Switch HR without apology

Humbling Down Disclaimers

The Humble Leader is a rare but truly awesome human force. And “Integrity“ rightly reigns supreme in the science of leadership. Great leaders reflect self-critically, readily admit mistakes and strive open-mindedness— all good. And they almost never apologize.

They don’t have to. Apology is defined as “a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure.” In the world of personal, customer and business relations, an appropriate apology can no doubt make or break.

I hate apologies. I’ll write you up a terrific yarn; but it’s risky PR.

Heartfelt, carefully crafted and well timed apologies can be a powerful public relations tool to correct the error, deliver the fix and heal the wounds. Apologies are moment of truth opportunities to salvage a deal, build loyalty and add stickiness by protecting your brand and setting the record straight.

Still I hate apologies. I’ll write you up a terrific yarn; but it’s risky PR. Remorseful gesture to turn things around and make good; dredges up your "bad” again. Moreover, scripted apologies — especially in customer service interactions and risk management parlance— are far too frequently used to glean credible.

Platitudes without action are disingenuous gibberish. Why ask forgiveness as you purport to say something worth saying?

“Of course, this is just one man’s view…” he says. “I could be totally wrong about this, but…; I can’t pretend to understand your dilemma, however…”

Disclaimers, disclaimers. Yuk.

Getting Backs Up

There is a lot to be said about conviction. As public speaker, leadership consultant and business blogger, I have long been critical of certain workplace practices. “Calm down the rhetoric,” I’m kindly counseled. “The good stuff gets lost when people get their backs up.”

Maybe. But the good stuff also gets heard . I post a blog and speak on the circuit and engage prospects in order to create a response and inspire. Whether you agree or disagree, I prefer an audience who does so with passion.

If I exaggerate or wax kindly to make you like me, what does that say about the integrity of what I offer?

If people insist to argue with me, then it means it matters. And if, instead, I exaggerate or wax kindly to make you like me, what does that say about the integrity of what I offer?

"Switch HR" I Shout

I began stumping my pitch to “Switch HR” over two decades ago by speaking to human resource management and workplace leadership groups. I wasn’t selling anything at the time, except my passion about a particularly great employer: Colorcon.

There, we rebuilt a much-broken personnel shop and launched a workplace change strategy that was unconventional in every way. I loved telling the story.

The CEO types were generally jazzed, but my HR-fellows were split—half seemed to love what I had to say; the other half hated it. Almost nobody was humdrum in between. My message was divisive.

That’s when I knew I had something worth shouting about. That’s when I stopped apologizing. I was forming a bond with others who shared my convictions. And it’s the bond that builds the business, not to mention character.

There are thousands of posts that look just like the next. But very few are different. Rare does the content truly engage innovators and enrage dissenters.

Let’s face it, there are thousands of posts in the blogosphere that look just like the next. But very few are genuinely different. Rare, does the content stray to points that truly engage innovators and enrage dissenters. Instead, marketers push snappy web pages and succinct bullet point messages— not knowledge sharing; just memes and bots and click bait at-a-glance.

Winston Churchill’s Book

Sure it’s easy to do; but that doesn’t always work for me. And it won’t work for audiences who are thoughtful, reflective and discerning. If you don’t have time to read my stuff, make time. It’s good stuff! Sound arrogant? Truth does. Winston Churchill famously remarked, "History will be kind to me because I intend to write it."

“History will be kind to me because I intend to write it.” - Winston Churchill

Greatness that. But such brazenness also invites scorn. You cannot truly lead without disagreement, dissension, maybe even mutiny. Sure popularity is one way to get people to follow you. Another is to push them to conform. However, truly awesome leaders demonstrate that it’s okay not to conform.

Apologize Not

And when the people see you are willing to be first into the fray–better yet, when you create the fray– they will be thrilled, even honored, to follow you into battle.

So keep offending and delighting as the case may be—knowing that a good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; but a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.

You want to lead? Then get out there and be the real deal.

And don’t you dare apologize!