By LEANNE PARSONSLos Alamos
We hear the term Human Resources a lot, and HR departments are found at companies large and small.
But have you ever stopped to consider what the term really means?
William R. Tracey, in The Human Resources Glossary, defines Human Resources as: “The people that staff and operate an organization.” Businessdictionary.com states that it is the “scarcest and most crucial productive resource that creates the largest and longest lasting advantage for an organization. It resides in the knowledge, skills, and motivation of people…”
For the past several issues, we’ve been looking at the differences between catabolic and anabolic leaders. This month we’ll discuss a key distinction in how the two types of leaders treat and think about their human resources – the people that work for and with them.
Catabolic leaders take advantage of the people around them. A catabolic leader looks at the people around him and only considers what the others can do for him and for the organization.
Employees are like pawns in a game that the catabolic leader controls, and neither their feelings nor needs are considered. The catabolic leader rarely, if ever, gives credit to anyone else, since he believes that when employees work for him, he owns them and all of their accomplishments. Likely to be bossy and condescending, the catabolic leader puts himself first, always having to be right and feel superior.
And so, it shouldn’t be surprising that most catabolic leaders are met with exactly what they expect: employees that present problems.
Anabolic leaders, on the other hand, utilize instead of use the people around them. An anabolic leader, having the belief that all employees have something to offer, looks for ways to incorporate staff talents and company needs.
This leader sees employees as gifted and full of potential. Anabolic leaders help team members find their gifts, and utilize those gifts to best serve the organization, as well as the team members themselves. They recognize the knowledge and skills of those around them, and they act in ways that make others truly feel like partners. Greatness is expected, and thus received.
Anabolic leaders coach their team members, using important skills such as listening, acknowledging, validating, championing, and visioning to create relationships and make each of their team members a leader in his or her own right. And so, accordingly, anabolic leaders find solutions in those people around them.
The Human Resource Department in an organization is often the place that seems to deal with all the “problems” that arise. If leaders saw the people in their companies truly as resources, what a different place and focus that department might have.
Think about how you and your organization treat your human resources. Are they problems needing help and solutions, or true resources to be nurtured, motivated and empowered?
Until next time, Be Well and Live Your Legacy!
Parsons is offering The Energy Leadership Development System including the module on Dynamic Communication as a program to the Los Alamos community. For more information, visit here.
LeAnne Parsons PCC, CPC, ELI-MP, CWD Specialist is The Walk Your Talk Coach at Legacy Now Lived. Parsons is a CORE Wellbeing/Leadership and Relationship Restoration Coach, Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, Radio Host, Speaker, and Conscious Adoption Advocate. She lives in Los Alamos and offers group, individual, virtual and in person sessions as well as workshops, mastermind groups, seminars and retreats. She can be reached at 505.412.1817 or visit here.
