HR Unleashed!! by Steve Browne

Author:Steve Browne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Human Resources
Publisher: Society for Human Resource Management
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16.

Thread People

Did you know my wife is amazing ?? It’s true. She’s not only been my better half for nearly thirty-three years, but she balances me in a way few others do. She puts up with all of the involvement I’ve had in various volunteer leader roles, and she’s encouraging and supportive of the speaking and writing I’ve done. She’s given up time together and has allowed me to explore how to connect and communicate with the global HR community. She nudges me each Saturday to make sure I consistently write a blog post each Sunday. How freaking cool is that ?!

Whenever I open my laptop to put something together, she coyly asks, “Do you need me to give you an idea again this week?” She giggles and continues, “You know, you rely on me for these ideas every week.” I roll my eyes, and we laugh. She’s the best. Let me take a moment to share a bit more about her because she is unique in today’s workforce. She’s held two jobs during her career. Two. Her first role lasted fifteen years, and she has been at her current employer for twenty-one years. What’s even more astonishing is her boss, who recently retired, had been working at her same employer for . . . forty-five years !! (I’ll wait until you get back up off the floor from shock.) So, to help you with some HR math, Debbie’s boss, Gilda, was at their employer for twenty-four years before Debbie joined. It’s astounding.

During their time, they have seen turnover among leadership and coworkers. People have come and gone. Some moved up into greater roles, and others stayed at the company for a relatively short period of time. There were those who moved voluntarily for new opportunities at other companies or locations by moving out of the area. Some were asked to leave. This occurs at every company. Regular movement and mobility in companies isn’t unique.

However, Gilda and Debbie represent something that is too often overlooked and taken for granted in organizations. They’re thread people. Please note this is not a derogatory descriptor in the least. They’re the employees who provide stability, continuity, and reassurance, which is vital to a healthy culture. I’m not talking about tenure on its own. Tenure is valuable, but it doesn’t automatically mean long-term employees are productive and performing well. It does in many cases, but being a reliable thread woven throughout a company is far different.

Those who provide consistency are an integral part of a company’s fabric. You need to make sure you have those who fill roles as threads. These people should be valued and celebrated. If you can go to someone who is a fountain of knowledge and is approachable, willing, and capable of helping you, you should be grateful. They make work appear seamless and reduce the obstacles in your way to perform your job.

So often, companies focus on those deemed to be “high potentials” or senior leadership. We become enamored with people who are the most visible, vocal, and charismatic.

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