To succeed in HR, you’ve got be able to sell your ideas to the key decision makers your organization. HR leaders unable to do this will stall their careers at the starting gate. It’s that important. To stand a chance, you must have a good idea…but to ensure your success there is one ingredient that is crucial. Failure to do this one simple thing lowers your chances by 80% that your idea will get supported.
Yesterday’s article on the importance of “giving first” reminded me of a presentation I attended several years ago. Richard Carlson, author of numerous books, the most famous of which was Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, was giving a lecture in front of a packed house. I don’t remember much about his talk…except one thing. It happened to be the simplest suggestion he made, the one that required the smallest change.
I came into work yesterday after taking a couple of days off. This time I decided not to work while I was off – no checking voicemails, no e-mails, no paperwork. Nope, just totally unplug.As expected, when I returned to work, I was immediately swamped with things to do. A couple of hundred e-mail messages to return. Twenty-two phone messages to return with a recording that my mailbox was now full. Interviews with job candidates. A full slate of meetings for the day. A couple of presentations to prepare for later in the week. And, to top it all off, a staff meeting with my team at 9 AM.
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