that occurs, the internet is my substitute brain. With just a few keystrokes and a couple of clicks, I'm back to Mr. Smart HR Guy.

But here's the hard part. What happens when the answers on the internet don't lure my brain out of it's dopamine-deficient state?

I sweat. I sweat because I have to do the thing in HR that is harder than anything else for me. I have to reach out to someone who I know has the answer.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those people who has to be the smartest person in the room. But when it's something simple and I think I should know the answer, I think everyone else thinks I should know the answer. Hence, that fear keeps me spending more time searching for answers when I could just pick up the phone, call a couple of people, and tell them I'm dumb.

So yesterday, I decided instead of spending more time spinning my wheels, I was going to face my fear. I had a simple question about recruiting that I thought I knew the answer, but the answer did not completely set well with me. I picked up the phone, called John Nykolaiszyn and Jennifer McClure and told them I was dumb.

Even though they agreed (I jest), I realized after the calls that that wasn't so bad. I didn't feel any less respected. I had more certainty. Plus I finally put my network of people to work for me and that was a great feeling.

I'm not bold enough yet to share with you what the question was. However, I will say this. It wasn't dumb. It was just that I was in unfamiliar HR-territory, I needed a compass, and I didn't want to ask for directions. It just felt dumb.

This was the hardest thing for me about working in HR. I conquered that yesterday.

If it's a hard thing for you in HR too, call me sometime and ask me a "dumb" question. I have a bunch of extra compasses you can have ... for free.