One Minute HR Consultant

As we move forward into the 21st century, we see leadership coming to the forefront once again. Much has changed, but much remains the same. True leaders may or may not be born (that’s an argument for a separate study), but traits are common in all great leaders. Some of the most common traits of great leaders are:

1) Humbleness
2) Courageous
3) Accessible
4) Decisive
5) Honorable
6) Committed
7) Focused
8) Thoughtful
9) Determined
10) Communicators

There are a couple of other traits that are desirable such as visionary and able to laugh at oneself, however, those are not necessary traits required in order to be a great leader. A great leader can be essential to a moment in time despite the setting rather in church, within government, or in the workplace.

Great leaders also are called upon at some of the most awkward moments – with leaders not so much picking the time, but the time picking the leader. Ask yourself as you go about your day – what would you do if you were called upon to lead? Let that soak in for a moment. The setting is not important- it can be the coach of the Little League baseball team, or it can be being selected as President of a small business; the question is what would you do? What do you think leadership is about? Reflect and think about all the leaders mentioned in this post and compare the leaders against the traits we mentioned. Observe some of the qualities found. Do you possess them? Or, do you believe the leadership is all about ego — thinking that if selected they will follow. Continue reading »

The day was sunny and bright, and I was relaxing on the porch of a close friend when I overheard a conversation by two contractors working on a property for a local landlord. 

“Ray doesn’t know business.  He doesn’t know the business I am trying to build.  He is one of those HR types that runs background checks and specializes in recruiting.  But he knows nothing about shipping, distribution, required freight costs and packaging.  Let’s not even talk about working with suppliers.” 

I nearly fell out of my chair and I looked at my friend who just stared at me as to say, “What is with you?”  Breaking the silence, I asked him, “Did you catch that?”  Returning my stare with a matter-of-fact smile, he stated, “Yeah, that’s the perception of HR on my job.” 

But for me it wasn’t that simple.  There stood two guys that had a vision of starting a company; the shingle based contracting business was only the beginning.  Yet even more surprising, they expressed an opinion of my passion and livelihood that is shared by perhaps many others – more than I (or we) probably like to admit. 

That casual comment has been on my mind now for almost two weeks with the words, “Ray doesn’t know the business” echoing in my head.  A statement so easily accepted by my friend that he barely even acknowledged that the statement had been made.  There I was with an undefined feeling that could only be described as a mixture of fury, embarrassment, and determination.  The question of ”What am I and my fellow HR professionals doing to change this perception?” looped in my conscience; loops in my conscience.    Continue reading »

Having been a member of the Twitter community now for nine months, I started to keep a notebook on the different styles of “tweeting,” and the many personalities behind the tweets.  Suffice it to say, that I came up with a unscientific method of matching twitter and leadership styles.  Here are a few humorous conclusions that one can derive from your twitter updates and what it says about your leadership style/personality.

Note:  This is just a humorous look on my unscientific approach; however, please take the time to realize that being an effective leader does not mean you follow any set pattern of leadership or some preconceived notion of someone’s notion of being an effective leader.  Effective leaders are found with varying personalities and traits.  They possess a keen sense of who they are and are aware of their strengths and weakness, maximizing the former and supplementing the latter.

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Strength:  Someone that values automation and one time effort to gain leverage.  Once system in place and/or value discovered, it is likely that you don’t want to reinvent the wheel.  In addition, you are extremely well-organized (there is a word for that), and you are also very methodical.  You will quickly move-on from one project to the next and likely are very good at starting businesses, setting a system, and moving on to the next project/phase.  Likely considered a very efficient leader who makes decisions in an effective manner.

Weakness:  Details make your eyes glaze and sometimes you are too quick to delegate.  Because you often have more than one project/program/concept going, those working on supporting initiatives are often confused as to just what is your priority. Continue reading »