Sunstone HR (HR Consulting)

I’ve had some requests to provide some additional insights in my theory of Boundaryless service and how this can improve the service levels of an organization’s HR department. My original Boundaryless Blog focused on both horizontal and vertical Boundaryless behavior. To provide additional clarification, I will now break this into two separate blog posts, one on each of the Boundaryless directions. WHAT IS BOUNDARYLESS SERVICE? Simply stated, Boundaryless is a commitment within the HR team that they will serve immediately, and at any level in the organization. Boundaryless doesn’t change accountabilities, but it does dismantle territorialism. If a human resource team can embrace operating in a boundaryless way, service levels will reach a new high and organizational support and confidence in the HR team will greatly increase. WHAT DOES IT REQUIRE? Vertical Boundaryless service requires the HR leaders and managers to check their egos at the door, and recognize and r...

Every manager or human resource professional will be faced with letting an employee go. These meetings, which best occur in person, are life impacting meetings. When you consider the impact on the employee, it’s no wonder that some lose sleep as they prepare for these meetings. The employee is about to lose income, benefits and will have a hefty blow to his/her esteem. Images of that employee heading home to share the update with a spouse can be upsetting, too. Imagine having to carry that message home to your spouse and children? (Truth be told, in my experience the terminated employee rarely shares the full truth with a spouse. Blame is generally placed, to some degree, on the manager, organization or even unclear standards of performance. I’ve received many an email or call from a spouse of a recently terminated employee, asking me how a good company could terminate its ‘best performing’ employee.) This short article will focus on that final meeting, and exactly how much i...

Perseverance Is Paramount to Success "GET BACK ON THE HORSE" At the age of 11 I had my own palomino horse that I named Buck, due to his buckskin color. Buck was a good workhorse and was great in the mountains, but I had ambitions of team roping with my father. Going to the arena with my dad to rope was something that I looked forward to. I mostly helped to herd the calves after they were released, but on one occasion I was given an opportunity to back into the chute and chase a ‘muley’ (calf without horns). I excitedly backed Buck into the chute and when the gates opened I kicked Buck and did my best “Heeyah!” Buck didn’t move. The calf now well out of reach I kicked again. Buck calmly walked out of the chute, lowered his head and began to buck, trying to throw me. I held on for a few of the crow-hops, but eventually was thrown from the horse. I dusted myself off, grabbed the reins and started to walk Buck to the side of the arena. I was done. I was embarrassed...