Managing Your Career ... Roadblocks and Opportunities

Change is inevitable. One of your job responsibilities is to help your company manage change with the least amount of disruption and the maximum return on investment. The same criteria apply to your personal HR career. The challenge is to turn roadblocks into opportunities. Your job is to make sure you don’t fall into the trap of waiting for change to happen. You are the agent for change for yourself and for your company.

Turning roadblocks into opportunities

❒ I don’t have control. You may not have direct or absolute control of a workgroup but you can influence managers to look to you for solutions to complex HR problems and for improvement ideas that will help them, you, and the organization.

❒ I don’t have senior management approval. Senior management most often looks at the big picture and depends on you to do the things that support those goals. If you understand the company goals, and initiate and implement programs that specifically support those goals, approval will follow.

❒ I’m too busy. HR people are always “too busy.” Unfortunately, many times, the reason they’re too busy is they’re focusing on a thousand-and-one little things that are not really important. If you focus on the strategic issues that can affect your company and your career, the small stuff tends to work itself out.

❒ There’s not enough money in the budget. It’s not unusual to see money thrown at issues that aren’t consistent with the real strategic needs of the organization. You can gain immense credibility with management, and often get the budget you need, if you prepare and manage a business plan that demonstrates your ability to distinguish between tactical and strategic goals.

❒ Flavor of the month. Many times, if a previous attempt to implement change or
improvements didn’t work, the knee-jerk reaction is to roll out a different model. Over time, this approach discourages future change attempts. Take time to thoroughly evaluate the practical aspects of any program you want to sponsor before you launch it.

❒ Fear of working oneself out of a job. This is the greatest compliment one can gain! Individuals who can affect change in an organization are in high demand these days—both inside and outside their own organizations.

In our ever fluid business world, change is our only constant. Embrace change and flourish in the opportunity!!