How to Stay Future-Focused as a CHRO Without Adding More to Your Plate

As a first-time General Manager in a consulting firm surrounded by Harvard, Stanford, and Northwestern MBA graduates, I often felt a pang of imposter syndrome. With only an undergrad in business from the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!),

I felt the weight of needing to prove myself. That feeling pushed me to be a continuous learner—something I hadn't embraced in my previous roles, where I was often just trying to keep my head above water.

The turning point for me was our CEO's approach to learning. He made it easy, even in our fast-paced environment with 70-hour workweeks and 90% travel.

Each month, he would share articles he'd read, with parts underlined that resonated with him. I read every single one and kept them for years, through multiple moves. Those highlighted articles weren’t just helpful with my first P&L role; they were a source of inspiration. Our CEO would also use them as discussion points during offsite management meetings, sparking conversations that challenged us to think differently. It wasn’t just about staying on top of industry trends—it was about keeping my mind engaged and preventing burnout.??

??As a CHRO, I know you want to be an inspiring leader.

You might think that means you need to be a great speaker or deliver powerful presentations, but inspiration can be as simple as carving out time with your team to discuss trends in the market, or diving into non-HR topics about business, society, or technology. But if you're thinking, How will I find the time for this? I can’t even keep up with my own reading, I get it. It’s challenging to juggle it all.

That's where the CHRO Mastermind membership comes in. ??

We’re committed to helping you stay ahead of the curve without overwhelming you. We’ll summarize key articles not just on talent management, but on broader business, societal, and technological trends impacting the workplace. During our roundtable discussions, we’ll share a quick summary and engage in meaningful group conversations.

??If you’re looking for a time-saving, brain-tingling, and team-growing activity that fits seamlessly into your schedule,

consider joining our CHRO Mastermind Groups. Designed for Chief HR and People Officers from companies with over 500 employees, our program is more than just professional development; it’s a strategy for keeping your entire team future-focused.

Be well,

Cindy Lu

Learn about CHRO Mastermind Groups here: https://www.chropartners.com/