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HR on Purpose: Developing Deliberate People Passion
Can you be in HR for more than 30 years and still be geeked about it? The answer is -- YES you can!! HR leader and popular “Everyday People” blogger Steve Browne takes a fresh look at HR through an engaging assortment of real-life examples, insights, and epiphanies and encourages practitioners to drop the preconceptions of what HR should be and instead look to what HR could be. Read this book to rekindle your passion for a field that is vibrant and vital and touch the lives of everyone your encounter with HR on Purpose!!”
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2017
113 people are currently reading
578 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 18, 2020
Dorky and informative.
Square and useful.
Cringy at times and eye opening at others.
The main take away for me is.
HR is about knowing every employe you serve.
Or as many as possible.
Personally.
And being a safe haven for them.
Intentionally.
HR is about being of service to people.
Not to just the bosses.
Not just the little guy.
But to everyone in the organization.
With purpose on purpose.
Why 4/5 stars?
I dropped a point (again) because (how ever good natured and likable) the narrative voice was a little corny.
I (WAY) preferred the authors humor and stance in The Little Black Book of Human Resources Management by Barry Wolf.
But still.
This book was good and very worth my time and money.
Square and useful.
Cringy at times and eye opening at others.
The main take away for me is.
HR is about knowing every employe you serve.
Or as many as possible.
Personally.
And being a safe haven for them.
Intentionally.
HR is about being of service to people.
Not to just the bosses.
Not just the little guy.
But to everyone in the organization.
With purpose on purpose.
Why 4/5 stars?
I dropped a point (again) because (how ever good natured and likable) the narrative voice was a little corny.
I (WAY) preferred the authors humor and stance in The Little Black Book of Human Resources Management by Barry Wolf.
But still.
This book was good and very worth my time and money.
December 17, 2019
A must read for every HR professional. Practical advise shared in a fun a way. It’s an inspiring book.
July 4, 2017
Outstanding book on how to connect with people.
February 25, 2021
Being in HR can be really tough, as we're viewed in a negative light in most people eyes, and this makes you in a need to disconnect with the profession as soon as you leave the office, so for me there was no HR reading for a long while, but this book is something else, it pats you on the back and tell it's alright I've been there and here are some sharp-witted, realistic, and funny remarks on most of the none ideal situations that you've faced, and there is no magical solutions, take a deep sigh, reflect, and change your perspective along with your actions little by little.
October 8, 2020
Steve is a great source of energy and optimism and his book is no different. Really no nonsense approach that can be implemented by anyone.
September 14, 2020
Read it after graduating with a degree in HR. Recommended by an Armican HR groups on Facebook. Good energy. Casual. Put you at ease and quite frank. No in-depth info. Just light stories and insights.
May 20, 2019
The number one thing I loved about this book is the positivity that comes jumping off the pages! HR is often viewed as negative and filled with negative people. I don't feel that way at all! Sure, we do have to deal with problems, but I love it when it results in positive outcomes. It was like I found a new friend in the pages. Someone like minded. Here are some of my favorite quotes...
His boss said to him "You need to remember one thing—You are here for my people. If you EVER forget that, I don’t need you.”
YES - LOVE.
If you broke down an HR person into components, you’d find a mix of 60 percent psychologist, 20 percent paralegal, and 20 percent administrator/compliance officer.
We need to come to terms with the fact that we swim in an ocean of gray because we work with humans. We have to figure out a way for this not to be overwhelming and a cause for career burnout.
The reality of our role in HR is that we do hear the complaints and concerns of others on a daily basis. I know several HR peers who resent being the company dumping ground. You’d think this would come only from front-line employees, but you can get dumped on from every level of the company, from the CEO to the front lines. HR needs to provide an avenue for people to get things off their chest and be a release. “ However, we need to be able to provide this release while trying to avoid the personal drain of constantly wading through the dark side of people’s behaviors.
PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTING, aren’t they? Everyone in HR thinks and feels this, but we don’t dare say it out loud. We’re expected to wear a mask that says we have an unlimited ability to meet, empathize with, and handle any person for any reason. It’s a lie, and we need to be more honest about this unspoken reality and have a healthier method to combat it.
I understand that the field of human resources is vast. That’s really an understatement. Generalists in HR need to have the ability to perform strategically, be the legal watchdog of the organization, act as the counselor and psychologist for employees, and shine as the champion of the company culture.
You need to be the safe haven of the company for all employees. ALL employees.
The key to networking is to do the work. Having a viable network and being an effective networker should be a mandatory skill for all business people—especially for those in HR. Let me be clear: This is a business skill and not a job-hunting skill. We’ve lost sight that having a set of go-to people makes us stronger professionals in our roles both within our companies and in our industries.
A very validating book in a sometimes lonely profession.
His boss said to him "You need to remember one thing—You are here for my people. If you EVER forget that, I don’t need you.”
YES - LOVE.
If you broke down an HR person into components, you’d find a mix of 60 percent psychologist, 20 percent paralegal, and 20 percent administrator/compliance officer.
We need to come to terms with the fact that we swim in an ocean of gray because we work with humans. We have to figure out a way for this not to be overwhelming and a cause for career burnout.
The reality of our role in HR is that we do hear the complaints and concerns of others on a daily basis. I know several HR peers who resent being the company dumping ground. You’d think this would come only from front-line employees, but you can get dumped on from every level of the company, from the CEO to the front lines. HR needs to provide an avenue for people to get things off their chest and be a release. “ However, we need to be able to provide this release while trying to avoid the personal drain of constantly wading through the dark side of people’s behaviors.
PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTING, aren’t they? Everyone in HR thinks and feels this, but we don’t dare say it out loud. We’re expected to wear a mask that says we have an unlimited ability to meet, empathize with, and handle any person for any reason. It’s a lie, and we need to be more honest about this unspoken reality and have a healthier method to combat it.
I understand that the field of human resources is vast. That’s really an understatement. Generalists in HR need to have the ability to perform strategically, be the legal watchdog of the organization, act as the counselor and psychologist for employees, and shine as the champion of the company culture.
You need to be the safe haven of the company for all employees. ALL employees.
The key to networking is to do the work. Having a viable network and being an effective networker should be a mandatory skill for all business people—especially for those in HR. Let me be clear: This is a business skill and not a job-hunting skill. We’ve lost sight that having a set of go-to people makes us stronger professionals in our roles both within our companies and in our industries.
A very validating book in a sometimes lonely profession.
December 10, 2017
I'm not a huge fan of HR books. They are often an iteration of something already out there. Steve Browne has brought something different. Something real and relatable, and with his stories, he makes important points. HR is about people. Whether you are introverted or extroverted and you practice HR has to be about people. HR folks are often the most connected to the widest variety of employees. Senior management forgets this when they go about strategizing. Steve reminds us all to "keep it human."
November 10, 2017
I thought it was a really good book for someone already in HR full of simple reminders of how our profession should work. Nothing in here is earth shattering or something to implement right away, but I think that's kinda the point. It's probably a quick read I will do every once and awhile to realign my HR actions.
March 6, 2018
Great For Non-HR Professionals, Too
This is definitely an HR book, but the principles regarding how to treat and include people is relevant to anyone who works with or leads others. Steve's personality, known to anyone who's attended one of his HR Roundtables, shines through on every page.
This is definitely an HR book, but the principles regarding how to treat and include people is relevant to anyone who works with or leads others. Steve's personality, known to anyone who's attended one of his HR Roundtables, shines through on every page.
July 20, 2019
Good book, could be excellent
The author knows the stuff and is able to make explain it very well. He quotes many examples from his work experience and many of them are relatable. It would have been awesome if he could have shared some experiences from outside his work, which would have provided a third person perspective also.
A nice read for HR people.
The author knows the stuff and is able to make explain it very well. He quotes many examples from his work experience and many of them are relatable. It would have been awesome if he could have shared some experiences from outside his work, which would have provided a third person perspective also.
A nice read for HR people.
April 10, 2020
Geeked!!
Have read this twice now and it’s just as inspirational the 2nd time around. I believe the author must have an incredible memory for faces and names, he genuinely loves getting to know people, and after all, they are at the heart of the HR profession. Recommend reading if you need a boost of passion in your work life.
Have read this twice now and it’s just as inspirational the 2nd time around. I believe the author must have an incredible memory for faces and names, he genuinely loves getting to know people, and after all, they are at the heart of the HR profession. Recommend reading if you need a boost of passion in your work life.
July 24, 2020
I enjoyed the stories and the casual feel. I only have a 10 minute drive to work so I was able to listen to a chapter at a time and actually really wanted to hear the next chapter when the previous one stop. Well it did not have a whole lot of details about HR itself it does have a lot of information of what I would hope the future of human resources will be.
May 19, 2021
"All employees are either checkers players or chess players...We in HR can't afford to be checkers players. We have to see across the entire organization to know who's moving where and then be able to make the necessary adjustment to encounter those employees and help them stay engaged."
So many notes taken from this inspiring, uplifting book. Thank you Steve Browne for the motivation!
So many notes taken from this inspiring, uplifting book. Thank you Steve Browne for the motivation!
November 22, 2025
If you are just starting in Human Resources or perhaps you have been doing it for a while and need some ideas. This book is for you. I held for a bit to see which pieces could be used and to basically experiment on the job as it were.
Overall well written and yes it is textbook like but sometimes you need to back to the basics.
Overall well written and yes it is textbook like but sometimes you need to back to the basics.
December 3, 2017
A great read!
A must read for HR practitioners. Lots of tips to reflect on and to put into practice. It's great to reaffirm your views on HR, although out of the ordinary, are the best way to practice HR! I am definitely even more passionate and geeked about HR after reading!
A must read for HR practitioners. Lots of tips to reflect on and to put into practice. It's great to reaffirm your views on HR, although out of the ordinary, are the best way to practice HR! I am definitely even more passionate and geeked about HR after reading!
December 17, 2017
Highly recommend this to anyone working in the HR field, and to those that love their HR career. For me, it was such a great read because it was written by someone that’s an HR geek like me. Love it! I can’t wait to share with my team of new HR professionals to pump them up!
April 22, 2018
Loved this book! Sat down to get started & ended up finishing it in one afternoon! Steve’s positivity is contagious, & I already see a few areas I can focus on, personally & professionally, moving forward. Can’t wait to put some of his ideas to practice starting this week! I’m “geeked!”
January 17, 2019
Inspiration message for bringing purpose and passion to your work -- whether you are in Human Resources, or any other field. Engaging, conversational style. If this book can't get you motivated to be a servant leader who helps people at every turn, nothing will!
May 22, 2020
I liked this book very much. Browne gets to the heart of what HR is all about - people. He contrasts this with the common tendency in HR, which is to focus on the policies and procedures, putting out fires, etc. His passion shines through his writing.
January 9, 2021
Meh. Not horrible. Quick, fast read. Easy to skim. Yet another non-fiction "book" that seems like a collection of blog posts. Author emphasizes human connection and don't be a jerk. HR is about people, not transactions.
January 17, 2021
The author had a good way to tell his stories and showed great passion in building connections with employees. They also had good notes on self-development for HR professionals. It is an inspiring and easy read!
January 9, 2022
This is a beginner book for HR but a couple of good reminders in there for seasoned professionals. Easy to read while a bit dorky. The underlying assumption that most HR people are disengaged or incompetent annoyed me a bit.
January 15, 2022
This book is beyond the concepts, rules and theories that we generally read in most of the HR books. It guides us on the important points that one should know to be a successful HR person.
Loved the real life examples - lot to learn from them.
Must read for all the HR practitioners.
Loved the real life examples - lot to learn from them.
Must read for all the HR practitioners.
February 6, 2024
A collection of essays and entertaining personal anecdotes that casts a vision for how HR could be done differently. A great book option for folks who are considering the field or need to remember why that got in it in the first place.
February 1, 2018
Every profession should have a book like this. Candid, practical guidance about the field, with memorable stories to illustrate lessons learned.
February 19, 2018
A must read for any HR professional! Outstanding resource for practicing innovative HR!
May 5, 2018
Must read for any HR Professional
Great book to get you geeked out about HR. Tons of practical, useful advice that you can use, no matter where you are in you HR journey.
Great book to get you geeked out about HR. Tons of practical, useful advice that you can use, no matter where you are in you HR journey.
May 15, 2018
Loved this book. The information isn't necessarily new but he writes about it in a fresh perspective that gets you thinking. "Only dead fish go with the flow."
July 9, 2018
Really motivated and reaffirmed my approach. Would've liked to read more about the adversity he faced to see how he bounced back up.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews