Everyday People, Page 46

Some People . . .

” . . . are worth melting for.” – Olaf

My wife and I went to see Disney’s Frozen this weekend. It is magnificent !! If you take nothing else away from reading this post – go see this movie !! One of the best characters, and a real show stealer, is Olaf the snowman. He is hilarious and beautifully naive and caring.

During a key scene, he does his best to keep Anna warm in front of a fire even though he begins to melt. She is worried that he will be harmed when he breaks out the line that “some people are worth melting for.” Yes, I was crying and I’m good with that !!

It made me think of those around me in my life that are in this category. I’m very fortunate to say that there are several. I’m very thankful that I’m surrounded with people who I value and would do almost anything for. I hope that you have people in your life that you would “melt for” too.

In HR, I think we lose sight of this because our focus is often on those that may be challenging or frustrating. We tend to slink back behind procedures, policies and processes because those things aren’t emotional, unpredictable and ever-changing.

If you don’t look at others as someone you would “melt for,” you may want to evaluate why you’re in HR. That may seem harsh or extreme, but I don’t think so. Olaf doesn’t see what he’s doing as a sacrifice, or something out of the ordinary. In fact, it’s natural because he cares for Anna – which should be our focus on everyone we come into contact with.

This is also tough in today’s social environment because the majority of what is being written, retweeted, and shared is self-focused. People beg and seek to see their name and their work publicized. I struggle with this to be honest. I love seeing the work of others !! I learn from others and, in many cases, I’ve reached out to get to know the authors personally and not just treat them as some avatar that is unapproachable.

I’d really love to see this change on the social forums and in the workplace. I think that if we had the approach that we would be willing to deeply connect with others, naturally, we’d find that the “community” everyone writes about would exist as a tangible, viable force. This group would innately move companies, professions, associations and lives forward.

So, can you do this? Will you join me? Is this feasible, or utopian? In the end, I choose to be like Olaf and put myself out there for others because there are some people truly worth melting for !!

Image courtesy of Walt Disney World for Grown Ups

Happy #TimSackettDay Kelly Dingee !!

One of the things I truly hope to see in my HR “lifetime” is that the two communities of HR practitioners and HR folks in Social Media as one body. A great way to do this is to recognize one of our own.

This year’s #TimSackettDay person is Kelly Dingee. Kelly is the bomb and one of the best resources I know when it comes to recruiting and sourcing. She is a practitioner who is not only rocking this facet of HR – she is also encouraging us all to look at things differently so that we make talent relevant in our organizations !! She is a regular contributor on Fistful of Talent (another great resource you need in your HR quiver to regularly read !!)

Make sure that you connect with Kelly. You can find her on Twitter (@SourcerKelly), Linked In and Google + as well as Fistful of Talent.

Recognition isn’t something to be jealous about because the focus is on someone else. Recognition is an opportunity to share and highlight someone who brings insight, value and new approaches. Kelly is one of those folks.

So, please join in recognizing Kelly on #TimSackettDay (another great HR practitioner) !!

I hope that today is just the start of you recognizing the great HR pros that are all over the planet. Remember always . . . We Are Better Together !!

Who Are You ??

I am an unabashed music freak !! Seriously, I have music on constantly. In my car. In my office. When I do work around the house. Almost everywhere. My office has a signed copy of U2’s The Joshua Tree album (vinyl), a signed microphone from Peter Frampton and a huge collage of the legends of rock.

To keep my musical intake going, I’ve been listening to the autobiography of Pete Townshend, from The Who, called, Who I Am. It is incredibly raw, candid, deeply detailed and fascinating !! This post isn’t meant to glorify the rock life because, honestly, he has made MANY choices that are detrimental in many ways. The cool thing about it though is that he recognizes that and owns up to both his successes and failures.

However, one thing I am taking away from this deep dive into rock lore (he casually mentions how Jimi Hendrix was his friend . . .) is that Townshend is exactly who he is. It’s not a charade. It’s not an act. It’s real at an almost uncomfortable level.

This brings me back to HR. I think that too many of us in our profession are guarded in our approach to most of what we do. We are hesitant to be ourselves at work because we’re “HR”. This is odd to me. How do we expect others in the workplace to be real and open when we’re not willing to be part of the tribe?

I think we’re missing out when we’re not transparent about our likes, beliefs, joys, concerns, successes, faults, etc. In The Who’s epic anthem – Who Are You? – one lyric that Roger Daltrey screams is – I REALLY WANT TO KNOW !!

Most people I know, especially those in HR, are reluctant to put themselves out there because we feel we have to take on some corporate persona that distances us from everyone. And you wonder why people take pot shots at who we are and what we do? If we’re not willing to be genuine and accessible, then how do we expect others to take the first step?

Here’s how I have ALWAYS looked at life (and HR). I make myself open and vulnerable the moment I meet you. Does that mean that I’ve been hurt? Yes. Does that mean that some people take advantage of that? Yes. Has it resulted in more lasting, sustainable and meaningful relationships in all areas of my life? Most definitely !!

There is an amazing amount of risk and reward if you choose to live this way. Overall though, it’s opened doors to be a more intentional person and HR pro who can more effectively connect with the humans all around me. That matters. And, it makes HR so much more meaningful and worthwhile.

To be the “Human” in HR you have to be the “human” first !!

So, this week start peeling back the layers and let people see the great person you are. I have a feeling you’ll see how freeing this is, and I hope (truly) that I get to meet you, know you and see who you are !!

Image courtesy of Quote Diary

Focus.

By now you’re aware that we’ve entered a New Year. The flurry of posts that flood blogs encouraging resolutions, new attitudes, new approaches, etc. have died down. I love to see the positive launch into a new year because I think people are eager to start clean and move forward.

A new start is true for companies as well as it is for individuals. Going into 2014, our company is taking an approach that most don’t – and I dig it. Instead of piling on layers and layers of more goals and objectives, we’re stripping things down and asking people to focus. In fact, it’s becoming so engrained in who we are that the CEO is sitting down individually with his leadership team to review what they’re focusing on each month throughout the year.

This intentional move is a bit uncomfortable because it takes “accountability” away from being something that you hope will happen to something that is EXPECTED to happen !! I had my first meeting with the CEO, and it was so cool to see not only the individual approach to a collective whole, but that HR is supposed to be involved and have focus as much as all of the business units of the company.

So, what am I focusing on ?? The answer may seem obvious, but it’s . . . . people.

This is a bigger challenge than you think. Most companies thrive and build on processes and things in spite of people. We all claim that people are our most valued asset, but the reality is that companies focus on revenue. That’s not wrong in the least. The question is do you work through your employees to allow them to truly perform, or do you just make sure things “get done” regardless of who’s handling the work.

The other aspect of this focus that is challenging is – people are typically focused on themselves and not others. People are selfish. They want to make sure they’re taken care of first and that their needs are being addressed. This isn’t “wrong”, it’s human nature.

I want to see HR be a contrarian force in this challenge and be focused intentionally on others first.

This throws people (even people in HR). Why would you put others first? What if they take advantage of you? What if they disappoint you? What if they aren’t committed to this approach and it affects you?

All those things may come true (and probably will). That shouldn’t dissuade us at all. If HR truly puts others ahead of themselves, then actual cultural change will take root and blossom. This isn’t some theory, it’s fact. It’s just incredibly hard because it requires an incremental approach that evolves over time . . . and never stops.

I’m geeked about being able to practice this focus at my workplace. I’ve been trying to do it all of my life. To be able to have it permeate through a company’s culture is extraordinary and exciting !!

How about you? Can you adopt this focus yourself? Think about it. What would happen to you in your life and in your HR role if others came first? I think you’d like the result !!

More Folks I Learn From !!

In November, I started to share some folks I learn from and wanted to continue that effort as we enter a new year. I hope that one of the things ALL of us do as we move into 2014 is that we strive to continually learn. We can’t afford to be stagnant in any way. I hope that these recommendations spark an interest for you to check out someone new and see if what they say helps you think of HR in a different way. I value what they do and who they are !! Let’s get started . . .

John Whitaker (@HR_Hardball on Twitter) is a force !! Being from Texas, that shouldn’t surprise anyone. When I first talked to him he said he was giving me a nickname because he gives everyone a nickname. In fact, he goes by “Whit” and not John himself. Whit brings it every time he strikes a keyboard to write a post. He is a featured contributor to Fistful of Talent (an incredible HR compilation blog of great HR voices by the way !!), and his own blog, HR Hardball, flat rocks !! I know that John also does presentations as HR events which stretch the everyday practitioner to look at the profession from different angles. We all need folks who can bend our brains a bit. Whit does this effectively and is a treat to take in !!

Let’s now go over to the UK for Gemma Reucroft (@HR_Gem on Twitter). Gem brings a grounded sensibility to HR, but doesn’t “settle” for the norms. In fact, she challenges norms every time she posts. As a fellow HR practitioner, she isn’t just espousing things HR folks “ought” to do, she’s practicing what she writes about. I love that she keeps things simple and stripped down. It makes her work very accessible and applicable to what you do in HR. Her blog – hrgem: Thoughts on HR, work and doing good people stuff – captures who she is and her approach to our field. I have her blog highlighted in my Feedly list and eagerly wait to see what she has to share. Make sure you connect with her !!

Back to the states and to beautiful Colorado !! That’s where you can find Mary Faulkner (@mfaulkner43 on Twitter). I met Mary at the SHRM National Conference in Chicago this year, and found out what a brilliant leadership, training and OD professional she is. I have found it hard to connect with many OD folks because for many of us, it’s wrapped up in our HR generalist roles. Mary is solid and her blog, Surviving Leadership, is one of the most straightforward blogs around. She is just “breaking onto the scene” in social media, but you wouldn’t know that. Her content is fabulous and is something I take to heart when looking at the leadership and OD efforts at work.

Make sure to connect with Whit, Gemma and Mary !! You’ll be glad you have new outlets for resources in your work. Be on the lookout for more folks I learn from. There are a ton and I hope that there will only be more and more throughout the year !!

Time for the 2nd Half !!

This week I get to celebrate a true milestone . . . I turn 50 years old on Friday, 1/3/14 !!

Now, I know that turning 50 is not that big of an accomplishment for most people. However, in the Browne genealogy line, I’m a senior citizen. My father passed away when he was 26 and my uncle passed away when he was in his late 30’s. My other uncle made it into his 60’s. But this isn’t a sad post – just some back story.

Most people look at 50 as something nearing more of an end of things they used to do with ease, or as being over the hill. If you have been reading this blog, you know that I tend to look at things a bit differently. You see, I’m looking forward to the second half of my life !!

Now, I’m not naive or arrogant in thinking that fifty more years are any sort of guarantee. But, why look at things as “less than” when you don’t even know what is lying ahead of you? I could never have foreseen what amazing things have happened during my first half century !! (An example of this is that I’m writing a blog that others actually read from a laptop computer that is wirelessly connected to the internet as I sit typing in my living room.)

I honestly can’t wait to see what’s next !! I don’t have to know the details, or have any absolute assurances in the least. In fact, not knowing makes it a bit more exciting because I’ll get to experience whatever’s next as it happens.

As we enter another year, I find myself even more encouraged and passionate about life than I have been in the past !! I’m sure there are literally thousands of people who I will get to meet, know and share situations with in the second half. I’ve already been fortunate enough to experience this, and value it more than you know.

How about you? Are you looking forward to what’s coming? Or, do you have doubts, concerns and fears? I know there will be obstacles, challenges, failures and other big unknowns that will come my way in the years to come. But, that doesn’t concern me. It intrigues me !!

I hope that as a New Year unfolds for each of us, that you choose to be wildly passionate, fiercely intentional and abundantly optimistic !! It’s really a fascinating way to live each day, and I think it’s how we’ve been naturally wired if we allow it to happen.

Now I need to get ready. The second half is about to start !!

It Was 20 Years Ago Today !!

I’m very excited about Christmas coming this week !! It is always an amazing time for faith, family, friends . . . and gifts. This isn’t a post about the materialism of the season. It’s about true gifts !!

You see, 20 years ago on Christmas day, my daughter was born. I wrote about the miracle of her birth a few years ago. It’s hard to believe that two full decades have passed. Now, as a young woman, she continues to grow, flourish and amaze me. She truly has been a gift to me and our family.

I consider myself very fortunate to be a father and enjoy every moment that I have with my daughter and son. At the holidays, I think it’s important to reflect and be thankful for the important things in our lives. My children DEFINITELY fall into this category. I know that not all parent/child relationships are healthy, and that is unfortunate. I wish that both parents and children would see the value in having each other in their lives !!

You see, to me the best gift a person can give to others at Christmas, or any other time, is themselves. That may sound idealistic in today’s cynical world, but I believe it to be true.

People are gifts !! The opportunity we have is to look at each other that way, and also treat each other that way. At Christmastime, we anticipate gifts and can’t wait to see what is hidden beneath the thin, colorful wrapping. There is a tangible rush just to get beyond the wrapping to see what’s really inside. I think that people are the same. Just below the surface of safe introductions, small talk and demographic information, lies an untapped gift waiting to be taken in and enjoyed !!

I know that viewing people in this way may put you in the minority, but what a great group to be in. It’s challenging and others will want you to walk away from this perspective, but don’t cave in. Why not make this the norm versus the exception?

Here’s how you can get started . . .

During this holiday season, write someone in your life a note, a card, or even give them a call. Let them know how much they mean in your life. It may seem to come out of the blue, but it matters. Be intentional about this and let folks know that they are the best gifts in your life !!

My life is only better because my daughter came into it twenty years ago on Christmas Day. And, for the many friends and family members who read this blog, you are gifts to me as well. The people in my life enhance it and that is something I treasure !!

I wish you all the best Christmas and holiday season you’ve ever had !! May you be surrounded by “gifts” of those that love and cherish you for being in their lives, and may you be a gift to others !!

Why You Should Contribute !!

A few weeks ago, my friend Ben Eubanks asked if a few of us would be interested in having new HR pros guest post on our sites. It’s part of the North Alabama SHRM Mentor University program and I really dig this. I think ALL HR pros should mentor future HR folks and allow them to learn from you . . . and YOU from them !!

The following guest post is by Kirsten Stutts, PHR. Kirsten is an HR Manager for a company is Huntsville, Alabama and she is encouraging HR pros to understand the value and contribute to the SHRM Foundation. Check out her 1st blog post ever !!

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SHRM Foundation’s Support for the HR Profession

I have been a member of North Alabama SHRM (NASHRM) for several years, and this year I finally decided to volunteer. In June, I was invited to join the NASHRM Board as their SHRM Foundation Director.

What is the SHRM Foundation Director you might ask? Well, I didn’t know either. Luckily SHRM has a webpage called the Volunteer Leaders’ Resource Center (VLRC) dedicated to answering many of your questions about your new volunteer role and offering a host of resources for you to utilize. Really, the SHRM Foundation Director role serves two purposes:

To raise money for the SHRM Foundation, and
To educate people about the Foundation and how it supports the HR profession.

Did you know that . . .

You can apply for a scholarship to pay for your tuition towards an HR degree or certification?
The SHRM Foundation offers complimentary resources such as DVDs, Effective Practice Guidelines, and Executive Briefings that you can use personally or as a program for your Chapter?
When used as part of a 1-hour educational session, the DVDs even qualify for HRCI credit!
SHRM Foundation is also the leading funder of HR research!

I didn’t know any of this before I accepted the role of SHRM Foundation Director. So what can you do to get more connected and involved?

Click here for their home page, SHRM Foundation, to check out the resources that the SHRM Foundation has to offer!
Support the SHRM Foundation when your local chapter has a fundraiser or donate to the SHRM Foundation directly; and
Volunteer to be a part of your local chapter of SHRM. You may get more out of the experience than you think!

I think people will benefit from knowing more about the SHRM Foundation and how it helps us all as HR professionals and as an entire profession.

Be Disruptive !!

This past week I hope you felt a shift in the time warp continuum in the HR universe !! Over 200 people gathered at the incredible Rhinegeist Brewery for the beginning of a new movement – DisruptHR !! I was fortunate to work with Chris Ostoich, from BlackbookHR, and Jennifer McClure, from Unbridled Talent, in making this groundbreaking event come to life.

The employees from BlackbookHR and the sponsors we had made the event literally seamless and “set the stage” for what erupted. 13 speakers from a variety of backgrounds and companies took the mic to give their presentation in a way that was truly new to the normally conservative Cincinnati.

To be a presenter, you were given five minutes and 20 slides which automatically transitioned every 15 seconds. Even though I’ve given many presentations, I never had to compress everything into that tight of a time frame.

The rules were cool because the audience was encouraged to be supportive of the brave souls who stood in between the two gigantic screens that seemed to be racing as fast as they could !! The presentations ROCKED !! The styles ranged from a more traditional feel to complete presentations with pictures only and no words. People were much more relaxed and felt at ease after Chris became the first ~~martyr~~ speaker to take the stage.

Now, I know that Ignite talks, TED talks and Unconferences may be the “norm” in other cities around the globe, but DisruptHR was truly a pioneering effort !! It’s not often that you can be on the ground floor of a new movement and direction for HR.

There were some key observations that came from the night:

There are MANY more voices in HR that we need to pay attention to and get to know. It was exciting to meet new folks and hear their perspectives. I think we get too narrow too quickly to follow certain people. This isn’t being critical – it’s a call to open our horizons and make sure we continue to take new voices in.
There are TONS of HR people who aren’t connected to the greater HR community !! There were so many people who came to DisruptHR that aren’t normally at other HR events. What a great opportunity !! This forum drew a new group out to connect and get engaged. So cool to get a chance to meet more HR people !! Seriously. I am geeked whenever I can meet new HR people !!
People are wanting to hear new messages in a new way !! We can’t continue to think massive conferences that take days away from the office as well as immense amounts of training/traveling dollars are the way to reach people. One night, in a brewery . . . for FREE and people flocked to be a part of it. We need to change our models if we truly want to reach HR people where THEY are vs. where we expect them to be.

The coolest thing about DisruptHR wasn’t its initial success. It was the fact that it’s only beginning !! This was just the inaugural event. Now it’s going to grow to other cities and to other venues. So, be on the lookout !!

Get ready to attend, or even better, get ready to present !! In the end, I hope ALL of you are disruptive from now on in HR !!

Here’s a little taste to get you hooked !!

DisruptHR – Cincinnati 12/4/2013 from BlackbookHR on Vimeo.

Getting to Know You !!

This past week I was able to “return home” for Thanksgiving with my parents in the Village of Ada, Ohio !! This booming metropolis of 5,900 people is my hometown. I’ve been fortunate to live in many small towns throughout Ohio, but this is where I grew up. I love coming back home because it is a mix of a small town surrounded by acres and acres of farmland.

We wanted to get out and do something instead of constantly eat, so we decided to take in a movie. I thought we’d have to travel to Lima, Ohio (a mere 15 minutes away), but fate was smiling down on us. The Ada Theatre in “downtown” Ada was showing Catching Fire which is what we wanted to see. I was geeked (as you could suspect) !!!

I wanted my family to go experience the movie house that I grew up with. It’s said that you can’t go back to your home, but that just isn’t true in Ada. It’s a one-screen theater with wide rows and 300 red upholstered seats. The admission was a staggering $4.00 per ticket !! We decided to splurge for popcorn and a soda for another $4.25.

The whole experience was spectacular !! The movie was great and the whole feel the entire time gave my family a small taste of the small town I was fortunate enough to call home. People said, “Hi” even though they didn’t know you and no one was pushing or shoving in order to get their place. Every seat was a great seat to watch the movie.

So, what does this tale from the Midwest have to do with anything ?? I think it’s very relevant to the whole social media “space.”

We spend countless hours on-line looking at posts, surfing Facebook to post all types of personal experiences, retweet items that we found interesting, etc. But, we spend very little time getting to know the people we “follow” or “friend.” I want to see that change.

You see, the more we get to know someone, then we can be confident in sharing their great content because we have more of a relationship with them. I continue to see friends (real friends) who are becoming more and more sporadic on-line and I truly wonder how they’re doing. When I get to connect with them, they’ll share how full and robust their lives are and I’m fine. I want to get to know WHO you are and WHAT you do.

To me, the social media forums are a great way to share content and provide resources to the masses. It’s essential that we do this intentionally and not just automatically. Yes, it takes time to get to know folks – but what can be a better use of a person’s time than to get to know another human?

Seriously, what has more value than getting to know people better? If you’re just about visibility and quantity, then you’re a persona and not a person. Let’s change this. Let’s make the forums we enjoy being on truly personal.

I think by doing this we’ll put out more thoughtful content, more insightful looks into things and be a stronger social community. Don’t be surprised if I reach out to you to get to know you better. I will take the time because I know it matters and makes a difference.

I hope sharing something happening in my life sets an example of how we can get to know each other better !! Now, I have to go !! We’re heading over to Findlay, Ohio next to catch a basketball game. I can’t wait !!