As an HR leader, it can be tough to be excluded from meetings that you know you should be in, when you know that your role reaches and influences every part and aspect of the business.  
 
How do you articulate the importance of the HR function, and how do you make sure the decision makers understand the value of its role?
 
This article will help you to communicate the contribution of the HR team and why it is critical to involve HR at a strategic level to support the long-term business goals and outcomes of the strategic framework.   

Seventeen days.  That's how long they reckon it takes most people to ditch their resolutions and revert to old ways. Not long is it? Just over the length of a typical summer holiday, and we all know how quickly that passes by.
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Apparently 17 January is National Ditch NY Resolutions Day (who thinks these things up?!)

Whatever the time of year, if ever you find your commitment halo slipping a bit, don’t beat yourself up.  Instead, take a moment to step back, look at why that might be happening and establish a plan to address.  

Why do some people experience more success than others?

They seem to streak ahead while you are stuck at the starting line.

A lot of it comes down to holding onto beliefs that you have acquired over time, that limit your potential.  In coaching terms, we call these ‘self-limiting beliefs’. And there are lots of these gremlins lurking in everyone’s subconscious.  

How do you identify them?  Follow this simple three-step exercise.

1. Think of an area in your life that you have wanted to change but haven’t managed to yet.  It could be work, family, money, health… absolutely anything. 
2. Once you have that goal in mind, finish the phrase ‘I want…’ in one sentence
3. Next, finish the phrase ‘I can’t because…’ in one sentence.  You can complete this one multiple times for all the reasons you can think of.  Up to 5 reasons is ideal.

Now notice your responses. What are your answers telling you? Are you finding yourself holding onto one or more of the following self-limiting beliefs? 

Many people would describe strengths and weaknesses as being polar opposites of each other. Some things you are ‘good’ at and some things you are ‘bad’ at, right?
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Well actually, there is another way to look at this.

There are substantiated theories that challenge this idea. They frame strength and weakness as two parts of the same thing. Strengths and weaknesses have also been described as ‘mirror images’ of one another.
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Before we look at how you can do that, let’s get a bit more context...

Setting yourself apart from your co-workers can be tricky, especially if you work for a large organisation. A personal brand in the workplace is essentially what people know you for.

Remember, you are your brand and you live it every day.

It is your behaviour, your attitude, your skill set, your work history, the way you present yourself, and your social or professional connections. Having a positive and well-known personal brand could make all the difference when it comes to promotion time.

If you are in the running for a promotion – or you want to be – building your personal brand is crucial. It’s time to give yourself some personal PR and build a personal brand to get ahead of the rest!
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Here are my thoughts on where to focus your attention

How often do you get asked to after work drinks when you are the HR Director? I am willing to bet that the answer is… not very often!

How often do your colleagues (including the CEO) come and offload concerns and issues with you?  In my experience, frequently. 

And yet who do you have to turn to as the HR Director shouldering these woes? ​