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Table of Contents

1. Opening Salvo

2. Did You See This?

3. Talent Management 101 (TM101)

4. The Plug

Opening Salvo

Most job descriptions are out of date by week two. But the work still gets done, because employees adapt.

That adaptation is often invisible, yet deeply intentional. It’s called job crafting, and it’s how employees reshape their roles to align with strengths, interests, and values. Done well, it drives engagement, innovation, and retention.

Here’s what leaders miss:
If you don’t create space for job crafting, it still happens, just in the shadows. And when it’s misaligned or unsupported, it leads to confusion, resentment, and missed potential.

Job crafting isn’t about letting employees rewrite their jobs. It’s about co-creating roles that serve both performance and purpose.

Practical Personas (with a tinge of hyperbole)

• The Invisible Crafter: They take on work they love and quietly shed tasks they don’t. It boosts their engagement, but leaves gaps their manager can’t see.

• The Rigid Leader: They expect total role conformity. Any shift in scope feels like insubordination instead of initiative.

• The Strategic Partner: They invite team members to shape roles intentionally, balancing business needs with personal drivers. The result: higher ownership, better outcomes.

Ask Yourself:

• Are employees encouraged to bring forward ideas about reshaping their roles?

• Do managers know how team members want to grow, or just how they perform today?

• Are performance conversations strictly task-focused, or do they include personal motivation?

You don’t have to let everyone rewrite their jobs, but if you don’t acknowledge job crafting, you can’t lead it.

Did You See This?

HR is lonely. It doesn’t have to be.

The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.

Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.

Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.

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Talent Management 101 (TM101)

The Plug

I’m thrilled to share that I’m launching the Talent Clarity Workshop, an in-person session designed to help professionals discover their unique strengths and learn how to talk about them with confidence. Whether you’re prepping for interviews, aiming for a promotion, or simply looking to gain more clarity about your career path, this workshop is built to give you practical tools you can use right away.

We’ll dive into how to connect your natural talents to in-demand skills, craft language for performance reviews and networking conversations, and identify real actions you can take for career growth.

The first sessions are happening soon in Arlington, VA and spots are limited to keep the experience personal and interactive.

If you’re in the DMV area, or know someone who could benefit, please share the link and help spread the word!