One Great Thing You Need To Know About Being A Manager

Here it is.
Are you ready for it?
Are you sure?
OK. Here it goes...

Fish don't know they're in water.

Come again?

OK. Think about it. Fish are surrounded by water all day, every day. They don't think about the sun shining, or the wind, or the thunderstorm. They are so accustomed to they're surroundings, they don't think about what else is going on around them in the world.

If I've lost you at this point, think about this joke I heard: One fish says to the other fish, "How's the water?" The other fish replies, "What's water?"

People are similar, but slightly different. We're different from fish in that we're accustomed to different surroundings. We know when the sun is shining, or if we're in a subway, or if we're in Canada. We also believe through sight other people are experiencing the same surroundings.

What we don't know is how others are experiencing the surroundings. Do others feel the same amount of heat from the sun, or smell the same yuck in the subway, or care that they've crossed the border into another country? There is no way of knowing completely.

Hence, we assume and guess. We sometimes ask and believe the response is either true or false. Sometimes the person doesn't know or chooses not to share. Thus, when we ask the question, "How's the water?" you may get the answer, "What's water?" However, you may hear instead, "What water?"

As people, we are surrounded by our personal water all day. It's easy to assume everyone else is having a similar experience or that they are in similar water. People spend their days immersed in their own lives, so much so sometimes it's difficult for them to see what's going on around them.

To be an effective manager, it's important to remember sometimes people are like fish. They don't always know what's going on in their environments. They don't always know there's something different about their surroundings. They also sometimes don't care to know.

As a manager, sometimes you're a fish too. It would only go to show since managers are people too. However, there is a greater expectation managers will recognize this and learn to step outside themselves. A good manager does. A good manager sees the whole picture. A good manager can see the ocean for the fish. A good manager knows the fish don't always recognize the ocean. A good manager knows that it's also not always necessary for the fish to know where they are.

That's why there are leaders.

Office of Human Convergence

As many of you know, and what was reported earlier, I accepted a new leadership role in my organization. What was not noted is with the promotion, came the ability to move into a nice office space. It's a corner office with huge windows, one facing East with a view of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the other facing South with a view of Independence Hall. Yet, as sweet as it is to sit at my L-shaped desk which is up against each window, it is not my favorite spot in my office.

The office itself is not huge. Yet it is big enough for my desk and for a separate meeting space away from the desk. This meeting space is my favorite spot.

I love that when employees come in to chat about whatever, whenever, or for how ever long, I have a space for them to do so. I love it when they say my space is "welcoming", "relaxing", "more open", and "less like coming to visit the school principal". I love that I feel like I'm doing my best work in that space, away from the papers on my desk, the phone and computer.

To keep this good energy flowing in my office, I maintain a few rules for myself in respect to my office and its meeting space:

• The door to my office is rarely closed if I'm by myself.
• If someone needs to speak confidentially, I only close the door if necessary. (My office is housed inside another office, and I can see the other office door if I'm sitting in the meeting space. This allows for keeping the space more open.)
• I never sit at my desk chair. I always get up and sit with my guests in the meeting space.
• I do not keep a clock in sight and I don't wear a watch. (I only need a general sense of what time it is.)
• I do not answer the phone or respond to the email alert sound while sitting in the meeting space.

The other rule I have is to be open to spontaneous visitors. I prefer appointments to be made. However, I understand that's always suited toward everyone's personality or style. Plus, I don't think the Human Resources department is about me. It's about everyone and everyone's time can not always match mine. Thus to be open to the type of convergence I'm seeking from my meeting space, I need to be open myself.

I also thought that my meeting space needed a symbol, a sign or subliminal message to signify the prevailing attitude. Outside my office it says "Human Resources" but inside I want it to say Office of Human Convergence. Hence, I placed Jackson Pollock's famous work, "Convergence", on the wall in the space. It's perfect. It's colorful. It's precise in places, smudged in others. It's striking in places, blank in others. There's something new to see in it every time. It looks like a big mess, but it works. Everything about it reminds me of the workplace.

So perhaps you're lucky enough to have a space like this where you work. If you don't, consider carving out a space as far away from your desk as possible, keep it as open as possible, and hang a small print of "Convergence" somewhere. You don't need a lot of space to do your best work. You just need a space where employees feel more welcome, relaxed, and more open. You just need a space to converge.

Can A Conference Change Your Life? (Archive Repost)

This post was originally published on September 19, 2010. I still think it's an interesting testimony to how much I value the HR Tech Conference. This year is my third year in row attending and I'm proud to be invited back as a blogger to this year's conference. As a benefit to readers of WTTO, you can still receive $500 off the conference fee. Go to the website: http://www.hrtechnologyconference.com/ to register and enter the discount code PASMUZ11 by September 19, 2011. 

Enjoy...

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There are events that occur in everyone’s life that change how you think about your world. The frequent ones are birth and death of family members, moving your home, and working with a new employer. In my life, I can attest to having some of these events: the birth of my nephew, moving from the state of Washington to Indiana, meeting my current partner to name just a few. But these all fall under the category of obvious.

The less obvious events are to me the more interesting ones.  These events delve into the minutiae of our lives, affect us in different ways, and shape us as individuals. Buying my purple Cannondale bicycle, reading The Fountainhead, taking Critical Writing in college are all events that changed the way I viewed the world and how I acted in it. These events aren’t just affecting for weeks or for a few months.  These events resonate years later.

I attended the HR Technology Conference a year ago (2009), this month, and I can say with the utmost confidence that you can add last year’s event to my list of life-changing events. When I attended, I was not seeking a life-changing event. I was researching HRIS. However, the exposure to real-time use of social media, hearing some of the smartest and influential people in the HR industry (Naomi Bloom, Libby Sartain, Gerry Crispin, etc. etc.) and viewing first hand the technology that is shaping the HR industry, created a surge in me. I wanted to be part of this. I had been sitting on the sidelines for a long time, going to my HR jobs, and being part of the norm. No more, I decided. I wanted to be part of the dialogue. I wanted to interact with a large number of HR professionals and get an opportunity to meet some of HR’s thought leaders. I wanted to stop being a silent face in the crowd.

When in Chicago at last year’s conference, I started using Twitter and began following names out of the HR Tech brochure. Some followed me back. I began following other HR professionals. Some followed me back. I began reading more HR blogs than ever before. I started leaving more comments on blogs than ever before. In November, this blog came to be. I started my own dialogues. People listened and spoke back. Some were our HR thought leaders. Most were smart, conscientious, and excited about the HR industry. It took only a couple of months, but I was no longer a silent face in the crowd.

Because I took the leap and began writing my thoughts, it has opened some interesting doors for me.  Substitute co-facilitating at HRevolution 2010, being asked to contribute to XpertHR.com and be a guest on HR Happy Hour have been some highlights. Being invited to national conferences as a blogger is another. Most importantly, I have met personally some of the smartest people in the HR industry. I am no longer sitting on the sidelines and the impetus was one single conference.

There is no guarantee that attending this year’s HR Technology conference, or any conference for that matter, is going to change your life. However, life is funny that way. I am still riding the purple bike that I bought fifteen years ago. I ride often and I cannot imagine my life without it. When I registered for last year’s conference, I had no idea it was the beginning of a new journey. Today I cannot imagine how my life would be if I had not.

How A Fun Workplace Benefit Employers

I was pleased when Erin Palmer who works with HR via University Alliance/Villanova University's Online certification programs asked to do a guest post. When she suggested a post about having fun in the workplace, I couldn't resist. What follows is some good advice...

Have you ever noticed how laughter can help de-stress a serious situation?  Any worries or tension magically dissolve and we begin to relax and refocus our energies in a healthier manner.  Our work becomes more manageable and enjoyable.  When you go out to a restaurant, don’t you notice the atmosphere and the service as much as the food?  If you don’t enjoy the whole experience, you probably won’t go back to that establishment. In our personal lives, we expect the entire experience to be pleasurable, not just isolated parts. The same should go for the workplace.

Obviously, the office is not the same as a night on the town. However, since you spend so much of your life at work, why not enjoy it?  Happy employees who enjoy their jobs and their co-workers will always be more productive than their sour counterparts who see work as simply a way to pay the bills. If your workplace needs a jump start on fun, try the following ideas:

• Get creative with your projects. Most of us agree that repetitive tasks can be tedious, so approach these in a new way.  Play around with different methods of completing this type of work. Approach the task in new ways.  This type of experimenting may actually improve your techniques since you are forcing yourself to stretch past your normal thought processes.
• Knowing exactly what each day will bring creates that awful feeling of being in a rut.  Try something new whenever the opportunity arises, even (especially!) if takes you outside your comfort zone.  Be on the lookout for chances to work on different projects or special assignments so you never feel like you are stuck in your job.
• Use a reward system.  It’s common knowledge that being recognized for our successes, no matter how small, leads to higher job satisfaction.  Whenever you accomplish something at work, find a way to reward yourself that will keep you motivated during the day.  When your team has a big project, make sure to plan a celebration when it’s completed.  The many hours spent on the project will be much more pleasant if everyone has something fun to look forward to when it’s over.
• Use the power of laughter to make your office a more pleasant place to work.  The objective is to get the job done well, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to be miserable and serious!  Take the time to talk and laugh with your co-workers, making sure to keep the humor appropriate, of course.  Laughter has been proven to be one of the best stress relievers available.
• Build fun into the work day.  Even on a tight budget, companies can come up with creative ways to add fun to the office.  Something as simple as a monthly potluck can bring people together and build lasting professional relationships.   Another idea is to leave the office for lunch as much as possible.  The physical separation from your desk provides a necessary change of scenery, clears your head and re-energizes you for the second half of the work day.

Happiness and laughter can help your entire company be more productive and satisfied with the work at hand.  Satisfied employees are much less likely to be late to work or call in with unnecessary absences.  When workers take pleasure in their duties and their colleagues, they are more apt to commit to the company and remain loyal for many years.  Happy employees usually make for happy customers and clients, and this almost always leads to a more successful and healthy company!

This guest post was provided by University Alliance and submitted on behalf of Villanova University’s online programs. Villanova offers human resources certification courses in addition to an HR degree program. For more information please visit http://www.villanovau.com

Am I Allowed? (To Throw Out My Gold Teeth?)

When I asked HR mastermind, Steve Browne to write a guest post for WTTO, he jumped at the opportunity. Interestingly though, along with the draft of the post, Steve included a note mentioning he was disappointed he could not think of a way to link it to the Steely Dan song, “Gold Teeth II.” However, it was clear to me the song was already intertwined throughout the post. Yet instead of asking Steve to revise his post to fit his vision, I’m posting his words, as is. With Steve’s permission, I’m including the song lyrics (in red) I heard while reading his post. To Steve this is an example of how he and I see music integrated in HR. Much like how HR should be integrated in business, the possibilities are unlimited.

Written by Steve Browne, blogger at Everyday People

I’ve found it interesting lately that HR people may be tentative for a legitimate reason. This isn’t a post defending timidity, but I want to give you a different perspective to think about.

Do you remember when you were a kid and you really wanted a cookie when you weren’t allowed to have it? What did you do? To what depth of intricate plans would you conceive to try to get to that cookie?

When people don’t have permission to do something, they take one of two paths. They either connive to get their way anyway (Who are these children who scheme and run wild? Who speak with their wings and the way that they smile.), or they become passive and submissive. As a profession, HR has historically been the submissive. They may grouse behind a closed door about how they truly feel, but many HR pros continue to slog and suffer in their roles and at their workplaces.

So, what can we do about that? (What are the secrets they trace in the sky? And why do you tremble each time they ride by?)

We are the ONLY profession who consistently says, “Well, I have to wait to see what Sr. Management thinks . . .” Let’s take a different stance.

Take information, ideas, solutions, ideas, concerns, and strategy TO Sr. Management. Don’t wait for permission because it may never come. (Who are these strangers who pass through the door? Who cover your action and go you one more.) All of us are obligated to move our organizations forward!! It is something we should expect from ourselves and it’s something that we should model, instill and expect of all team members.  Why settle for less?

Permission is a finicky thing. Join me in stepping forward instead. I’ve found that the more intentional you are as an HR practitioner, the more “permission” you get to be integrated and essential in your business. (If you're feeling lucky you best not refuse. It's your game the rules are your own win or lose.)

Now it’s up to you. I give you permission. (Throw out your gold teeth and see how they roll. the answer they reveal. Life is unreal.) Who knows what will happen once you try new things.

all lyrics written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagan 1974

"It's About The Work" Day

Today is Labor Day in the United States. Originally, this holiday was a day to celebrate trade and labor organizations. In modern times, it appears to be more about the "end of summer,” the beginning of the NFL football season, and how hard we work all year round.

However, the concept of “how hard we work” is tied too much to our employer. When it fact, our jobs are not the only thing that keep us working hard all year

We work hard with kids, parents, spouses, partners, homes, lawns, cars, bikes, bank accounts, blogs, friends, networks, social media outlets, schooling, training, food, exercise, vacations, entertainment, government, communities, neighborhoods, volunteering and anything else that supplies us with no compensation.
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Yet it's all work. Sometimes it is hard work. Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes it is not so obvious.

To my last point, take for example this story. On the plane to San Juan two days ago, a. gentleman asked me, “how do the bathrooms work?” Sensing he was genuine in his inquiry and noting there was no language barrier, I had a difficult time answering his question. I tried. However, my words were not the matching the advice he needed.

His situation was he had not been on a plane before and he believed he needed knowledge to use the bathroom. He thought it was work. I tried to communicate to him what I thought he needed to know. However, what I said was not working. Feeling the conversation was too much work, I walked away. Nevertheless, I walked away feeling confident judging by his age he would do just fine.

Yet feeling fine is something that has escaped me. I am sitting here working, writing this blog post. I am writing despite that I am on vacation and I vowed to do no blog writing this week. My plan was to have guest writers take over for the week. This has not changed. What changed was the timetable for posting them. It changed because I did not work hard enough last week to arrange this.

Because I like this blog to work under the premise there will be regular posts, I am filling in the gap and doing the work myself. Because I want this, sometimes I have to do some extra work. But I am fine with this. It is as the tag line at the top says, “it's about the work.”

In celebration of Labor Day, and all the work you do all year, cut yourself a break. Do something fun and do not work too hard at it. Enjoy your It's About The Work Day. I am going back to my vacation.