The HR Mentor

#32: Your Wellbeing Matters with David Trawin

Did you know that 1 in 2 Canadians have or will have a mental illness by age 40 and that a lack of mental wellbeing is the leading cause of workplace disability keeping some 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week? I think that’s a staggering statistic. And it’s not just in Canada. The estimate worldwide is that 450 million people are currently struggling with their mental wellbeing.
 
And while many people feel comfortable talking about their mental health, one group of people who are more likely to suffer in silence are men. Men often avoid talking about their mental wellbeing because they feel a strong need to demonstrate emotional stability and not show weakness. This is especially true for leaders who are expect to keep it together regardless of the pressure or personal challenges they may face.
 
My guest in this episode of the HR Mentor lived through these stigmas. David Trawin is the Chief Administrative Officer at the City of Kamloops. He is an Urban Planner by profession and before taking over the top job at the City, David was the Director of Development Services at the City of Kamloops. David holds a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University where he attended on an NCAA Scholarship.
 
David is a father to two adult boys, an avid fisher, an artist, a wine connoisseur, and a really generous and kind human being.
 
I worked with David for almost four years in my role as an HR Advisor with the City and he has always been someone I admire and enjoyed working with. In this episode, David and I talk about some significant health issues he experienced over the last year, what he has learned about himself and how this has affected him as a leader. We also talk about the role of HR in supporting employees and how HR professionals can build trusting relationships with leaders.
 
Regardless of where you are in your career, I think you will get a lot out of our conversation; I know I did.
 
Here are a few links to connect with David and check out the books we discussed in this episode:
Connect with David on LinkedIn
Learn about the City of Kamloops
Read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
Read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emilie Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Here are helpful links to resources to support your mental health and wellbeing:
If you are in crisis and need to talk to someone, please call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (24/7) or text 45645 (4 pm to 12 am ET).
Public Health Canada - lots of links and resources
Province of BC Mental Health Supports
Canadian Mental Health Association of BC
World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Supports Page
Checkpoint.org Provides a list of Resources in many countries
If you are feeling extra generous and want to send some love my way, I would be so very grateful for a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or a recommendation on LinkedIn. And if you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
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If you love this episode (or any of the others) feel free to leave a like, comment or rating where you are listening. Chances are, I will read your comment on a future show!

In Solidarity

As most, if not all of you listening to this are aware, on May 27, 2021, Chief Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announced the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School.
 
As an uninvited guest who lives, works and plays on the traditional, unceded territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc people, I extend my deepest condolences, regrets and respect for all the people, families and communities directly, indirectly and inter-generationally affected by this discovery and the loss of these children. These acts of genocide against Indigenous people and communities are reprehensible.
 
In an effort to amplify Indigenous voices rather than my own, I am going to use any space that would have been Episode 31 of The HR Mentor to share resources on how you can educate yourself on Canada’s treatment of Indigenous People, how you can support Indigenous People in their healing and protection of their land, how you can amplify Indigenous voices through art and how you can implement employment practices that help create truly equitable employment opportunities.
 
This list of resources and suggestions is in no way complete or all-encompassing. I have compiled it on my own based on my own research. I encourage you to take this as a starting place and to engage in your own discovery, learning and unlearning.
 
I am not an expert in any of this. I am merely a fellow learner on a journey to do better.
 
Today I invite you to join me.
 
www.unicorngroup.ca/in-solidarity
 
The discovery of these children's remains is very upsetting and traumatizing. If you need support with grief or processing this information please reach out:
 
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
 
Support is also available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066
 

#30: Your Career is a Journey with Donna Hall

If you’ve listened to this podcast before or follow me on social, you will have heard me refer to a career as a journey. And if you know me or have attended any of my HR career workshops, you also know that my career has been a windy road of ups and downs. And I think this is the case for many professionals, yet this is not the expectation of a lot of people just starting out in their career. They want a clear path, with set milestones and they want to know that what they decide to do out of University is what they will always do. Unfortunately, the problem with that is that it leaves so much space for disappointment when your career doesn’t progress in that upward trajectory and it doesn’t allow for you to accept the changes and growth that ultimately come over time and with experience and greater knowledge.
My guest in this episode knows all about windy paths and is an expert in helping other people navigate their own career journey.
Donna Hall is a career coach based on the unceded territory of the Squamish and Sechelt Nations, known today as BC’s Sunshine Coast. Donna has had a diverse career and brings the lenses of a Chartered Professional in Human Resources, Certified Executive Coach and career development practitioner to her coaching practice. With a focus on supporting early to mid-career professionals with career challenges and changes, Donna is on a mission to empower others to take control of their career journeys.  
In our conversation, we talk about Donna’s career path and how she made decisions and she shares some fantastic advice about how you can best determine which career path to start your journey on as well as how a career coach can help you along the way. Donna is an extremely positive, generous, and engaging person to talk to. I think by the end of this episode not only will you have more clarity on how to navigate your career, but you will also want to go kayaking and then curl up on the couch to watch Elf!
For the show notes and helpful links please visit www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-30. 

#29: New Grad to HR Professional

This episode features an engaging and fun conversation with two of my former HR students; Himanshi Patel and Nikita Kumar. During our conversation, they talk about their experiences with landing their first HR role. Both of these remarkable people were International students who are new to Canada and both have secured their first HR roles less than a year after graduation. They have some incredible advice to share with other new grads about what they believe made them successful so far. If you are looking for your first HR role or looking to level up your career, you will definitely want to listen to what they have to say. We also talk about what they love to read, watch and sip and how they are managing their stress in a COVID world. You can find some helpful links as well as show notes for this episode at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-29. 
Thanks so much for listening and being a part of The HR Mentor community. 
If you are a recent HR graduate or new professional, you may want to also join my free online community called The HR Career Cafe. We hang out on LinkedIn and you can request to join using this link: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13971041/ I'd love to connect with you there!

#28: The Benefits Of Being A Beginner

So many of us are learning how to do our jobs in a new way right now. Like me, you may be working from home and doing what you normally do face to face in a virtual format. You may be in a situation where your work routines and requirements for health and safety are also changing constantly. And some of you may be starting a brand new role and are truly a beginner; in the organization, your specific role and your HR career.
 
This might feel overwhelming and frankly a little daunting. You might feel like you should know more or be able to “hit the ground running”, but before you start putting a ton of pressure on yourself listen to this episode. Here I share some of the benefits of being in this beginner’s space that you can leverage and lean into at this exciting place in your career.
 
Because believe it or not, being a beginner and adopting a beginner’s mindset can have huge benefits throughout your career, regardless of how much experience or knowledge you have.
 
If you want to check out the show notes and some resources that support this episode please visit www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-28.

#27: Choosing The Right Job Offer

Congratulations! You have a job offer to consider, maybe even two! It’s wonderful to be in this position after all the hard work you put into getting noticed and making it through the whole hiring process. But now, you are having doubts about accepting the offer. What if there is something better around the corner? What if it’s not the right opportunity for your career? And if you have more than one offer, which one should you choose?
 
Take a deep breath. I've got you.
 
This is all very normal when you are starting your career or seeking new opportunities and it is a question I am asked all the time. Which offer should I take? In this episode, I share some things to consider when you are evaluating a job opportunity as an emerging HR practitioner and offer some resources that will help you make the process of accepting your new role exciting and fun!
 
And be sure to check out the show notes at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-27 for a show summary and links to resources. 

#26: Career Confidence Boosters You Need Now!

Feeling kinda meh and blah about where things are at in your HR career or job search? Not exactly in the right frame of mind to market yourself or tackle that next big project? Or perhaps you are just feeling a bit defeated and deflated due to rejection or some negative feedback.
As we continue the global battle against COVID-19 so many of us are feeling tired, overwhelmed and fatigued. And honestly, one little bit of bad news is probably going to be enough to set many of us into a bit of a spiral. It’s not exactly the best frame of mind or mood for selling yourself to potential employers or feeling optimistic and positive about what lies ahead, is it?
In this episode, I share a few of my favourite confidence boosters that will help you at any point in your career journey. Because confidence in your abilities, your decisions and what you offer a potential employer or your team is so essential to how you show up and the results that you generate. Plus, a little confidence can go a long way in helping you embrace the badass HR star you are!
If you would like to see a summary of this show and some helpful links, head on over to www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-26. And if you are enjoying this podcast and you are feeling generous, head on over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review. I just may read your comment out in a future episode!

#25: How You Can Help Shrink the Gender Gap

The statistics are shocking: according to UN Women Data, at the pace we are going it is still going to take 130 years to reach global gender equality in the highest positions of power. According to other research, women continue to be outnumbered, outranked and out-earned by men in the Canadian public service and we all know that this is much worse for Black women, Indigenous women and women of colour. So in recognition of the work that we all still need to do to create balanced and equal workplaces and International's Women's Day (March 8th), I am sharing five things that I believe any HR professional (or anyone for that matter) can do on their own and within their own organization to help shrink the gender gap.
I reference a number of documents and incredible women in this episode so you will want to check out the show summary on my website to learn more. You can find them at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-25. 

#24: Boundary Setting for Success

At the start of 2021, I set an intention that reflected how I was going to show up in the world. It boiled down to one word, Focus. I set this intention because it aligned with my values and it supported the goals I want to accomplish in 2021.
 
As I live this intention each and every day and I reflect on the progress I am making I have come to realize that there is another critical element that drives success; boundary setting. Setting boundaries is important for anyone to be successful, but even more so for people like me (and likely many of you) who enjoy helping and supporting others. In this episode, I share my thoughts on why setting boundaries is critical to career and life success and how you can tell if you need to set a boundary with someone or something in your life. You can check a summary of this show as well as an archive of past episodes on my website at www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-24

#23: Is an HR Career Right For You?

The other day, my daughter, who is in grade 11, asked me what I wanted to do for a career when I was her age. And for the life of me I couldn’t remember, but it certainly wasn’t HR. I’m not even sure I knew what HR was when I was sixteen years old, in fact I’m certain I didn’t. So, how did I know that HR was the right career for me? The short answer is, I didn’t. In many ways, HR found me.
 
If you are wrestling with the next steps in your career and wondering if HR is a good path for you to pursue or continue pursuing then this episode is for you! You will learn eight questions you can ask yourself to help you determine if an HR career is the right path to pursue.
Here is a summary of what we talk about in this episode:
[00:40] - I begin with a story about my parent's business which we lovingly called, 'the store.' It was my first exposure to an operating business, but HR was not my dad's focus in his business and even after years of working there and watching it become a successful way of life for our family, it didn't really reveal any hints that I would find a career like the one I have today.
[04:02] - The first question I would ask myself if I was considering an HR career many moons ago is, 'are you interested in and genuinely curious about people?'
[06:57] - The second question I would ask my younger self is, 'do you enjoy solving complex sometimes messy problems?'
[08:45] - The third question I would ask myself is, 'do you like influencing others and trying to improve people’s lives?'
[11:14] - The next question I would ask is, 'do you need the spotlight or getting a lot of credit for your work?'
[12:55] - The fifth question to consider is, 'do you have tact and can you keep a secret?'
[15:14] - The sixth question I would ask myself is, 'are you comfortable with change and can you be flexible?'
[18:14] - The next question to consider is, 'are you approachable and good at building relationships?'
[20:37] - The eighth and final question I would ask myself is, 'do you have an interest in and appreciation of how businesses and organizations achieve success?'
[23:14] - I close this episode where I started, with the final chapter in my conversations with my Dad about his business and the lasting career lesson he taught me.
If you listen to this episode and don't say yes to many of the questions, take some time to consider what interests you about an HR career. You may discover that it is not the right path for you and that is ok! The best advice I can give you is to follow a road of passion and interest wherever it may take you. It is never too late to pivot and chart a new course. I have done it many, many time.
 
Here is a helpful link from this episode:
Listen to Episode 16 How to Build Trust in an HR Role.
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If you love this episode (or any of the others) feel free to leave a like, comment or rating where you are listening. Chances are, I will read your comment on a future show!