{Labor} Relations and this HR Pro

As an HR professional and leader, I have touched just about all there is to touch in day-to-day organizational HR and after being in this game for over 18 years, I have come to the conclusion that I {suck} at labor relations.

Actually, I am pretty good but you have got to know that the very nature of the labor-management relationship can stress the people pleaser in me.

Collaboration, mediation, hold your line, give an inch, negotiation, agendas, partnership, and positions . . .  labor relations can be a running reel of contradictions.

When faced with contradictions in your HR life, what do you do?

Although I may come face-to-face with the desire to go tit-for-tat, it's just not in me to operate that way. I feel strongly about "no surprises" and even when the upper hand is mine, it is not often that I will lead with it. I never walk into a meeting unprepared yet as the ultimate optimist, I believe we can work through anything together - even if that means working to the point of agreeing to disagree.

That's not where my problems arise.

My problems arise when I break the #1 rule of business, human resources <and life actually> and I take things personally. 

You'd think after so many years of being in this game, I'd know better. Try as I might not to, it happens anyway and when it does, I can see it coming like a Mack truck. Thanks to a wonderful support system and creative coping techniques, I get it together rather quickly.

Labor relations. Pshw. My gig is up. You know as well as I do that this really has nothing at all to do with labor - pick a relationship, any relationship at all and the dynamics for me are the same. Relationship is the color of the glasses I see my world through.

Over the years, on request, I've tried to change the color of my lenses, but in the big scheme of things it's simply not happening. Nothing is going to change. I am not going to change.

Don't like it?

Sue me.

Photo credit iStockphoto

A Corporate Culture Resource Guide

Do you know Ben Eubanks?

One thing you'll quickly realize about Ben is that he never sits still. After the success of his HR certification guide, Ben has turned his sights to workplace culture. 

"I am a firm believer that having a strong culture at work is a way for companies of all sizes to increase engagement, decrease turnover, and build a sustainable business."

With that, Ben put together a guide to help you Rock Your Corporate Culture. With the main guide, worksheets, videos, and other bonus items that cover "hands on" applications of culture, readers will learn how to inject culture into the recruiting process, how to hire and fire based on culture fit, and how to influence and even change the embedded culture of the organization.

If you're interested in learning more about corporate culture, check it out to see if it's right for you.

If corporate culture is not your thing, check in at Upstart HR anyway just to meet Ben.

You will not be disappointed.

Dress Codes, Distractions and Olivia Newton-John

Nailing down collective support for appropriate business dress is like herding cats. What I see as an appropriate "wish I knew how to dress like that" outfit can be another's dress code violation.

When it comes to personal choices, we'll simply never all agree as human resource professionals, business professional or as individuals. That's the beauty of choice.

One thing we all can agree on is dress-as-a-distraction whether you are in a meeting, on stage presenting, or simply making your way across your company campus.

• Ponytails may be cute on some women <myself excluded> but add in a headband - regardless of what the headbands is made of - and the combination would catch my attention in a business meeting surrounded by suits.
• Combine the two with multi-hoop earrings? Not. When the hoops separate and one hoop flips up around your ear <because it will>, I'll just want to reach out and put it back into place.
• Throw on a brightly colored shiny cape-like top and you'll have my attention for sure.

There is a time and place for everything, even headbands and ponytails, and I am offering these examples only to make a point:

If the first thing people notice is your clothes, you are missing opportunities for people to notice you.

Heading for work? Unless you are Olivia Newton-John or Jane Lynch on Glee, leave the ponytail, head band, hoop earrings <and leg warmers> at home.

Cell Phones and Parental Controls: A Day In The Life Sunday

A few weeks ago, week the kid was pining for a cell phone. Actually, it's been a few months now but she kicked her efforts up a few notches recently with Christmas and her 11th birthday in sight. Today, she has a metallic blue phone of her very own - fully personalized the way she likes it.

What gives? No, it wasn't slide show she put together on "Why I Need a Cell Phone" <although it was a nice touch> that changed our minds. We started swaying that way after I lost the kid and just last week, it became the right time for us. She's swimming 3 nights a week at a local high school pool and is involved in early morning school activities.

Now that she has the phone, I am finding that I like the piece of mind and the cute texts I get from her before and after school. I will have to take a closer look at the 50 text messages to that one friend though . . .

So, she has the phone with unlimited texts but no internet connection <yet> and I am looking at parental controls for now and for when she get greater access.

I am going for controlled independence. Is there an app for that?

Lisa Rosendahl. Leadership. Human Resources.

Could you lend a blogger-girl a hand? Google me. Seriously.

I once wrote a post, Jingle Bells, Confidence and Fage Yogurt, and even now - one year later (!) Google and Squarespace analytics both show that Jingle Bell(s) is the number 1 search term that lands people here.

I know, I don't believe it either. Nonetheless, SEO Ninja that I am not, I know this isn't good news for a Leadership and HR blog.

This holiday season, it is my mission to knock you know what from the top spots of my search term Christmas tree and replace it with "Lisa Rosendahl," "leadership" and "HR."

Interested in spreading my holiday cheer? Click on the listing below or search "Lisa Rosendahl" and then click through to the blog when you see this listing:

Let's see if we can turn this thing around <without upsetting Google cheer.>

Nothing personal Santa.

Update on December 7, 2011 by Lisa Rosendahl

For the past 3 days, "Lisa Rosendahl" has been holding the top search term spot . . .  yeah! Thank you for playing along with me.

Technology and Tradition: A Day in the Life Sunday

Sitting in the dentist chair this week, I noticed the technology as the imaging machine came to me and the images were projected on the flat screen beside my chair. That ended as I opened wide, the suction tube was placed and the drill started up.

Really, with all the  technology today, isn't there a way to do this without the grinding of a drill in my mouth. Novocaine protected, I permitted myself the luxury of noting (to myself) how modern day dentistry can seem so 1903.

Why 1903? That's the date on my winter coat. It's a Stormy Kromer. 

I was introduced to the Stormy Kromer brand at the Duluth Pack store as I mocked my husband trying on caps, nice hat 'eh? Warm as they seemed to be, they were so . . . 1903. He was interested looking at the caps and, because this is the guy who weighs bike helmets and hiking boots to be sure he gets only the lightest, I knew we weren't going anywhere quickly.

My eyes <and interest> began to wander and a charcoal gray coat caught my attention. 1903? Nope, not for me. I be a modern girl.

I went up to the hi-tech keep-me-warm brands I love: North Face, Icebreaker and Ibex. I caught a glimpse of that charcoal gray coat on my way back down to the books. Next stop was the Hudson Bay wool blankets and then over to the lip balms.

There was that coat again.

Nope, I told myself, I couldn't even consider it after I made fun of the husband for going all 1903 on me. But I did it anyway. I went over, took it off the rack and tried it on. The fit was flattering, the cut unique and gray a great backdrop for other colors.

Putting my mocking pride aside, I bought it. With the temps on a downward slide and pockets big enough to stash a few hand warmers, I am wearing it with my 2011 red fingerless gloves and hope to add the Pajar Buzz Boots I have my eye on.

At times, I am torn between 2 worlds enjoying what is new with one hand while reaching for the comforts of the past with the other. What do I choose today? A book or a Nook? The Moleskine or Evernote? A Fa La Latte or a cup of tea? Shutterfly or Hallmark? Glossy or letterpress?

Tradition or trail blaze? I find myself at different sides of the equation at different times and that's ok.

While I once wondered if I was being true to whatever the heck I was supposed to being true to, I wonder no more. Mixing the new and the old is good for the soul but please, can we find another way to work on the teeth?