Christine's Corner

Thank YOU!

One last Message as our Chief HR Officer, Christine Lovely

I love HR and I have loved leading HR at UC Davis! There is so much to celebrate about our time together - going live with UCPath, responding to our HR climate survey, implementing the staff experience survey at Campus, implementing a consistent exit survey process at all of UC Davis, thinking on our feet with supporting employees during COVID, re-imagining our work place to support flexible work, sharing data and making data driven decisions, Race Matters and talking about things that make us all uncomfortable, but that contribute to a better workplace. This is just the tip of the iceberg of things that WE have accomplished together during my time.

There’s more on the horizon with all the growth on both campuses, as well as all the construction that’s taking place in Sacramento. There will be a huge need for a strategic partner in Human Resources. I know that this team will provide whatever’s needed - no matter who your next CHRO will be.

During my time at UC Davis, I have received so much support both within HR and outside HR. So in my last Christine’s Corner (re-named CHRO’s Corner), I will simply say thank you. Thank you for the support, hard work and engagement that’s made it possible for us to achieve great things together. The best is yet to come and I’ll always look fondly on our time together.

Warmly,

Christine

Spring 2022
Saying Goodbye is Hard: I just said good-bye to an HR team member who left us for another university. That made me sad, because this person was always cheerful, had a smile on their face when I saw them and really made me proud to be part of HR – one of the best and brightest. I didn’t stay sad for long though because this decision wasn’t made because they were unhappy in our division. They weren’t leaving with complaints and unhappiness. Instead the move represented advancement for the team member and an exciting opportunity. Sometimes growth means leaving. I am glad that our former HR employee had a good experience here; I’m glad that their time with us supported their growth and development and afforded them more experience that made them attractive to another employer. I am glad to have worked with them. And I’m glad that they made the decision that was right for them, even though making the decision was hard.

Sometimes in HR (and in life for that matter) we have to make difficult decisions and do hard things. You can do it.

“You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie-the-Pooh.
August 2021
On road trips, I prefer to be a passenger, but only if the driver is trustworthy, skilled and reliable. I will help with navigating, pick enjoyable music, relax and take in the scenery. Sometimes I will even fall asleep, confident that the driver will get us to our destination safely. In my career journey, however, I am absolutely in the driver’s seat.

Being in the driver’s seat means taking control over where you are going; the route taken and how fast you get there. I think we should all take the wheel when it comes to our professional paths. I suggest a simple 3-step plan, in this order:

1 – Determine your starting point,

2 – Establish your destination,

3 – Chart your course.

Where are you starting from?

This is all about preparation. Before a road trip, you make sure the vehicle is road ready by gassing it up (or in my case, fully charged), the tires are pumped up, fluids are topped off, and you’ve resolved any problems that could impede your trip.

On your professional path, this means being honest with yourself about where you are and the skills you have. You’ve got to know what your strengths are before you can highlight them and rely on them. Likewise, be honest about any skills gaps, so you can further develop areas where you need to grow (we all have those areas). If you need some help with this assessment, seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors, who are like virtual GPS, because they already know how to get to the destination you’re aspiring to. Another option is to consider “strength-finder” assessments to help understand your unique gifts. Gaining clarity about what you bring to the table will help with the next steps.

Where are you going?

When you are truly in control of your journey, you can meaningfully and specifically articulate why you are seeking a position and why that particular organization is desirable to you.

I serve on a lot of interview panels and one of the first questions is usually “Why are you interested in this position and why now?” Translation: why is this your desired destination? Candidates will often say, “it’s the next logical step in my career progression,” which in my opinion, is NEVER the “right” answer. This response doesn’t drive home why the candidate really wants that particular position or to be a part of that organization. That response makes it seems like the job is just a pit stop on the candidate’s way to something else.

Establishing your desired destination does not always mean that you have determined your ultimate position or picked your forever company, but you must be able to articulate how the opportunity actively furthers your journey.

After you’ve determined your starting point and established your destination, you’re finally ready to chart your course.

How are you going to get there?

There are different routes to almost every destination. Some paths will be more direct, while others meander. By taking charge of your career journey, you’re developing the roadmap for how you will reach your desired endpoint. You’ll need to plan and set goals for achieving milestones, but understand that this route can change – either deliberately or because life throws a detour in your path.

My career journey took a circuitous route, from counsel in private practice, to counsel for public agencies, and now Chief Human Resources Officer at a top-tier university. My destination was always a role where I could positively impact the workforce, which helped me stay on course when I came upon different opportunities and challenges along my journey. I have no regrets about going off the beaten track, because doing that has resulted in my arriving at exactly the place I am supposed to be.

In the end, don’t be afraid to consider an uncharted path because establishing your own way and timing for accomplishing your career goals can be an incredible journey. No matter what, though, take the wheel!
May, 2021 | Most Important Task On Your to Do List: Take Care of Yourself
I’m a busy professional and it’s challenging to keep up with all the tasks and expectations.

Growing up, my mom often said, “there just aren’t enough hours in the day!” I know she felt overwhelmed and fatigued when she was saying that, and sometimes I feel like that about work too.

There are so many projects, expectations, ideas and (sometimes random) thoughts dancing around in my head, that I must remind myself to prioritize myself.

That means one thing that’s always on my to-do list is to take care of myself. Everyone takes care of themselves differently, but here’s what works for me.

Take a break.

I don’t have a job where I punch a clock, so there are not specific times built into my day for a break. I found myself skipping a lot of breaks, so I recently started making a mid-day appointment with myself (and put it on my calendar), whenever possible. During that time, I make every effort to disengage from all tasks, grab a bite to eat and breathe in some fresh air. This short break allows me to re-energize and bring my best for the rest of the day.

Let off some steam.

Whether it’s yoga, Pilates, swimming, dancing, running or high-impact aerobics, moving your body can be a release. Studies have found that regular exercise, among other benefits, decreases overall levels of tension, stabilizes mood, and improves sleep. Meditation, massage therapy, even deep breathing can be outlets too.

Take a vacation (or staycation).

When I hear people say they have too much to do to take a vacation, I remind them how important a vacation is. Even if you aren’t traveling far, allowing yourself a complete break from work, is something we all need. Vacations (and more recently staycations) are an opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and recharge.

Sure, many have extremely full plates, with professional and personal demands. I do too, but I know UC Davis will continue moving forward doing phenomenal things even if I’m gone for a week.

Simply put, the consequences for not taking vacation can be significant for your physical and emotional well-being. So, put the excuses aside – take time off from work; and no cheating – keep the email notifications turned off.

In short – have some fun!

Check-in with yourself.

Around my birthday, I have an annual physical. It’s an opportunity to check in with my doctor and make sure I’m still doing okay, even if I don’t have any specific symptoms.

Taking that same approach when it comes to your emotional health is just as important.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month so it’s the perfect time to give some thought to your own emotional well-being.

Do a check-up (or check-in) to assess:
How you are feeling?
What’s your emotional state?
Do you feel like you could use some support?

Whatever your outlet, I hope you all find time to prioritize taking care of yourself!
With appreciation,
Christine
March, 2021 | Finding Treasures in Our Work?
“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I’ve often heard that quote and while I don’t agree with it 100%, I do love my job! Simply put, while I love what I do, some days I work very hard and feel overwhelmed because there’s no end in sight. Nevertheless, I can truly say that I am more gratified by the work I do at UC Davis than at any point in my career – and that’s a wonderful feeling.

Since I joined UC Davis in October 2018, I've said more than once that I feel that I came here at the right time. I felt (and still feel) that there is so much untapped potential at UC Davis and so much good work happening that could be further amplified.

I liken what our University and Health System have to offer to jewels. I view my job as helping to excavate those jewels, polish them and share the treasure far and wide.

As HR, we all have a part to play in ensuring that every person's experience - candidate, employee, retiree, or former employee - with UC Davis is a good one. That is a monumental undertaking and what keeps me motivated every day. I’m filled with gratitude that I don’t have to do it alone – thanks to you all for contributing in your own way!

I came into the HR field by happenstance (that’s a story for another day), but what kept me in this field is the impact that our work has on the University’s most valuable assets – its people and their talents.

Leading the staff human resources function at UC Davis fills me with pride and inspires me every day. Maybe that saying is true after all because what I’m doing hardly feels like work at all.

With appreciation,

Christine
February, 2021 | Hopeful or Helpless?
We are one month into a new year and I have vacillated between feeling hopeful and sometimes feeling helpless. I started 2021 with the wishful and possibly naïve hope that all the loss, pain and general weirdness of 2020 was behind us, and we could have a reset and a fresh start.

Six days into the new year, my desire for a reset was yanked away from me when I watched in dismay as armed protesters bombarded their way into the United States Capitol and put on a display for the ages – that resulted in more lives loss. A week after that, COVID-19 struck some of my loved ones, bringing me to the stark realization that the pandemic is still impacting lives and this is far from over.

Despite what’s happening in the world and at home, I am choosing to remain hopeful.

Of course, the things going on in the world and in our personal lives impact us – we are all human. However, the meaningful work we do also gives us a reason to be hopeful. There are challenges in front of us related to vaccines, returning to the workplace, and budget and fiscal constraints.

What gives me hope is that these unusual and unprecedented times are also an opportunity to exercise our creative muscles and to solve problems that we haven’t had to solve before. HR is currently a place that everyone seeks out for answers.

I am choosing to meet this moment by putting my best foot forward and trying to lead HR in a direction of being a valued partner that understands the uniqueness of the challenges we face – both inside and outside the workplace.

Let’s all try and bring some hope to the forefront as we power through 2021!

Channeling hope,

Christine
November, 2020 | Be Kind to Yourself
No matter what your role in HR, there’s one thing I believe we can all agree on and that is that the past eight months have been like nothing we’ve ever experienced before!

And to top it off, each of us has our own unique situations that comes with different demands, besides our everyday work. For some there are demands associated with school aged children (or younger), for others it’s caregiving for parents, concern for prior health conditions for yourselves or loved ones, and for some it’s a feeling of isolation or loneliness from both working remotely and being more or less shut in. And for some of us, it’s something else entirely.

Whatever you are dealing with, I want to encourage you to be kind to yourself! By that I mean, give some thought to your own wellbeing and make it a priority.

In HR, we are very focused on meeting the needs of others and that makes sense, being that we are a service and support unit. However, in your haste to take care of clients and others, keep yourself on the list of those who need care. Carve out some time for the things that bring you joy! For me it’s music, my shoulder massager and scented candles.

There are lots of resources and suggestions for wellbeing on our Worklife website and I encourage you to explore them. And if you aren’t feeling that great, please reach out to ASAP and talk to someone. You are not in this alone! Wishing all a restful and rejuvenating Thanksgiving!

Warmly,

Christine
October, 2020 | One Voice Won't Be the Same Without YOUR Voice
I was really pleased when I learned the Human Resources Staff Working Group (HRSWG) wanted to establish a newsletter for HR.

One of the most consistent messages I’ve heard in our organization is about communication – whether it’s staff not getting information (not being communicated to) or staff not feeling heard (their ideas or experience in our workplace not being received).

The HRSWG’s desire to establish this newsletter is good to me because it responds to both communications needs – to both share information and receive it.

I grew up in a family where the following two phrases were pretty common:

“Children should be seen and not heard.”
“Stay out of grown folk’s business.”

Because I heard those ideas as I was growing up, as an adult, it took me a while to find my voice and then to use it. (I just had another epiphany – could that be why my undergraduate major was Mass Communication?

I share this tidbit about me personally, so you understand a bit about what motivates me to encourage two-way communication within HR. Ensuring we empower and encourage communication makes us better. There is so much innovation that comes from diverse thoughts, experiences, ideas and opinions.

So I applaud the launch of One Voice and encourage everyone to seize this opportunity and use this platform to exercise your own voice. I look forward to learning more about you as individuals, HR colleagues and innovators

One Voice won’t be the same without your voice!
Christine