My Biggest Failures in Human Resources & What You Can Learn From Them…
by Alan Collins
Failed at anything lately in HR? Tried anything recently that didn’t quite work out?
Well, congratulations!
You’re probably well on your way towards your next success.
Let me explain.
Every year about this time, I do a personal self-assessment of my total career in HR to date. Successes, disappointments and learnings for the future…you know the drill.
Again, this year was no different.
Except that…
This time I thought more deeply about my years in HR and discovered some things I didn’t realize before. After crunching some numbers, I learned that…
- I’ve interviewed for 24 different HR jobs I didn’t get.
- I’ve been passed over 5 times for HR promotions that I thought I was a lock for.
- I’ve gotten performance ratings lower than I expected on 6 occasions.
- I’ve hired 6 HR people for my team that I later fired for poor performance.
- I’ve had 4 big shot senior executives who hated my guts bad mouth me to my boss.
- I’ve led 3 labor negotiations that resulted in embarrassing strikes that I didn’t anticipate.
- I’ve facilitated lots of off-site client meetings (too many to mention) that ended up in the toilet.
- I’ve had so many of my best HR ideas rejected by upper management that I’ve lost count.
I also realized something else. I survived…and even more than that….I’ve thrived! In fact when I examined many of these situations, these disappointments and failures later set the stage for my biggest HR career breakthroughs and successes.
This is not unusual. From my discussions with many top HR executives, I’ve learned (usually after a round of adult beverages) that they all share one common theme: if they’re had off-the-charts success in HR, they’ve failed too…lots of times. You just may not know about them. Many of them just choose not to walk around bragging to the world about their screw-ups.
This is, of course, true even beyond HR. The most successful people on the planet have had some of the biggest FLOPS along the way.
For example:
- Steve Jobs was fired from Apple – a company he founded.
- Michael Jordan as a high school sophomore didn’t make his varsity basketball team — another sophomore beat him out.
- Donald Trump at one time was $1 billion in debt (yes, 1 billion!) and near bankruptcy.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series (400 million copies sold) was rejected by 12 publishers.
- Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because “he lacked imagination and had no new ideas.”
- Winston Churchill failed 6th grade and lost every election for public office, until he won and became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War.
Guess what? The world is filled with famous failures.
What all this says to me is simply this: If you’re in any profession — including HR — you’re going to fail.
Think about your career in HR. If you have ambitious career goals and you’re pushing the envelope with your clients, driving positive change in your business and trying to make a meaningful difference, you are on occasion going to get your head kicked in and rejected. It’s inevitable.
You may be disappointed that you didn’t get the feedback you expected. Or that HR job you wanted. Or the great promotion you craved. Or the performance rating or raise you lobbied all year for. Or the love from your clients you thought you richly deserved.
If that’s happened to you, no matter how painful that is, here’s one thing you should NOT do…
GIVE UP!
You may need a different approach, more training, a mentor, a partner, or wait for a different time…or something else entirely…but hang in there.
If you’re serious about attaining the goal, you must stay the course. PERSISTENCE is the key.
However, like most things, hanging in there is a lot easier said than done. So let me give you a role model of PERSISTENCE to follow. Someone you know. Someone whose career achievements you’re well aware of.
His name: Barack Obama.
Yeah, I know you may not like his politics. His stance on the war. Or on health care. Or on unions. Or on the economy. You may be a proud Republican. I get it. Believe me, I do.
But do me a favor and let’s push politics aside — for now.
And, let’s turn the clock back to 2008 and look at how he pursued his career ambition of becoming the President of the U.S.
First, he had the audacity to go after it. Secondly, he overcome huge obstacles and significant resistance to attain it. And, just for he record, here are just a few of the hurdles he faced…
- He was considered by many “too inexperienced” to be President
- He began as the underdog candidate behind Hillary Clinton and John Edwards
- He had to raise $400 million – the going rate for a serious presidential campaign
- He began his career humbly as a community organizer earning $10,000 a year
- With the middle name Hussein, he was dismissed by many voters who viewed him as a Muslim
- He was accused of associating with terrorists which alienated more voters
- He was accused of being a socialist which alienated still more voters
- He was blasted for attending a church for ten years headed by a reverend accused of being a racist
- His father left him at age 2, leaving him without a paternal presence growing up
- He was raised in modest circumstances by a single white mom and grandmother
- He was born in Hawaii – not known as a talent hotbed for those seeking national office
- He caused protests by those who accused him of not even being born in the US – thereby ineligible to run
- His wife was criticized as being “un-American” and the stereotypical “angry black woman”
- His trusted mentor, Vernon Jordan, strongly advised him not to run — and wound up supporting his opponent Hillary Clinton
- He freely admits having experimented with cocaine — which alienated some religious voters
- And, oh yeah…I almost forgot…no one other than a white male had ever become president.
Obviously, he had just a “FEW” minor obstacles to overcome.
Of course, Obama could have used any of these as excuses to say: “Hey, I don’t need all this grief and resistance. There’s no way the American people will elect me. Perhaps I should stay put. I’ve got 2 young daughters. A good marriage. You know, being the junior Senator from Illinois is not a bad life.”
Obviously, he didn’t succumb. Instead, he PERSISTED. And, the rest is history.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the obstacles you face in attaining your career goals in Human Resources are NOTHING compared what Obama’s faced in reaching his. If that’s true, then like Obama, you have two choices:
1. You can let these handicaps roadblock you, imprison your HR career ambitions or force you to give up…OR…
2. You can learn from your HR failures and mistakes regard them as merely temporary setbacks — and continue PERSIST and TAKE ACTION — recognizing that the breakthrough you’re looking for in your HR career is just around the corner.
The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant – and making your OWN history! Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. So get out there and try!
You’ll either succeed or you’ll learn a vital lesson.
The choice is yours.
Onward!
To comment or provide additional insights on this article CLICK HERE.
About the author: Alan Collins was Vice President – Human Resources at PepsiCo where he led HR initiatives for their Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Tropicana businesses. He is now Founder of Success in HR, Inc. and the author of the two HR best sellers, UNWRITTEN HR RULES and BEST KEPT HR SECRETS.
His NEW book, YOUR HR GOLDMINE is now is available on Amazon.
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January 22nd at 10:29 am
An excellent article which inspires one to look inwards, to introspect, and improve. Whatever Mr. Alan Collins writes and whenever he does, can make one to sit up… I have been doing so for several years. Thanks Alan, you are the finest thing which has ever happened to HR !
From :
Vikas Saxena
CEO : Professional Expertise Group
Bangalore (India)
+919844022017
http://www.professionalexpertisegroup.com;
vksaxena@professionalexpertisegroup.com
January 22nd at 10:32 am
HI Allan,
I really needed to read this today. I have things I am launching right now..including a workshop–Find, Develop and Keep Good People. It is wonderful however, I am a little afraid of taking the necessary action. Bottom-line–this newsletter really is good. Thanks for sending.
Gloria Willis
January 22nd at 10:40 am
Vikas – thanks, you rock too, man!
January 22nd at 10:48 am
Gloria – I just love the title of your workshop, “Find, Develop & Keep Good People.” No matter how it goes (and I’m sure you’ll razzle dazzle them)…you’re providing the solution to one of the biggest problems faced by organizations today. I hope your audience appreciates the value you’re delivering to them. If not tell ‘em – confidentally. P.S. This is also a great “HR goldmine” topic. Much success!
Best,
Alan
January 22nd at 11:00 am
Alan, spot on advice, as always. I just got your latest book in the mail yesterday can’t wait to get started
January 22nd at 11:06 am
Ed – thanks for stopping by…and for the support. Get that goldmine going!
January 22nd at 11:51 am
Dear Alan You are right. Persistence should be there. Without it, There is no success or history.
Also HR professional I believe the best advise keep going with flow. Don’t suggest many idea’s or try to do many changes because this may cause to end the career very fast with in the company
what you think?
please provide reply…I would request any oF YOU
January 22nd at 12:08 pm
BRILLIANT & for me, a fresh perspective at a critical time. I was fired from an HR Director position in a state job that was suffocating me. Good pay and benefits, but zero challenge and nothing but preserving the bureaucratic structure. Your encouragement at this point in time is God inspired and I thank you for it. I know everything happens for a reason, and I am empowered to make my own destiny. This reminder gave me the boost I need to face this next week.
January 22nd at 12:24 pm
Jerald – Love your perspective. You WILL be successful. Stay strong!
January 22nd at 6:13 pm
I love this article! Wish every career center that provides help for the unemployeed had this on their walls! It is very inspiring
January 22nd at 6:27 pm
Thanks Jacque
January 22nd at 8:36 pm
Alan,
This article is candid and full of wisdom. Much appreciated!
January 22nd at 9:33 pm
Alan,
Brave and inspiring article. In addition to future ‘resolutions’, it will be good to visit the past and make past “confessions” on failures, as part of learning forward.
Thanks.
January 23rd at 12:55 am
Hi Alan,
Thanks for inspiring with such an excellent article. It is not confined only to HR professionals but every business management professional can apply this learning. Very few articles impress me; this one is remarkable. Greetings and Best wishes for 2012.
siddik
January 23rd at 3:01 am
Dear Alan,
This is a very encouraging article; I totally agree with you success and achievements are a matter of Action and Persistence. I usually motivate myself and say “DO IT” and I take immediate actions and most times it works rightly. Sometimes, hidden matters that prevent me not to reach where I wish for.
No success is not Failure; it is learning cycle to succeed next time and find out ways to do things right.
I advise every HR practitioner to Plan and Act and they will learn all the way.
No Actions ……… No Experience ……… No SUCCESS.
Thank you all and wish you nice day.
Regards,
Lana EL MOUSTRAH
January 23rd at 3:18 am
Gr8 Article. I had my share of failures, whether they are interventions or programs. I even faced situations where prospective clients asking for detailed content designs, finalising terms and then backing out (probably using my notes to do the programs on their own?)
My mantra for persistence – Even if I don’t gain, I have nothing to lose.
Thanks Alan, for rejuvenating me and helping me to continue trying….
January 23rd at 10:46 am
Alan – wow, this is so timely when many of us are struggling in HR. Unemployment, underemployment, or trying to push the envelope in businesses that are struggling economically and therefore are cutting back on vital HR programs (training being one of many).
After some setbacks in my career I was struggling with the decision to stay in HR until a few months ago. One thing that was very helpful for me was to review my past accomplishments, as well as my personality (in preparation for interviewing). Then I remembered what a great fit I am for this challenging, ever-changing profession. Sometimes we focus to much on the negative, but you are so right when you say that we have to fail in order to succeed.
To all my struggling colleagues out there…stay strong! We are in this together.
January 23rd at 10:50 am
thumbs up for this article allan.. very inspiring…
January 23rd at 11:08 am
once again thank you sir , your articles are like oxygen which the hr people need badly . their is 1 question which i want to ask you ….why it is said that “HR PEOPLE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND BUSINESS?” …WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND BUSINESS? ..I AM WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY.
January 23rd at 11:22 am
Alan, great article. It caused me to pause and evaluate my own personal definition of ‘failure’. Obviously, if you give up completely, then yes, you have failed.
However, when you stay the course, that is, and should not be, considered failure. You’ve taken something that didn’t turn out quite right the first time, and you’ve made it work for you.
Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work”, and look what he gave us. Could you imagine where we’d be if allowed his ‘let downs’ turn into ‘give ups’?
In the April 2011 edition of the Harvard Business Review, the editor rekindles an old saying of, “nothing is a better teacher than failure.” And Alan, your article reminds us of this subtle, but harsh reality.
So, my quest continues, and it begs the question, should we strive to fail at least once in our lives? Interesting dichotomy no doubt, seeing as how the symbolic nature of the word ‘failure’ often brings people to their knees.
But the mind is such an interesting portal. If we strive to fail, odds are that we’ll probably end up succeeding anyway. I’m sure there’s some psychology in there somewhere that could give credence to this notion, but I’ll leave that to the experts, and just rest in knowing that, as long as we don’t quit – we can never, truly, fail.
GREAT ARTICLE ALAN. Thanks again.
Tashana
January 23rd at 11:53 am
Tashana – very thoughtful comments and excellent points! I especially like your point: “as long as we don’t quit, we can never truly fail.”. Powerful.
January 23rd at 12:45 pm
Alan, well said. I am going to pass this on to a group of HR executives I’m part of, many of whom are in transition, some for a very long time. They should find your article inspiring. Thanks for the lift to the community.
January 23rd at 1:40 pm
Nicely done. Thanks, Alan. When we tackle challenging work… the stakes are always high, the water rough and the ride hard and long… no matter… hold on, full throttle, and eye on the prize and you’ll emerge a winner. AJM
January 23rd at 11:12 pm
Jerry – thanks for passing this on – hopefully it be a point of light for those in transition. Thanks again.
January 24th at 10:19 am
Alan,
Very Inspirational article.
January 24th at 10:36 am
This is exactly what makes people want to follow a leader. They are not perfect people but have the will to persist and endure. Great perspective.
January 24th at 1:47 pm
Thank you so much, Alan. I am building a private psychotherapy practice, after years of depending on a regular corporate paycheck. Being passed over for jobs and promotions for which I was credentialed, experienced and qualified had become part of my professional journey. Persistence has kept me going, and your article validated the values of boldness, confidence and commitment to preparation and excellence. I am revitalized and dare to be successful. Thank you for sharing your “failures”.
January 24th at 6:49 pm
I have been unemployed for over two years now, and was ready to throw in the towel and stop job hunting, until I read your article. Your article has inspired me to not give up. Thank you.
January 25th at 12:14 am
Alan,
Good reminder as always. I think the Obama analogy was way off but the point was a good one.
January 25th at 12:25 am
Marie & Janice — Glad it was helpful. Stay the course. Wish you both much success!
January 25th at 12:27 pm
Alan,
Wow, we have alot in common. I always ask in interviews that I conduct as well as now in looking for a job, “What has been your greatest adversity and what have you done to overcome it?” The stories are always very telling about the character of the person.
Also, Jordan was not cut from his high school basketball team, that is a story that he likes to tell. Sports Illustrated has a great article on his high school coach. Jordan used it to fire his motivation. He was on the JV to learn how to lead.
January 25th at 1:08 pm
Thomas – Thanks for checking in. Did some more research on Jordan — YOU’RE RIGHT! So, I made a correction in the article.
Like everyone else, I assumed the story was true as well. When I did more digging, I found out that during Jordan’s sophomore year, his coach did select another sophomore over Jordan …the guy’s name was Leroy Smith…primarily because he was taller than Michael. Jordan from that time on used this to fuel his motivation…and as you said…saying that “I was cut from my high school team.” Interestingly, Jordan brought Leroy Smith to his Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony as the guy “who beat him out in High school” and made me become Michael Jordan.
Thanks for setting the story straight. Much appreciated.
Best,
Alan
January 26th at 11:25 am
Hi Alan,
I am reading all your articles on regular basis. Do keep posting all this stuffs for the younger generation who feels that SUCCESS is easy to chase.
I hope all new HR professional must have read this inspirational story.
Do keep posting and do share all your valuable knowledge.
Take Best Care
Sahaj Joshi
Indore
(India)
January 27th at 6:07 pm
Great article…excellent.
However President Obama had MORE years in elected office than HRC and Edwards had combined. He was a Illinois State Senator from from 1997 to 2004 and then a US Senator from 2004 until the presendency.
Had had MORE than 4 years in politics. Other than that tid-bit, this is a great read!
January 28th at 11:46 am
Ann – Great point! Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve updated the article accordingly.
Best,
Alan
January 28th at 3:19 pm
Wow this is an amazing story and very true! If we dont faill often then we are not successful!
Best Regards,
Loren
February 4th at 6:40 am
Success doesn’t depend on one factor. Some times great people fail, foolish enjoys, but use of wisdom changes the side of coin.
regards
Deepak Sharma