FWD: today is all about you! 🫵

Hello!

This is Mariam Mushtaq from HR Brain Pickings - bringing to you this week’s first edition. 🚀 

And let me start off by wishing all of our readers a very happy International HR Day! 🙌 Kudos to your passion for people and for showing up for your employees everyday! 💝 

In This Edition:

This edition is going to be all about YOU! 🫵 Why it's important for HRs to manage their mental health, how you can show up for yourself, and thrive in the ever-evolving workplace.

HR and Mental Health 🧘 

Organizations are increasingly focusing on employee well-being programs - which is GREAT - but what about the mental health of the folks who design and operate these programs?

To build truly healthy organizations, HR leaders - listen up! 👂️You must first prioritize your own mental well-being. This not only enables you to model healthy behaviors for others but also ensures that YOU are in the best position to foster a supportive and resilient workplace. 🌟

Paul Wolfe, an HR consultant, shares his perspective, "By sharing my experiences, I encourage others to do the same, thereby reducing stigma and promoting understanding. Practices like openly discussing stress management and the importance of mental health days help normalize these practices."

However, this responsibility can be a source of ADDITIONAL stress. 🤕 (can’t catch a break can you? 😭)

SHRM data reveals that 80% of HR professionals find managing the expectations between executives and employees stressful, and 77% feel caught between the strategic vision set by leadership and the practical realities faced by employees.

Additionally, 36% report that hearing employees’ distressing stories negatively impacts their own mental health.

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HRs: Here’s how YOU can show up for yourself 💪 

1. Take time to practice wellbeing 🧘 

Let’s face it: y’all are under a lot of pressure. 🫣 Self-care is, without a doubt, one of the most important skills for you as an HR professional. 🧑‍💼 

Here are some tips from HR experts on practicing self-care as an HR professional:

• 🗓️ Setting Boundaries: Lisa Sanchez, SHRM-SCP, vice president of HR at ArtCenter College of Design suggests setting boundaries by using polite refusals and alternative scheduling suggestions when needed.

• 🗣️ Managing Capacity: It's crucial for HR leaders to be honest about their limits. Sanchez also recommends openly communicating to your manager / peers, when you're too overwhelmed.

• 🙅 Avoiding Overcommitment: Ali Bebo, CHRO at Pearson, highlights the significance of saying no things to avoid burnout and stress. This helps prioritize important tasks, leading to better performance and productivity.

• ⚖️ Focusing on Control: Jenna Glover from Headspace advises focusing on actions within your control, recognizing team achievements, and maintaining constants like a consistent bedtime or regular exercise to foster stability.

2. Reflect on personal achievements 🏆️ 

Take a moment to think back on everything you’ve accomplished in the past year. Whether it’s personal development, career growth, or networking, your achievements as an HR professional deserve to be celebrated. 🌟

Did you complete a new HR certification program? Maybe you got a promotion? Or perhaps you mastered all there was to learn in your old role and decided it was time to switch tracks. 😎 

[Action Required] Honestly take a piece of paper right now, and write down 5 things you achieved as an HR professional. Whatever your accomplishments, they’re worth celebrating. 🥂 (scroll down below to get a free reflection worksheet for HRs 👇️)

3. Connect with other HR professionals 🤝 

As an HR professional, it’s always beneficial to connect with your peers, share best practices, and exchange insights. One of the best ways to do this is by joining online HR communities where you can connect with thousands, or even millions, of HR professionals around the world. 🌍

And lucky for YOU, we have our HR communities! 🎉 You can join The Shape of Work Community by Springworks - a vibrant space for HR and People professionals. Share your questions, ask for advice, and lead discussions—all in one place! 🌟

(Pssst... you can also sign up to get early access to our newest community for HRs, focused on AI. 🤖✨)

Bonus Resource: HR Self-Reflection

What’s Inside: A quick worksheet designed to help you reflect on your achievements as an HR professional. If you're a team leader, this is a fantastic resource to share with your team. Today is the day to celebrate everything HR 🙂 

Today’s HR Reads for You 📚️ 

1. Employees vs Employers: Who’s winning the RTO battle? 💪 

2. Gen AI Adoption: How these People leaders are doing it 🤔 

3. Are you guilty of ghosting? 🫣 8 in 10 hiring managers say they’ve ghosted job candidates

EngageWith Feature Highlight 💡

💬 Instant Thank Yous: With instant recognition, it takes less than a minute to say thank you to your co-workers! Make someone’s day brighter by simply saying thank you. 🤗 

Have you signed up yet? 🤔 

ICYMI: The Shape of Work: AI x HR Playbook 2024 event last week was a success! 🚀 

If you missed it, don’t worry - we’ve got great news: we will be sharing the recording with all our early access members!

TSOW: AI x HR is a vibrant space where HR professionals continue to share, learn, and connect about the latest in AI integration within HR. And it’s completely free! Get a sneak peek into what the community is about 👇️ 

That’s a wrap for today!

Got any additional feedback for me? Let me know! 👇️