So far this week, people in my sphere have had to deal with marital separation, the death of a parent, the suicide of a friend and an extended unemployment run. I know about these things because I was asked to chat, to counsel, to love and to care. I listened much more than I spoke. I cried as expected. I did my best to show empathy, not in a forced way, but in a “we’re human together” sort of way.
And I know I am not the only HR pro out there doing this work. The care and compassion we show daily would stagger the imagination. We are uniquely set up to offer our giftedness to those we serve. I am keenly aware of the amount of community at work, at home and beyond that it takes to support one another. Those of us in HR often have a front row seat for it all.
I am reminded that AI won’t be taking that job anytime soon. We need not worry. I appreciate all the advances made in AI technology. I see what it can do, and I have had a robust seat to advise and to participate. I get it. I use it. I intend to continue to do so. And just like WALL-E, the need for human connection is vital for survival. The purely technical level of “living” was not enough (it’s such a good movie!).
I don’t envision AI sitting with someone whose spouse just got a terminal cancer diagnosis and provide true human interaction. The compassion component still remains human.
This is not a rant at all. It is a reminder to dig in deeply to the work that is deeply human. Our professional position needs us to be fully present for the relational component needed in employee relations. This is not merely a task to complete as part of a Human Resources Business Partner checklist (and if that’s how you’re treating it, today is a great day to change). I am just as convinced that our work has pivotal value in engagement, retention, organizational design and competency advancement as I have ever been. We make a difference to the individual as well as to the team and division in ways that are definitively ours.
And to the employee reading this, you matter. I know it’s been difficult. Life has offered twists and turns that you could not have predicted. And sometimes, life has given you the consequences of your actions; that, too, is true. But none of that defines you for the rest of your days. You can rise above it, not in foolish blindness, but through authentic interaction with others. Be a part of the community that helps to lift you up as well as where you can lift others up.
One HR person for your 90-person organization won’t be able to do all the heavy lifting alone, for instance. The community needs people. Each of us can play a role by using our gifts and abilities to support one another. That’s why when one of you leaves because you don’t feel supported or don’t know how to offer support, it takes a minute to rebound. Without you, there is a hole that must be addressed.
Look, this is not about warm and fuzzy (though I have been known to enjoy a moment or two like that). It is about the human condition and how we can support it. A piece of technology won’t handle it. We need humans to be humans in the best ways possible. What can you do today to take a proactive step towards it?
And thank you, HR, for leading the charge in our organizations. You are seen.