In Praise of the People People
I’ve posted a few things on LinkedIn in the last week celebrating Project Managers. Today I’d like to applaud the people people. The titles these folks have vary widely - HR, Talent, People, DEI, Culture… But they all focus on employees, employee experience, and making the time you spend at work safe, and hopefully rewarding, educational and enjoyable.
While it’s often challenging to be in these roles, especially at smaller companies where they’re probably a team of one, It’s been really hard to do these jobs over the last 15 months. As the support structures crumbled with school closures, the inability to worship with your community in person, shuttering of the places we eat, and watch movies and exercise, many people were left with work as the only functioning structure in their lives. And they looked to work to fill the gaps left by all the other losses.
The people people often were the first call when tragedy struck. They had to research ways their companies could support employees through the pandemic, and working from home, and juggling remote schooling and all the other challenges we’re facing. They had to update policies and be a sympathetic face on a screen when people just needed someone to talk to. Many of them had to shepherd terminated employees through a very painful process with humanity. All while living their lives with the same challenges, uncertainty and fears that everyone else is experiencing.
Where once they got to see their coworkers at their best - laughing over lunch in the break room, catching up in the hallways, celebrating a great meeting - now interactions are limited to need.
I need to know how to take time off for a funeral.
I need to shift to part-time so I can take care of my children.
I need to update my benefits because I moved across the country.
I need someone to talk to because I live alone and I’m having a tough time.
This. Is. Hard.
“Pain sponge” is a term I’ve used often in the last year+. First when I was in a people role, and now in coaching and advising others in people roles. The people people have been absorbing others’ pain, getting wrung out, and absorbing more. Most of them are not therapists. All of them have been dealing with situations they’ve never encountered before. All of them want to help.
To those in these roles, thank you. I see you. I know how painful this year has been. I hope you can find wins to celebrate. Know that you have made an impact, provided support and made an intensely difficult year easier for those you’ve helped. And I hope you find support and take care of your own well being while you’re taking care of your company’s employees’ well being.
To those working in a company with people people, please be kind to them. Remember that they are probably not trained therapists, and are living in 2020-21 just like you. Include them in team happy hours as they might not have a team of their own. Reach out to see how they’re doing and expand the conversation past your needs to recognize them as whole people, not just as a help desk. Say thank you. Say hi when you don’t need something, just to say hi.
Yes, we’re getting back to normal here in the US (whatever that means), but that doesn’t mean that the demands on these folks will subside. Hybrid working models bring complexities of their own, and we’re not out of the woods yet in terms of the pandemic or the economic impacts of the pandemic. Take a few minutes to think about how they’ve supported you through this crazy time, and send them a note, or a slack, or a physical card (getting mail is fun!), or call them and thank them for their impact. Too often the work they do goes uncelebrated. It’s time to celebrate these folks who do so much to bring humanity to work.