Strong Leadership

I was once hired as an HR Manager for a small company that was being acquired and I wasn't given access to the employee files for the first 6 months. Apparently, I was hired without the Controller's consent and she was the one doing the HR prior to me. After repeated failed attempts to let her know I wasn't trying to step on any toes, we got through it. I toughed it out and things got much better once the purchase went through (I received access to the files) and I happened upon the best mentor of my career.

I was close to leaving that organization in the beginning, but ultimately, I stayed for over 6 years, in 2 different locations. My leadership made all the difference. Had I had the same leadership as when I started, I wouldn't have lasted 6 months.

My favorite lesson that I learned from John was something I repeated today when asked what advice I have for a new college graduate who wants to enter HR. "If it's immoral, unethical, illegal or unsafe, you have a duty to report it."

I have used this advice to build trust with employees throughout my career. If employees want to come to me to vent or get advice on something, I've always had an open door policy. Just because they talk to me about something, as long as it isn't immoral, unethical, unsafe or illegal, I can coach them on the best way to handle the situation themselves or I can offer to step in as HR. They usually choose to handle it on their own or decide they were just upset and have cooled down, but they would always come back to me to thank me for the advice or for just listening.

Since integrity is one of my core principles, I really value the relationships I have built and the trust that was instilled with these employees.

Thanks, John, for giving me one of the main pillars I have used throughout my career! (You gave me others, but that's the one I keep repeating over and over again!)

#leadership #mentor #buildingtrust #coaching