Becky White

"Seek opportunities to learn from others," especially those on your team. It’s important to remember the human factors at play here. Be patient as you work to embed your vision and values. Understand that it takes time to build these relationships, and allow folks the opportunity to come with you as you build.

These are all good places to start for building or strengthening your support network. I’d add one more; get a coach. I got leadership coaching through BetterUp just in the past couple of years. Now, I will advocate for coaching on every team for the rest of my working life. Having an independent third party that specifically focused on improving MY ability and experience as a leader was a game-changer. If you’re the problem, a coach can help you figure that out. If you need a different boss or working environment to thrive, a coach can help you figure that out. If you need therapy for burn-out, a coach can help you figure that out. The point of coaching is to build skills like resilience. Get a coach.

My unpopular HR opinion: we are over-indexing on “getting up to speed” in onboarding, to the detriment of the business. “Orientation” is almost always too much, too fast, for a human being to learn, digest, and assimilate well. What’s the worst that would happen if we slowed down? What if we did take an extra day, or week, or even month, to make sure our new people aren’t already drowning before we show them where we keep the life rafts? Yes, there’s a balance to be found with the needs of the business. Doesn’t every business benefit from a positive new hire experience that directly contributes to longer-term retention?

While you work to upskill or reskill with the goal of a Senior HR Manager title, make sure you are also upskilling your self care routines and support networks. The bigger the role, the bigger the drain on resources. Replenish frequently and fully. Impactful and effective leadership starts with how the leader shows up.

In my experience, by the time I identified burnout and compassion fatigue, I was too far underwater to get myself out. The most critical act of self-care was acknowledging that I couldn’t find my way alone, and getting professional help. Most EAPs offer access to mental health support. Most mental health providers are trained in cognitive behavioral techniques that can aid in reframing even the most challenging situations. It’s okay to ask for help. Your employer likely pays for that service in the hope that the employees will actually use it. Be proactive. Reach out. It will save you a lot of time and misery in the long run. A better me is better everywhere, not just at work. I’m grateful I found a way to get better!