Look how far we’ve come in HR

Thriving people make thriving organisations. Everyone knows that now – we can prove it.

This isn’t just about data, it’s about thousands of conversations in thousands of organisations. HR leaders keep pushing – educating, influencing and winning the hearts and minds of business leaders so that they understand all the connections between human and financial performance.

When you’re conscientious and committed to your job, you want to do more, to do better. The most successful people are usually those who are in the habit of trying harder and harder.

In my experience of working with and coaching successful HR leaders, they’re unlikely to congratulate themselves very often.

So let’s do that now. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of all the genuine commitment and authentic leadership that you put into the hard end of organisations. Yes, it’s hard sometimes at the human interface.

The soft stuff really is the hard stuff, not just because dealing with humans one-to-one can be incredibly testing and require high levels of self-control and sensitivity.

It’s also intellectually complex at the organisational level. HR people have conquered hierarchical, political and cultural landscapes to build organisations that are better for everyone.

I had a boss who used to say ‘when you’re looking ahead at the next challenge, remember to take a moment to look back at how far you’ve come’. He’d remind me to feel proud of what we’ve achieved.

What are you most proud of in your HR career?