It’s not enough to have a seat at the table.  You need to have a voice in the organisation.

I love all the Indiana Jones films and I think my favourite is the third, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, starring Sean Connery.

There’s a great scene where Father and Son are sitting at a table having been recently reunited after years of having a shaky relationship. The Son says, “You never listened, we never talked” and Father says, “Well I’m here now!” and then the Son replies, “I can’t think of anything to say.”

I think this is a bit like HR wanting to get that seat at the table. It’s something that they have been wanting for years and yet what happens when they get that seat? What do they have to say? What value do they bring to the conversation?

Can you identify yourself in the following model? Do you have something of value to say? Are you an HR Thought Leader? Are you being heard?

Are you a Brand Destroyer for HR - you are out there talking it up and being heard, but what you are saying is not of value?
Are you a Brand Squanderer for HR - no one is listening, but you are not saying much anyway?
Are you a Brand Neutraliser for HR - you have some great thought leadership but you don’t seem to be being heard or valued?

Are you a Brand Ambassador for HR - someone who is considered a thought leader and is being heard by the organisation?

I love working with Squanderers and Neutralisers. Helping them to find their voice and find their audience and becoming that true Brand Ambassador for HR.