“Just One More Thing…” is a short-form way that I share ideas, questions and guidance with more substance than a LinkedIn post and less academic rigor than my articles. I hope you find it valuable.
A few years ago the book Fearless HR said that “the HR profession needs to speak with a strong point of view, a new confidence, perhaps even with swagger.” Swagger. It’s a great word, but likely not among the first 20 that you’d use to describe most HR leaders. Ideally it should be
First, let’s define it. Swagger’s definition typically includes “arrogance” or other pejoratives, but true HR swagger isn’t shown through excessive ego or self-promotion. In its true form, swagger is the outward demonstration of quiet confidence gained from repeatedly delivering on highly challenging experiences.
It is the clear projection that “I’ve got this” and “I can make a difference.” You should want your boss, peers and customers to believe these statements about you – to see your swagger.
You can earn the right to show your HR swagger by demonstrating three things:
Confidence that you know how to solve problems: This comes from knowing your discipline extremely well and having enough successful experiences to have built great capability.
Confidence that you know your business/organization: You show deep, practical knowledge about your business and the industry it’s in. You’re the first person who mentions an industry trend or a competitor’s move and what it means to the business.
Enjoyment of what you do and those you do it with: Your love of the “game” and of your team should shine through. A “happy warrior” takes joy in playing and winning (but mostly in winning).
Swagger may look different across cultures and companies, so display your swagger consistent with your local “rules.” But, there is no culture without its own form of swagger.
Finally, those at the top (or headed there) tend to have swagger and they want to be with others who have it too. Your earned swagger will make you a more desirable worker and likely elevated far faster than those without it.
