HR Leaders: Your Credibility is Golden

What percentage of human resource professionals and leaders would you say face credibility challenges each day? Is it 25%? 50%? 75%?

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My answer is . . . 100%  Yes, 100%. Notice I did not say 99.99% to save a spot for me - or for you, either.

As human resource professionals and leaders, we face credibility challenges every day. Each and every one of us. You are fooling yourself if you are listening to that little voice in your head telling that this does not affect you. 

Just think about what we do. When is the last time you dealt with a black and white issue? Why is it that issues are never black and white? Our issues are gray and our work puts us in the center of many storms and in interactions with others. Your credibility is on the line in each interaction and, should you falter, the next interaction is an opportunity to establish, or reestablish, your credibility.

One on my go-to articles is Leader's Credibility is Golden. John Baldoni's reference to credibility as a leader's coin of the realm always has me thinking chocolate gold coins. His points about character, acknowledging your shortcomings and living your values are spot on.  Read them, remember them and tell me what you would add to the list.

Go forth and build some credibility today.​

2 Leadership Topics That Keep Me Awake at Night

What keeps you awake at night?

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I thought about this question <lying awake one night> and two topics, drawn from my dog-eared pages of HR From the Outside In, were clearly top of mind for me: trust and delivering results.

First, there can be no leadership or professional impact without trust. Second, the quality of a relationship alone is not enough to develop and susatin credibility. Credibility is based on business contribution.

I value my sleep so I was thrilled to be able to get out of my head and into the airwaves on Drive Thru HR with hosts Bryan Wempen and William Tincup. What's so great about these lunch time conversations is that Bryan and William take me in new directions and leave me thinking after my 30 minutes are over.  We covered ground on:

• Delivering results v. being busy
• Being reactive v. proactive
• Time management and meeting
• Aligning results with goals
• What it would take for HR to be disruptive
  
• Building trust and organizational values

Listen and learn why my new leadership mantra is "don't coddle me."

Listen to internet radio with Wempen and Tincup on Blog Talk Radio

Can you relate or am I the only one that gets hit between the eyes with these things? Don't stop there, click over to check out the archives of Drive Thru HR past guests. I value every minute of my time with these guys and I know you will too.