What Can HR Learn From a Machinist?
Close enough isn't always good enough.
Honestly,
I'm married to a machinist.
And one thing I've learned is that "it looks about right" isn't necessarily a reassuring statement in a machine shop.
A machinist works with measurements, tolerances, specifications, and equipment that doesn't care whether someone was having a bad day.
Something can look absolutely perfect to the untrained eye and still be wrong.
A fraction of an inch can be the difference between a part that works and an expensive piece of scrap metal.
Now think about HR.
We write policies, establish procedures, document decisions, and expect managers to execute them.
But how often do we actually define what success looks like?
We tell managers to document performance.
What does good documentation look like?
We tell employees to communicate professionally.
What does that mean in a difficult conversation?
We ask leaders to be consistent, then give them vague instructions and wonder why the outcomes vary.
A good machinist doesn't rely on hope. They check the measurements, understand the specifications, and make adjustments before the error becomes expensive.
And when the same defect keeps appearing, they don't necessarily conclude that everyone operating the machine is incompetent.
They inspect the process.
What HR can learn: Precision isn't micromanagement. Sometimes it's the difference between a fair process and an avoidable problem.
And unlike a machinist, we don't always get to remake the part.
Reflections
- Which expectation sounds clear until someone tries to use it?
- Where are we relying on interpretation when an example would help?
- If the same problem keeps appearing, what process deserves a closer look?
Toolbox
- Replace ‘document better’ with an example that includes what happened, when, the expectation, and the next step.
- Ask two people to explain the same instruction; differences can reveal where it needs clarification.
- Describe the result you need before prescribing every step.
- Put a check at the point where a mistake can still be corrected.
- When a problem repeats, inspect instructions, handoffs, and tools alongside individual decisions.
Sometimes the damage is to someone's career.
What can HR learn from your job?
What does your profession know that HR should learn? Tell me the job—and the thing the rest of us might be missing.
You don’t need to be interviewed or write an essay. A few sentences are plenty.
No email required. This doesn’t subscribe you to anything. Suggestions stay private for review; nothing is automatically posted.