Earlier this year, before the global pandemic, I returned to the office after an extended business trip. When I walked into the building, the environment felt different. The building was the same, the furniture was where it had been before, and my colleagues were still the same lovely people, but the atmosphere felt somewhat unfamiliar. It was because there had been a break in my routine. Humans are creatures of habit — we rely on routines to help us manage our busy schedules, remain productive, and keep us sane. When our routines change, we must adapt, create new strategies, or run the risk of being ineffective, unproductive, or even misaligned.

Many of our clients use Hogan Assessments to support selection and talent development programs. Due to the pandemic, however, selection has (understandably) been cut back dramatically. Now, HR teams have to focus on more difficult people issues while learning and development programs may be put on hold.

However, we still speak to HR professionals and coaches on a daily basis about support for different types of people initiatives. Not surprisingly, at a time when leaders are making decisions in high-pressure circumstances, and with budgets tighter than ever, addressing difficult people issues is extra complicated. As a result, we are keen to encourage clients to use valuable resources that are already available to them.

Many have not thought about using existing resources to support pressing, often unavoidable interventions. Here are three of the most common situations where we have been able to recommend organizations take another look at the Hogan Assessment data they already hold.

Robert Hogan

C. Northcote Parkinson (1909—1993) was a British naval historian, lecturer, and novelist; he formulated his famous law in an essay in The Economist in 1955. Parkinson’s law was intended to describe the behavior of managers in the British Navy and British government, but it is also a pretty good description of work in most organizations. The July 11^th, 2020 issue of The Economist provides an update of Parkinson’s astute generalization about organizational behavior.

The law itself states: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” I think there are three psychological explanations for Parkinson’s law. The first is the human tendency to procrastinate, to put off doing things until the last minute. Procrastination itself has several causes including fear of failure, laziness, and, of course, passive aggression (“Don’t rush me!”). But the point is that procrastination is one way to explain Parkinson’s law. A second explanation for Parkinson’s law is the fact that if people complete a task promptly, they risk being assigned a second, and even more tedious, task. The reverse of this situation is, of course, “If you want to get something done, find a busy person.” A third explanation for Parkinson’s law is “impression management”; most people understand the importance of being seen to be working while at work. In this context, it makes sense to extend the duration of each task. Parkinson pointedly noted that managers help other managers look busy by shuffling papers back and forth for review, commentary, and alignment.

Lucrul de acasa si noile competente

Desfasurarea activitatii de acasa nu este o experienta noua pentru unii angajati. Aceasta tendinta este valabila in intreaga lume. Cu toate acestea, numarul real al persoanelor care lucreaza efectiv de acasa este mai mic decat numarul job-urilor care pot fi derulate de la distanta. Cel putin, aceasta a fost tendinta inainte de situatia curenta in care ne aflam generata de criza COVID-19. Ceea ce am vazut recent este ca pandemia a fortat multi angajati si organizatii sa faca trecerea, in mod oficial, la un mediul de lucru virtual.

Organizatiile s-au concentrat sa le asigure angajatilor lor toate resursele necesare pentru a-si desfasura activitatea eficient, asigurandu-se ca au tehnologia si infrastructura necesara (accesul la dispozitive inteligente, la platforme pentru conferinte video, securitatea internetului, etc.).

Cu toate acestea, este important sa nu neglijam comportamentele care devin necesare pentru ca oamenii sa poata lucra eficient de acasa, in mediul virtual.

In timp ce guvernele din intreaga lume sunt supuse unor presiuni tot mai mari de reluare a activitatii sociale si economice, liderii de pretutindeni iau decizii confruntandu-se cu incertitudinea si informatiile contradictorii. Deciziile care au dus la inchiderea afacerilor si carantinarea oraselor, desi au fost dificile, au reprezentat exercitii cu impact pe termen scurt si au fost mult mai usoare comparativ cu procesul decizional pe care liderii sunt nevoiti sa il ia atunci cand sunt implicatii pe termen lung.

Pentru a castiga ceva nou si important in viata, inevitabil ne confruntam cu alegeri. Nu vom pierde in greutate fara a ne schimba obiceiurile alimentare si nivelul activitatilor fizice. Nu ne vom consolida relatiile de familie fara a investi in timp de calitate cu cei dragi. Nu vom invata o limba straina fara a fi consecventi si a ne face timp pentru studiu si practica.

Pentru lideri, pana acum, 2020 a fost un exercitiu intens in luarea unor decizii dificile. Probabil ca si restul acestui an va fi pentru cei mai multi lideri si antreprenori un exercitiu de antrenare a constientizarii de sine, precum si un sir de alegeri si adaptari care sa permita supravietuirea si ridicarea organizatiilor pe care le conduc.

In multe dintre aceste decizii viitoare, identificarea alegerilor corecte si a celor gresite va fi dificila. In aceste timpuri, este critic pentru lideri sa reflecteze asupra unor intrebari cheie:

A global and local research on HR leaders personalities and implications

The primary task of human resources has historically been to handle employee benefits and grievances. As such, HR played a very minimal role in corporate strategy and an organization’s success or failure. Modern organizations now realize the critical role that talent (i.e., the people in the organization) plays in its success. That is, people aren’t just replaceable cogs in a machine; some employees are better than others, and employing top talent is a major factor in organizational success.

The role of HR has grown over the past decade and has become particularly important now, during these unprecedented times. HR has, in time, taken a more prominent role in organizations through building a sustainable competitive advantage acquired through management and acquisition of top talent. However, the pandemic has brought on even more critical functions: offering support to employees and leaders in managing their anxiety, forecasting in unpredictable times and offering strategic support to the business.

To understand how are HR leaders equipped to deal with all of these challenges, Hogan assessments looked at the personalities of more than 1,000 HR managers to see how they stack up against other workers around the world.

Un studiu global si o cercetare locala asupra personalitatii liderilor de HR si implicatiile acestora

Rolul principal al departamentului de resurse umane a fost, pentru mult timp, gestionarea beneficiilor angajatilor si rezolvarea problemelor acestora.

Astfel, echipa de HR avea, in trecut, doar un rol mic in formularea strategiei organizatiei, iar impactul asupra succesului sau esecului companiei era, de asemenea, minim. Organizatiile moderne, insa, au inteles, prin prisma experientei, ca potentialul oamenilor din organizatie este un aspect critic in economia supravieturii si a succesului unei firme.

Rolul echipei de HR a crescut in ultimul deceniu si a devenit deosebit de important acum, in aceste timpuri fara precedent. Departamentul de resurse umane detine in prezent un rol mai important in organizatie, deoarece el este cel care ofera un avantaj in fata competitiei prin atragerea si gestionarea persoanelor cu potential de performanta. Insa pandemia de COVID-19 a adaugat si alte functii critice printre sarcinile acestui departament: oferirea de suport liderilor si echipelor in gestionarea anxietatii, formularea de predictii pe termen scurt si mediu, chiar si in perioada aceasta imprevizibile, precum si oferirea de suport strategic business-ului in ceea ce priveste planificarea fortei de munca, strategiei de retentie si beneficii etc.

Pentru a intelege cum sunt echipati liderii de HR pentru a face fata cu success tuturor acestor provocari, Hogan Assessments a realizat un studiu global, analizand profilele de personalitate a peste 1,000 de manageri de HR.

Crises tend to bring out both the best and the worst in people. On one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has people picking up groceries for their elderly neighbors, sewing masks, and sending hand sanitizer to those in need. At the same time, others are hoarding toilet paper, spreading conspiracy theories on social media, and failing to follow health directives from authorities.

Hardly anyone is going through the normal routine of getting ready for work, commuting to the office, spending the day with colleagues, returning home, and enjoying the evening with family and friends. People are struggling to work from home while simultaneously providing education and day care to their children. Healthcare workers and others deemed essential are working longer hours than ever before, whereas those in the restaurant, bar, entertainment, fitness, hospitality, airline, and cruise industries sit idle.  Consultants and gig economy workers have seen most sources of income dry up, and those who are still employed have no idea whether their companies will be in business next year.

The disruptions to our daily routines, uncertainty about finances, concerns about becoming infected or losing loved ones, and isolation are creating unprecedented levels of stress. No one is going to be at his or her best under these circumstances; the COVID-19 pandemic has created a perfect storm for our dark sides to emerge.

Crizele tind sa scoata la iveala din oameni tot ce este mai bun, dar si tot ce este mai rau… Pe de o parte, pandemia de COVID-19 ne-a impulsionat sa dam mai des o mana de ajutor, sa facem cumparaturi pentru vecinii mai in varsta, sa confectionam masti si sa trimitem dezinfectant catre cei care au nevoie. Pe de alta parte, unii dintre noi facem stocuri imense de hartie igienica, impartasim teorii ale conspiratiei pe retelele de socializare si nu urmam asa cum ar trebui indicatiile autoritatilor privind distantarea fizica.

Putini dintre noi mai avem parte de vechile rutine – de a ne trezi dimineata si a merge la birou, de a interactiona in pauza la o cafea cu colegii, de a ne intoarce acasa si de a petrece seara cu familia sau prietenii.

Multi dintre noi ne “luptam” cu a crea un echilibru intre a lucra de acasa, in timp ce trebuie sa ne ocupam si de copii sau de treburile gospodaresti.

Cei care lucreaza in domeniul medical, dar si in alte industrii, simt ca lucreaza mai multe ore ca niciodata, in timp ce altii din domenii precum cel al ospitalitatii, nu mai au activitate. O buna parte dintre angajatii la nivel global se intreaba daca organizatiile pentru care lucreaza vor mai functiona si anul urmator si daca ei vor mai avea un loc de munca.

Schimbarilor din viata de zi cu zi, nesigurantei cu privire la aspectele financiare, ingrijorarii de a nu fi infectati sau de a pierde pe cineva drag, se adauga sentimentul profund de izolare cu care ne confruntam, ducand, astfel, la un nivel fara precedent de stres. Nici unii dintre noi nu functionam optim in astfel de circumstante, iar aceasta criza a creat mediul perfect pentru ca “partea intunecata” a personalitatii sa iasa la iveala.

During the month of April, this year, during the beginning of Covid-19 crisis, our business psychologists and consultants created a short pulse survey to understand more about what measures are companies taking under this new context we all experience in order to keep the business running and their people safe.

Therefore, we have deployed the survey to 250 companies from different industries. 53% of respondent companies have more than 500 employees.

We have invited HR professionals to respond to our questions.

The responses indicated the following: