3 New Year’s 2009 Resolutions for HR

1 – Feedback

Make a habit of giving feedback.  Most days the feedback will be positive.  When you have the habit of giving feedback, it is easier to give feedback when things didn’t go well, it is easier for the employee to hear the feedback and, best of all, every day is an opportunity to improve the process.  This is the cornerstone of “continuous innovation”.

2 – Documentation

Many employers make the mistake of only “documenting” behavior problems.  Good standards give employees a framework in which to grow – document jobs, processes, performance goals, values and competencies, decision factors…  Often, the process of documentation can lead to surprising improvements in behavior, profitability and efficiency.

3 – Attend a Seminar

Seminars are invigorating and refreshing professionally.  Attending a seminar can help draw your attention to areas that are not compliant or give you ideas for smoothing out a process.  Send as many members of your team to as many different seminars as you can each quarter.