HRevolution: Did You Answer the Challenge?

As the newest version of HRevolution fast approaches, I thought I would give an update on a challenge I was, ahem, asked to commit to at the HRevolution session in Atlanta earlier this year.  I attended a high energy, and highly interactive session led by Jason Lauritsen and Steve Browne called “If HR is so bad . . . what are YOU doing about it ??"  Ouch.  I should have known I would have work to do after the session.

Echo Chamber

Exploring the social media world has given me the clear affirmation that progress is not made by wishing for it; rather, it's made by pushing.  Hard.  To that end, I worry that those of us who are committed to Human Resources leadership are simply talking, writing, and tweeting to each other about our passion, but aren't getting out of our comfort zones to push the agenda further.  Hearing similar messages back from those I respect and admire is absolutely terrific, but it doesn't make any progress.  Does it?  It's hard to tell sometimes.

After the Conference is Most Important
Jason recently published a terrific post outlining concrete steps that can be taken after returning home from a conference to not only reinforce learning, but to reinforce connections with attendees as well.  During my session last Spring I committed to raising an issue with a group of Executives I meet with regularly to push past their lack of knowledge and fear about social media, and to help them learn more, do more, and understand more.  I wrote about my initial follow up here, but that was quite honestly a "Jay calling my colleagues out" session.  Several weeks ago I delivered on my commitment in full that had me presenting on social media tools, how to get started, and how to incorporate those tools into HR practice.  It was great. 

How About You

Are you hitting the summer/fall conference circuit?  Are you inspired with what you're hearing, seeing, learning, and who you are meeting?  That's terrific.  So what?  If you leave all of that energy on the ballroom floor or in the Expo Hall, you might as well have stayed home and gotten some meaningful work done.  Answer the challenge and make a difference.  Don't make me get Jason and Steve after you.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.


pic courtesy of hrexaminer

Social Media - A Double-Edged Sword?

It's funny how things evolve.  Until recently I often used google to search for information, now I simply reach out to my own network on twitter or linkedin. Professionally I have a growing, and very important group of people who I can rely on to get feedback, kick ideas around, and candidly tell me if I'm completely off-base.  It's an unexpected and wonderful change in my life.


I've also embraced facebook in my personal life.  I have reconnected with old friends from years ago as many others have done.  However, it's also become a great way for my family to connect and joke with each other.  Additionally, as a youth hockey coach, I am now connected with many great parents and players who have been involved with the teams I've coached for years.  


Now these two worlds are on a collision course.


Crossing the Line
I have been committed to keeping my "professional life" and "personal life" separate for a long time.  That was my way of maintaining some sense of control despite the fact that I've tried to be as transparent as possible in my evolving leadership style.  Keeping secrets and hoarding information just doesn't make sense.  But now the relationships I've built professionally have become more than just "a network."  Those distant avatars and blog addresses are becoming friends (cue the HRevolution theme music.)  That means my commitment to transparency and personal privacy is fading...fast.  



Not a Sword, But a Gift
Apparently I'm on a quest to constantly be reminded of how much I still need to learn.  Now that I've been wrestling with this issue for several months it has become clear to me that if I'm going to be a friend in return, I need to prove it.  Connecting with my network/friends beyond the safety of twitter and linkedin is a tangible way to push myself, again, out of my comfort zone.  Just for the record, I love my comfort zone.


How About You
How do you balance your social media worlds?  Are you still committed to living a double-life; or, is it time to take the next step and embrace new connections as friends?  How much more might you get out of your network if it was more than just a bunch of "professional contacts?"


I'd love to hear from you.


No Excuses.




pic courtesy of Brian Solis

I Answered the Call - Will You?

Tuesday was, as Victorio Milian would say, a put up or shut up day for me.  In Monday's post I discussed how I had committed to not only being a participant at HRevolution, but actually stepping up and taking action once I returned home.  The day of reckoning happened for me on Tuesday.


Go For It
I am privileged to meet with a terrific group of leaders on a quarterly basis.  We started as colleagues, but our connections have grown deeper.  My call to action was to challenge this group to do more...be more...push themselves....to change how they practice HR.  Let me just say this group is not a bunch of light weights. They are at the top of their game...people I admire...and trust.  Completely.


But there is an opportunity for them, and me, to grow.  And when the moment presented itself I jumped in with both feet.

We're Supposed to Be the Leaders
Our discussion moved to a topic that brought an awkward moment to our meeting.  Social media  was the issue, and the heads all turned toward the one person that uses it in the room.  Me.  Then the obligatory poll of all eight of us was taken: "How many of you twitter?"  One hand went up.  That's when I jumped in...


My message was simple and direct:


"When our CEOs turn to us and ask us what's happening with social media, and need us to explain why we aren't keeping pace with those outside our organizations, what are we going to say?  If we don't understand how HR has changed, if we don't understand the external threats, and if we have to admit that we have no idea how any of this works, how will that make HR look?  We don't have a choice...we must understand how the world of HR has changed...and we have to do something about it."


Silence.


And then a plan developed to have me do a formal presentation on the strengths and risks of social media and HR.  Awesome.


How About You
What is your call to action?  It doesn't matter if you attended HRevolution or not, you know what you have to do.  So fire up your smart phone, and put this on the top of your task list.


Do it today.


I'd love to hear from you.


No Excuses.


  
pic courtesy of Property Report