HR is often seen as the buffer between needs and wants in policy and staffing and the harbinger of doom for many bright ideas from management’s brainstorming meetings on labor and overhead costs. We’re not the actual bean counters however; we are directly responsible for many of the beans being counted. Often, we’re called upon to remind management of the true value of the beans and identify the rocks masquerading as beans. Rocks are dead weight and must be culled from the pot – the one everyone likes to stir yet become conspicuously absent when its time to serve – so HR must take over spoon duty. It helps to be an adventuresome cook and to never take it personal if what you serve isn’t appreciated by all who dine.

The only thing that I can guarantee to anyone entering HR is that there will be days you will hate what you do, days you can’t quantify or qualify your value to your company and days where you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else for a career. If you focus and truly want to make a difference, you will make that connection and you will become an integral part of your company’s success. A company’s mission statement is only list of lofty goals unless there are strong people to help lead others to achieve them.

Great thread, everyone, good topic for self evaluations … have a great week!

It is one thing to simply use buzz words like this is our “strategic plan.” It is quite another to know what that really means and actually execute the plan. While buzz words sounds nice, at the end of the day it is substance and delivery that counts.

All – thanks for your positive comments. If you know of anyone who needs a decent HR person – please let me know. My BU is shutting down in 3 months.