Over the past few years, human resource professionals have had to battle constant changes in the way employees work, think, and the way organizations do business. Hope Harris is the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD). Hope is a long-time client of Turknett Leadership Group (TLG), and we are excited to shine the spotlight on her in this edition of our Client Spotlight.
Q: What does your day-to-day look like as a CHRO?
Super exciting and ever changing. I spend most of my time working on strategic initiatives that have overarching organizational impact which I truly enjoy. One of the best things about working at the NACDD is that we have such a focus on our people and our mission. Seeing the positive impact we have on people in our day-to-day work is why I truly enjoy my job.
Q: What are some challenges you see in the HR space?
Well, the world has been a challenged over the past three years, that’s for sure. One of the biggest challenges we face in the HR space today is the ability to be flexible and proactive. How do we continuously grow and change the mindset that we had previously? I know that most people in my space would probably say that it’s recruitment, hiring, and all those other things. But to me it’s really growing as a leader and ensuring I take a forward-thinking strategic approach to help with supporting the organization’s needs.
As HR professionals, we know that, even before the pandemic, you must have a passion for supporting and caring for people. I think it has been great to see others work alongside HR through the pandemic and see what we have known all along… that it’s all about people!
Q: You’ve used several of TLG’s services over the years – what kind of difference have they made for you and your teams?
I’ve partnered with TLG for many different services, including pre-hire assessments, coaching, Women in Leadership, facilitated training/conversations with our team, and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity in Action (IDEA) Certification. All these services have made a tremendous difference for me personally and my teams. I have had the opportunity to work with TLG while at many different organizations and thankful to have had TLG as a support group throughout my career journey. I look forward to continuing our ongoing partnership.
Q: Which service would you say has had the most ROI or impact?
All of them have certainly had an impact, but from an organizational perspective, I would say the facilitated team training yielded the most ROI. We learned a lot, and the coaches were nimble and flexible in their approach to the facilitation. They created a safe space for our team to come together to discuss what’s working and what’s not. The executive leadership team was provided with the feedback, and we were able to mobilize what we had learned. We used this information to help guide our strategic initiatives and help ensure we were meeting our team’s needs.
From a more individual perspective, Women in Leadership has been the most impactful. Not only for me but also for those who I invited to join me at the events. I have learned so much from each of the sessions and met amazing people who helped guide and impact my career journey. All around, being a part of Women in Leadership has been fantastic.
Q: What was your coaching experience with TLG like?
For me, I was able to meet with some of the TLG team early on in our relationship. I received great insights from a personality perspective on things I can do better as a leader and as I grow in my career. It was helpful to really understand how I can develop and adapt in my leadership style depending on the situation.
I was also able to witness the impact that TLG’s coaching had on some of the leaders I’ve worked with. It was amazing to see the transformations and growth of each leader who had the opportunity to work with the TLG team.
Q: What led you to engage TLG in more learning and development services like team development?
Having built an understanding and trust with TLG I appreciate that every service they offer, not just coaching, is based on the Leadership Character Model, which is important. TLG is so professional in all their work, and it was exciting to learn that they offered services to support individuals and teams all levels. They are flexible in their services and meet organizations where they are.
Q: When starting at a new company, what do you tell them about TLG?
I always start with the little nugget that without TLG, I probably wouldn’t be here working with you. I’ve met many of the folks who recruited me through Women in Leadership, TLG, or both. I tell them how inclusive TLG is because they offer so many services that apply to different levels of the organization. They ensure that it isn’t just executives and senior leaders who have access to professional development but that junior and emerging leaders do as well.
TLG is a group of folks who don’t feel like just another vendor. They are a group of friends, mentors, and people who truly care and support you along the way. I’ve had the pleasure to engage with Bob and Lyn, TLG’s founders, who are amazing and have dedicated their lives to the leadership development space. The impact they have had on the lives of others has been profound!
We’d like to give a special thank you to Hope for sharing her time with us in this spotlight. Want to be part of our monthly client spotlight? Reach out to us by contacting Jonathan Palombo, Marketing Manager, at jpalombo@turknett.com.
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