forward HR

Sp r i n g 2021 • forwardHR | 5 DIREC TOR 'S MESSAGE By Jackie Peterson, 2021 State Director, Wisconsin State Council SHRM Refresh, refocus, reconnect W hen deciding on a theme for the Spring 2021 forwardHR, I wanted it to be positive and forward looking. Refresh — Refocus — Reconnect is an opportunity to start over, to put 2020 behind us and build on the foundation of what is important: self-care, servant leadership and social connections. A fresh start begins with a deep breath and a plan. We all have a lot on our plates, balls in the air, irons in the fire, the list goes on and on. Keeping our work life, home life and volunteer life balanced requires emotional resilience. Taking a small amount of time out of our busy schedules just for ourselves is key to handling all our responsibilities and tasks while getting the most out of our lives. In her article, "To refresh, try a mindful approach," on page 10 Terri Dougherty, an editor at J. J. Keller & Associates, talks about how being mindful creates awareness of the moment, and she gives us seven fun ways to ease workplace stress. Deep breathing, exercise, meditation and yoga are all tools we can use to bring calm to our busy lives, even if only for a few minutes. SHRM's national campaign, "When I Grow Up," highlights the limitations placed on human potential through poor people management, toxic cultures and practices that allow inequity to thrive in the workplace. We, as HR professionals, must lead the way to drive more effective inclusion practices. We need to model the behavior we want to see and raise a generation of servant leaders. In a Dec. 3, 2020, article on Indeed.com's Career Page — www.indeed.com/career- advice/career-development/servant- leadership — servant leadership is defined as "a management style in which you lead by putting the needs of your team first. Servant leaders believe that when their team members feel personally and professionally fulfilled, they produce higher-quality work more efficiently and productively. Employee satisfaction and collaboration are important concepts in servant leadership." is is true in all aspects of our lives — our work life, our home life and our volunteer life. Concordia University Wisconsin's article on page 16 regarding emotional intelligence is a great way to learn more about how understanding and recognizing our own emotions and the emotions of others can help us manage our behavior and relationships. Becky Kirgan's article, "How to help your employees solve problems," on page 14 provides information about how managers can help their employees by understanding the different types of problem solvers and how, even in remote environments, managers can find effective ways to encourage their team members to solve problems. Finally, we are all looking forward to reconnecting in person later this year at the 2021 WI SHRM State Conference, Oct. 13–15, 2021. is year's theme is "Cracking the HR Code" and the conference committee is doing just that as they prepare a hybrid approach to the conference. is will include a virtual option as well as an in-person option. Most importantly, we are working with the Kalahari Resort to provide a safe environment for our conference and attendees. More information can be found at www. wishrm.org/2021-state-conference. I would like to thank all of you for devoting your talents to your organizations and for supporting continuous learning in our profession. In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteer leaders throughout Wisconsin for sharing your time and talents. Over the past year, the value HR professionals have brought to the table has never been more apparent. SHRM's tagline of "Better Workplaces. Better World" begins with each of us and we are definitely better together! Roy T. Bennett, in his book, "e Light in the Heart," says "Be mindful, Be grateful, Be positive, Be true, Be kind." For more info or to get involved, visit www.wishrm.org. ■ Jackie Peterson is a senior regional HR manager for Sonoco Products Co. and lives in Ripon.

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