Is It Just Me or Is It Hot in Here?

Being of a certain age sooner than usual, I find myself either in a sweating homicidal rage or not sweating, but with the vapid look of market fish.

It ain’t pretty.  And it does not lend any IQ points either.

Luckily, the lion’s share of any HR work I do is done from the safety of my home.  Being an information junkie, I can research and sweat my brains out without anyone being the wiser.  But I do have one contract that requires going to an office and meeting with people. This is where things get a little dicey.

You see, I can be nice to anyone for ten minutes.  Beyond that, and the sneer I was born with starts to spread across my face.  And yes, if you are wanting to know, I no longer work with people as an HR generalist.  No need to contact any professionals.

As a woman in HR, it strikes me that the ability to be nice, accommodating, supportive, and for some reason that escapes me, the ability to do things with all Microsoft platforms is important. That the reason for being a savant with Microsoft Excel escapes me is probably why my career as an HR manager was short yet brutal.Don’t get me wrong, we need compassionate and supportive people in HR to help employees who are experiencing difficulties in their work, to help managers learn and apply the benefits of active coaching and performance management, and to help business owners grow the business through their people.  Furthermore, as a book reviewer, I am seeing a trend among leadership research toward a kinder, fairer and more humane definition of leadership.  This is good.

Break out the MBTI and the Big Five, and my profile starts to zero in on why my current direction toward research is a really good idea.  Okay, so I am an INTJ.  But I’m also agreeable and conscientious.  For 10 minutes, mind you.  How many people do you know that are genuinely excited to review a publication called “You’re Fired!  Just Cause for Dismissal in Canada?”  It’s a 2 binder set with a searchable DVD!  I know, right.

If the hot flashes have taught me anything, it ‘s that I can channel my “power surges” toward critical analysis of the latest research in our area and to find a way to get it to those women and men who are providing the sort of compassionate, gentle, smart, decisive, and strategic assistance to employees and businesses.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go change my shirt. Plus, my ten minutes is up.