Success in HR | Alan Collins | Substack
Every HR leader & CHRO you admire was once as clueless as you may feel right now.
The only difference is they persisted in the face of feeling embarrassed.
The moment you realize that is the moment you become unstoppable.
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Some asked me what’s my secret to writing 12 books on HR. My answer: Take your boring HR expertise, write about it and make it exciting to people who need it. One more thing: it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just genuinely you. That’s the secret.
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Ever feel like “Clark Kent” in the room instead of Superman?
I know I did.
That little voice of doubt can keep you quiet, hold you back, and make others control your story.
Here’s the fix: create an alter ego—a bolder version of yourself who steps up, owns the room, and makes HR essential to the business.
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To leave your mark in HR, change the Question.
Instead of asking: “How can I be more strategic?”
Try asking this: “How can I make an impact so bold, real, and human that people REMEMBER me?”
That’s how you build an unforgettable career in HR.
Not just by knowing the strategy.
But by leaving your mark.
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HR leaders - start a side hustle.
Everything changes when you’ve made your first dollar online.
It doesn’t need to be flashy or perfect.
All you need is:
-your laptop
-your internet connection
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From Jackson Lynch…
If your CHRO cannot walk into a boardroom and say:
Here are the three people we are developing for CEO
Here is exactly where they are in their journey
Here is what they still need to do before they are ready
And here is who we have ruled out
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We live in a world that demands you pick a side.
You're either ambitious or content.
You chase money or meaning.
You work hard, or you're obsessed with balance.
You're a dreamer or you're practical.
If you’re an HR leader, why can’t you have both?
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The best HR leaders don’t just leave words behind.
They leave safe spaces behind.
Spaces where people feel seen.
Spaces where people feel heard.
Spaces where people can contribute their best.
Spaces where people are looking to find
…even after they’ve moved on!
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