Monday, August 25, 2014

The Dog Ate My Homework...and My Personal Brand

"I don't have time for that...work is very busy right now."


"I don't see the value...what does it do again?"


"I think my recruiters are using it...plus, that's really for the Marketing department, right?"


Excuses 
I read a terrific blog post this weekend from James Ellis about the evolution of social media use in companies today. It was insightful, concise and direct. My disappoint with the piece was not the content, but rather my industry. I recently had the privilege to present at a conference of recruitment professionals. How many of these front line pros do you think were using social tools?

I counted less than twenty at a conference of over three-hundred. How is that possible? How is it that the healthcare industry, and the more specifically #HealthcareHR professionals are not paying attention to how the world has changed?

It used to be okay to say "my company won't let me have an official twitter account for work." That excuse doesn't cut it anymore. Does that same company stop employees from having a private twitter account?

Uh...no, they don't. 


No Brand, No Options
Using social tools to build your personal brand is not a "nice to do" strategy in the modern world. Candidly, it is a "must do." At an event for professionals in transition recently I was discussing the role social media can play not only in building your personal brand, but more importantly how that brand can differentiate you from the competition.


The room was engaged, enthusiastic, and excited to start doing just that!


Using the old and lame excuses at the opening of this post are what I've heard repeatedly from my colleagues in the industry. Yet, these same people lament the fact that it is difficult to find talent, that it's hard to stay current, and that it is so difficult to work with their Marketing colleagues to build a cohesive strategy.


Let me share some insight...if you don't lead the way you will not make any progress. I'll say it again...if YOU do not lead the way you will not make progress.


How About You
Do you want more out of your career? Do you want to be a contemporary leader? Do you want to differentiate yourself and your organization from all the rest? If so, you actually need to do something about it. I think today is a good day to get started...and I would love to help you get there!

I'd love to hear from you.


No Excuses.






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7 comments:

  1. Well, Jay, as a personal branding coach, I couldn't agree more! =) A personal brand, coupled with smart social media usage, can truly propel someone's career or business. Great post - will be sharing! =)

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  2. It is like this Jay - Unless you are the lead dog the view never changes!

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  3. I wrote a longer comment and I think your blog ate it (puns!)

    Anyway, thank you for your kind words about my blog post.

    HR/TA tends to be the last one in line with budget and resources, and tend towards conservatism with those resources. In other industries, a lack of resources leads to creative thinking and guerilla work. In HR, where every misstep has a solid posibility of leading to a lawsuit, guerilla thinking is deeply discouraged. The reward just isn't worth the risk.

    But I agree with your underlying idea that the world is changing quickly and disruptively. Industries that try to stay still in such changes will get crushed in favor of people who are willing to risk a little to win a lot.

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    1. Thank you for your great work...and my apologies for my comment-eating-blog! I love your insight and perspective!

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