When Charlotte Stahlschmidt had to make a difficult decision on behalf of her company, she sought help and support from her network.
Charlotte Stahlschmidt is the HR Director at BHJ, an international supplier of sustainable products. With this position comes both significant responsibility and major decisions. So, when she was faced with deciding where certain “Sustainability” issues should be managed within the company, she turned to her network for guidance.
“I was somewhat uncertain about where this agenda should sit. At one point, I thought it belonged to me because many people turned to me with it. I found myself in a specific dilemma, circling around and contemplating it,” she explains.
Fortunately for Charlotte, help was close by, and with a network meeting coming up, it was only natural for her to bring her dilemma.
“My question to the group was, ‘Should I take on this agenda?’ And although there wasn’t a clear answer, we discussed it in a productive way, which ultimately left me well-equipped to make the best possible decision for both myself and my company.”
A Passion for Strategy
Charlotte has been part of her HR executives’ network for two and a half years. When she joined, she had a specific goal in mind:
“I joined because I had long wanted to work with an HR executives’ network focused on strategic topics. I hadn’t encountered that in other networks until now,” she shares, adding,
“And I don’t just mean working on creating HR strategies but also being part of building them up afterward.”
Even though Charlotte’s network group doesn’t always work with strategy, she is happy to be involved.
“I meet people with the right skills, and we have a facilitator who addresses our needs. I’ve found a network that brings me real value.”
An Energy Boost
Charlotte continues to prioritize her network meetings in an already busy schedule due to the energy she gains from them:
“Going to the meetings gives me an energy boost, and I often come back with input that allows me to address new agendas. I gain fresh perspectives on some tough issues,” she says.
Beyond the energy and inputs, she values a particular exercise. When she needed help with her sustainability questions, she was put in the “hot seat.”
“It’s great when we’re put in the hot seat. We get the chance to bring our own issues. It could be dilemma-based choices we have to make, which can relate to professional matters but also organizational or even private decisions, such as layoffs. Here, I experience tremendous trust and a sense of security, and people dare to open up. And because we are highly skilled HR professionals, each with our own toolkit, you can truly receive valuable help.”
Charlotte is highly aware that her time in the network group benefits not only herself but also her company.
“It’s essential to remember that it’s the company paying for your network, and there must be a balance so that it benefits both the company and yourself. I need to come back with something that helps move the agenda forward for my company.”
