Episodes
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
#23: Is an HR Career Right For You?
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
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!
Thursday Feb 04, 2021
#22: Interview with Ivana Borojevic
Thursday Feb 04, 2021
Thursday Feb 04, 2021
Welcome to my first interview of Season 2! In this episode, I have an engaging conversation with an amazing emerging HR Professional, Ivana Borojevic.
Ivana is an HR Specialist with Insight, a global technology company that was just named one of Fortune's 2021 Most Admired Companies. She is also the co-founder of an exciting new non-profit organization called mentorWIT, which is an Edmonton based group designed to support women working in the technology sector.
Here is a little bit more about Ivana:
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Belgrade in December 2013, Ivana made a life-changing decision to leave her country in search of a better life. Three long flights and one lost suitcase later, she arrived in Canada, ready to embrace the challenges and begin a new journey.
While studying Human Resources Management at MacEwan University in Edmonton, she worked part-time in retail and sales. It was not easy finding a job without HR experience, but Ivana persisted.
In March 2019, she landed an HR role with an IT company called PCM Canada. Since then, Ivana had a chance to take part in a year-long acquisition of PCM by Insight, which proved to be very interesting, but was also accompanied by re-learning and adapting.
In her role as an HR Specialist, Ivana gets to work with so many great professionals in the technology field and provide HR support to 900+ employees across five provinces in Canada.
Her dream is to grow into a trusted advisor and business partner to build and nurture a culture of high performance, inclusivity, and engagement.
Here is a summary of what we talk about in this episode:
[03:33] - Ivana shares the story of how we met. If you listen to this podcast or follow me you know how much I encourage HR grads and professionals to engaging in networking and Ivana is living proof of how important building connections can be.
[06:05] - We talk about Ivana's career path and how she shifted from a degree in Social Work to a promising HR career as well as some of the continuing pressures COVID-19 is putting on organizations, employers and employees.
[11:56] - Networking comes up in our conversation many times, but Ivana shares a great example of how your connections can help you as an HR professional throughout your career.
[14:00] - I ask Ivana about her job search after she completed her HR degree. She shares her success tips and what ultimately landed her the job at Insight.
[28:26] - Mentoring and supporting others is a passion of Ivana's and she is an incredibly generous person. She talks about how that passion fueled the creation of mentorWIT and how the organization will support women in technology. She also talks about how you can get involved with mentorWIT.
[37:02] - Ivana has achieved what many of you are striving for and she offers you all some great advice.
[40:00] - I ask Ivana five speed round questions and we get the answer to a key question for any budding friendship or relationship; coffee or tea?
I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it. Please reach out to Ivana to build your network and to learn more about her work and mentorWIT if you feel that would be a fit for you.
Here are some helpful links from this episode:
Connect with Ivana on LinkedIn.
Read The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas - it's going to be on my 2021 reading list!
Read Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi - recommended by Ivana to build your networking skills.
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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!
Thursday Jan 21, 2021
#21: How Intentions Can Improve Your Life
Thursday Jan 21, 2021
Thursday Jan 21, 2021
Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of The HR Mentor and 2021!
In this show, I am helping you kick off the new year with a brand new practice that can change your life and improve your chances at success!
Intention setting is powerful and can result in lasting behavioural change.
I encourage you to consider how this practice can dramatically improve your life and your success as I explain how intentions are different from goals, I share some examples of the difference between goals and intentions to illustrate why setting goals alone doesn't work, and I share my personal practice for setting an annual intention.
Here is a summary of the episode:
[01:50] - What are intentions? They are guiding principles and they reflect how we want to be and show up in the world. They can help you dramatically improve your life.
[05:53] - There are some key differences between intentions and goals. They are:
[06:00] - DIFFERENCE #1 - Intentions are more focused on the present rather than the future.
[06:50] - DIFFERENCE #2 - Intentions are more focused on behaviours rather than a product or outcome.
[07:36] - DIFFERENCE #3 - intentions are ongoing and fluid; they are always a work in progress. Once goals are done they are done.
[08:16] - DIFFERENCE #4 - goals naturally shift our focus to what we don't have and get us caught up in the "how."
[09:15] - DIFFERENCE #5 - intentions come from the heart.
[15:47] - Here is an example of how an intention can have an impact on your life in the long-term and enhance your goal setting.
[19:26] - Here I talk about a powerful form of self-questioning to stay true to your intention! It wasn't my idea, credit goes to James Clear who wrote Atomic Habits. A book I recommend you read.
[20:21] - I share my 2021 intention in a single word - FOCUSED. (wild! I said that at 20:21 in the episode!) I also share three reasons why a single word for your intention is helpful.
[22:01] - I share my process for setting my annual intention. It breaks down to eight small steps:
Dream big about your future.
Attach an important why to your dream.
Get brutally honest about why you are where you are.
Bridge the gap with behaviours.
Prioritize those behaviours.
Write yoru intention statement.
Choose your single word.
Live your intention every day in big and small ways.
Here are some of the resources I talked about in this episode:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.
Principles by Ray Dalio
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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!
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
#20: Q & A Part 2
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Welcome to the finale for season one of The HR Mentor!
In this final episode of season one I answer four listener questions related to your job search. I also share a number of resources to support you through the entire process.
Here are the four questions I answer today as well as links to related episodes and resources.
1. If you were given fifteen seconds to introduce yourself what would your introduction be like?
Consider your audience and focus on your values, passion and interest in HR.
Check out Episode 3: How Your Values Can Impact Your Career and Job Search
Keep your pitch/answer career related and keep it high-level
Be succinct and to the point
Be prepared for the "Tell Me About Yourself Question"
Check out Episode 4: How to Market Yourself for Job Search Success
2. How and what should I talk about to the Employer or HR Department when I see a job posting on their website?
Don't wait for a job posting to make contact.
Research and connect with potential employers. Set up informational interviews.
Check out Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections
Determine how you fit in the role. What makes you a great candidate?
Come up with relevant and potential questions you could ask this employer about this role or organization?
3. I'm graduating in December from an HR program. Where should I start my job search?
Begin by getting to know yourself.
Identify your knowledge, experience, skills, accomplishments and strengths.
What are your interests, passion and values.
Identify which areas of HR you should focus on and center your search there.
Again, check out Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections.
4. I was recently laid off from my job and I have lots of anxiety about my job search. What advice do you have for managing anxiety during my job search?
Focus on your self-care. Get lots of sleep, move your body and try to eat healthy foods.
Work on shifting your limiting beliefs.
Check out Episode 2: Three Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs and Improving Your Job Search.
Reach out to others for support and advice.
As this is the end of Season 1 I want to extend my incredible appreciation for everyone who listened to this podcast over the last twenty weeks! You have been incredibly supportive and I am grateful for your time and feedback.
I also want to extend a huge thank-you to my editor, Lorenzo who has been an incredible partner in producing this podcast. He offers and incredible service and has added so much value and advice to make this podcast better. For an example, just listen to the difference in sound quality between the first couple of episodes and everything that followed. That was all Lorenzo and his amazing $20 fix!!
If you have a podcast, are thinking of starting one or need any audio editing, connect with him on Fiverr. You can check out his profile here: https://www.fiverr.com/share/NWL7N8
Finally, and probably most importantly, I want to thank my dear family. This podcast has been part of fulfilling my passion and living up to my values, but it is also time consuming. My family is incredibly supportive of all my wild dreams and ideas, but they also give up time with me so I can give my time and attention to you. And for that I extend incredible gratitude to my two beautiful children and my dear mother for creating space for me to do what I do!
The HR Mentor will be back in January with all new episodes! If you have topics you want me to cover or people you want me to interview, don't hesitate to message me on LinkedIn or send me an email at melanie@unicorngroup.ca
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
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If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
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!
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
#19: Q&A Part 1
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
Thursday Oct 22, 2020
It's hard to believe we are almost at the end of season one! It has been an incredible journey and I am so thankful to all of you for listening and engaging with me. As promised this episode is all about you and your questions. Today I am answering three questions sent in by listeners just like you. I hope you enjoy it!
Here are the three questions I answer in this episode:
How would you build rapport with your manager if they do not live in the same location or City as you?
What advice do you have for someone who just started their first job on a contract with the potential for an extension? What steps should I take in the coming weeks to grow and sustain the role?
I am a big fan of reading, do you have any book recommendations that you can share with us that you felt had a great impact on your career and life in general?
Here are links to purchase the books I recommended:
The Success Principles by Jack Canfield
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Insight by Tasha Eurich
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
After I recorded the episode I also thought about these two books. Both of them are by Indigenous Canadian authors and both are beautifully written. They also help provide a greater understanding of indigenous culture, experience and the harm they lived through and with. I highly recommend both of them.
Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden (I loved all his books!)
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
**I am not affiliated with Chapters Indigo in any way. I only link to their online store to support a Canadian retailer where I know the product is available. I do encourage supporting smaller retailers and independent stores in your community whenever possible.
In this episode I encourage listeners to check out Episode 7: Make an Impact in your First 90 Days and Episode 12: The Importance of Curiosity to Your HR Career.
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
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!
Remember, Season 2, will go live in January 2021. I am starting to work on episodes now so if there is a topic you would love me to cover on the show, send your thoughts to me at melanie@unicorngroup.ca or DM me on LinkedIn.
This podcast is and always will be for you, so don't be shy!
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
#18: Three Strategies to Help You Tackle Difficult Conversations
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
Often, we avoid having difficult conversations with people because we don't know what to say, we fear their reaction and we worry it will affect our relationship. But as HR Professionals and leaders we often need to have these types of conversations. The good news is there are things you can do to make it easier! In this episode, I am sharing my three favourite strategies to help you tackle your most difficult conversations.
Here are my three strategies for tackling your next Difficult Conversation:
Remove any judgment words or terms and stick to the facts.
Have a clear goal and intent for your conversation.
Be curious and open to hearing the other person's perspective.
Here is a summary of the episode:
[02:48] - One of the biggest mistakes people make when they engage in difficult conversations is that they don't plan and consider the language they use. It can have an immediate impact on the reaction the other person. I share an example of how this sounds.
[04:19] - Judgement terms are also problematic to maintaining good relationships and it can erode trust. Judgment terms are works like; good, bad, irresponsible, unprofessional, etc. These terms can be perceived differently by different people.
[05:29] - Generalized descriptions open you up to have the details debated and it is also isn't accurate and thus you look dramatic.
[06:26] - The antidote for this is to stick to the facts. Share what is bothering your or what the behaviour is and use dates, times and specific examples. When you use facts there is little to argue about. Then you can get on with solving the problem. One way to ensure this happens is to script out your statement at the beginning of the conversation and check for this type of language.
[07:52] - The second strategy is to have a clear goal or intent. Plan it ahead of time. Figure out what your intent is for the conversation. Why is it necessary to bring this up? What is the impact this behaviour or event is having? What do you hope to accomplish?
[08:32] - If your only intent is to make the other person feel bad you may want to re-think having the conversation or your goal. Make sure this is clear and that you articulate it to them.
[09:31] - It is also important to be realistic about what you can accomplish a single conversation.
[11:12] - The third strategy is about being curious and open to other people's perspective. This can be difficult for many people because we have thought about the scenario prior to the conversation and often we have tried to rationalize in our mind why the person is behaving a certain way. But this is usually not based in reality. This causes us to go into the conversation expecting a certain response. This removes our ability to hear the other person.
[12:21] - In order to really understand the other person you should be open and willing to hear what they have to say. Be clear about the problem, your intent and then....be quiet.
[13:02] - The only way to give someone space to share their perspective and understand them is to listen and that requires you to be quiet. Avoid the desire to explain over them or cut them off. Give them lots of space and time to be heard. You can do this by asking open-ended questions and reframing and rephrasing what they are saying.
[14:07] - Open ended questions and probes give them time to speak, but also gives you time to think about where to take the conversation or how to respond to what they are saying.
[15:05] - Arguing with the other person's perspective is going to damage your relationship and will prevent you from reaching your goal for the conversation.
[17:04] - When the other person feels heard they will be more willing to work with you, take responsibility and work on the relationship.
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
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!
We are coming to a close on Season 1 of The HR Mentor. After Episode 20 airs I will be taking a break to focus on preparing for Season 2, which will go live in January 2021. As a thank-you to you for listening I want to give you an opportunity to ask me any questions you have about your career search, your HR Career, your HR role or anything in between. I will even take questions about me as long as they aren't too personal!
You can email me your questions at melanie@unicorngroup.ca or DM me on LinkedIn. I can't wait to see what you ask! Question will be accepted until October 20th so don't wait.
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
#17: Overcoming Self-Doubt
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Thursday Oct 08, 2020
Most high achieving professionals have experienced bouts of self-doubt or what is often referred to as imposter syndrome. People who, despite external recognition and even accolades from others, they doubt their own abilities and success. This can not only hold them back from taking on new goals, but it can also cause a lot of anxiety, stress, guilt and low self-esteem. In this episode I share some simple strategies that have helped me keep my self-doubt in check when I set big goals.
Here are my six strategies:
Take action
Get honest feedback
Swim in your own lane
Engage with a mentor or coach
Reframe your limiting beliefs
Self/Care
Here is a summary of the episode:
[02:10] - I share the two instances in my career where I felt the most self-doubt or like an imposter. Starting this podcast, and beginning a new corporate role that was new to me and the organization.
[04:14] - The first strategy is take action. I always feel better when I take some steps towards a goal when I have a lot of fear or doubt about it. Sometimes this is as simple as asking someone about what you are worried about. I share the example of holding back on applying for a promotion.
[05:51] - Taking action can also look like conducting research, taking a course or otherwise educating and informing yourself.
[07:56] - The second strategy is to get some feedback. Make sure, however, that you are getting the right feedback. I share some advice from Dr. Tasha Eurich. She says the right people are not unloving critics or uncritical lovers. "Unloving critics are the type of people who would criticize everything we do: a jealous co-worker, an ex with a grudge, or an irrationally uptight boss." On the other hand, " uncritical lovers wouldn’t criticize us if their lives depended on it. This group can include both people who think we walk on water and can do no wrong (eg) our moms and those who are afraid to tell us the truth."
[09:27] - So who should we ask? Loving critics, who are "people who will be honest with us while still having our best interests at heart."
[09:51] - What should you get feedback on? The key is to be specific about what you would like feedback on. It should be specific to your role if you are having doubts about that or if it's your job search ask for feedback on specific aspects of your job search. For example if it's your interview skills, ask an interviewer if your answers are detailed enough or perhaps even too detailed. Don't just ask how you are doing or how you did on specific task?
[11:06] - One of the ways I overcame my self-doubt about my facilitation and teaching skills was to get feedback from my audience. I share an example of how I did this with my students when I first started teaching.
[12:42] - My third strategy is swim in your own lane and do your homework. I apply this in two ways. Number 1, focus more on you and what you are doing rather than comparing yourself to other people and their journey. This can amplify your self-doubt. You are on your own journey and it's perfectly yours!
[14:34] - The second version of swim in your own lane comes from Gary V. He says that he is confident in what he says to other people is because he sticks to what he knows. He doesn't talk about things he is not an expert in. This has also helped me. I stick to what I know when I teach and through this podcast. I am trying to be an expert in everything. Swimming in your own lane can help you feel more confident and less doubtful about your abilities and knowledge.
[17:56] - The fourth way to reduce your self-doubt is to engage with a mentor or a coach. Mentors share their own experiences and guide and support you in your career. Coaches will help you navigate change and reach your goals. They offer an outside and objective perspective. Both can helpful.
[19:27] - If you are interested in mentoring, check out your local CPHR association to see if they have an HR Mentoring program. If you are interested in coaching, visit the International Coaching Federation website to search for a coach in your area. If you are looking for a career coach you may also want to connect with my colleague Yasir Khan who offers these services. Or email me at melanie@unicorngroup.ca and I will let you know how I can help you.
[20:43] - My fifth strategy is to work on shifting your limiting beliefs. These are any messages we tell ourselves that are in opposition to what we want. Reframing these can help empower and motivate your to move forward. These reminders can also create positive energy around your goals and thus help you achieve them. Check out episode 2 of this podcast for a complete process to shift your limiting beliefs. The show notes also include a handy worksheet to help you.
[23:02] - The sixth and final strategy is to practice self-care. Some of the outcomes of self-doubt are anxiety, stress and feeling badly about yourself. This can really hold you back. Practicing good self-care can help you move past those feelings. Some of my favourite ways are to exercise, eat well, meditate and laugh and be with people who make you feel good.
Here are some helpful links:
You can learn more about Dr. Tasha Eurich and her work here. Her book Insight has been particularly helpful to me.
If Shifting Your Limiting Beliefs sounds like it would be helpful be sure to go back and listen to Episode 2: Shift Your Limiting Beliefs.
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
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!
We are coming to a close on Season 1 of The HR Mentor. After Episode 20 airs I will be taking a break to focus on preparing for Season 2, which will go live in January 2021. As a thank-you to you for listening I want to give you an opportunity to ask me any questions you have about your career search, your HR Career, your HR role or anything in between. I will even take questions about me as long as they aren't too personal!
You can email me your questions at melanie@unicorngroup.ca or DM me on LinkedIn. I can't wait to see what you ask!
Thursday Oct 01, 2020
#16: How to Build Trust in your HR Role
Thursday Oct 01, 2020
Thursday Oct 01, 2020
As an HR professional, you may have never considered the important role that trust plays in your role. But I believe it can mean the difference between succeeding and simply banging your head against the wall in frustration. You see when you develop trust with the managers you support, they will not only listen to the advice and guidance you give them, but they will seek it and you out. And that will have you feeling more confident and able to make a positive impact in your organization.
In this episode I discuss five ways that I believe you can build trust in your HR role. They are:
Act with integrity
Build your capabilities
Demonstrate respect
Be consistent
Deliver results
Here is a summary of the episode:
[04:32] - You may have never considered trust as a behaviour that is necessary for a professional role, but HR professionals have to delivery results through other people (leaders) and as such we need to have strong relationships with them.
[05:18] - I believe trust is the secret sauce to success in that relationship. They aren't going to just trust you because you have a role and a title.
[07:15] - Here are the five ways I believe you can build trust with your client groups or managers:
Act with integrity
Build your capabilities
Demonstrate respect
Be consistent
Deliver results
[08:09] - The first trust building behaviour is acting with integrity. Integrity for me means behaving in accordance with your principles and values and the values and principles of your organization. It also means acting honestly by being true to who you are.
[08:58] - I share an example of how this can be demonstrated in the workplace and how you may be acting without integrity.
[10:32] - You can develop your integrity by getting clear on your values and principles are and the values and principles of the organization. Then when you have an opportunity act in accordance with that do it! If you want to learn more about your values, you can begin with the Identifying Your Values Worksheet which you can find here. And be sure to go back and listen to Episode 3: Identify your Core Values.
[11:08] - The second behaviour is building your capabilities. We all have something to learn, but when you are new to an HR role this is even more important for you since you don't graduate from an HR program with all the knowledge and skills you will need to effectively advise leaders.
[12:38] - One of the most important capabilities you need to build is your knowledge of the organization and department or team you are supporting. You can be expected to give advice to a group of people when you don't know anything about them, their priorities or their pain points.
[13:38] - You also want to learn as much as you can about possible solutions to their problems or challenges. You can do this by leveraging your network, colleagues, your association or search for learning opportunities online.
[14:44] - Being capable also means that you're able to perform essential tasks and duties; leading meetings, conducting investigations, screening resumes, writing job descriptions, etc. In order to learn how to do these essential tasks be willing to say yes to helping with these tasks or shadowing others in your department. Then ask for feedback!
[16:51] - The third way to build trust is by showing respect. This is such a critical behaviour.
[17:28] - When I talk about respect in the workplace I am talking about showing concern and care for everyone. Respect can be shown in big and little ways and often it's the little ways that have the biggest impact.
[17:58] - Some of the smaller ways include; listening to someone else, helping job candidates relax, finishing the filing or other tasks that aren't yours, saying good-morning, remembering people's names and learning to pronounce them, and acknowledging and appreciating people goes a long way.
[18:50] - Showing respect to managers demonstrates that you know your role is to support them. That it is not about you.
[19:02] - Some of the ways you can show this respect is by listening more, getting to know them, use their name (and don't shorten it), using professional language (know your audience), and be careful of oversharing.
[20:42] - You can also build trust in your organization by showing the organization respect. Clean up after yourself!
[21:40] - One of the bigger ways you can show respect is to give credit where credit is due. If your HR Assistant did something for your manager or client group, make sure you give them credit it for it.
[23:22] - The fourth way to build trust, and my favourite, is being consistent. When someone lacks consistency they are all over the map. Rollercoasters are fun at amusement parks, but not in relationships.
[24:52] - When I talk about being consistent as a newer HR professional, I am talking about you showing up consistently for your manager or client group. If you start doing something for them, do it every time. If you schedule weekly meetings with them, stick to your schedule or negotiate necessary changes with them, rather than just cancelling it or blowing it off.
[26:54] - Giving your managers consistent behaviour and keeping your commitments shows they they can depend on you. And that builds trust. Don't be a rollercoaster ride!
[27:13] - The fifth and final behaviour is to deliver results.
[27:50] - You can do this by setting expectations with your managers. What do they need and how often? Once you know them and their department, it's a great idea to sit down and discuss expectations. You can't deliver on expectations if you aren't on the same page with your manager or client group.
[29:21] - What happens when you can't deliver your results? Be upfront about it and demonstrate your integrity. Communicate as far in advance as possible and don't make excuses or throw someone else under the bus.
[29:57] - Most of the time expectations and deadlines can be re-negotiated, but be honest about it. But take your commitments seriously.
[30:41] - One of the challenges HR faces is the idea or myth that we are roadblocks. HR professionals like yourself and be part of changing this perspective by focusing on what your organization and managers need and this can only happen if you build trust.
[31:55] - If you want to have a successful HR career and desire to be respected and valued, building trust is going to help you feel more confident and happier at work.
[32:17] - I have created a trust building behaviour worksheet that you can download using the link below.
[32:50] - Thank you for being here and exceeding my expectations. In order to manage your expectations I want you to know that Season 1 is going to wrap up with episode 20. The final episode or two are going to be Q&A with you, the listeners. So watch for opportunities to submit your questions you want me to answer.
Here are some helpful links:
Take your trust building action to the next level and download the Trust Building Worksheet.
Under act with integrity I talk about knowing what you value. If you want to learn more about your values, you can begin with the Identifying Your Values Worksheet which you can find here. And be sure to go back and listen to Episode 3: Identify your Core Values.
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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!
Thursday Sep 24, 2020
#15: Interview with Joel Peterson - Part 2
Thursday Sep 24, 2020
Thursday Sep 24, 2020
What a treat! My friend and colleague Joel joined me a few days after our first conversation to continue talking all things recruitment. Joel is the Founder and Managing Director of Arbutus Search Group and a recruitment and selection expert.
In this episode, Joel explains the benefits of working with a recruitment agency and what he believes are the most important elements of a successful search effort. What he says may just surprise you. Joel and I also discuss the key ways you can increase the diversity of your applicant pool and the possible ways to pursue a career in recruitment.
Joel and I are both firm believers in the power of awareness to reduce biases in the recruitment and selection process. I talk about the Harvard Implicit Bias test in this episode as I encourage all my students to take one or more of these tests to understand where they might have biases. You may want to check it out even if you don't work in recruitment or hire employees now.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this conversation with Joel as much as I enjoyed talking with him.
In case you missed our first chat, you can listen to it here and learn more about Joel in the show summary.
If you want more information about Arbutus Search or you want to connect with Joel about possible future opportunities you can find him at joel@arbutussearch.com or through LinkedIn @Joel Peterson.
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
If you love this episode (or any of the others) feel free to leave a like, comment or rating on Apple Podcasts or Podbean. Chances are, I will read your comment on a future show!
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
#14: Interview with Joel Peterson - Part 1
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
Thursday Sep 17, 2020
I am so thrilled that my good friend and colleague Joel Peterson agreed to sit down with me and talk about recruitment. Joel is the Founder and Managing Director of Arbutus Search Group and an expert in all things recruitment.
In this episode, Joel and I talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting the job market and what will most likely be different in the future. Joel also shares some great advice for job seekers about how to get noticed online and what he believes are essential actions to land your next role. If you are looking for a new opportunity or your first role, you won't want to miss this!
Here is a little bit more about Joel Peterson and how you can connect with him.
Joel has been connecting the best and brightest professionals around the globe in Australia, Japan, Europe, UK, and across North America since 2007. He enjoys learning about what people do, how they do it and why they are passionate about their professions.
Joel is anything but a box checker. He learns what makes a company an amazing place to thrive as an employee and then connects to the talented and innovative professionals that will take that organization to the next level.
Joel is known for finding talent that was out of reach before his clients engaged him. He do this through targeted value propositions, engaging conversations, and an unrivaled candidate experience. As a result, the people he places stay longer, contribute more and have better engagement scores.
He wants to be remembered as the person that inspired others to stretch themselves to reach the goals that were previously unreachable, and gained success in the work that they do creating a more fulfilled, engaged and connected life for them and their family.
If you're building a new team or just adding to it, Joel can help define a candidate pool and help you select high performing individuals.
If you want more information about Arbutus Search or you want to connect with Joel about possible future opportunities you can find him at joel@arbutussearch.com or through LinkedIn @Joel Peterson.
Love the HR Mentor? Become a super fan and get access to exclusive monthly content and help keep the podcast ad free.
Sign up today!
JOIN THE HR MENTOR FAN CLUB!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to The HR Mentor so you never miss an episode on the following platforms:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Podbean
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!
Hey, emerging HR Practitioners!
This is your podcast for practical advice, free tools, and expert strategies to help you build credibility, confidence, and ultimately a fulfilling HR Career. Whether you are looking for your first HR role or to make an impact in your current one, there is something here for you to learn.
My name is Melanie Reed. I am an HR Professional with over twenty years of experience in human resource management, talent development, and career coaching. I am a consultant and full-time University Professor who has a passion for helping new graduates and HR professionals get the best possible start in their career and achieve success as their career evolves.
Most importantly, I've been in your shoes and I am here to help!