This past week I had lunch with one of my HR peers. I always enjoy spending time with other folks who practice HR because we normally don’t have people that we can talk to within our own organizations. It doesn’t mean we’re isolated, but it’s hard to talk “shop” with others who don’t do what you do.
One of our “rules” when we have lunch is to share what’s going on candidly and then talk about solutions (if you can reach them.) She was telling me about her challenges in moving the company she works for in a different direction. I admire what she’s doing even though she has expressed that she feels like she’s hitting walls.
As we were sharing, she said something that was a true point of clarity for me. She stated, “I feel like I’m on a giant ship and if I could turn it just a few degrees, I think I’d see amazing things happen.”
Stunning. Really, it is. She captured what most of us in HR struggle with when we look at how to have change occur that is meaningful and sustainable. Too often we design and launch massive programs and initiatives which cannot last. The energy and effort that is needed to keep those types of efforts going fades quickly because people either can’t make the time to do what is implemented, or they just drag their feet some to wait for it to slip away quietly.
What could you accomplish if you implemented change in small doses? I know that much has been written about company culture and there are camps that say it exists and those who only think it’s a catch phrase for HR. I’m one who is a proponent of cultures and I love to see change be directed because change will occur whether you want it to or not.
You see, small change can yield big results !! The difference in this approach is that you have to break it down to individuals instead of trying to canvas an entire organization. I have a belief that HR should be practiced in pieces that will build to a whole. This runs contrary to most people I know in the field because it’s not how we learned HR.
The truth about breaking HR down reflects what my friend shared. Changing things by a few degrees is attainable. It also gives you the ability to see cultures shift ever so slightly and stick. Over time HR and the company can be headed on a new course and they will subtly break out of the patterns that often hold us in a stagnate pattern.
So, this week, clear off your desk and scrap those monstrous themed initiatives. Break down the components of what you want to do and pick one. Introduce it. Nurture it and let it grow. As it sticks, start with the next one and continue. Remember, you can change a ship by just a few degrees !!
Steve, this is great! People tend to be resistant to change before they even know what it means. But you are definitely right to say that one small thing can yield big results without most people even noticing. For instance, if a company wants to encourage employee interactions, something as simple as installing a coffee maker can do just that! Thanks for the great insight and for the awesome read.
Great article Steve! Thank you for all the great work you do and your passion to continuously improve HR!
Really enjoyed this article, Steve. Keep up the great work!
A one degree shift over time can make a big difference. Thanks Steve.
Great reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination.
Really Great post! ~ So true! ~ If we review history, some of the most notable changes took the efforts of 1 or a small group of individuals. Thanks for sharing.
One way to alter the course of just a few degrees is to learn the language of Project Management. Just a small project, maybe 6 months, with a small team and budget, with positive results, can create ripples in an organization.