The a factor

The “A” Factor – The Strategy For Getting Ahead Faster in Your HR Career! by Alan Collins

Before I tell you what the “A” factor is, let me share the true story of two HR leaders.
Their names: Colleen and Karen.
They are very much alike.
Both currently work for the same company, but in different divisions.
Both are brilliant.
Both have graduate degrees in HR. Both have SPHR certifications. And both have roughly equivalent HR, leadership and business skills (at least in my view).

However, Colleen has struggled for seven years just to stay employed in HR. Even though she is extremely bright, she has progressed very little, if any, financially and career-wise during those years. She constantly looks over her shoulder fearing that the ax could fall on her job at any moment.

Karen started in HR six years ago. She’s been promoted three times during this time and her career has grown by leaps and bounds. She’s now preparing to leave the “comfort” (probably the wrong word, but you know what I mean) of a large corporation to go off on her own as an independent HR consultant. And, I absolutely have no doubt she’ll be successful.
But back to person one, Colleen: When I talk to her, I hear lengthy whining about all the outside influences that have negatively affected her career in HR. The economy, corporate downsizings, bosses that won’t give her a fair shake, clients who disrespect her, and her list goes on and on and on. The same old tired excuses. It’s like hearing a bad Lady Gaga song playing over and over again.
By the way, she’s right! She’s not exaggerating. I worked in the division she’s in. The issues she talks about, unfortunately, still DO exist. In fact, I remember getting frustrated and pissed off by many of them myself. But the issue is NOT that she’s right. The issue is how much Colleen allows these issues to hold her back.

On the other hand, when I talk with Karen, it’s a totally different story.
Sure, these same challenges