Welcome back to the HR Higher Version podcast! I’m so glad you’re here.
Today, I want to talk about something that’s deceptively simple – but incredibly powerful. It’s a mindset shift that helped me get through a chaotic week and still feel like I was making real progress.
And I think it’s going to resonate especially well with you – my fellow HR professionals and leaders – who are often juggling a million priorities at once.
Let me start with a question:
What was your win last week?
No, really. I want you to pause for just a moment and think about that. What was your actual win last week?
You might be surprised by what comes to mind. And that’s exactly what today’s episode is all about.
Like many of you, I have goals in a variety of areas. I’m building my business, so I have goals around content, client development, and growth.
I also have goals for my full time job as an HR Director for my department and the organization.
But those aren’t my only Q2 goals. I also have a goal that has absolutely nothing to do with my work, and that involves some landscaping I want to do at my house.
Yes, landscaping. Personal goal. I want to transform part of my yard by buying and planting a variety of plants. Now here’s where it gets interesting.
Last week was nuts. Meetings ran long. Unexpected fires to put out. I got to Friday and caught myself feeling discouraged.
I hadn’t made the progress I wanted on my business goals. But then, during my weekly reflection – something I do every single week – I realized: Wait a minute.
I bought and planted all the plants I had planned for my Q2 landscaping goal.
That’s a win. A big one. But I almost missed it entirely. Why?
Because I was so focused on what I hadn’t done, that I almost glazed over what I had done.
Weekly Goal Setting for HR Leaders
Here’s the tool that saved me last week, and it’s one I want to offer to you: weekly 3-goal planning.
At the beginning of each week, I set three intentions or goals – my personal expectations.
These are not just items on my to-do list. These are needle-moving goals that align directly with my quarterly outcomes.
I recommend you do the same, whether your goals are tied to employee retention, onboarding systems, leadership pipeline development, or even self-care.
Then, each day, I reflect on how I’m doing and look for small ways to nudge those three goals forward.
The final step though is arguably the most crucial piece: weekly reflection.
That Friday look-back is what gave me the clarity to recognize my landscaping success. And it’s what reminded me that progress isn’t always business-shaped.
Sometimes it looks like planting flowers. Or finishing a challenging employee conversation. Or simply showing up to a tough week with resilience.
Why HR Professionals Struggle to Recognize Wins
Let’s be honest – HR professionals are often the unsung heroes.
You’re the one holding space for conflict resolution, onboarding, performance management, and now – hybrid work culture too. It’s a lot.
But here’s the catch: because so much of your success is tied to intangible results – like “improved culture” or “team cohesion” – you can easily miss your wins.
If you’re not pausing to reflect, you might only see the gaps: what’s still broken, what’s still pending, what’s still messy.
But wins are often hiding in plain sight. You just need a system to catch them.
The Power of a Daily HR Win Journal
So here’s the bonus practice I’ve added in my own life: I write down one win at the end of each day.
Just one. Big or small.
It might be:
- “Held a difficult conversation with a manager.”
- “Completed the Q2 benefits audit.”
- “Didn’t cancel my workout, even though I wanted to.”
Over time, these little wins add up – and when I do my weekly review, I’m not relying on my memory, which, let’s be real, is a little blurry by Friday.
Instead, I’m able to look back at clear evidence of progress – proof that I am moving forward, even if I didn’t tick every box on the to-do list.
Weekly Challenge for HR Professionals
Here’s your challenge this week:
- Each day, write down one win. Just one.
- At the end of the week, take 10 minutes to reflect. Ask yourself:
- What did I accomplish?
- Where did I make progress, even if it was small?
- What am I proud of?
Try this for just one week. And I promise—it will shift the way you experience your work, your progress, and even your sense of self-worth.
As HR leaders you are constantly pouring into others. Creating systems. Navigating people. Holding space.
You’re making more progress than you think. But you won’t see it if you don’t pause to look.
So this week, look for your wins. Celebrate them. You are amazing!
