Yesterday was the two-year anniversary of HR Bartender. Can you believe it?! It seems like I just started it.
I can’t tell you how incredibly grateful I am for the opportunities writing HR Bartender has afforded me. The people I’ve met and the conversations I’ve had are wonderful. All things that never would have happened if HR Bartender didn’t exist.
In addition to the great friendships, blogging has reminded me of some key learnings as a manager. So for my blogging anniversary, I wanted to share with you my takeaways:
Be human. This might sound obvious but being a manager can be a lonely job. We sometimes know information we just can’t share. The person we have lunch with on Monday could be the person we’re firing or laying off on Tuesday. To deal with this, it’s easy to throw up a shield. Writing HR Bartender allows me to share my stories and a piece of myself. As managers, we have to remember to share what makes us tick as well.
Don’t forget where you came from. I started my career as a HR generalist and spent several years as a recruiter before becoming a consultant. But I still remember what it’s like to do a benefits open enrollment. Or the knot in my stomach when I had to tell someone they were losing their job. While what I do today is different than back then, I don’t want to forget where I learned the ropes.
This also applies to communities. As business professionals, we have colleagues, associations, and groups that help us succeed. It’s important to support the people who support you and your success. While the way you show that support might change over the course of time, being able to express thanks to those who have helped you speaks volumes.
Learn to say no. This is a toughie. We all want to say “Yes” and “I can do that.” The reality is sometimes we might not be able to. We might have a personal commitment. It may not be in the budget. Or the request doesn’t align with our business. It’s better to say no than to say yes and do something that doesn’t make sense for you. Every time I say yes to something and I know I shouldn’t…it’s a mistake.
Atta boys are important. In our companies, we’re always saying be specific when offering recognition. And I still believe that. But an occasional “nice post”, “great job”, “love your blog” can be valuable. Those handful of words could be just the encouragement someone needs when they’re having a bad day.
And when you’re on the receiving end of recognition, learn how to take the compliment. It might be easier to act modest but it can also come off as disingenuous for someone to say you’re doing a good job and the reply be “Yeah right, who cares?”
Don’t believe your own hype. I’ve been fortunate to be recognized by others on lists, rankings, awards, etc. And I truly appreciate each and every one. But guess what? I still have to do the laundry, pump my own gas, and cook dinner. I am thankful Mr. B cleans floors, mows grass and takes out the garbage. Seriously, the accolades HR Bartender has received only make me want to work harder and write better. As managers, we need to take the recognition we receive at work as a challenge to continuously improve.
I’d like to offer a special thanks to you, the HR Bartender community, for your support. You might not realize it but the things you’ve said, written, blogged, or tweeted have helped me grow along the way. I lift my glass to you. Cheers!
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Dan McCarthy says
Sharlyn –
Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary! I love what you’re done – you’ve built HR Bartender into one of THE best HR blogs out there.
Nancy Simutis Newell says
Congratulations on a great 2 years! You deserve all the accolades that have come your way.
I love reading your blog and look forward to the next 2 years.
And who know? Maybe someday you won’t have to pump your own gas. =]
Jennifer McClure says
Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary Sharlyn! I’ve really enjoyed learning from you and getting to know you both through your blog and in person during that time. You’re a great example to me as I start my own consulting business and I look forward to continuing to learn from you in a variety of ways in the future!
Sharlyn Lauby says
Dan, Nancy, Jennifer – You guys are the best! I really appreciate your comments. You have each touched me and this blog in very special ways. Thanks for everything!
laurie ruettimann says
Sharlyn, what an accomplishment. You are an amazing woman and I’m proud to call you a colleague and a friend. – Laurie
Sharlyn Lauby says
Same here Laurie! You’re an inspiration for me. I’ve learned a lot about blogging by admiring your work.
Wally Bock says
Congratulations. Kudos. Trumpet fanfares. All that good stuff.
You’re on my must-read list because I think you do an excellent job of keeping up with issues, but when you bring them to us you do two more important things. You take a step to connect an issue to the real world and you seem to understand how an issue affects both organizations and individuals.
Brava, Bartender. Encore! Encore!
Kathy Clark says
Great words of wisdom. I appreciate you sharing and enjoy your examples, specifically remembering where we came from. Working up our way up through the ranks is a difficult yet healthy way to learn the ropes and I agree we should all not forget how we got to where we are. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!
Jennifer V. Miller says
Sharlyn,
Congrats on your blog’s anniversary! HR Bartender sets a high caliber example for so many in our profession.Wise words about being able to say “no”; wish more people could do so.
Sharlyn Lauby says
@Wally – Thanks for the kind words and feedback. We have a mutual admiration society going on…I respect your writings immensely.
@Kathy – Thanks for the comment. It’s so easy to forget the feel of being a new employee or a first time manager. I think it’s important to keep those thoughts top of mind.
@Jennifer – Thank you for the comment. As much as it pains me to say “no” at times, I know it’s the right thing to do. Maybe there’s a future post in there somewhere. 😉
Kayathri says
Sharlyn,
First of all i would like to congrats for your blog anniversary. Your blog really inspire me because currently im working as a HR Generalist therefore lots of your writting influences me. Wishing you all the best. Keep writting it really helps those who’re new in this line.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks so much Kayathri! You’ve made my day.