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Out of the blue in addition to your other responsibilities you’ve been placed in charge of Human Resources. This happens within many small businesses as they begin to grow. Someone is given a title, perhaps with a remark, “I know you will do well.” Don’t panic. You are not alone. And luckily there are resources available to you . . . and you probably will do well.
You need to take Human Resources seriously, but not to the point that it immobilizes you like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. As you gather your wits about you and begin making plans, there are two main areas you should be aware of: legal issues and improving your workforce. Actually, consider the two main areas plus the budget. The longer you are involved with HR the more you’ll know, and since there are roughly four dozen HR categories for training, you need to realize there are many things to learn, but as a beginner there are only few basics you need to cover.
Legal Issues:
Improving Your Workforce:
Learning more about legal issues will protect you and your organization. This is the best place to start. When hiring and firing there are some things you can do and some things you can’t do. There are training videos that will take you step by step through the interview process for hiring, so you hire a person that meets your qualifications. One of the best training videos for this is a product called More Than a Gut Feeling. This program has been around for years and has been updated repeatedly. The video comes with a training guide as well as a the book, More Than a Gut Feeling.
Training points from the package include:
As you can see, the package gives you a good baseline of information to help you select the best candidate and it also gives you information about the kind of questions you shouldn’t be asking. Before you begin firing anyone, you should also take a look at legal issues in firing as well, but hiring will probably be your first need.
Every worker has the right to expect that they will work in a safe and respectful workplace. This is why each organization has the obligation to be aware of problems with harassment (harassment, sexual harassment, and workplace bullying), the ADA (American’s With Disabilities Act), and the acceptance of diversity. A policy encompassing workplace violence and harassment prevention along with respectful treatment is a must. There are many products to help you develop your own policy manual and many even come with blank form for you to fill out.
Once the legal aspects of employment have been addressed, you can move into training. There are special assessments you can purchase to address your training needs as a whole as well as the needs of individuals within the organization, but as a newbie Human Resources Director, I would recommend you simply meet with your fellow employees and brainstorm about training and education needs. The more you communicate with your employees, the better understanding you will develop with them about their abilities.
Possibly the best place to start in training are the areas of team building and communications. If your organization isn’t working as a team you make management harder and if communications isn’t working you make most aspects of working together almost impossible.
Training videos may run between a few hundred dollars up to a thousand dollars or more. Many of the John Cleese business training tapes cost about $870, while Jamie Oliver’s new tapes (of the Food Channel) run a little over a thousand dollars to purchase. Renting is an option, but I follow the “better to own the cow” philosphy. The John Cleese videos use lots of humor to illustrate their points and Jamie Oliver is really popular, so both of these factors make these training videos well worth the money.
There are more economic tools available, however. There are pre-packaged workshops for off-the-shelf training that contain scripts, handouts, and overheads (all on reproducible .pdf formated files) AND an illustrative video accompanies the presentation all for less than $400. You can adapt the script for presenting a half day workshop or as much as a two day workshop. You can put the workshop instantly into your schedule and then bring it back for review (and new employees) a year or two later. And, of course the second time you use the package, there is no additional charge.
You can also purchase three-ring binders which contain simple activities, which can be used time and time again. Activity collections are available for many HR training categories and cost around $140.
I recommend you plan a budget that enables you to begin stocking a library of products. You can add to them and share them with fellow workers and managers. As you share programs and your desire you improve your organization you should be able to find fellow employees that will help and assist you.
You can start off your Human Resources career by initiating your own training programs, by hiring HR trainers to come in an consult with you and possibly run programs that you can run the next time around, or by hiring professionals at each level of training. The needs of the employees and your budget should be your guiding light.
Human Resources should be both fun and challenging. Enjoy.
Author Don Doman: Don is a published author of books for small business, corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which provides business training products. Don also owns and Human Resources Radio (http://www.humanresourcesradio.com), which provides business training programs and previews 24-hours a day.
Are you feeling motivated to set some strong goals for this year? Write down those New Year’s resolutions and get going, right? Most people write down lofty resolutions that they think they should want and rarely stick to them, losing motivation and focus within three weeks of their “good intentions.”
This is a brand new year of limitless possibilities. Do you want to:
I’ve got a gut feeling it’s going to be a GREAT year, a BIG SUCCESS year. So, forget writing down resolutions. They don’t work. In fact, the whole idea doesn’t really inspire action. So, let’s change that.
Start thinking about 3-5 things you want, really want for yourself this year. Not what you should want, or what you think would please others. Dream a little. Think big. What are you passionate about? Entertain several ideas that make you smile, excite you, make you giggle, make you feel really good inside - no holds barred. Remove all mental barriers to holding these ideas clearly in your mind.
Now, put your attention fully on one of the things you want for yourself this year. Visualize and see yourself already there, living it! Creative visialization is a powerful tool of attraction.Our minds cannot tell the difference between something real and something intensely imagined. Hold that picture in your mind. (Do this daily!)
Does this picture excite you - make you want to have it?
How would your life change if you got (achieved) this one thing you really want?
What would you have in your life that you don’t have now?
Now, the next step is very important. You must decide to go for it. Choose to have what you really want NOW - not someday or tomorrow. NOW. Say YES to yourself instead of saying no. Making the decision fuels your intent to take action.
3 Tips to Get on Track
1. On paper, clearly describe the 3-5 things you really want. I suggest using statements beginning with the phrase ” I intend to…” vs. I want, I hope for, I wish to, I’d like, I desire etc. (too wishy-washy). Taking a stand with strong definitive statements reflects your commitment to succeed. (This first step is important in creating your road map to achieving your goals. If you don’t define the results you want, how do you know where you’re going?). Feel like being creative? Make a collage or dream board for a visual aid in keeping your focus.
2. Moving forward, break down your action steps into smaller steps over a shorter time period like 30 days. For example: your goal is to increase your income - your first step may be to explore options to generate more money. Another step may be to look at your skills and talents for further ideas. A third step may be choosing something you have always wanted to do, something that you love that has the potential for additional income. Maybe it’s a total change of career. The first month may be devoted to doing research and personal exploration.
3. Identify potential obstacles and struggles that could prevent you from reaching your goals. Develop strategies to keep yourself motivated and focused such as reading and listening to positive materials, surrounding yourself with encouraging, uplifting people, joining a mastermind group. HIRE A COACH! Note - let go of using the “money excuse” that you can’t afford to get what you want. Invest in your success. It costs money to make money. How much do you think NO is costing you to stay where you are?
5 Tips to Stay on Track
1. Resolve unfinished business. Either clear the past ( make apolgies, speak your mind, forgive someone or yourself) and let it go.
2. Stay strong if you’re feeling FEAR. Bring your attention back to the present. Fear creates uncertainty, worrisome and anxiety producing thoughts. (”What if” thinking, Am I going to be okay?) Fear looks at the future and worse case scenarios. Focus on past successes for confidence.
3. Eliminate negativity. Notice the chatter in your head. How do your emotions speak to you inside? What you think affects how you view a situation. Ever heard the phrase self-fulfilling prophecy? Your viewpoint affects your decisions and actions; therefore your attitude directly affects the outcome. Take a look at the people you associate with. Are they uplifting or do they bring you down? Be selective about who you’re with - being around consistently negative or fearful people is draining and disheartening.
4. Keep up your self-care. Taking good care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is a key factor in staying strong and focused under pressure.
5. Celebrate along the way. Taking the time to recognize measurable successes motivates continual commitment to your goals.
“The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming. You cannot believe what it does to the human spirit to maximize your human potential and stretch yourself to the limit.” Jim Rohn
It’s a New Year. Make it a GREAT one!
Copyright 2005, Lorraine Cohen
Lorraine Cohen of Powerfull Living (http://www.powerfull-living.biz) is a Business Coach and Life Strategist and Team Member of Solo-E (http://www.Solo-E.com). Lorraine Cohen is a Business Coach & Life Strategist who brings more than 25 years of experience in life coaching, counseling, and sales. She helps people through career change, life transitions, and the process of breaking through FEAR and removing barriers to success.
Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com, the lifestyle-inspired online learning and connection community. Visit now to receive a free copy of our special report, The Four Secrets of Solo Entrepreneur Success, plus a complimentary 30-day membership.
The Leadership Challenge
Leaders in today’s society are faced with an increasingly complex challenge: To deliver business results in the face of rapidly changing conditions, while building team members’ capacity to address the future. While organizations are becoming generally flatter, less hierarchical, less “command-and-control,” individual managers must still determine which leadership style to employ. As leaders, we may recognize the value of developing our delegation and facilitation skills, but be unsure whether we can use them in every case, and still get the results we desire. This is where a flexible leadership workshop can help.
Diagnose and Apply the Appropriate Style for Every Situation
The Flexible Leadership Workshop is designed to provide today’s leaders with the tools they need to apply the right leadership style to every situation. Some models for situational leadership focus only on the readiness of the individual; some models are too complex to use effectively in the workplace.
The Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness (CMOE) has created a learning experience that provides:
Participants in this leadership workshop will learn to delegate more effectively, facilitate discussions when involvement of team members is required, establish clear commitments and accountability, and know when each style is appropriate to the situation. For leaders wishing to strike the balance between personnel development and getting things done, Flexible Leadership provides a helpful road map to guide their decisions and efforts.
To find out how CMOE can assist with your Leadership Workshop needs, contact our team toll free at (888) 962-6224 or visit our website.