It’s that time of year when we’re seeing articles about spring cleaning with titles such as “Your HR Department Spring Cleaning Checklist” and “4 (5, 8, or 10, etc.) Ways to Spring Clean your HR Closet”. You know the kind of article I’m talking about.
I’m an anti-spring cleaner. There, I said it. And I will tell you why.
These articles give me stress. Why are we just cleaning up a mess now because it’s spring? How did we let our department get so messy and cluttered in the first place? What are our strategic priorities and why isn’t there a continuous improvement approach to processes so there aren’t huge mountainous tasks to be done as a binge activity, most likely at an inconvenient time to the business?
I am an anti-spring cleaner because I don’t like things to get messy in the first place. I develop and plan and stay on top of maintenance schedules (program and process reviews) and will schedule major reno jobs (a total rewards review, a leadership development program) when my planning (HR strategy, i.e. my Road Map) identifies that they are needed. I’ll develop a new HR Strategy when there are major changes in the business such as a new direction being taken.
Favouring a model of continuous improvement over the traditional spring-cleaning blitz enhances efficiency. This method allows us to identify and refine processes on the fly, preventing issues from snowballing into unmanageable proportions. This approach allows for smaller, more manageable adjustments to be made in real-time, leading to increased overall efficiency. It prevents the bottleneck effect of trying to tackle too many tasks at once, which can lead to mistakes and oversight.
This approach not only keeps us efficient but also ensures we remain agile and adaptable, ready to pivot if needed. A year-round approach to HR maintenance ensures that the department is always prepared to adjust its strategies and processes, helping the organization stay ahead of the curve.
HR is best approached with a proactive, strategic plan that produces a high performing function rather than having to make tactical repairs once a year.
You don’t need a spring-cleaning checklist, you need a year-round maintenance plan.
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