Executive Insight

“I just need HR to do what I want.” If that’s the expectation, you don’t want a Head of HR. You want a yes person. And a yes person in HR isn’t smart business. It’s corporate tomfoolery—professionally speaking. A strong Head of HR will: - Ask the uncomfortable follow-up question - Slow decisions that feel good but age poorly - Flag inconsistencies before they become precedent - Protect the business even when it’s inconvenient They don’t push back to be difficult. They push b

After years in HR leadership, I’ve noticed a pattern. There are certain phrases that, the moment they’re spoken in a leadership meeting, make HR quietly reach for a notebook… and possibly legal counsel. So I’m launching a series: Things CEOs Say That Keep HR Busy. Each post will break down a common leadership statement, what it actually means in practice, and why it matters more than most people realize. This isn’t about saying “no.” It’s about saying “not like that.” Becaus