It's Time To Step Up

For way too long, Human Resources (which, by the way, has to be the worst name for any corporate function, no?) has been struggling to find a valued, respected role. And for good reason, since most of what the typical HR function delivers is a warmed-over version of what they did before they made the seemingly radical and supposedly life-affirming decision to change their name from Personnel to HR.

The problem, of course, is that despite the dire need for some function within every organization to help improve performance through its people, HR has been largely unable to step up to this important challenge. Oh, they can keep records with the best of them, hire people (though often in a painfully slow, cumbersome way), and report what percentage of the population received performance ratings of 'I Said You Did Fine But Should Have Told You The Truth'. Yet when was the last time anyone in leadership anywhere told the Board or shareholders that performance/profitability was a result of our amazing HR team?

Still thinking? I wish I could cite just one example, but I can't.

There's a reason for this. HR doesn't really appear to be in the business of improving performance through people. Instead, according to many line leaders, it seems as if their raison d'etre is to build processes that few embrace (read: performance management, succession planning, and just about anything else they produce) and introduce them at exactly the wrong time. This disconnect from the business is, unfortunately, widespread and validates leadership's belief that HR is in a world of its own, doing things to us rather than for us. Is it any wonder, then, that HR has to force its way into the business's core strategy discussions?

It's sad, because the people of HR are talented, dedicated and eager to help their organizations thrive. But all their talent, dedication and eagerness are no match for the history of largely burdensome administrivia they and their predecessors have foisted on their organizations. It's also sad because there's never been a time when the true possibilities HR offers are more desperately needed.

Without doubt, it's time for HR to kick it up a notch. And here's what's needed:

1. A new name. Just about anything is better than Human Resources (though 'Human Capital', like many HR consultancies are using is, indeed, worse). Why not something that's descriptive of the function and a tad more modern? Like, perhaps, 'People & Performance'.

2. A new mission. Enough with enhancing commitment, engagement and/or morale. And, please, enough of trying to be the employer of choice. Instead, how about something tangible, elegant and bold:

• We will help improve the overall performance of our organization by:

-- Hiring people who will become top performers quickly

-- Developing ways to enlarge our pool of top performers

-- Building leaders who produce outstanding results

-- Optimizing the performance of every one of our functions

3. A new delivery system. Want to connect with the business? Be part of the business. Move quickly to a 'Business Partner' model, where each Business Partner reports, at least on a dotted-line basis, to a line leader. And be sure that each Business Partner actually knows the business they are trying to help.

4. New skills. Don't make the same mistakes again. New names, new missions, new organizations mean nothing without producing results. Make sure you have people who can deliver the mission. You're at the table. Have something to say, something that helps your leadership win in the marketplace.

Sound reasonable (if a bit scary)? Cool. Get started.

And That's The Way It Was

Forty years ago today, in what hopefully will never be a footnote in a history book, two men landed a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon. While Michael Collins circled above, Buzz Aldrin (shown here) and Neil Armstrong (reflected in Buzz's visor) were the first from Earth to walk on a truly alien surface. Supported by a nameless and faceless cast of tens of thousands, these men had accomplished something previously thought to be beyond rationality.

To land on the Moon, explore its dusty, desolate surface, and to come home alive was something at the time we could only dream about, read of in the stories of Robert Heinlein, or fantasize about while watching Star Trek. Indeed, for those old enough to remember, the Space Age on Earth began in the 1960s, well before microwave ovens (thank you, NASA), velcro (again, thank you, NASA), PCs, Macs, CDs, DVDs, DVRs, and warp drive (NASA, we're waiting).

While they were on the Moon we were, get this, rolling our car windows up and down by hand, getting up to change the channel on our black and white television set, and getting full meals with linen in Coach on flights from Cleveland to New York City. Not only were there no cell phones, we were actually dialing our phones. Speaking of phones, according to NASA the PDA you're carrying probably is more powerful than the computers on Apollo 11, the mission that took us to the moon.

But, despite the dearth of technology, they did it! And they did it with courage, a commitment that transcended conventional wisdom, and with a singular focus that enabled them to overcome the vast number of challenges standing between Earth and the Moon. Without doubt, an unparalleled accomplishment.

And to whom should we give credit for this explosion of creativity, productivity and, ultimately, a romantic stroll by two guys on the surface of the moon that would change us forever?

Thats' right. John Kennedy.

You know the story: On May 25, 1961 President Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the audacious -- some thought reckless -- goal of sending an American safely to and from the Moon before the end of the decade. He had his reasons -- national security, a 'space race' with the Soviet Union -- but he didn't have the first clue as to how to get it done. But there he was, in front of Congress, stating that we would go to the Moon in less than nine years. Truly a bold, inspirational goal. A grand vision for a country which, while in the midst of the Cold War, did not have its eyes turned to the stars. A high-risk challenge to an entire administration if not the entire country. Yet, less than nine years later, Neil is taking home movies of Buzz from 239,000 miles from home.

Now that's what I call leadership. Setting a bold goal. Inspiring others to act brilliantly, to accomplish something extraordinary. And, critically, achieving that goal. Alas, Kennedy did not live to see Buzz and Neil play on the Moon but that in no way diminishes his role in this fantastic achievement. (And who knows? Maybe had Kennedy lived we'd now be using warp drive.)

In the midst of recalling this example of great leadership and the accomplishments it inspired, let us also remember someone who played an important role in our quest for the Moon. Someone who was an outstanding leader in his own right. Someone we trusted. Someone who was honest with us even as he was the consummate professional. His sadness in reporting the death of John Kennedy. His bold statements about the stalemate of the Viet Nam war. His joy in watching Armstrong walk on the Moon. You taught us a ton, Walter, and we'll miss you.

One last thought: Who might you inspire this week to act brilliantly, to achieve something extraordinary? Don't be shy. This is a good week for inspiration.

In Awe

Welcome back to the Job of Work after what we hope was a wonderful weekend. In the States we celebrated the courage and audacity of a few to risk everything against the then mightiest country on Earth in the pursuit of freedom and, of all things, happiness. Talk about going for it! Not only did these men put it all on the line for what they believed in, they could write, too. Take a moment sometime to read the Declaration of Independence. Without doubt, it’s one of the most brilliant Dear John letters of all time, with an amazing first sentence:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Thomas Jefferson, its author, was just warming up. His second sentence outshines the first:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Great use of caps, no? Think Microsoft Word would let you keep those words capitalized without a fight? ‘Creator’ for sure, but what about ‘Rights’, ‘Life’, ‘Liberty’, and ‘Happiness’? Am I alone in this or do you find Word to be a bit fascist in its unwillingness to let us express ourselves our way? A topic for a later time.

Jefferson goes on to outline a series of transgressions perpetuated by the Kind of England to justify the break-up – ‘For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent’ and ‘He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people’ to name just two – and ends with a line designed to bond the hearts and minds of the 56 who would eventually sign the Declaration:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Way to bring it, Tom! Talk about drawing a line in the sand, setting a bold goal and galvanizing a group of individuals into a unified team to attempt to accomplish something seemingly impossible. Anyone taking notes?

And while we in this country are still struggling to find the true meaning of ‘all men are created equal’, it is a time to reflect on the courage of those who would stand up and declare to the world: We choose freedom! We choose to pursue our own life! We choose happiness!

What do you choose?

Happy Birthday, America. Let’s hope you – and we – continue to grow wiser with age.