I used to believe my greatest strength as an HR leader was that I was approachable. My door was always open. My tone was warm. My responses were measured. People described me as diplomatic and steady. I wore those adjectives like badges of honor. I thought that was leadership. What I did not understand at the time was that I had confused approachability with avoidance. I believed that protecting relationships meant minimizing discomfort. I believed that being supportive meant softening hard truths. I believed that if no one left a room upset, I had done my job well. In reality, I was protecting myself from difficult conversations. It took one leader and a very expensive lesson to make me see that clearly.
Tag Archives: Organizational Change
Why Your Company Should Embrace Organizational Change: The Case of Patagonia
If there’s something the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world, it’s that very small things, as small as a virus, can create big changes and make a huge impact. Change can be difficult, stressful, and overwhelming, but it’s inevitable and both leaders and teams of organizations need to develop specific skills to manage it. Although organizational change is usually seen as a negative thing, it is necessary and can lead to positive results. There’s no better example than the one set by Patagonia, an outdoor clothing company that embraces change and is inspiring other businesses to do the same through big & small impactful actions.