Recently, I was asked to share my thoughts on how human resource (HR) professionals should deal with situations where they need to assert the strategic value of their own proposals or programs in order to gain support when they know or suspect the value of that program is not there. I have three thoughts, first is consider the ethical considerations, second is get to the root of the fear of failure, and third, is to not go it alone.
Ethical Concerns
Promoting a program that you know will very likely not provide the value you tell others it will provide is an action many would consider a breach of ethics. Add the cost of the program, and not just the money it will cost to purchase, include the cost of time, yours and others, will spend on implementation. Keep in mind that those you influence into supporting this program, which you suspect will under-deliver, will also be negatively impacted, as will your relationship with those individuals. All these things added up suggest there would be a high cost to pay if, or when, the program fails to deliver the promised value. In addition to questioning if this action is ethical, HR professionals should ask themselves how taking this action could possibly be worth the cost.
Fear of Failure
A better approach would be to examine why you think the program or proposal will not deliver the expected value. Is the program flawed? Are the costs unrealistic? Or is it simply that the timing is not right? Or is it personal? Did you make a mistake in your calculations for the proposal?
What are you afraid of? This is the next question, and perhaps most important question, to ask yourself. Are you afraid that the program or proposal will fail? Or are you afraid that you, personally and professionally, will be deemed a failure? Once again, HR professionals in this situation should ask themselves if moving forward, at this time, knowing the value is not there, is worth the cost.
Do Not Go It Alone
HR professionals who find themselves in this dilemma should not go it alone. Find someone to confide your fears in. Ideally, this person should be someone who can help you to confirm or calm your fears about the project or proposal. Ask this person to help you find solutions that will increase the value or help you to craft an alternate approach, for example delaying the project until you are more certain of the value.
Closing Thoughts
Anytime an HR professional is faced with a dilemma where moving forward presents a question of whether or not it is ethical, blue and red flashing lights should appear and that HR professional should slow down, pull over, stop, and ask three questions. Is it ethical? What am I afraid of? Who can I ask to go with me? Most importantly, if ever an HR professional finds himself or herself asking if something is unethical, it probably is. That HR professional should take a different route, specifically, the higher road.
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