The Advice I Didn’t Take

One year into my HR career I hired my first direct report.  I formed the job description, posted it on a jobs site and reviewed resumes as they came in.  I felt like it was a stepping stone for me professionally, and I looked forward to having someone to develop and mentor.

After interviewing candidates I ended up hiring a referral from a co-worker that was an ideal Specialist to assist my HR Supervisor role.  I could delegate a project with general guidelines and know it would be a success.

Fast forward several months, and due to a restructuring I inherited another direct report that didn’t turn out to be as easy to deal with.  Daily life in the office became a challenge, and since I was still fairly new to having direct reports I went to my manager for advice.  For the most part I felt that we were on the same page, but when another member of the team brought to my attention possible wrongdoing by my direct report, I was surprised to learn my manager and I didn’t agree on next steps.  Having been provided supporting documentation to the suspected violation, I was ready to investigate the issue and further discuss with my direct report.  My manager, however, did not think it needed to be investigated at the time and suggested waiting to see what came of the situation.

After thinking it through and discussing with another trusted colleague I decided to go against my manager’s advice and address the issue at hand.  Feeling that my own credibility was on the line if didn’t look into the matter, I was proud that I stood my ground and did what was right to acknowledge the problem.

You may find yourself in a similar situation where you are at odds with professional advice you were given.  Take it into consideration, but also ensure that you fully research the topic at hand to ensure you have all necessary information.  Discuss with your network to hear several other viewpoints, and if appropriate, consult your company’s policies and procedures.  Trust in your analysis of the case, and go forward with confidence in your decision on how best to handle.

About the Author: Heather Rose, PHR is an HR Professional with over 6 years experience supporting top organizations’ HR functions. In addition to her career in HR, Heather enjoys writing about her life adventures, reading and traveling. You can connect with Heather on LinkedIn.

Photo credit iStockphoto