Women in Leadership Spotlight Series: Colleen McManus HR Programs Manager & Executive Consultant, State of Arizona

Much of my public sector career has been spent in para-military agencies, so I became accustomed to environments that were largely comprised of males, particularly in the key leadership and decision-making roles. I learned that if I regarded and presented myself as a professional first and woman second, other people saw and treated me as a professional. When I moved into senior leadership, I had the opportunity to mentor other women and create development programs for all staff in these environments, which helped to bring more diversity and inclusion in leadership roles.

Throughout my career, I have been immersed in efforts and issues relating to diversity and inclusivity (D&I). Years ago, employment laws dealing with sexual harassment, individuals with disabilities and veterans caused employers to broaden their thinking in terms of diversity.  However, while we saw positive changes to policies and training to address some of the needs of people in these groups, many employers didn’t feel comfortable promoting more candid discussions on these types of topics. There were concerns about legal liability, political correctness and other sensitivities that kept many employers from doing more than simple compliance. When I became disabled myself as the result of a bad car accident, I became acutely aware of how much more could be done.

In recent years, events in communities across the nation and the world have brought issues around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) to the forefront for employers, and many organizations are now fostering discussions, training, learning circles and other initiatives around the Black Lives Matter movement, the concept of white privilege, the PRIDE movement and LGBTQ rights, salary practices, and second chance employment for those who have been incarcerated. These are very positive developments, and we can’t stop there! We need to keep moving the needle so that ALL qualified individuals have a fair and equal chance to be considered for employment and everything that encompasses. Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed as their true and whole self!

For me, it’s all about service. I felt called to serve at an early age, and I have been blessed to work with many servant leaders who have been inspiring role models. I was drawn to Human Resources because I saw it as providing service within an organization. There is almost nothing so rewarding to me as helping an employee with a serious need find a resolution to a problem or helping an organization overcome a challenge.

Of course, many people are drawn to work in the public or non-profit sectors because we see it as an opportunity to help others. In State government, for example, there are agencies that run parks, or healthcare facilities, or public safety functions, or educational institutions. There are administrative roles, such as HR and IT, and there are essential services roles such as investigating complaints of child abuse or repairing a state highway after a rockslide. Together, we all help to keep our state and local governments moving forward to better the lives of the citizens and taxpayers who are our stakeholders. When I realized I could combine working in HR AND in the public sector, everything came together as the ultimate way I might be of service.

I’ve since discovered other ways to serve, such as training and mentoring other HR professionals, and lending pro bono expertise to organizations and professional associations, to pay it forward in my profession. At the end of the day, it is knowing that I have played a small part in helping our state and the HR profession move forward that continues to fuel my passion for this work.

I would encourage younger or aspiring HR professionals to obtain education and/or professional certification in the field. The HR field has become so specialized and complex, and legal liabilities abound, so grounding one’s self with the HR body of knowledge is essential. Communication skills are a vital part of the success of any HR professional, and women can sometimes have unique challenges with this. Perhaps they are not taken as seriously, or because they are newer to a leadership role than their male counterparts, they might not have had the same exposure to the type or level of communications required. Female professionals can seek opportunities to develop their communication and presentation skills through networking, mentoring, and participation in groups such as Toastmasters. I once heard someone recommend taking an acting class to develop the ability to speak in public and manage nerves.  Now that’s thinking outside the box!

The one piece of advice I wish someone had shared with me when I was younger was to be more patient. In my eagerness to do things the right way, I sometimes put principles ahead of people.  Looking back, I see where I might have slighted the “Human” part of Human Resources for the sake of getting thing done, or done the right way. If someone had talked with me about having more patience, I might have realized we could still move things forward, but not at the expense of people or their feelings along the way. Alas, I’m still a work in progress, but hopefully with the benefit of more hindsight now!

This is still evolving for me. We have certainly seen changes in the ways that work can be performed, and I’m grateful for the creativity and flexibility many employers have extended to their employees during this time. Many employers plan to implement more remote work opportunities following the pandemic, and studies are reporting that the majority of employees who were assigned to remote work during this time will want to continue working remotely at least some of the time going forward. That may be one of the most significant changes for many employers in a post-pandemic world.

More employees working remotely have changed the nature of how our leaders work, so I want to ensure that leaders have whatever tools and resources they need to continue to develop, engage and motivate their teams. Resources like LinkedIn Learning can provide additional tools to deliver new knowledge or even refresher training to ensure leaders have the skills they need to work with their remote teams. We have also done much more virtual networking and partnering with others through professional associations to share ideas, best practices, policies, etc. and this has brought new resources and ideas to the table.

I’m thinking and talking with colleagues far more about the mental health and well-being of our workforce than I did before the pandemic. We have yet to see all of the impacts of COVID-19 and the stresses that employees and their families have endured this past year. Staff who have worked on the front lines or lost loved ones to the virus may have even greater stresses and trauma from their experiences. Ensuring that employers have resources and support systems for employees’ mental health needs now, and a long-term strategy to be able to address their future mental health needs, will be an important part of HR services.

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the women who have come before us and paved the way. I am inspired by so many great women, including Harriet Tubman; Susan B. Anthony; Marie Curie and Clara Barton; Rosa Parks; Indira Gandhi; Mother Teresa; Michelle Obama; Marin Alsop; Jacinda Ardern; and the dedicated young women making history of their own, like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. I also admire all of the women who took on Herculean duties to keep their families and communities going during the pandemic.  Women stepped up in so many ways by working on the front lines in healthcare or other positions that made life easier for the rest of us. They cared for loved ones and friends who were isolating and sometimes ill, and they took on extended teacher responsibilities for their children who couldn’t go to school. Women’s History Month in the future should DEFINITELY reflect these heroic achievements!

Women have changed the course of history, and taking the time to reflect on the past, celebrate their tremendous contributions and successes, and envision the possibilities for women in the future is important. Discussing this with young women who will be our future leaders is vital to build confidence and inspire them to greatness.