I heard about an artist who bought a random box of old photos at a flea market because they “felt cool.” No grand plan. Just vibes.

The artist got home and realized the photos belonged to Ricki Lake (the actress and talk show host). Instead of shrugging and moving on, as most of us would, the artist tracks down Ricki Lake to return them.

Here’s the twist: Ms. Lake had lost nearly all of her family photos in the LA fires. These “random flea market photos” turned out to be among the few left. Cue goosebumps.

How many times have we written something off at work?

• That employee will never change.

• That policy is fine; we’ve always done it this way.

• That issue will never actually become a problem.

In HR, we see this all the time. Potential gets underestimated. Risks get ignored. People get mislabeled. And what feels like “no big deal” quietly becomes the big deal.

As we roll into 2026, even if you're not a "resolution" person, try to keep in mind the following:

• People can surprise you

• Problems don’t fix themselves

• And overlooked things tend to matter most

At The HR Team, our job is to help leaders take a second look before something important gets lost for good.  Because sometimes the thing you almost dismissed is the thing that changes everything!

If you're ready for a change, give us a ring: 410-381-9700

Smart leaders outsource HR not to offload work, but to avoid fixing the same people problems over and over again.

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE

5 Key HR Priorities for 2026: Where to Focus and Why it Matters

The HR priorities for 2026 are less about transformation and more about navigating change responsibly.

As organizations head into the new year, HR leaders are continuing to adapt, stay compliant, and support the business, often under a new set of expectations. The HR priorities for 2026 are not about radical change. They center on steady adjustments that help organizations operate effectively while supporting their people.

In this article, we highlight five priorities where HR teams are concentrating their efforts and how those areas are influencing everyday decisions and future planning.

Simplify your back office.

In addition to HR consultants, Ravix Group provides payroll and executive search solutions to help nonprofits, startups, small businesses, and scaling enterprises operate with confidence. Whether you’re managing rapid growth or navigating complex transitions, our team becomes your trusted back-office partner—so you can stay focused on what’s ahead.

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