a woman smiles to the side in front of a white wall
Leigh Henderson.
  • As an HR professional of 20 years, Leigh Henderson has seen many employees make workplace mistakes.
  • She emphasizes that building a relationship with your manager is crucial for career success.
  • Effective communication and workplace allies are also essential for avoiding trouble.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leigh Henderson, the 42-year-old CEO of HR Manifesto based in San Antonio. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I worked as an HR leader for nearly 20 years, supporting a handful of Fortune 100 organizations before starting my online community, HR Manifesto, and podcast, HR Besties.