Forming the Habit of HR Success

When I was 18-years-old, I sold books door-to-door.I was introduced to a very influential piece of literature called “The Common Denominator of Success,” written by Albert E. N. Gray. This little piece of literature is something I have read and re-read, taught from, and shared with others.I still carry it with me everyday (and it has been many years since I was 18).

Mr. Gray simply states, “The secret of success of every man who has ever been successful – lies in the fact the he formed the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do.”

If this was written in 2013, of course he would have replaced the word man with man/woman and he with he/she.But the essence of his message remains relevant today. The point of this simple, yet extremely profound, statement is to find what failures don’t like to do and form the habit of doing those things.

Forming Habits

You can apply this philosophy to any aspect of your life.

Failures don’t like to eat healthfully, so form the habit of eating better.

Failures don’t like to work out, so form the habit of exercising.

Failures don’t like to live within their means, so form the habit of budgeting.

The opposite of failure is success. When we learn the lessons from failures, we’re on the path towards success.

Successful HR Programs

I am involved in the field of Human Resource Outsourcing, so it’s helpful for me to explore what failures of Human Resources practitioners do. Making habits of these habits leads to HR success.

• Failure: Hire someone and just tell the new employee to “get to work.”

Successful HR programs form the habit of a structured and consistent on-boarding program.

• Failure: Don’t have consistent “rules of the road” for new employees.

Successful HR platforms form the habit of maintaining an employee handbook, safety procedures, consistent employee training, and updated job descriptions.

• Failure: Do not recognize employees for their accomplishments or steer employees in the right direction if they are not achieving expected results.

Successful HR programs will form the habit of having monthly, quarterly, or yearly reviews.

• Failure: Do not document employee performance.

Successful HR programs form the habit of having a system of consistent documentation.

• Failure: Have a job opening and hire the first warm body to enter their door.

Successful HR programs form the habit of exploring all potential candidates, pre-screening potential employees, and conducting a formal interview process.

• Failure: Don’t provide consistent structure.

Successful HR platforms form the habit of having reliable, continually-improving structures.

In most companies, employee payroll is one of the most expensive elements of running the business. Are you getting the most from your invaluable human capital? Are you succeeding in HR—helping your employees succeed, and driving your business to succeed?

Building the habit of HR successmakes all the difference.

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Have you formed the essential HR habits for success? What other habits can you add to this list? Tell us about it in the comments.