The Five things I did wrong as a Director of Human Resources

Flashback to March 2020

We all kept a watchful eye on the news in March of 2020. We decided to take the kids to the science center one last time before the impending shutdown. It was weird to be around people. I remember vividly wondering, “do they have the virus?” It felt like a sci-fi movie. I’m glad we did take them that day because for a long time after that weekend in March, we did nothing outside of the house. Things were different for sure, but I didn’t realize how different it would be for my field of expertise.  

The Human Resource Department at a small company often wears many hats. With the shutdown, I had to constantly watch the news, pay attention to what was happening with the virus, follow Pennsylvania’s mandates, and write policies that never existed before. I created a Safe Work Playbook and updated it weekly based on CDC guidance. I was exhausted. Cleaning protocols, contact tracing, and unemployment claims became the daily tasks on top of what I usually did! What I learned during 2020 has kept me going through 2021 and prepared for 2022. Here are the five things I did wrong as a Director of Human Resources during the pandemic.

ONE:

I thought I had to have all the answers: Let’s face it, we all like to have all the answers all the time. I didn’t have all the answers, and I found that not having all the answers is entirely okay. Yes, it’s how we feel smart, but I learned that I employ intelligent people. I learned to let them find the answers and trust their judgment.  We can’t have all the answers all the time. It’s important to let others in our charge grow. My HR department has their specialty areas. We’re all experts in something, but not everything. I thought I had to know everything all the time, but I was wrong. I continue to challenge my team to get the answers so we can all learn in the processes.  

TWO:

I felt I wasn’t doing enough:   Notice I said, I FELT like I wasn’t doing enough. FELT. My feelings were interfering with the actual truth of the situation. Retrospectively now I look back since the pandemic’s beginning, and I WAS doing enough. When you feel like you aren’t doing enough, stop, count your blessings and give yourself some grace! I ensured my company employees had all the information they needed regarding layoffs, benefits, paid sick leave, and return to work status. Plus, we had two children at home for two years of schooling. I was and continue to do enough.

THREE:

I didn’t disconnect from work: Working from home had a bad rap for many years. Company managers across the globe felt they couldn’t trust their employees if they weren’t in the office. I found myself at the other end of the spectrum. I would start checking emails and log in as soon as my husband left for the day. I would work non stop until I heard his truck pull into the driveway, often times logging off and running downstairs pretending I was already cooking dinner. He is not a fool and knew that I was working well over 12 hours a day most days of the week. I didn’t give myself a mental break. I hardly got up to take a break. Now, things are different. Of course I dedicate my days to work, but now, I shut it off. There is nothing that can’t wait until the following day, and if it can’t wait, the appropriate people know how to get a hold of me. Life is too precious to dedicate everything to work. I have a home life I love and intend to take care of my family first.

FOUR: 

I didn’t do a mental health check: I didn’t do a great job checking in on family, friends, coworkers, and colleagues. I was so busy keeping our ship navigating in the right direction that I forgot to check on the other ships in my fleet. The last two years have taught me that we often feel isolated and alone. I’ve made it a point to send the text when I’m thinking of someone in the last few months. I sent a text message to an employee the other day who was on my mind. I felt a sense of concern for her, so I sent her a text message telling her that I was thinking of her and that I wanted her to know how much she is appreciated. She told me that she cried when she got it. She said she has no idea how I knew that she needed to hear those words. My little secret is that I believe the Spirit whispers to us and we need to listen more often. We are not supposed to navigate life alone. Make a point to connect with people. I love going into the office and collaborating with my team. I hate wearing a mask for one reason and one reason alone. I miss smiling at people. Take time to listen and talk to the people in front of you. You may be the only person that shows them love and compassion. Your mental health depends on your willingness to admit that you’re struggling with something. Take some time for yourself. Meditate, pray, reflect and again, give yourself grace. We will make it through this and we’re not alone!

FIVE:

I hosted several self-pity parties: I was undoubtedly impatient for the “end of the pandemic.” I was frustrated being stuck in the house all the time, not seeing my family. I felt like nobody had any clue was I was enduring. It was indeed a self-hosted pity party. While I had real struggles, others fought more significant battles. Some fought cancer and depression alone, and many lost their jobs. Some families lost loved ones and couldn’t mourn their loss. Weddings were canceled or postponed (mine included); babies were born without their dads being present. Take a moment to stop and think about how much worse the situation could have been. Have grace for the people you work with daily. Everyone we meet is going through some battle. Give thanks! Everything is going to be okay! When you feel like you’re in the middle of a self-hosted pity party, call yourself out. Tell a friend or coworker. Talk through the situation, and you’ll feel better! 

Through my working years, I’ve kept striving to do better, to be a better leader. I know I did a lot more wrong than the five things outlined above for sure, but I refuse to dwell on all I did wrong. I want to focus on improving to do things the right way, a better way.

What are some things you did wrong during the pandemic and how did you improve yourself? I’d love to hear your feedback.