Creative HR - Why It’s Important

Image source: Pixabay

Eight days ago I attended one of those gatherings.It was the kind of get-together where creative types and corporate folks rub shoulders over drinks and chatter, whilst swooping on the canapés circling the room.

It was touted as a swanky soirée (serving champagne instead of sparkling wine) with an edgy vibe (local beer on offer too). Conversation sloshed and spilled out onto the balcony.“You are in HR right?”“Yes,” I inhaled. “Creative HR, more precisely.”I was rewarded with 3 reactions.Cool.Curious.Clever (make that rude). “That’s a bit of an oxymoron!” (Subtle, yet pointed extra emphasis on the ‘moron’).“Creative and HR together – I don’t see how that is possible!”Can you guess how this proclamation was delivered?Let me tell you. It was served slathered in sarcasm with a glint of a challenge to a verbal duel.I inhaled the tempting invitation. The eyes of the spectators swiveled in anticipation.I parried with silence. Not this evening, I decided.I swirled my glass, took a sip of the good stuff and exhaled; all the while smiling as I searched my mind for my Zen place.I didn't want to get into it then; but I will say this.It is true, the HR profession simply cannot continue as it has, unchanged and hoping to survive.There’s no doubt that we must stop the rot.How do we rewrite HR’s tired, doddery, old script?Here is one way to change the narrative.Global-minded HR pro, Steve Browne posed this question, covered in an article for Talent Management and HR (TLNT) - “How Do You Develop Creativity in HR?”In it, he gave a recap of 3 questions tackled by the attendees of HR Roundtable, Cincinnati.

1. Why is creativity squelched at work?

2. Why is it difficult to be creative in HR?

3. How can we foster creativity in ourselves and others?

I am not going to rehash HR’s failings, missteps and short-comings here.I am not going to mull over how maligned and stuffy the HR discipline has become.Don’t get me wrong, I understand the sticky predicament in which the HR function now finds itself mired.Read this excellent conversation starter article in full.Moving swiftly along, let’s zero in on question 3 and the responses.Now let’s go deeper into HOW can we (HR) foster creativity in ourselves and others?I’ve said this before. I believe HR is (an) art. Often, it may feel like a martial art discipline – but art it is nonetheless.My chosen path is Creative HR. It is a journey across unfamiliar terrain with unexpected opportunities for HR to make a meaningful difference and contribute value to the business.Explore beyond what you know and outside of the HR discipline.  Suspend your judgement and commit to trying something different.Give yourself the chance to uncover fresh ideas to do better and create something noteworthy. Approach and execute HR as a creative practise and an artistic medium.It might not work but (ad)venturing in and across different creative disciplines will certainly be an interesting trip.What have you got to lose?

How to inject creativity in your HR for noteworthy results

Art by Jessica Hagy

Art by Austin Kleon

Art by Austin Kleon

Art by Jessica Hagy

Art by Austin Kleon

Mercifully you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, thanks to the blazing trail already cut by noteworthy creatives.You will still need to do the work to create something different and relevant for HR.But their ideas and work gifts us an inspired place to start.Are you ready to get your creative juices flowing?Here are 7 ways you can inject creativity into your HR inspired by a few of my favourite creative thinkers and doers.1. Start with yourself. Create a purpose. Begin by putting the ‘human’ before the ‘resource’ in your thoughts and actions.“The precise role of the artist then, is to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through vast forests, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is after all, to make the world a more human dwelling place.” James Baldwin, Writer, novelist, poet, playwright, activist.Hmm! This sounds like the kind of purpose-fuelled, human-centric work worthy of HR.2. Small steps: Don’t wait for perfect conditions to make a giant leap. Sudden moves and bursts of creativity from HR may frighten unsuspecting colleagues and shock leaders within your organisation. After all HR is not known for being a fountain of creativity.Choose small projects with which to experiment. Use the cover of relative obscurity test out new ideas, unlearn, learn and create the new and the better. Build out bolder and expand from there.“Celebrate the incremental: Every page you read, every problem you solve and every idea you construct is a step toward a massive body of work and a deep library of knowledge. The little things do matter. Keep piling them on.”Jessica Hagy via Forbes, ’Be Your Own Role Model: 21 Ways to Earn Your Own Respect.Art by Jessica Hagy3. Knowledge is power (positive or negative depends how it is wielded). But knowledge shared is powerful. When knowledge is generously shared it becomes rocket fuel that can transform.Be curious about the new and the different. Keep learning and sharing. This is a power that you can use to power to transform yourself, your team and the organisation in which you work.4. Relevance: You must first find the right idea that serves your customers (your employee community and the business).But in order to do that you must first define the aspirations you can assist them to achieve and the problem-pain you can solve.Then create something that matters. Build it and test it's value with ‘The So What? Test’.5. Do Artful Work: “Anything composed with a touch of creativity and applied skill is a work of art. With thoughtfulness and care, even a mundane object can become a masterpiece—and thus a more valuable item. And focus on just one thing: It’s easier to become respected for a single task done well than for doing a thousand jobs decently”. Jessica Hagy via Forbes, ‘Prove You Matter: 5 Routes to Relevance’6. Care to speak human: Your Employee Handbook, contracts of employment and policies do not need to be written in ‘legalese’ to be considered legally sound or important. For the love of all that is sacred destroy all jargon-packed material.Focus on what is important and useful. When you do this, will be on the way to creating something of value. Ensure that any document or correspondence from HR is easily understood by all parties. This is how you increase the chances of the material being read, and if needed, followed.  The language used should reflect the culture and values of the business and support the tone of the relationship between employer and employee – human to human.7. Practise your art and hone your craft. First adopt a creative mind-set, take deliberate action. Repeat. Review. Adjust. Refine. Hone. Repeat. For best results and lasting transformation, practise these steps daily.

Wax on. Wax off HR-San

[embed]http://imgur.com/gallery/eTWHeaX[/embed]With regular practise, you will find your own groove and Creative HR style.Get ready to hurdle over frustration and to ignore push-back.Press on nonetheless; relevance, professional pride and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference through HR is yours for the taking.I would love to read your ideas in the comments.

• What ways are you adding creativity in your HR?

• How is it working for you and your organisation?

Be-Back-Soon

If you enjoyed reading this post, share it so other people can enjoy it too.My sources of brainpokes and inspiration2 books: 'Steal like an Artist' and 'Show your Work' by Austin Kleon.Drawings and stories by Jessica Hagy“I use graphs and charts to tell stories, jokes, and truths” The HR Rabbit Hole blog will be running on a summer schedule for the month of August. I will publish 2 new blog posts in that month.I’m taking some much needed time off to visit family and recharge so I can return full of energy and bubbling with ideas.On my travels I will be collecting cool and interesting ideas which will be the source of juicy future blog posts.I will be sending you bite-sized updates, discovered tips and ideas via Facebook and Twitter in between blog posts.Until we meet again down the HR Rabbit Hole…