One Minute HR Consultant

1.  Think of Ways to Add Value.  Of course not every thought should be acted upon if it does not provide any measurable value, but by getting your mind juices going, you will uncover tactics and strategies that were buried or never thought about before.

2. Pick out 5-10 HR Books to Read and/or Listen to via Podcasts/CDs.  By reading, you are setting your mind up to receive secondary information on a consistent basis that will prove to be useful in your career.  By staying current in your readings, you immediately can apply your knowledge in new and innovative ways with some original self-thought.

3.  Find a Mentor.  By working with someone you admire, trust, and in some cases wish to emulate, you grow both personally and professionally.  No matter what your role is in the organization – every one should have a mentor.  Think of innovative ways to find mentors – there are many Web 2.0 tools out there and not all mentors have to be in your area.  Also, not all your mentors have to be living.  Peter Drucker is one of my mentors and I have never met him.  Caution: If your mentor is not with us in this life, ensure you also pick a living mentor as well.

4.  Evaluate Professional Role.  By evaluating your professional role in your organization, think about how it interacts with other functions, projects, divisions, department, etc.  Think about your contribution to the bottom-line, readiness, or delivering critical social services.  Through evaluation comes pride and maybe even a sense of renewed loyalty.

5.  Take a Course and/or become Certified.  The reality of today’s job market (and it will be forever changed) is that competition is tight.  By becoming certified, you are showing your employer that you take your role and your profession seriously.  Review the education and development benefits of your organization and take advantage of those benefits.  If you don’t have benefits that cover personal-professional development, think of other  ways you can pay for your development.  I have paid for my self-development on many occasions, but in the end I am always glad I did.

6.  Volunteer for a Worthy Event or Cause:  This tip is good for you and your organization.  By volunteering for a cause or event that is important to you and others, you receive a large sense of satisfaction and gratification.  It will feel good, be relevant and worthy, and is of course good PR for your employer.  You will find that there is something special about contributing to causes larger than yourself!

7.  Join a Professional Organization. By joining professional organizations, you receive tremendous value at modest costs (in most cases).  As an added bonus – some employers are even willing to pay for your membership.  Your employer knows the value that they receive in return.  By joining, make a commitment to become active.  If you are already a member of a professional organization, ensure you are active.  Volunteer for an officer position.  And finally, if you are an officer and active, mentor new members quickly.

8.  Find a Uncomfortable Activity and Do It!  This is one of my favorites because it keeps you on edge (in a good way).  If you have a fear of speaking – join Toastmasters.  If you have a fear of project management, join PMI and learn project management.  If you fear speaking up in staff meetings – speak up and let your voice be heard.  Stretching outside your comfort zone, inspires and contributes to growth.  Those old fears become new competencies.

9.  Set 5 BIG Professional-Personal Goals.  By setting goals you are – in the words of Brain Tracy – setting laser beam focus on improving your life and the lives of others.  The best thing about setting goals is that your mind does not discriminate between large goals and small goals.  So in the words of Donald Trump, “If you are going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”

10.  Never Give Up.  If you are seeking a better paying job – go for it!  If you have a book on the back burner – write it.  If you want that promotion – tell someone.  If you are unemployed, but know in your heart you have talents that need to be shared – pick up the phone and ask for business.  Never – Never Quit!  Never give-up and tell people what you want.