This coming week I get to attend the SHRM Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The gathering is for Regional, State and Local Chapter leaders. We get together to share what’s great and also give input on how we’d like to see things improve.
Before going further, let me be clear on my stance on SHRM . . .
I’m a fan !!
I know that things can be improved. However, I would state that we could make that argument not only about our various organizations, but about our profession as a whole as well.
I didn’t used to have this perspective and I was once far from being a “fan.” Let me share a story about someone who was EXTREMELY intentional with me in the past . . .
I have been facilitating a monthly HR Roundtable in Cincinnati for the past 12 years. I never would have made it this far if it wasn’t for one fateful meeting. We had another full house and the session went very well. At the end of the meeting, I was complaining about our local SHRM chapter and pontificating that the Roundtable was “so much better” than what they had to offer. A person heard this and she literally pinned me to the wall when she did.
She said, “I’m tired of you bashing our chapter. If it’s so bad do something about it !! Don’t just sit here making comments. If you want it to change, then step up and get involved.” Now, you have to understand that this great person is about 5 ft. 2 in. tall and I’m 6 ft. 5 in. tall. It was quite the site.
This wasn’t some passionate SHRM zealot. It was a person who cared about the chapter and didn’t like people making snarky comments about it as if they were film critics who never saw the movie.
I took her words to heart. I jumped in with both feet !! Instead of easing into a volunteer capacity, I ran for Vice-President of the chapter. I won (which surprised me) and that lead to beint the Chapter President. During my tenure, our chapter won the Pinnacle Award from SHRM at the same conference I’m attending this week. I went on to be involved at the State level and lead a phenomenal team two years ago for the Ohio HR Conference with our HR Rocks theme !! We had the most successful conference to date. Could have stopped there, but then took on the role of State Director for Ohio SHRM – which is where I am . . . for now.
Please forgive my personal SHRM history. The point is that because someone stepped out and confronted me to take action, I have had incredible fortune and success. I also have made lifelong friends and have done a small part in trying to make SHRM and HR better.
So, this week I am geeked to see friends, make new connections and see what else I can do to make SHRM even better. I hope that this week you can do the same in your corner of the HR universe.
It’s time to quit wishing things were better. Do something about it !!
