What's the Worst that Could Happen?

"As often happens, the 'tyranny of the urgent' overshadows the 'important' business issues that need to get taken care of first."

I'm quoting Charles T. Wilson at RiskSmart Solutions from an article about a risk management opportunity turned bad. The points he makes rang a bell for me in thinking about any number of issues that HR professionals are responsible for on a daily basis.

• Screening and hiring wisely
• Stepping up to disciplinary issues
• Creating harassment-, bullying-free work environments
• Developing talent for advancement and career enrichment
• Conducting retention interviews; engaging employees
• Ensuring compensation plans are competitive

And the list goes on…

Often updating or enhancing these and other areas (if they are not the crisis of the hour) gets pushed off until a "better time" or out to a point when you "may not be so busy," or when the priorities of the boss settle down a little. The risk management part then becomes thinking about what could possibly go wrong until you have time to work on these issues. What is the worst that could happen?

Could it be…

• Unexpected turnover and added costs — or worse
• Undermining of trust or safety with individuals acting out in the workplace
• Losing high potential talent to better opportunities elsewhere, possibly to your competition
• Lack of cooperation, collaboration, innovation

I encourage you to read Charles Wilson's article because of the importance and perspective he places so well on a personal tragedy that could have been avoided, but then I want you to think about your HR and organizational issues that could potentially lead to different but just as dramatic consequences if not addressed. Your next step then should be to step up and be proactive with those issues and not let what seems urgent today get in the way of what is important.

The April issue of HR Magazine also has an article on HR strategy and risk management in the Business Leadership section that I'd recommend you check out. It is entitled "Be a Ringmaster of Risk."

If you would like to talk about your important HR and business issues and what may be keeping you from getting to them as soon as you would like, contact us and let us at least share some ideas. We've been having these kinds of conversations with clients for nearly 23 years. We'll be glad to share what we have learned in working with others.

Best Regards,
Rod