If you are working in the Human Resources field, you are likely not in it for the recognition. Even if you work on a strategic level, you are still working in a support function. From HR Assistant to CHRO, we are the architects of employee engagement. We make sure our team is supported, connected and engaged. We are driving the business forward in a myriad of ways. From answering a new hire's benefits questions, to coaching a manager through delivering a difficult performance review, to planning a talent strategy to attract the best and brightest, we are supporting our companies through our people.
And we aren't often recognized for that - we don't expect to be. But we are having impacts on our team members, even if we don't realize it. It's the little things that happen every day that may seem simple to us, but may have a larger impact than we realize.
This weekend I ran into a former co-worker. I had not seen him in some time, and he was approaching retirement age. He told me that he had me to thank for being able to retire. I must have looked at him with a strange expression on my face, because he explained. When he was in his early 40's, he had not yet contributed to a 401(k) plan. He told me I convinced him that it was about time to join the plan since he needed to start thinking about his retirement. He joined the company's 401(k), took advantage of the match over the years, and continued to contribute to it. This conversation happened more than 20 years ago.
Of course I didn't remember the conversation, since I've probably had hundreds like it over the years, but I was so grateful he shared that with me. And so I share this with you - what you do matters. Even if you don't think it does, it does. People notice. Your work matters. We're the people people, after all. It's a hundred little things we do every day that impact the lives of our team members. Don't ever forget that!
Tracie Sponenberg is SVP, HR for The Granite Group, a full-service wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, water and propane supplies based in Concord, NH. Responsible for leading all HR functions for 34 locations and nearly 500 employees, throughout New England, she has gained a broad HR background across a wide range of industries in more than 20 years in HR, with much of her career focused on working with CEOs to develop strategic people strategies to help the organizations grow. She began her career in HR while in college, interning with a global public transportation company but found she could have the most impact on the business in smaller, private companies. Tracie has a BA in Psychology from Holy Cross, and a MA in Human Resources from Framingham State University. She is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified, teaches the SHRM certification course at SNHU, is a member of the SHRM Special Expertise Panel and is Co-Organizer of DisruptHR NH.
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