Three: The Human Resources Emerging Executive

CHAPTER 1 Act Like It’s Personal

Personal Leadership Philosophy

In his book, Leadership Is an Art, Max DePree defined leadership as follows: “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant” (DePree, 1989, 11). I can’t think of a more appropriate way for HR people to think about themselves as leaders.

Our job as HR executives is to cause people and organizations to be more effective and to address reality with brutal optimism. We help others to see challenges for what they really are, confront them, and resolve them. It is also our job to serve others—not to be subservient, but to serve the needs of people and the organizations in which they work. Serve them by making ...